Walking Awake to the Rhythm of the Earth | |
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"As the Wheel Turns"
Summer Solstice, 2024
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Greetings Everyone, and Welcome to our Summer Solstice edition of
“As the Wheel Turns"!
We hope this email finds you well. As you may know from reading our recent email, we experienced a wonderful time leading our recent pilgrimages to both Orkney and Iona in April and May. Here is a link to that email in case you might like to read a recap and view the photos from those journeys and to learn more about our upcoming 2025/2026 Walking Awake events (including an invitation to participate in a new 'going deeper' program).
Summer is now in full swing! With the arrival of the sunrise tomorrow, Thursday, June 20th, 2024, we will celebrate the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. For us, it is the longest day of the year. In the Southern Hemisphere, June 20th marks the shortest day of the year (it is their Winter Solstice). If you happen to be wondering why some will celebrate on 20th and not the 21st this year, you may wish to click here to learn more.
Where Nick and I live (in the Scottish Borders on the south east coast of Scotland), the sun will rise just before 4:30am and set near 10:30pm on June 21st. However, if you add in the magical glowing betwixt and between of dawn and dusk, the light begins to appear an hour before the actual sunrise and linger on well after sunset - making black out curtains and blinds a must for sleeping this time of year! It is definitely a time when we are fully embraced by the Light!
Summer Solstice marks a time of great abundance. In Nature, everything is green, blossoms are blooming into their full beauty and crops are growing strong with anticipation for Lughnasadh (August 1), the first of the three harvest festivals on the Celtic Wheel of the Year. The photo above is of the Foxgloves near our home. The foxgloves (often associated with faeries) and thistles are in full bloom now, one of the many abundant gifts of Nature signaling the arrival of midsummer.
While many of you are familiar with the solstice and equinox gatherings at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England (scroll down below to read more), in Scotland, people will gather for the summer solstice at sacred sites such as the Callanish Standing Stones in the Outer Hebrides on the Isle of Lewis, and the Ring of Brodgar in Orkney (scroll down for a link to learn more about our proposed 2025 pilgrimage to Orkney!). The arrival of midsummer also begins a fun-filled time of festivals all across Scotland featuring music, drama, storytelling, and Highland Games.
We hope you enjoy scrolling through this edition.
May the Blessings of the Summer Sun be upon you!
Denise and Nick
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What is the Summer Solstice?... | |
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The word solstice is derived from the Latin words ‘sol’ meaning “sun” and sistere (meaning to stand still). The arrival of the solstices result in a change of length in night and day with the longest day falling between June 20-22, and the shortest between December 21-22. The equinoxes are days when the sun shines directly on the equator resulting in equal amount of both daylight and darkness all across the earth with the spring/vernal equinox falling between March 20-21 and the fall/autumnal between September 22-23 . Click here for a short informative video on the differences between our solstices and equinoxes and here for more about the seasons, solstices and equinoxes.
Summer Solstice lends itself to a variety of names, celebrations, and associations with gods and goddesses throughout cultures around the world: Alban Hefin (Light of the Shore, or Light of Summer) in modern Druid traditions, Litha or Midsummer in modern Pagan traditions (marking the beginning of the cyclical battle of the Oak King and the Holly King: representing the light and dark half of the year). In Norse mythology it is the time of year dedicated to Sol (or Sunna): the goddess of the sun. In Ireland, it is associated with Áine: Queen of the Fae and goddess of Summer, as well as Maeve (or Medb): the intoxicating one and warrior queen (both of whom are connected to the attributes of abundance, wealth and sovereignty).
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Spoke of the Wheel Musings: | |
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Reflections and reminders from Nature and the Summer Solstice...
- At Summer Solstice, we experience the sun at full strength. Abundance in Nature is evident everywhere. Since the Winter Solstice, energy has been building and life has been growing into its full potential. This is a good time to reflect on the intentions or actions you may have set in motion during the past seasonal spokes on the wheel of the year. Have you manifested these dreams, intentions, or actions? Have they reached their full potential? What else might you need to do to nurture them so as to prepare for the upcoming harvesting times?
