Happy Summer Solstice

Ah, summer is almost here! Unfortunately for me, I live in the UK where summer is humid and suffocating, and there is no air-con, none. Nevertheless, this will not deter me and my fellow heathens from flocking to Stonehenge to celebrate summer solstice.

Now this is where I am lucky as I live near the old stones so don't have to travel far, but for some of you out there, I'm going to give you some celebratory tips to enjoy the solstice, and present other places around the globe where the sun aligns with mysterious monuments and magical places.

What is Summer Solistice, and Why Do We Celebrate it?

Besides Samhain, Summer Solstice is also another big event in the pagan calender. Pagans, druids, and nature enthusiasts follow the Wheel of the Year. Marking the year's solar events (solstices and equinoxes) and the midpoints between them.

The summer solstice falls in the Litha sabbat of the wheel (one of the eight sabbats) during the year. Litha translates to Midsummer. This means celebrations for midsummer can be anywhere between the Beltane and the Litha sabbat. Some cultures will have different dates depending on which calender is being used: Julian or Gregorian.

In paganism, Litha is when a battle between light and dark takes place. Old paganism believed it was a battled between two kings.The Oak King and the Holly King. They battle for control and dominance. During each solstice, they battle for power, and the balance shifts.

In scientific terms, the summer solstice is when the sun is at its furthest point from the equator, making it the longest day of the year. It has been marked since the Neolithic era.

Which is pretty bloody crazy if you ask me! How did they know?

How Do We Celebrate the Summer Solstice?

For modern day pagans, Litha is a day of inner power and brightness. Some people find a quiet spot and meditate about the light and dark forces in their world.

Others may light and jump over bonfires on Midsummer’s Eve. It was thought to keep demons away and bring good luck to lovers.

Litha is also considered a good time to practice love magic or to get married. The pagan version of this ceremony is called handfasting, and it includes many of the same practices one might find at a wedding.

Mysticism and magic are a common theme in midsummer folklore. Magic was thought to be strongest during the summer solstice and myths told of the world turning upside down or the sun standing still at midsummer.

Summer solstice reminds us to turn inward and find the nourishment needed to grow and evolve. We harness the sun's energy; we use this idea to bloom just as the surrounding plants under the sun do as well. This is why weddings and new loves are perfect at this time of the year.

Places Around the Globe

Amazingly, cultures all around the world have constructed monuments that are in line with the sun, from tombs to sculptures... from China to Peru... here are three of the ones that caught my eye.

1. Jantar Mantar, India

Jantar Mantar means instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens. The stone-built instruments at the site are used to predict the time and the movements of the sun, moon and planets with the naked eye.

At the summer solstice, the back wall will show the sun's rays for a considerable amount of time, while a straight rod that acts as a gnomon. Casting a shadow that looks like a large clock hand.

2. Chichien Itza, Mexico

During the equinox, the light and shadows create triangles on the side of the staircase and when the sun sets, it looks like a snake is slithering down the northern steps of the temple.

At the summer solstice, the north and east sides of the pyramid become illuminated because of the axes running through the northwest and southwest corners oriented toward the rising point of the sun at this time of year, leaving the other side in shadow, splitting the pyramid in two.

3. Brodgar, Scotland

One of the biggest stone circles in Britain, the Ring of Brodgar, is found on Orkney, a collection of picturesque islands off Scotland’s northern coast.

In the 19th century, Brodgar was dubbed the “Temple of the Sun” after several alignments with the sun were observed around the solstices and equinoxes.

On the solstice, sunrise and sunset align with the stones and the nearby hills, while during equinox the sun set just beside the westernmost stone.

Lastly, we are a lucky bunch because there is also a full moon on the Summer Solstice. So if you're like me and have plenty of paperwork, you are looking to rid yourself from. Then why not make the bonfire, celebrate the solstice and banish those pesky letters that have been clogging up your draws.

Summer Solstice is a beautiful time of the year. So enjoy it my loves! Oh, and don't forget, we are nature and we must find our place within it, even if it is beyond our comprehension as to why, it just is.

Also check out the new Summer Solstice Challenge here on Vocal!

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