Summer Solstice Week: Stonehenge - The Ancient Druid Celebration

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Summer Solstice Week: Stonehenge - The Ancient Druid Celebration

The Summer Solstice is celebrated each year at the Circle of Stone at

Stonehenge.

The Circle of Life is presented here in the form of the Celtic

Calendar. The Calendar represents the journey of birth, life, death,

and rebirth that is reflected in all life on Earth through the

seasons of the year. It is presented, not only to educate one on the

old ways, but also to invite one to look at these celebrations with

the eyes of a new age; that what was old is new and what has been, is

still to be again.

A journey that teaches one that all beliefs are similar and cyclical

to each other and that the difference arises in the symbols that we

as humans choose to remind us of the Light, the Sun/Son of God and

the journey of life and rebirth. The Celtic religion and calendar is

based upon the Lunar cycles of the thirteen moons which occur

throughout the year.

In mainstream today, the Solar calendar, which is based upon the

cycle of the Sun's travel through the twelve signs of the zodiac is

widely used. This can cause occasional conflicts regarding the exact

date of some holidays, as they are merged from the lunar cycle into

the solar calendar.

The celebrations of the seasons bring about great joy and

festivities, as well as serving as a time to reflect on past actions.

The date of the celebrations was decided by the lunar cycles in

conjunction with Earth Changes, Animal Migrations, Harvest Schedules

and Astrological Alignments. One will find that these cycles and

their celebrations are the same around the world, from the Aborigines

in Australia, to Native Americans in the U.S., to the Celtic/Druids

in Europe, the Mayan's in Mexico, and the Inca's in Peru.

There is a circle of life and when one quiets their mind and listens

within, the beat and the dance become apparent. It is the rhythm of

the world and all of nature dances to her beat.

The word Solstice is Latin in origin, translated it means that the

sun stood still. Exoterically, the solstice recognizes that the tilt

of the Earth's rotational axis is the cause of the seasons. During

this time, the North pole is pointed closest to the sun, creating the

longest day and shortest night of the year for people in the northern

hemisphere.

The Summer Solstice represents the time when life is bursting with

goodness. In Celtic tradition, June was the most favored month for

marriages. The moon during this period is known as the Honey-Moon,

because Mead, which is made from fermented honey, is drunk on wedding

nights as an aphrodisiac. This is where the word and symbolism of a

honeymoon began.

Esoterically, Druid priests know that the pineal gland is affected by

the the Sun and the seasons and that at this time of the year, great

enlightenment can be achieved. At Summer Solstice, the energy of the

light is at its highest for the year, in the warm sunlight of Summer

which strengthens the Earth and the internal light which is awakening

the consciousness through the pineal gland. Druid's symbolize the

journey at this time by building a fire using fir and oak wood,

complimented with nine herbs selected by the priests.

Spiritually, this is a time of reflection to understand one's

passion's and interest in life. It becomes clear that our passions

can be directed upward from the lower energy areas upward to the

creative center which unleashes a higher energy and leads to a

stronger awareness of love. One learns that it is through awareness

and conscious action, further growth is achieved.

Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

http://www.peacefulmind.com/priorities_of_life.htm

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