- "Stop and smell the roses!" Literally! As summertime becomes all-a-buzz with family gatherings, picnics, events, etc. you may discover yourself beginning to slip into the old pattern of becoming 'too busy'. It may be good to get into a practice of setting aside some 'me time': time to journal, garden, walk in nature, read, or simple just 'smell those roses'!
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Summertime is playtime!
YES!..play can be an act of ritual and ceremony! Summer is a great time to let go and embrace the inner child! Why not gift yourself a few hours or even a day to get outside in the sunshine, go barefoot, paddle in a stream or at the shore, make mud pies...simply be carefree! Here are a few fun ideas:
Make a Nature Mandala!
Leaves, and Blossoms and Nuts! Oh My!... Nature's gifts are abundant and everywhere right now. Why not make art from Earth's treasures? Use all the above and more! Add shells, rocks, you name it. Be creative and have fun! (Please do take photos to share your creations.)
Click here for examples of Nature Mandalas.
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Watch the Solstice Sunrise at Stonehenge LIVE!
Traditionally, thousands of people gather at Stonehenge on the eve of the solstice to experience the sunset and stay to watch the sunrise at this ancient site amongst its standing stones. For those of us unable to pack up and go, English Heritage will once again be live-streaming beginning the evening of June 2oth into the morning of June 21st.
Click here to find out more about how to watch the live stream.
Click here to learn more about Stonehenge.
Click here to view a Summer Solstice 2019 article in the Guardian featuring gatherings at Stonehenge, Avebury, and Glastonbury.
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Campout, roast marshmallows, and catch fireflies!
Summertime means long hours of daytime slowing into a late dusk and warm nights. Why not campout under the stars? Here's a link to 40+ Camping Hacks. If camping is not your thing, the solstices are yet another spoke on the Wheel of the Year where bonfires are traditional. Make a firepit (do be safe, and check your area's burn restrictions!), roast marshmallows and make yummy s'mores (click here for 40 amazing s'mores recipes)!
End the day by grabbing that old washed-out pickle jar and catch fireflies to make a lantern (don't forget to poke holes in the lid and let them go again before too long!).
Go on! Gift yourself permission to have a little good 'ol fashioned summertime fun! Enjoy!
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Weave some magic with Nature using pine needles, twigs, flowers, leaves and stones! Click on the images below for instructions | |
Make your very own Celtic Sun Wheel!
For more information on the Celtic Sun Wheel and easy DIY directions, Click here .
Click here or on the photo for 10 ways to make Suncatchers with your favorite summer flowers!
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Click on the photos to discover the following:
10 ways to make Suncatchers with your favorite summer flowers, how to create your own Summer Solstice Spell Candle and Ritual Oil.
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Make a Windchime with your Nature treasures!
For instructions, Click here.
| Love pressed flowers? Click here for instructions on how to make these beautiful Pressed Flower Rocks and on the photo below to make Pressed Flower Lanterns. | | |
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Pick, Press and Dry more Flowers!
Click here. for instructions on several ways to do so.
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Stirring the Cauldron: Summertime Recipes: | | |
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Summer Solstice Fruit Pizza:
This sweet treat looks beautiful and delicious! Make the dough yourself or use ready-made sugar cookies as the base.
Click here for the full recipe.
Summer Solstice Strawberry Mint Sun Tea...sounds so refreshing! Click here for the recipe.
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Who doesn't love ice pops? (or ice lollies as they call them on this side of the pond!)
Here's a recipe for Ginger and Hibiscus Watermelon ice pops. What I like about this recipe is... you use tea bags! So, if you don't like the idea of a flowery flavored 'ice lolly' just use your favorite flavored tea! Ahhh! I can taste the yummy coolness already!
Click here for the recipe.
| Click here to enjoy the sweetness of summer with this recipe for making Honey Cakes (be sure to save some for the faeries!). | Click on the photos for instructions on how to make Picture-Perfect Floral Ice Cubes, Rhubarb Scones and Midsummer Focaccia Bread | | |
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Bake a Sun Cake or Faerie Cakes!
To learn how to bake a Sun Cake, Click Here.
For directions on how to bake Faerie Cakes, Click here.
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When sharing about Iona, we often mention Felix Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture inspired by his 1829 trip to Fingal's Cave near Staffa (located just north of Iona). At Midsummer, it feels like the perfect time to listen to another Mendelssohn classic: the Overture from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Click here to listen.
