It sounds so appealing
a time of revelry,
crackling bonfires,
staying up all night
to witness the dawn.
Why do we celebrate
this longest day
of the year
as if endless hours
of daylight
and a scorching
sun star encompass
a gift of unparalleled grace?
I miss the shadows
that define sharp edges,
reveal form and depth,
of flat mesas, mountains,
deep blue sky,
clouds that hold promise
of muted gray and soaking rains.
Too much light
bleaches the earth
of her vibrancy, washing
out sage and emerald green.
Red dirt turns dull brown
as wildflowers wither.
Streams and rivers
surrender their souls
as precious moisture
rises.
Wily lizards scurry
for cover
under the fierce heat
of this unrelenting white star.
The birds stop singing by noon.
Too much light
ushers in self
and other destruction
encouraging frantic action –
noise that shatters.
Unhinging
“being” from doing,
destroying quiet moments
for thoughtful reflection.
The summer solstice sun can be
a delusional veil
that separates us
from ourselves.
I look forward
to the day after this turning
with profound relief,
because even though
summer’s harsh light will
linger well into August
and the heat will drone on
the sun is slowly losing
his fearsome power
creating space
for blue-green turquoise and golden skies.
In the shelter of the coming days
of longer shadows,
illuminated by reflective Light,
She will rise again with her Moon.
Working notes: I am always struck by the fierce energies that define this time of year – too long days – too much heat. Personally I have headaches and trouble sleeping and often feel irritable. It is well documented that violence escalates in the heat and noise certainly intensifies. I am struck too by our culture’s need – or obsession with light – particularly the powers of the sun. Mythologically the the solar power of the sun is most often associated with the male powers of procreation, and power in general.
In other cultures the sun and moon are usually depicted as belonging together. Just as the sun is seen as a masculine power, the moon is perceived to be feminine in nature. – Each has a specific realm of influence, and together they are perceived as one whole.
At the risk of being accused of binary splitting I take the position that western culture is out of balance and we demonstrate that imbalance with our obsession with light that often manifests as our obsessive need for sun.
(This is the time of greening and without the powers of the sun and its heat the crops would not grow and Earth and her creatures and trees would not be able to survive – so I am not suggesting that the sun is lacking in importance)
And yet, the summer solstice sun is still an extreme event just like the lack of light is at winter solstice. I think that it is important to recognize that these extremes are part of Nature but their effects are temporary.
When the sun is highest in the sky, our star casts no shadow and this should be a warning to us all.
