Summer Solstice is coming to the North

[Mi-Shell]

I am currently preparing the ceremonies for Summer Solstice on National Aboriginal Day for several villages and have to actually write out, what I will say, so the politicians and big wigs can OK it for political reasons...
It gets crazzzzzyer by the day....
I can write to them, what I think it should be like, but during these things I slip into a trance and then Spirit speaks.... hopefully not about what the matter is, with all these big wigs.....

I will share, what Spirit tells me to say a little later
... after I asked Spirit tonight.....

But I thought this would be a good opportunity to share some Summer Solstice prayers, evocations and rituals.
Here are a few I have been sent by others.
I do not really know, who wrote them but think they are nice and wish to send Blessings of Gratitude to the original writer.
Enjoy!

 

[Mi-Shell]

Blessed Sacred Spirit,
Awaken us to love life
enough to honor nature
to the best of our ability

Summer Light,
Beloved Sun,
we honor your radiance
within and without...
Grant us the ability
to experience the light of truth-
enough to make it easy
to honor all of our relations

Sacred Earth Mother,
we REMEMBER
to honor you in gratitude,
enough to know
how to walk in beauty

..........................................

A Prayer to the Sun
The sun is high above us
shining down upon the land and sea,
making things grow and bloom.
Great and powerful sun,
we honor you this day
and thank you for your gifts.
Ra, Helios, Sol Invictus, Aten, Svarog,
you are known by many names.
You are the light over the crops,
the heat that warms the earth,
the hope that springs eternal,
the bringer of life.
We welcome you, and we honor you this day,
celebrating your light,
as we begin our journey once more
into the darkness.

..........................................
Summer Invocation
by Trish Telesco:

Fireflies and summer sun
in circles round
we become as one.
Singing songs at magic's hour
we bring the winds
and timeless powers.
Turning inward, hand in hand
we dance the hearth
to heal the land.
Standing silent, beneath the sky
we catch the fire
from out God's eye.
Swaying breathless, beside the sea
we call the Goddess
so mote it be!

 

[Milfoil]

Thank you Mi-Shell

Trying to put into words the significance of this time for me.

A time of celebration, being outdoors, sunshine, fire ceremonies, light and long days.

After the Spring time where the dead 'spring' back to life, Father Sun and Mother Earth are born renewed, a time of fertility, conception, new growth, planting and new life comes the ripening. Love deepening, the promise of abundance, nurturing the growing things, long days of hard work and short nights. Warmth, ease and a time to remember those who have gone to live in the eternal 'Summerland'.

Jumping over the fire - the higher the jump, the higher the crops!

The Earth Goddess and the Sun King are in their prime, joyous and jubilant together.

To honour this we light the sacred fire, bringing the Sun King to the Earth Goddess so that they can both be honoured and loved. We keep the fire going throughout the night as we stay to watch the rising sun which is at 4:47am here in the UK but even then it is bright and light long before that.

In Hopi culture Grandfather Fire is honoured by gifts of wood, copal and chocolate, each one offered into the fire as we walk around the fire 3 times. Then ribald and often risque stories are told as the passion of Grandfather fire rises and rises. Songs are sung, smiles all round and eventuall most people quiet down just before sunrise. This quiet time is a time for personal reflection and communication with Grandfather fire if there is something to be communicated and we are open enough to receive the message.

Following the dawn of the longest day, often the weather gets hotter throughout July and August. This dominance of the Sun is the time to be at his fullest, he is supporting and providing for his bountiful spouse, Mother Earth, the Great Goddess. while the crops are ripening to harvest and all their children whether plant, animal bird or insect are growing within their embrace.

A time to remember all our cousins in the natural world, honour and respect them as our kin, celebrate and thank the Great Goddess and the Sun King for all things and honour the Great Spirit, Divine, Great Mystery in all.

How do others celebrate?

Do you celebrate?

What do you believe?

 

[Carla]

We celebrate. We always take off work and go somewhere beautiful, and spend the day outdoors. This year we are going to the Pembrokeshire coast. The weather forecast looks okay, so that's good! We'll be walking along the coast path and enjoying the longest day of the year. That's enough of a ritual for me.

 

[Disa]

Thanks Mi-Shell for sharing your solstice prayers.

I like to read about rituals and the meanings surrounding each of the solstices, things people do in celebration, how people prepare their altars, in hopes of learning a little more each time.

I don't specifically have designated solstice rituals, other than setting up an altar and trying to take notice of the changing of the seasons-give thanks for all that is around us.

 

[VGimlet]

I work that day, but not the next.

I will go outside, when I get home from work that night, and barring a monsoon, burn sage, rosemary, thyme and a little mint.

I do a thing I have done in the past, where I thank the elements, the directions, the sun, the moon, the stars.

I sometimes burn a letter, too. Usually in the summer its a letter full of hope and thanks.
sometimes asking strength for someone else.

The summer and winter solstices are probably the closest I come to a ritual celebration.