Saturday, June 21, 2008

SUMMER SOLSTICE


The shortest night, the longest day... in South Africa, it is the opposite, on this day, the 21st of June. Wherever you are on this day, it is eventful. Do you remember the combination lock you may have used once on a school locker? The third counter-clockwise turn to just the right measurement mark and CLICK! An opening, something revealed (even if it was your locker contents--- think symbolically here). I sometimes think of this day/night in this way... turning, spinning, churning earthball revolutions around the Sun--- in some ancient traditions, considered chief of the gods--- then CLICK! An opening, of light. A revelation, perhaps.... unless we are too busy to notice anymore.

This blog is the closest I will come to a deserving festival to celebrate the light and the dark, the contrasts and combinations of encounters with levels of light in our world and in our hearts... The Solstices were so important to Egyptian culture, that it inspired them to build grand architecture, the great temples at Thebes and Abydos and Karnac, all of them centered around the rays of the solstice light, reflecting into the heart of the temple structures, much as Europeans were doing with Stonehenge and earth temples.

What am I doing? How am I responding, honoring, acknowledging this significant moment? I am writing this blog. There is a simple way to say farewell to the moons of winter and hello to the summer suns, and still time to do it. It is a round of SNAPDRAGON: gather some raisins (muscatels are best) and place them in a shallow bowl. Cover with a few spoonfuls of brandy. Sit for a moment in darkness, then set light to the brandy. While it's flaming, rescue one of the raisins from the flames and pop it into your mouth, making a wish as you do so. I believe it will be granted before the next solstice! (and really, there's no good raisin not to try this!) Glory Be to the Solstice of Summer!

CLICK CART TO SHOP FOR HOMES IN AUBURN-OPELIKA, ALABAMA

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?


(edit/delete)
June 2008 has arrived with a first-time headline for history--- cell phone additction puts children in a mental hospital for rehab! According to the Spanish media, 2 children ages 12 & 13, were hauled off by their parents, probably shouting "can you hear me now?!" Apparently these young siblings stopped being able to function normally and dropped their grades in school, essentially becoming like chimpanzees with thumbs and texting away the days. They had to go cold turkey and do without tech toys for 3 months! Gosh, I don't know if I could do that. Are we becoming a civilization of addicts? Are we altering the collective mindset and preset to be a crazy place without walls? Are we having fun yet? Maybe new help groups will start-up this next decade, for those who just can't stop... maybe we can call it ON AND ON ANON.
Click here: Spanish Children Admitted to Mental Health Hospital for Cell Phone Addiction - AOL Mobile

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