Summer Solstice 2016
Always an important time of year for me. This year more than ever, bringing even more exciting transitions. I wish I was going to be at Stonehenge though these days I believe you are fenced off from the powerful stones, unlike when I used to visit as a child. This Summer solstice ( Litha in the Pagan calendar ) tells us to stop building castles in the air, stop procrastinating and let the enormous amount of work we have done consciously and subconsciously to manifest the magic that is now inevitable.
Remember the past is gone, embrace the future …
From our geography studies back in school, we understand that the movement of the earth on its orbit round the sun is called “Revolution” and that it takes the Earth 365 ¼ days to complete a single revolution.
As a result of the earth’s revolution, varying lengths of days and nights are experienced. On the 21st June, the sun is over head at mid-day at the tropic of cancer. This period is called summer solstice. This is also known as latria meaning light which marks the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere. The term Solstice originated from the Latin word “solstitium” which means “sun stop”. During this period, the length of daylight increases with increasing latitude north of the equator – until there is continuous daylight at the north of the Arctic Circle.
At this time, the north of the Arctic Circle is referred to as the land of the midnight sun. In the south of the equator, the length of daylight decreases with increasing latitude until there is a consecutive night at the south of the Antarctic circle. At this time, the sun does not rise, south of the Antarctic Circle for 24 hrs. So, a period of the longest day and the shortest night is experienced on this day.
The longest day of sunlight known as the summer solstice is a day celebrated across the globe. It is a day of significant celebrations all over the world. It marks the peak of the summer and typifies what summer is all about – enjoying sunlight by the beach with loved ones, partying like there is no tomorrow, enjoying nightlife and the warm summer evenings half naked parading the streets, or just sitting in the back garden with your beloved. Summer truly is a happy season and summer solstice is the icing on the cake.
At Stonehenge, in the UK, on this day of summer solstice, the sun rises and lines up with the heel stones, and the first rays shine through the stone archway. During this period over 20,000 people gather here to see this awesome display. Stonehenge is a display of an ancient ring of upright facing stones which is believed to have been built in the period before the birth of Christ.
In pagan (Germanic, Slav and celt) it is thought that summer solstice is a time to honour the space between the earth and the heavens. In ancient Rome, they have a feast to honour Vesta the Roman Goddess of the hearth. This day equally has a particular significant to North America, Ancient China and Scandinavia, who marks this day the day of Saint John the Baptist.
Why is the solstice the 21st of June ?
The Gregorian calendar system, which normally has 365 days and tropical year which has 365¼ days tries to compensate for the missing fraction of days. This adds a leap day every four years making the year a leap year and this day is usually added in the month of February making it have 29 days. This causes the summer solstice to jump backwards.
Another interesting argument is, why is it that despite the summer solstice being the longest day of day light, it still isn’t usually the hottest of the year A reasonable answer lies in the fact that the heating effect of the earth takes long to be felt. The Earth’s atmosphere, land and ocean absorb part of the energy from the sun and preserve it, freeing it back as heat at various rates. Water is slower to heat or cool than air or land. Therefore, although lots of energy is received on earth on this day, the lands and ocean are still relatively cool, Due to spring’s temperature. So the maximum heating effect on air temperature is not felt just yet.
Of course the Tarot card that springs to mid as I write this is The Sun, Lord of the Fire of The World
What will this Solstice herald in your life ?
Ask one of my recommended Psychics.
Call for a Psychic reading Text for a Psychic Reading Tarot and Psychic Readings in Ireland Glastonbury Psychics