The summer solstice, like all of the transitioning seasons, is a teacher. While autumn and winter remind us to slow down and deepen, spring and summer reminisce that now is the time for growth, for beginnings, for becoming, for blossoming.
Whereas spring is a lanky, gangly season – the awkward liminal space between winter and summer, unsure and wobbly like a young fawn – summer is confident in its perspective. It is usually no gradual, slow season; with thunder and chlorophyll, it fills out the scrawny place of spring, sure in its knowing.
In many cultures, summer is the fertile bringer of goods. Fertility, freedom, expansion – these are the reminders that summer establishes in its time of three months. Before the slowing months of autumn and winter set in, we are shown that the world is a bigger, more mysterious place than we had originally thought. Ferns and lakes, fireflies and vultures, a hot sun and starry nights.
This summer, I invite you to set out on a journey. Find what is binding your wings, chaining you down, holding you back, and free yourself. Keep promises and pledges; remember to set others go so they, too, can find their voice and their own balance. Explore and become what inspires you. Don’t constrain your petals: instead, blossom.
PS – to all the fathers out there: stags, rams, boars, tomcats…oh, and human dads too, especially mine…happy father’s day. Love ya.
“Keep promises and pledges” are, perhaps, the most important words ever written. I will do my best to keep them close to my heart.
Love ya back, Hazel.
Thank you so much, Tim! <3
Wow! Thank you! Such words of wisdom from a developing young mind! I always wondered why humans chose to habitat the planet where summer only lasts 3-4 months, considering there are tropical climates where the warm weather dominates year round. When I saw live TV programs emanating from a southern USA, where outdoor events such as parades or football games were occurring in beautiful warm weather, spectators in the stands only clade in t-shirts and shorts, while us Edmontonians where huddled around the TV to avoid a blizzard and – 40C temperatures, it made me want to move south. After living in Hawai’i for 12 years avoiding the drastic seasonal changes of Alberta, I fulfilled that need. Now as I reflect on your words, I see the value of living in climate with a variety of weather. I believe these seasonal changes make us more hardy and innovative, as the winter months allow us to slow down and reflect more on our existence. That incubation time actually made me reflect on my role as a geoscientist and how complex society has become and how our activities are impacting our habitat. After 75 years of existence, over 50 years of work experience, and 20 years of deep reflection, I have come to the conclusion, a paradigm shift in education to solve today’s issues, is key. Many scholars, including Einstein, have pointed this out for decades, but this a topic beyond the scope of this blog. I include the subject in this comment as growth of spring is bubbling the concept back to the forefront of my mind. My apologies, but your blogs always motivate my mind!
Thanks for your comment, Gramps! I appreciate your thoughts and ideas on the solstice and seasons.