Solstice

Summer Solstice at the ancient observatory of Stonehenge.

Chinese astronomers determine the summer solstice

Solstice comes from the Latin (sol, sun; sistit, stands). For several days before and after each solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky—that is, its noontime elevation does not seem to change.

When the true light appears,
The entire planet turns to face it.

The summer solstice is the time of greatest light. It is a day of enormous power. The whole planet is turned fully to the brilliance of the sun.

This great culmination is not static or permanent. Indeed, solstice as a time of culmination is only a barely perceptible point. The sun appears to stand still. Its diurnal motion seems to nearly cease. Yesterday, it was still reaching this point; tomorrow, it will begin a new phase of its cycle.

Those who follow Tao celebrate this day to remind themselves of the cycles of existence. They remember that all cycles have a left and a right, an up side and a down side, a zenith and a nadir. Today, day far surpasses night, and yet night will gradually begin to reassert itself. All of life is cycles. All of life is balance.

So celebrate, but be not proud. For whenever you celebrate high achievement, the antithesis is also approaching. Likewise, in misfortune, be not sad. For whenever you mourn in grief, the antithesis is also approaching. Those who know how to reach the peak of any cycle and remain glorious are the wisest of all.

Deng Ming Tao, 365 Tao

I haven’t been doing my Tao posts much the last few days. Partly it’s being busy, partly it’s because the book passages were about altars and shrines and things that I’m just not interested in. If I have any altar or shrine or church, I suppose it is my garden, where I feel closest to the Tao. But Tao is everywhere, so what is really the point in a shrine or altar except to focus yourself, and I can do that without those things. I suppose the daily meditation would help in a way, but it would also tend to make me feel as if it were something I had to do, which is a feeling I absolutely hate. I am very much a cat, and I resent just about anything I have to do.

So, solstice. I would love to have a solstice celebration, but don’t think that will happen this time around. My husband was out of town this weekend and next weekend we’re off to visit his sister and her husband in Tucson and drop off the youngest for an extended visit. My in-laws will be there as well, so it’s a bit of a family reunion, which will be nice.

San Diego is being totally gorgeous for the solstice – warm and sunny, with a nice breeze and 79 degrees at the moment. It’s really a beautiful day.