Revered for hundreds of years as the unique type of god, the solar not solely warms us and allows all the pieces on earth to thrive, however signifies an ever-present energy and giver of life. All through historical past, civilisations from the Mayans to the Egyptians, historical India and China, the Romans, Mexicans, Peruvians, and naturally right here within the UK have worshipped the solar and created rituals round it and the summer time solstice.
Megaliths all through the world comparable to Stone Henge right here within the UK, the Pyramid of Kukulkan in South America, Temple of The Solar in Peru, the Nice Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and Chichen Itza in Mexico all have a major interplay with the solar on the Summer season Solstice. Whether or not it’s the flexibility to shine precisely by a particularly carved circle, to forged a specific shadow or no shadow in any respect, there was evidently a deeply rooted connection to nature each right here on earth and in an astrological sense when these big stone spectacles had been made. Not simply that, however this craving to dedicate vitality to creating one thing that marks the solar’s path and explicit factors alongside it hints that as people we’ve at all times felt the necessity to hook up with and be part of nature each on the bottom and within the sky.
Whether or not you’re venturing to the UK’s Stone Henge this summer time solstice, travelling afar to historical monuments or cultivating your personal dwelling rituals, be impressed by these Summer season Solstice rituals from an array of cultures throughout the globe.
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Solar Dancing
In Native American tradition, the solar dance was and nonetheless is a really conventional ritual whereby the neighborhood gathers collectively to wish for therapeutic and renewal while wanting on the solar. These solar dances had been intense occasions lasting round 4 to eight days with no meals or water, starting at dawn and with every dancer carrying a hoop of sage across the head, wrists and ankles to symbolise purity.
Starlight
In historical Egypt, the Summer season Solstice welcomed Sirus, the brightest star within the sky. This cut-off date was simply earlier than the flood season, which was very important for nourishing crops throughout the land. For the traditional Egyptians, the Summer season Solstice and the approaching of Sirus had been actually seen because the Egyptian’s new 12 months’s day, a time of renewal and abundance.
Holy Baking
The traditional Roman Vestalia, honouring goddess Vesta who, together with the goddess Juno, protected marriages and was thought-about sacred to girls. This ritual was about honouring the essence of purity and virginity by making choices to the Vestil Virgins – a bit like a gathering of nuns at present. A sacred flame was guarded all through the ceremonies of choices, one in every of which was a cake made with water from a holy spring, sacred salt and ritually ready brine. At this time, a contemporary Vestilia ritual includes baking a cake and cleansing and adorning the house. That is additionally a time of cleaning and of honouring girls and household.
Yin & Yang
The Chinese language Summer season Solstice honours the Earth, femininity and yin vitality. As might be seen within the yin / yang image, reverse energies work harmoniously collectively and are important for sustaining nature’s stability. When the fiery yang vitality of the Summer season subsequently reaches its peak on the solstice, the calm and cooling vitality of yin is honoured and welcomed in. To mark the Summer season Solstice, girls gave one another colored followers to chill them down, and candy smelling sachets as a pleasing perfume. All through components of Shandong and Beijing, chilled noodles are served as the normal meals thought the Summer season Solstice time.
Fertility & Fulfilment
Pagans have a good time the Summer season Solstice – additionally identified to them as Litha – by honouring fertility, and honouring achievements, pleasure and fulfilment. Rituals embrace staying up all night time with a roaring bonfire to await the morning dawn, dancing across the hearth and utilizing sacred herbs to bless crops and animals. Though mostly related to Xmas, mistletoe is regarded as on the top of its energy throughout midsummer, so together with herbs, flowers and honey they’re gathered while they’re on the peak of goodness. Very like the Roman custom, the Pagans would historically bake on the Summer season Solstice to symbolise a welcoming of abundance into the house. Conventional components at their peak presently of 12 months for cooking and gathering additionally embrace elderflower, buttermilk, rosemary, fennel, sage and thyme.
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At this time we might spend much less time outdoors than we did hundreds of years in the past, however our inherent and pure human instincts to hook up with the solar are nonetheless properly and actually there. Whether or not you’re planning an all-night, bonfire-lit celebration with dawn dancing, or a peaceable day spent honouring mom earth with flowers, contemporary air and aromatic herbs, let this Summer season Solstice be a time of renewal and abundance in each sense, and create a ritual significant to you.
