Ancient Laws
The beauty of the solstices and equinoxes is that they are celebrated all across the world and are powerful reminders of the ancient laws of our cosmos, of which we all are bound. They are universal laws - and this quality can awaken something deep within us when we celebrate these times.
At the solstices - you may find that it is a good time to come together collectively and remember our universality - whether that's in physical person or through personal prayer and meditation. The word solstice comes from the Latin words sol ("sun") and sistere ("to stand still") due to the way the sun appears to pause as it reaches the northern or southern limit before reversing in direction. In June and December every year, the sun reaches the end of its elliptical orbit where it 'stays' for three days before moving back round. For those in the Northern hemisphere - the sun reaches its highest position and provides the most sunlight in the year. Whereas those in the Southern hemisphere experience their winter Solstice in the month of June and the shortest day.
The summer solstice this year will fall on the 21st of June as the sun enters Cancer at 10:14am (in the UK) and for those wanting to catch the sunrise, it will rise at 04:44am. Stonehenge is open this year for the summer solstice and many may feel called to visit other sacred sites including the Glastonbury Tor or Avebury - you may feel called to spend the solstice alone in personal meditation or may feel called to honour this time in another way on your own journey.
Meditating after the June solstice, Avebury, 2019
Powerful Fire
It will be a powerful time - Mars is in his house of Aries and the moon will be joining him - this may bring fire, energy and activate the spiritual warrior who is firm in their action and mission. Yet with the divine feminine moon also moving into Aries, there is the opportunity for balance and reflection here as we look at how we use and direct this fire for the benefit of all rather than competitively - we may be invited to look at themes of power in our lives and how we wish to transform any abusive or emotionally manipulative dynamics and reclaim our power - this could relate to the field of emotions (moon) and could include using fear, guilt, victimhood or aggression to control or dominate others.
Feminine Issues to the Surface
The moon (divine feminine) will be square with the sun (divine masculine) in the Cancer sign which can represent the mother. Black Moon Lilith (wounded feminine) is also in Cancer at the moment, so we may be able to shift and transform any subtle or overt controlling, matriarchal energies or unhealthy power dynamics between the male and female energies that we may have experienced in the past or inherited from ancestral patterns. This male energy can represent taking action and self-confidence - you may wish to ask if there are any limiting emotional, feminine patterns that are inhibiting you from fully stepping on your path? Have any of these negative feminine patterns made your masculine energy reject, mistrust or disrespect feminine energy in any way and how could this be transformed so that we can live in equality and respect, while honouring our differences? The earth has been suffering for many years in unbalance and it is vital that we do this inner work. Chiron (the wounded healer) will also be joining them all in Aries so this has the potential to be a very transformative time to release any limiting patterns or wounds. This is all happening in the 8th house, ruled by Scorpio - the realm of sex, the hidden, the occult and the deeper mysteries - some of our deepest, hidden wounds have the potential to be transformed.
With the expansive, wise Jupiter joining them in Aries - there is some good fortune that can really help us burn away what no longer serves us and channel our power into beautiful things and expand more deeply on our transformational journey. For those going through rapid change and awakening at the moment, you may find this fire of the high sun and Mars to be very transformative if you wish to channel it in this way, like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
Avebury, June solstice, 2019
A Final Prayer
I would like to add a final prayer which was recently shared by Chief Arvol Looking Horse (19th Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf pipe) regarding the solstice. It is a very profound reflection on an increasingly profit-driven, technological world which vitally needs to be moving in alignment with wisdom, harmony, consciousness and balance between feminine wisdom and masculine action:
"We warned that one day you would not be able to control what you have created, that day is here. Now we must unite once again to create an energy shift upon Grandmother Earth. She cannot take any more impact from all the selfish decisions being made.
We have come to that place in this time upon Earth, to now make a stand together. To unite - each in our own sacred life-ways we have chosen to walk, whatever religion or belief, go to your sacred spaces and join us in these special prayers for the Earth on June 21st. It has been proven we can create miracles when we unite spiritually.
Many white animals have shown their sacred color throughout the world now, and they continue to communicate that we are at the crossroads. We have walked through two years of losing many relatives through a terrible disease, and so have the animals and plant life also continue to suffer. The imbalance of Mni wic'oni (water of life) causing droughts and fires to severe flooding is everywhere, and I feel more suffering is to come from all these poor choices that are being made.
I humbly request a time from each of the two legged in this world to send a prayer to heal our precious Earth and the balance of Mni wic'oni to be restored. Begin to prepare in your homelands to unite - All Nations, All Faiths, One Prayer - for the sake of Grandmother Earth, our source of life not a resource.
In a sacred hoop of life where there is no ending in no beginning."