HAPPY AND BLESSED SOLSTICE TO ONE AND ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RedRonin]

May the power and blessings of the God and
Goddess be with you all!!!

[Neonpinkfaery]

I'd like to echo those sentiments, have a wonderful day, however you mark it.  (What are people doing?)

[Brijrian]

And Happy Solstice to you all!

My son (2 years old) and I wore yellow, and then made "Solstice Cupcakes" (he's really good at pouring, mixing, and eating chocolate chips!). They were wheat cupcakes with chocolate chips in them to symbolize that the seeds of returning night are in even the brighest and longest of days. Then we put yellow frosting on. I tried to do an arts and crafts with him--make a Sun out of a paper plate, yellow and blue paint, yellow construction paper and glue...but after two "rays" were glued on he lost interest. So it looks more like a  yellow bunny than a sun!

My husband doesn't celebrate with me (he's athiest last I checked), so my activities focused on what I could do with my boy. But I did serve bright yellow corn for lunch (as well as the yummy cupcakes)! And later I shared the Solstice cakes with my neighbors--they all liked them, and didn't think it was too weird (I think...). 

I also sang the Heathen song "Praise to Sunna" several times yesterday (which I learned at PSG last year). But no other big rituals or gatherings or anything like that...we were doing the dirtwork for our future garage slab all weekend, so we were all quite tired!

[Lark]

Yes indeed, I hope everyone had a wonderful Solstice.

I actually took part in two celebrations, the first with my Gardnerian coven, and the second with one of my daughter covens from my old Trad.  Both were lovely in their different ways.

-Lark-

[Jennie]

I had plans to celebrate up at the springs with some long-time friends, and then have a festive dinner out. But on the way up, my car was rear-ended by an SUV and got totaled. So we celebrated instead by hanging out at the house, talking on the phone to insurance companies, grabbing sandwiches from Pannera, and giving thanks that no one was killed.

It was an awesome day, all things considered.

[RedRonin]

Not fun.  The joy just keeps raining down on you two lately....

How is Joseph's leg doing, by the way?

[Neonpinkfaery]

Well, I just had work and food and did some singing/playing guitar and finished with some meditation.  Nice but uneventul.

Thank goodness that noone was injured in the accident!!!

Here's to some plain-sailing!

[araina_morrigan]

I am quite new to this, so what does the Summer Solstice mean (besides the fact that it's the longest day of the year and all that)? Thanks!

[Brijrian]

From http://wicca.timerift.net/sabbat.shtml (all of the 8 sabbats are described here, if you want to read about it).

"Litha - Minor Sabbat
Also known as Midsummer or Summer solstice (around June 22)
Wiccan mythology: Apex of the God's life

Celebrating the God's life, Litha is a fire festival. It is a holiday of transition, when the God transforms from young warrior to aging sage. It is a time for rejoicing, but also of introspection, making sure plans are still on track and correcting negative aspects of one's life."

It's celebrating the peak power of the Male Divine principle (any coincidence that it always is within a week of Father's Day?) in the form of the Sun. It's the longest day of the year before the sun starts to wane again.

[araina_morrigan]

Thanks! And the link was very helpful!

[Jennie]

Red,

Joseph is making what seems to us to be a slow recovery, but one that is actually somewhat ahead of schedule. He can actually move around a little in the house without his cane now. He still has a lot of pain, and his leg tires very easily. His doctors had not expected him to be off the cane at all until August or September, though, so he is really doing very well, all things considered.

Thanks for asking.

Jennie

[Brijrian]

That is so good to hear. I'm glad he's recovering ahead of schedule. It's hard to see someone you love compromised and in pain!