*Pictured Above: "The Quarrel of Oberon and Titania" by Scottish artist
Sir Joseph Noel Paton can be viewed in person in Edinburgh, Scotland at the National Galleries. Here is their description of this beautiful painting:
"Paton's painting is an imaginative interpretation of an incident in Shakespeare's play 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Oberon and Titania, king and queen of the fairies, quarrel over the possession of a changeling (a human child, carried off to the fairy realm and replaced by a fairy child). The main figures are surrounded by a host of smaller fairy creatures, some grotesque, others beautiful, whose supernatural character excused their sensual appearance and behaviour. The painting was judged to be 'picture of the season' when exhibited in Edinburgh in 1850. Later it captivated Lewis Carroll (the author of 'Alice in Wonderland') who counted 165 fairies."
*To read more about William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Click here.
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A Poem from the Flower Faeries... | |
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Midsummer is Faerie Time!
If you love faeries and you haven't heard of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies, this is sure to bring you joy! Click here to visit the Flower Fairies website where you can view more of her gorgeous drawings (many of which are accompanied by sweet poems such as these). Have fun with the Fae!
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“Foxglove, Foxglove,
What do you see?”
The cool green woodland,
The fat velvet bee;
Hey, Mr Bumble,
I’ve honey here for thee!
“Foxglove, Foxglove,
What see you now?”
The soft summer moonlight
On bracken, grass, and bough;
And all the fairies dancing
As only they know how.
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When the days have grown in length,
When the sun has greater power,
Shining in his noonday strength;
When the Elder Tree’s in flower;
When each shady kind of place
By the stream and up the lane,
Shows its mass of creamy lace—
Summer’s really come again!
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The lane is deep, the bank is steep,
The tangled hedge is high;
And clinging, twisting, up I creep,
And climb towards the sky.
O Honeysuckle, mounting high!
O Woodbine, climbing to the sky!
The people in the lane below
Look up and see me there,
Where I my honey-trumpets blow,
Whose sweetness fills the air.
O Honeysuckle, waving there!
O Woodbine, scenting all the air!
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Now is the prime of Summer past,
Farewell she soon must say;
But yet my gold you may behold
By every grassy way.
And what though Autumn comes apace,
And brings a shorter day?
Still stand I here, your eyes to cheer,
In gallant gold array.
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Solstice Moon, Friday, June 21st, 2024: | |
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As some of you may recall: once-upon-a-moon ago, I, along with several other incredible women, co-led monthly full-moon gatherings. This began in my home when I lived next door to Columcille Park which allowed us, at that time, to celebrate and gather amongst its many standing stones. It was a magical time indeed! Though it has been years since I have led gatherings focused on the moon, its cycles are still very present in my personal 'Walking Awake to the Rhythm of the Earth' practice.
This month's full moon, also known as 'the Strawberry Moon', arrives on the Summer Solstice. Acccording to the Farmer's Almanac, it will be the lowest we've seen in years creating what is called a 'moon illusion' making it appear larger than ever. It's a great opportunity to place your crystals out for cleansing, zoning in on those intentions with clear focus on manifestation, and simply basking in the ever-present witness of this beautiful Celestial Being. Click here to read more about this month's full moon along with discovering some of its many other names.
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More photos of the Wild Faerie Flowers (foxgloves and thistles) near our home in Scotland! | |
A Summer Solstice Blessing: | |
Upcoming Walking Awake Events: | |
Walking Awake into the Celtic New Year
November 1-3, 2024 at Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA.
Be sure to save your place early for this popular annual event. Click here to register.
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Walking Awake on Iona Pilgrimage: August 20-28, 2025:
Join Denise and Nick for a day amongst the standing stones and ancient sites in Kilmartin, an evening on the esplanade in Oban and a magical week on Iona staying at The Argyll Hotel.
Click here for more information.
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Join us for a journey to Orkney in 2025!
We hope you enjoyed our Summer Solstice edition of "As the Wheel Turns"! We'll be in touch again soon! In the meantime, if you would like to read about we've been 'dreaming into being' for 2025/2026, including our proposed 2025 journey to Orkney,
click here.
All our best always!
Denise and Nick
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