Litha 2024

The Stillness at the Heart of Things

I am writing this in the morning of Friday, June 21, 2024.  Yesterday, just before 5:00 pm, The Sun reached its maximum northern declination for this year, the exact moment of the Summer Solstice.  At that time, I was sitting on my porch processing herbs from the garden to be dried and considering what I might say about this high point of the year.

As many of you know, we celebrate the Winter Solstice here at Little Meadow with a party and all night bon fire vigil.  Summer Solstices are often much quieter.  I was talking with Susan about the different feel of the Summer Solstice from the Winter.  The latter feels like a real holiday, like Christmas and New Years rolled into one.  Susan suggested that the Summer Solstice often feels more like a siesta.  

Solstice means “The Sun standing still”.

It is always busy this time of year.  Gardens and mowing and outdoor projects crammed into the morning and evening to avoid the heat of midday.  This year in particular seems particularly so as I have started a course of study in astrology adding homework and online classes to my schedule.  To be honest, I am a little worn out.  The idea of taking a little nap is appealing.  The idea that the Summer Solstice is like a siesta seems just right this year.

One of the few things I do regularly to celebrate the Summer Solstice is to harvest Juniper berries which will find their way into the incense we will offer at Yule.  This little ritual always finds me reflecting on all that has happened since the last Winter Solstice and all I would like to accomplish by the next.  This is, I think, the “signature” of Litha – a moment of rest and reflection on all that has happened and all that is left to be done.

It isn’t always easy to find stillness and quiet in the middle of everything.  Sometimes it can even feel a little lazy and irresistible to pause in the heat of so many things to do.  But the Summer Solstice encourages us to do just that – stop, rest and take stock of what we have done and what we still must do.  It reminds us of the importance of rest even, and perhaps especially when there are so many irons in the fire, pots on the boil and balls in the air. 

It also reminds us of the importance of stillness and silence as the backdrop and necessary condition of all activity.  Lao Tzu taught that it is the emptiness inside a pot or a window that makes it useful.  He is reminding us that leaving space in our mind for spontaneous thoughts and in our life for little moments of grace is as essential to being creative and productive as all the things we fill our minds and lives with.  This is a “spiritual” teaching that is essential even and especially when we are surrounded by material and practical concerns.

I hope that you will all find or make time, right here in the middle of everything, to take a moment to allow your life to breath.  We have come a long way and still have far to go.  Be gentile with yourself and blessed Litha.

P.S.

Another little ritual I do at Litha is read a long poem by Octavio Paz entitled “Sun Stone”. When I was a DJ at a community radio station, I produced a recording of a slightly edited version of this poem for my radio show with Susan reading and some nice sound design. I am including it below. Hope you all enjoy.