Summer Solstice

Solstices and equinoxes make me sad. They are the passing of something. It’s like if we didn’t have them and draw attention to them, they wouldn’t be over. The same way I felt sad when the 1900’s were over. Yes, yes, okay, I have attachment issues.

Yet there is a better way to look at the revolving cycles. Heaven Admin recently posted a most interesting post on the forum http://www.heavenletters.org/rythm-ritual-and-repetition-9878.html His post opened my eyes to the power of rhythm, ritual, and repetition. Nature is so great at that.

I am fascinated by the solstices and equinoxes. Even the words are intriguing.

According to my dictionary, solstice also means high point. Sol of course means sun, and sistere means sister in Latin. Somehow from the combination of those two words, solstice meant “to cause to hold.”

Equinox comes from two Latin words that mean equal and night.

In the Waldorf Schools, the study of the stars and planets is a very important part of the curriculum. Taking a look at even the relative Vastness has to expand our awareness.

In case you would like to know more, the following came from Athropolis Guide to the EQUINOXES and SOLSTICES http://www.athropolis.com/sunrise/def-sol2.htm

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SOLSTICE

SUMMER SOLSTICE: The first day of the Season of Summer. On this day (JUNE 21 in the northern hemisphere -- in the southern hemisphere, winter and summer solstices are exchanged.) Summer: December 22. Winter: June 21. The Sun is farthest north and the length of time between Sunrise and Sunset is the longest of the year.

WINTER SOLSTICE: The first day of the Season of Winter. On this day (DECEMBER 22 in the northern hemisphere --in the southern hemisphere, winter and summer solstices are exchanged. Summer: December 22. Winter: June 21.) the Sun is farthest south and the length of time between Sunrise and Sunset is the shortest of the year.

EQUINOX

Two times of the year when night and day are about the same length. The Sun is crossing the Equator (an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth) and it is an equal distance from the North Pole and the South Pole.

SPRING EQUINOX: The first day of the Season of Spring - and the beginning of a long period of sunlight at the Pole. In the northern hemisphere: MARCH 20 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving northward). In the southern hemisphere: SEPTEMBER 22 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving southward).

AUTUMN EQUINOX: The first day of the Season of Autumn - and the beginning of a long period of darkness at the Pole. In the northern hemisphere: SEPTEMBER 22 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving southward). In the southern hemisphere: MARCH 20 (the Sun crosses the Equator moving northward.)