Shortly after the Gemini new Moon, June 21 brings the solstice.
The word “solstice” comes from two Latin words: “sol” (meaning sun) and “sistere” (standing still). It literally means “sun standing still.”
Note from Dana: It’s summer solstice, the longest day in the northern hemisphere. The Sun reaches its northernmost point, then pauses, before turning round the other way. Across the earth this day was honored by the ancients. So important was this time, over four thousand years ago, near Stonehenge, before the invention of the wheel, people began dragging great stones weighing up to 30 tons across rivers, through dense forests, in order to raise them into a towering circle, perfectly aligned with the summer solstice Sun. The yearning to receive the gifts of this day still lies deep in our bones—which is why I’m delighted to introduce you to my friend, Jacquie Donahue, who designs simple rituals of presence that help to awaken your ancient, wild, nature-knowing self.
Jacquie starts us off with an invocation to the deva of Summer, who is whirling through the atmosphere now.
Invocation to Summer
Behold the summer Queen,
meeting her lover, the Sun,
circling sky and earth,
golden robes flowing,
blessing all in radiant splendor.
If leaves sprout, flowers bloom,
and gardens boast aplenty,
If earth puts on her abundant green dress,
the glory belongs to you, Lady of blazing power!
If there’s honey in the hive,
If the slow cactus blooms with adornments sweet,
if dawn declares itself in magenta, rose, and orange,
painting across the vast ocean a shimmering road of gold,
the glory belongs to you, Lady of blazing power!
With your lover, the Sun,
in joy, we rendezvous.
Solstice is the time to slow down. Way down. Enter its sacred space by making friends with a boulder, a rock, or some natural formation on the land beneath your feet. Your goal is connection, with the sturdy, persistent, endurance living there. Notice what calls for your attention. A glossy surface. The river stone with multiple hollows and perforations. Desert stone with overlapping layers or planes imparting depth. Weathered figures, symbols, or humorous faces embedded in stone, whatever elicits a covert caress. Find the one that jump-starts your imagination. Your journey and ritual start here.
Whatever your focus, you give it your whole being. Gradually, step by step. Introduce yourself, begin a conversation. It might go something like this:
Hello and greetings to you goddess-being-rock!
I greet you warmly, you—who are as old as the big round earth, upon whom many a foot has trod. You whose bright mica flakes catch and gleam in colors of the Sun. All your beautiful surfaces, ravishing colors, and wrinkles—your stories of space and time, permeate my senses and prompt me to want to know you as the living being that you are.
I imagine every element in you loves the others:
Earth loves the rain,
Frost fronts the Sun, and
Sun loves the space it shines through.
Every substance is here:
Diamonds and silver,
Herbs that nourish and heal,
The foundation of the planet,
Immortal magnetic iron,
circulating life force…
masquerading as you,
so the dream of the world might keep renewing.
I know there is a space in the heart where everything meets.
Mind, senses, soul, eternity, rock-beings, and people-beings too—all are here.
Come here if you want to find me.
Are you here?
In response, you notice the ocean of air around you, ready to become your breath. Above you, the Sun is heating the air. Below you, the earth, born of cosmic fire, shifts ever so slightly. The idea that your breath wants to synchronize itself with the stone’s breath crosses your mind; rather than disregard this startling thought, you allow it. Breathing deep and slow, you realize rock-breathing is more a shimmer than a flow. Though the awareness is subtle, and the temptation to disregard strong, the imprint is enough for your bones to recognize the earth that birthed them. Kin touching kin.
At some point, you might notice a growing warmth in your solar plexus or your heart. Enter this sensation–until you reach the centering stillness of the Sun.
Pause here, for as long as it feels right.
Then, bowing to the Summer Queen, the Sun, and the glory of everything, turn around and walk in a direction different from the one you came in on.
Ceremonialist, artist and Wildcrafted Ways founder, Jacquie Donahue has facilitated women’s retreats, celebrations, and creative workshops for more than 30 years. Her simple, fun, creative approach to seasonal living and honoring the sacred in the everyday reveals how connected to spirit and embodied we actually are. Email Jacquie directly at jacquie@jacquiedonahue.com for more information about her rituals, ceremonies and newest offering: Wildcrafted Ways, A Community Rich Weekend for Women, September 14-17, 2023, in Cortez, Colorado.
Lovely article with powerful suggestions for ritual and ceremony!