Happy Solstice

I received the following in an eMail, its source is unknown to me:


"The Solstice this week is a profound expression of the times we live in, the path we have chosen.

Solstice occurs when the Sun enters Cancer, this year at 8:26 AM EDT (Eastern Daylight Time), 5:26 AM Pacific, 12:26 PM GMT on June 21. There are layers upon layers of significance in this moment.

Our level of consciousness as we pass through the Solstice gateway will be imprinted into future generations. The implications are limitless. Energetically, the Solstice chart for June 21, 2006, resembles the Grand Fixed Cross Solar Eclipse of August 11, 1999, and the Harmonic Concordance of November 8-9, 2003, two pivotal moments in the transformation of consciousness leading to and through 2012. Both accompanied mass spiritual awakenings.

Solstices and equinoxes are cardinal points of the solar year, marking special alignments of Sun, Earth and Moon as the Sun makes his annual journey through thezodiac. On the Solstices, we have the longest andshortest days of the year; at equinoxes, day and night are of equal length. These, along with the cross-quarter Sabbats, are highly charged energetic portals when the veils between worlds thin and our intent radiates throughout the galaxy.

While the Equinoxes are a point of balance, the Solstices are a point of extremes. We're certainly seeing extremes played out in our world today, as well as in our personal lives.

A new paradigm is being born. At this Solstice portal, we have a special opportunity to:
- Redirect the focus of the self in relation to the collective
- Reach beyond our individual lives, beyond our communities and nations to connect with the Cosmos
- Heal personal wounds so we may walk fully in our power and serve at a higher level
- Merge the spiritual and material planes

Within the tense squares and oppositions of this cross, there's tremendous energy for change. In an instant, we could release the past and emerge as bold, courageous, creative, empowered individuals expressing a specific destiny and purpose.
Or we could lock ourselves down in old, comfortable, outdated patterns, allowing the emotions of past hurts to control us or diminish our highest expression."

Verily, from time immemorial, humans have celebrated the solstice time of year with bonfires, rituals, flowers and herbs. In this way we honour the gifts of Mother Earth and Father Sky. I may not be able to make it to Stonehenge, but I will endevour to visit our tree goddess, an ancient hollowed out redwood, in a sacred forest. There we will recline, meditate and whisper sweet promises of love to each other until the light fades into darkness. And then perhaps we'll dig out that old Mickey Rooney film A Midsummer Night's Eve to watch this weekend.

I hope the season makes for wonderful renewal in your life.