|
The Spiral Dance with Hawthorne|Stayin' Up for Mid Summer Episode
This week on The Spiral Dance, we celebrate the Midsummer Sabbat. Summer Solstice occurs on Sunday, June 21.
It was right around this time of the year back around 1995 when I was first introduced to the Pagan Path. I thought, at the time, that it was a little strange to refer to the Summer Solstice as “midsummer”, when, by our calendar the solstice marks the first day of summer. I’ve come to learn that the ancient Celtic peoples only saw the year as having two seasons: Summer and Winter - or the Time of the Big Sun and the Time of the Little Sun. The period between the Spring Equinox and the Autumnal Equinox was the Time of the Big Sun, or what we call summer. The solstice marks the mid-point, so we call it Mid-Summer. However, with that said, it was really the Norse and the Saxons who started actually celebrating the solstices. So, there are a number of different traditions that we’re drawing from.
Celtic Wiccans also call this Sabbat, Litha. Litha is an Anglo-Saxon word, meaning “Moon”. The summer solstice takes place as the Sun enters the sign of Cancer; the month of the year which is ruled by the Moon. Litha was the time when our spiritual ancestors crowned the Sacred Holly King. The Holly King and the Oak King are symbols of the waning period, and the waxing period of the year. At summer solstice, the Holly King wins over the Oak King as the year turns towards the time of shortened days and lengthened nights. At Yule, the Oak King will win once again.
Wiccans at Solstice also call upon our Bright Lady and Shining Lord to bless our families, our homes and communities with light, inspiration joy, happiness, strength and wisdom.
Please enjoy this week’s show!
[ Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 ]
|
