Pink Purl: Summer Solstice

June 21, 2011

Summer Solstice

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting...

--from To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time --by Rober Herrick

Summer Solstice... The longest day of the year, the real beginning of summer. It is the time of the Wiccan & Pagan celebration of Midsummer, also known as Litha. This is also a fire festival day, and bonfires are lit.

Midsummer as a celebration is a bit of a paradox. In December, at the Winter Solstice, The Sun King gains strengh, warmth & power. Now at Midsummer, The Sun King begins his decline. Then we begin a slow farewell to summer, as the the days now shorten toward Midwinter again. And yet He, The Sun, shines now, so strong, with beauty & the richness of life. And so we celebrate.

The Summer Solstice invites us to live in this moment--the very now, to celebrate the loveliness of summer while it lasts, to revel in the joy of the Divine. To delight in the gifts of this season--flowers, fresh fruits & vegetables, walk barefoot in the grass in the sunshine, gather roses, sing the sun a song...

Happy Summer! May we be blessed with the joy & grace of life's vitality and this season's bounty!

With Love,

Posted at 08:00 AM | Permalink

Comments

Happy Summer Tracy!! Hoping that we can SKYPE soon! That will be so much fun. I have found that now that I am doing these reading lessons I have even less time to play for some reason! I have missed our chats! It seems like forever since we have been able to talk. We MUST make a date soon!! I send oodles of love and hugs to you today! XXOO

Posted by: Marie | June 21, 2011 at 09:18 AM

Enjoy your beautiful summer Tracy! It is our winter solstice and we are looking forward to the days getting longer again.

Posted by: Lisa | June 21, 2011 at 09:31 AM

Summer may be short, but just look at that gorgeous rose. How I long to have a rose garden! Happy Summer Tracy!

Marie x

Posted by: Wild Rose | June 21, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Happy Summer Tracy, I love the peony and bumblebee!
I always regret Summerdays are getting shorter already now. Let’s hope for some lovely Sunny days!

Posted by: nicolette | June 21, 2011 at 12:06 PM

As I woke up this morning, my husband reminded me that today was the first day of summer....With the kids home for the past few weeks, it's been feeling like summer for a while now. Great picture!

Posted by: Jodi | June 21, 2011 at 12:58 PM

Wishing you a happy Summer!

Posted by: P.K. | June 21, 2011 at 01:19 PM

*Happy Summer Solstice*
I was awake at dawn this morning listening to the blackbirds singing.
The summer solstice always saddens me slightly as I know the summer days are shortening again & winter will soon be upon us & each year I seem to dread the cold winters a little bit more.
But trying not to be too glum, summer is upon us, hurrah!
Enjoy your summer Tracy.
love
Alison
x

Posted by: Alison | June 21, 2011 at 01:26 PM

Tracy, what a wonderful post and the picture!!! Look at the bumble bee :-) It for sure lives in the moment ;-) ... rainy here though ... sending lots of love your way!

Posted by: Birdie | June 21, 2011 at 01:51 PM

I laugh when I think of the "official" start of summer. You could never convince my students that it hasn't been summer for quite some time now. Isn't it interesting the way our seasons flow with the weather, regardless of the calendar?

Posted by: Relyn | June 21, 2011 at 04:36 PM

Happy Summer, dear Tracy!! Hope your days be filled with lots of sunshine. :)
xx

Posted by: Isobel | June 21, 2011 at 04:41 PM

Lovely rugosa rose and bee, Tracy. Love all the sights and smells and warmth of summer.

Posted by: nikkipolani | June 21, 2011 at 05:23 PM

Happy Summer to you too, Tracy! For me, June 21st has always been more a memory of my beloved grandma since this is her birthday. I know the sun's journey is moving back to giving us shorter days, but we haven't had any summer weather yet!

Posted by: Willow | June 21, 2011 at 05:53 PM

I love and live in the moment. Not thinking about what has past, not thinking about the winter to come. Just for today. And, today is absolutely so beautiful on my mountain that it makes you want to cry! Of course, two days ago it snowed on the mountain two over from mine, but we will not think about that...today!

Posted by: Donna | June 21, 2011 at 06:29 PM

Our first day of summer got off to a very wet start!! Fingers crossed that the weather will now improve, and we get a long hot summer! Love Anne x

Posted by: Anne Donald | June 21, 2011 at 08:02 PM

what a "pop" of beauty ...

Posted by: S. Etole | June 22, 2011 at 01:43 AM

Happy Summer Solstice! Today was only the second day this year that we have hit 80. I am hoping it doesn't fade too soon and more days outdoors can be enjoyed.

Posted by: Marilyn | June 22, 2011 at 06:21 AM

Wow, I forget that when we are having our shortest day, you are having your longest! We have said happily that the days will start to lengthen now and I forget that means yours will be shortening. Still, I am sure there is most of summer still left for you! It sure feels like a long time till spring arrives for us. Hope you have had a beautiful day full of simple pleasures x x

Posted by: Kerri | June 22, 2011 at 12:26 PM

Happy Summer Solstice to you too, Tracy. Happy Summer is here, though we are staring summer here a bit rainy now.

Posted by: Shell | June 22, 2011 at 07:23 PM

Midsummer always makes me feel slightly sad for a moment as it is the beginning of a decline. I like your description of it all Tracy.
And no I didn't get back to the skip tonight-I left work late-I am thinking tomorrow now!

Posted by: Sarah | June 22, 2011 at 08:07 PM

Hope you have a warm, luxurious endless summer. Our first day of summer was cold- about 15 degrees and overcast but there will be some warm days to come- hoping anyway. It's possible we may go right into fall ;)

Posted by: Shayla | June 23, 2011 at 03:30 AM

I once did a cross stitch of the "Gather ye rosebuds" stanza. I had quite forgotten!

I hope you have a lovely tranquil warm Summer full of the sound of bees and birds. Later I will enjoy welcoming Autumn and her bright gown.

Posted by: Houseelf | June 23, 2011 at 08:46 PM

hi tracy, how have you been doing? hope you are enjoying your brief summer. things have been hectic round here and havent been doing much blog visitng lately. catching up big time today!

Posted by: kamana | June 24, 2011 at 01:38 AM