Celebrating Summer Solstice
A time of standing still, whilst life moves around us...
As we celebrate the time of the Summer Solstice, you may be feeling a lot of external activity and intensity in life, whilst simultaneously feeling the deep call into stillness. This is the nature of these extraordinary times that the dichotomy of life seems to be ever more present, and brings with it an initiation to wake up into presence.
The Summer Solstice is known for the Sun being at its peak, the longest days and the sun at its highest point in the sky. There are many sacred sites across the world that are designed to allow this moment to be remembered, long before digital smart watches were a figment of imagination. It is my feeling that these sacred sites allow an activation to occur that impacts the Earth and those who are aware on a molecular level. The stones and minerals contained within them, along with the ripple effect across the electromagnetic field that surrounds the site, the living waters and grid of light. Almost like when a battery is charged, ready for the next cycle to begin...
We do not truly know how indigineous populations across the ages celebrated the Solstice, however, what I feel we can gather was that there was a preparation as the changes in the length of day, height of the sun in the sky, what flowers were in bloom and trees at their strongest as well as a myriad of indications that the intelligence of life would reveal itself. I would imagine living in close proximity to certain sites may also have had an indication, as we do not know the intricate ways that the measuring of time and astronomy were calculated many thousands of years ago.
Coming back to today, I feel it is important to remember that it was far beyond a point in time, but a way marker for the cycles of life. It is the earth that is moving around the sun, the sun is ever present, staying still and constantly emitting light which impacts the electromagnetic energy of the earth. So when the sun "stands still" it is really a metaphor for pure presence, which invites us to do the same.
True Masculine
The Summer Solstice is when the masculine principle is at its strongest, which calls us not only to pure love and presence, but to embody it and take the appropriate actions from a place of love. When actions are born out if this still point, they have no agenda and yet bring a profound impact. This could be as small as a loving and unspoken moment of eye contact with another, to the unfurling of a fern to the sun, the blossoming of a rose in the garden to the call of a Red Kite high in the sky just at the perfect moment. Beauty and Viriditas are all around like a symphony of celebration as the earth expresses love into form in gratitude for the sun.
The True Masculine has been something that has been lesser known in modern life, despite the many living examples such as St John the Baptist, Yeshua or Merlin or mythical warriors like Fionn mac Cumhaill or Finn McCool. Some more recent male role models that I have met along the way have been Stephen Jenkinson, Burgs and Kurikindi. One of the many impacts of colonialism has been the impact on the true male role model and what that looks like in life, as protectors of the sacred, women and children.
In many native traditions across the world, there would have been some for of martial art or training to cultivate the warrior or hunter, in order to master the innate instincts and drive that would be naturally alive in young men. This way there was a healthy expression and purpose for what was natural and this would be of benefit to the whole community, including the ability to protect and defend. So when many of these practices were outlawed or discouraged, the erosion of the healthy expression of the masculine or emasculation began...
There has been long been the mistake than men are the providers, when in truth, it is nature that provides. However, men can hunt, cultivate and harvest which is essential for human survival when it is in alignment with nature. We have come to a time when the Global North or Modern Society has come out of alignment with nature, which is how the unhealthy masculine and patriarchy has misused power through force, disrupting the natural rhythms and cycles of life.
When it is difficult to find role models in the human realm, nature will always have the answer, as it is important to remember that elders are not just humans, but the more than human realm has been here long before us. Stones and trees in particular carry the codexes that can help us to remember, as well as plants and fungi. However, with the size, presence and longer lifespan of trees they can be much easier for humans to connect with as we remember the tree of life that is encoded in our own DNA.
Wisdom of the Oak
As the light is at it strongest point in the year, we call upon the wisdom of the Oak Tree, Duir, the doorway to the otherworld. Remembering that we too are the doorway for the light to shine through us from the sun and into the earth. The True King of the forest, provides shelter and protection for so many beings and ensures their survival for many generations to come. 300 years to grow, 300 years to live, 300 years to die he knows patience, presence and the natural timing of things that cannot be rushed.
Duir reminds us to hold ourselves in our courage, strength and resilience. To embody our inner Oak, the True Masculine so that we can endure the times with the light within. In perfect balance with the abundance of nature, Mother Earth and the True Feminine. Only when we are standing rooted and connected can we share our fullest, most authentic selves with the world.
The Oak also encourages us to embrace our fears or the darkness, without the dark, there would be no dawn, the sun would have nothing to illuminate, the seed could not emerge from the dark soil, we are born from the dark of the womb, the wisdom could not emerge from the wounds.
Without our fear, we would not know what it is that we hold truly dear and wish to protect, so when we make friends with it, we remember the love and faith that is much stronger underneath the reptilian brain and nervous system impulses.
When we own our shadow and embrace our fear, we are safe to be around as we live in the full light of our being, our sovereignty as we choose to live each moment in authenticity, it shines the light for others to live this for themselves. Forgiveness for our selves and each other in the moments that we forget.
Sing for the Oak Tree by Mary Howitt, spoken by M J Hummingway
Solstice Blessing
I will leave you with a Solstice Blessing, may you be filled with love and gratitude for the beauty within and around you, may you shine in the light of your true nature, celebrate the abundance that is already here and a prayer for protection of all beings in their innocence. May your heart guide you home to stillness, tending to your life like a sacred temple garden so that you can blossom and fruit when the time is ripe.
Grá Mór (Much Love),
Tara