Seasons of the Witch! Remember the ancient ways and keep them sacred!  (and some not so ancient )

 

Bald Eagle Day

Beatles' Yesterday & Today released

Birthday of Olympia Dukakis

Cherry Festival (Hamburg, Germany)

Gemini zodiac sign ends

Lailat Al-Garr (Muslim Night of Power)

Loch Ness Day

National Vanilla Milkshake Day

New Identity Day

Portland Rose Festival (Oregon @)

St. Osana of Mantua (patron of schoolgirls)

Summer Solstice

 

The Summer Solstice

 

The summer solstice is the time when the sun is in its glory. This is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. The date of the summer solstice varies slightly from year to year. This year it falls on June 21st. Summer solstice customs are also associated with a fixed date: June 24 the Midsummer’s Day. June 23rd is Midsummer’s Eve.

 

One of the four major festivals of the solar year, when the Sun reaches the quarter points on the zodiac wheel. It now
reaches the cardinal ("hinge") point of 90B0 as the Sun enters the sign of Cancer, the Crab. For the next month, the side-to-side moves of the Crab are favored in all things. This is more a time to organize of what has been gained, and plan what comes next, than it is either to start new enterprises or dissolve old ones that don't work. The Crab lives where it can jump sideways into an ocean wave when threats appear. Those who have the grace, humility and aquatic skill to do this are favored
now. The sideways motion of the Crab is also that of the Farmer, who works sideways in rows to preserve productive order.

 

 Among the countless Summer Solstice celebrations and ceremonies: The Sonnenwende ("Sun's turning") of the Norse calendar, so named because at this point in the year, the Sun reaches its farthest northern sunset point on the horizon, and must now begin moving south, and bringing with it the hotter, more rapid movement of Summer, and everything else that the South implies. The season of husbandry begins now in bonfires that mark this day as the one when the Sun's light stays longest in the Sky.

 

 In northern Russia, especially in St. Petersburg, this day begins the White Nights, which last for the next ten days. In this and other fire festivals that can get more raucous than most, fireworks and all, many people love the days of the Long Light because this is the best time to burn the chaff and the worry of the year gone by, and get ready to work the field under the waxing Sun, and care for children.

 

In the Celtic calendar, this day is called Litha, and honors the water goddess. Many European peoples also honored the Green Man, leafy symbol of nature's resurgence, counterpart to the Egyptian Osiris.

 

In some Native American calendars, this day begins the Month of the Flicker. Hunting is easier than it usually is.

 

Taoist festival honoring the Heavenly Emperor Shang-Ti and celebrating the active presence of the Tao in all things. This is the time when the masculine Yang force is at its peak, and initiates the season of fire, south and Summer.

 

In many ancient calendars, this is one of the year's best times for honoring Wise Women. In the Greco-Roman calendar, this was the Day of All Heras (Roman counterpart Juno, for whom this month is named), when people gather to listen to women who have achieved spiritual Union with the Great Goddess. In ancient Britain this was the Day of Cerridwen, celebrating all Wise Women.

 

Among the Lakota and other Native Americans of the plains, the days before the early summer Full Moon are the annual time of the Sun Dance, a festival of fasting and healing ceremonies affirming the manifestation of Takuskanskan the Creator in all things.

 

Source: GrannyMoon's Archives

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Summer Solstice: (also known as Midsummer, Alban, Hefin, Litha,and Sonnenwende) The day of the Sun's Turning, the longest day of the year when the sun is at its zenith. The Water Goddess and the Green Man are among those dieties who are honored on this day. The ideal time for divinations, healing rituals, and the cutting of divining rods, dowsing rods, and wands.

Kemetic/Egyptian - Wadjet ceremony, honoring the cobra Neter whose protective power as destroyer of evil made her so important to the life of the nation that she appeared in the uraeus serpent on pharaoh's crown and other regalia. This marks the 35 days of purification before the next flood season.

 

Ancient Greece: Aphrodite's Day; and also the day of All-Heras (and her Roman counterpart, Juno, for which this month isnamed) when wise women who had achieved spiritual union with the Goddess were listened to and honored.

 

Asia: Taoist festival honoring the Heavenly Emperor Shang-Ti and celebrating the active presence of the Tao in all things. At this time the masculine Yang force is at its peak, and season of fire, south, and Summer begins.

 

(Southern Hemisphere) Yule - occurs on the date of the winter solstice. It is also known as Winter Rite, Midwinter, and Alban Arthan. Yule is celebrated on the longest night of the year, and it is seen by many as the time when the sun

begins its journey back from the darkness to the fullest light, celebrated at the Summer Solstice. It is the festival of the Sun's rebirth, and a time to honor the winter aspects of the God and Goddess. The festival of Yule was originally

celebrated in Norse and Germanic countries, and many Pagans choose to honor those aspects of the God and Goddess at this time of year.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GrannyMoonsMorningFeast