 Donald McKinney is the convener of the Celtic Circle (www.celtic-circle.com). Since 1986 he has actively been involved in pursuing a spiritual path. His experiences, which saw him transformed from an atheist, have transformed his life. He now works with earth energies, spirits and trees and sees them as major tools in helping spiritual awareness and development to occur. He is the author of Walking the Mist: A Practical Guide to Celtic Spirituality, and Celtic Angels.
Dear Friends,
Here in Scotland I always think June is the month with the brightest, warmest days and softest balmy nights. We may have celebrated the arrival of summer at Beltaine, on May 1st, but it is now, in June, that we finally know summer has arrived. At this time of the year I love to go walking in the half darkness of the night visiting nearby hills and woods, feeling the softness of the air on my skin and the sheer power and joy of being alive.
This month also brings the Summer Solstice on the 21st., one of the main Celtic festivals. With the sun reaching its most northern point in its annual cycle, this celebration however not only marks the zenith of its power but also the point when the days begin to grow shorter again. In the midst of light, darkness begins to reassert itself. And so when we celebrate the solstice we are not only revelling in the glories of the summer, we are also looking forward and welcoming the arrival of the harvest, autumn and eventually winter, the eternal cycle of life.
It is important to mark the solstice because we are all part of nature and the more out of kilter we are with the natural world around us the more difficult our life becomes. Celebrating the solstice is therefore much more than an excuse for a party; it is an essential part of rooting ourselves in the changing seasons. It helps us appreciate the summer and yet also prepare for the winter.
Solstice-eve I spend meditating and walking the sacred path to the site of an ancient temple high on a hill in East Lothian near where I live. From there I look out east over the North Sea and as the sky grows light I am often joined by others awaiting the arrival of the sun.
Of course I know the sun will rise. But as daylight dawns and strange oranges and reds play along the pale blue horizon a primeval excitement rises within me. Then suddenly the sun is there and I can't help but cheer. It's large, golden and radiant sitting just above the water. The sense of relief is palpable.
Last year some friends and I decided to throw a party to celebrate the shortest night. Around thirty of us gathered on the town beach on a warm, still evening. Each person added some driftwood to the bonfire and then we put a match to it. Standing around we watched the flames emerge and reach up into the dark night sky.
Fire is a key feature of all Celtic ceremonies, and at the summer solstice its representation of the sun is obvious. Its vibrant colours and heat remind us of the delights of the season. But it also has a deeper significance. As the centre of our celebrations, it is the physical embodiment, the focus, of our own spiritual activities. It is no accident that the Druids portrayed our eternal soul as a small flickering flame burning within us. But that imagery can be taken further and we can use the sun/fire to signify our ultimate spiritual destiny with our own individual sparks as no more than fractions of the whole. Thus as we stand meditating around the fire, feeling its warmth and comfort, we can draw inspiration and energy from it to encourage us on our spiritual journey.
That night we had a most important guest for not long after we had lit our fire a magnificent full moon crept over the horizon. At first it hung low in the sky before sliding behind the dramatic tall ruins of a fire-destroyed hotel. The moonlight laid down a silver path across the flat sand of the beach tempting us. And the whole effect was literally incredible; an amazingly inspiring backdrop for our celebrations.
As the waves rolled onto the sand and the fire danced before me, I could smell the faint scent of sage and incense thrown into the flames. Then we all selected a crystal from a small chest, intuitively picking the one we needed at that moment in time. It was a gift from the earth to guide us through the coming season. But together with the fire, scents and water it was also a bringing together of the four elements. There, in the darkness of the beach, we were creating our own special magical place. It felt as if we were slipping away from the day to day world. People talked quietly, watched the fire or simply enjoyed the moment. Even as the night ended our friends were reluctant to leave, lingering until the fire was no more than a small pile of glowing embers. And we all knew we had shared something very special and memorable.
All this and more I wish for you. So have a fabulous Solstice and wonderful summer!
Donald McKinney
Text & photographs © Cygnus Books 29-Jan-2007
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