Merry Summer Solstice to all. The northern hemisphere has begun its 6 month tilt away from the sun.

[scarletwoman]

For those of us in the northern latitudes, the sun will trace a lower and lower arc across the sky until the winter solstice when the tilt of our planet shifts back again in the other direction.

So here we are, sharing this ride on this gigantic slow-motion tilt-a-whirl, turning in circles within circles.

These are uneasy times. We are here and we are bound to this journey. All arguments are essentially arguments about how best to occupy ourselves along the way.

Let us be kind and compassionate to our fellow travelers. For eventually we will all be dust.

sw

[grasswire]

1. wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I hate the days getting shorter again. I ALWAYS rue this day. We haven't even had any summer yet!

[dflprincess]

3. I feel your pain n/t

[scarletwoman]

23. I don't know how it is for you down there in the Cities, but it's been raining so much up here

I'm thinking that it's time to consider treating mosquitos as livestock. You know, branding and herding them. Maybe have rodeos.

:hi:
sw

[Odin2005]

26. It's been soooo cool and rainy in Fargo it's nuts.

The grass sure likes it, though!

[dflprincess]

53. Lots of rain here too

but we have Metropolitan Mosquito Control to help "cull the herd".

[Terry in Austin]

17. Too much summer here

Several 100-degree days already, water rationing, not even officially summer till now.

It gets so hot the cats sit under the lawn sprinklers!

[Cresent City Kid]

18. My favorite is the Autumnal Equinox

because the dreaded season of summer is never farther away. Growing up in New Orleans, and living here in San Antonio has ingrained this dislike of the sun and the summer into my preferences.

The original post was beautiful, and I mean no disrespect those who celebrate these occasions.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

59. I feel the same way.

I wish every day was as long as the summer solstice.

[madrchsod]

2. it`s all down hill till winter....

[suffragette]

4. Beautiful post

Merry Summer Solstice to you, scarletwoman.

K&R

[scarletwoman]

5. Thank you.

:)

[suffragette]

6. You're very welcome

:hi:

[Jack Sprat]

7. So very grateful. Thanks. nt

[scarletwoman]

9. You're welcome.

:)

[Lucian]

8. ...

A faery feast upon this eve,
For King Oberon and Titania Queen,
To celebrate Solstice revelry,
with dance and song among the Seelie.
And so I offer both my hands
to a certain Goodfellow, who is my friend,
And we shall revel the whole night long
laughing and feasting to our Midsummer's song!

Merry Summer Solstice to you too!

[scarletwoman]

11. Oh lovely! Thank you so much!

:loveya:

[TriMera]

10. Merry Summer Solstice! n/t

[scarletwoman]

13. "If I can't dance, I don't want to be in your revolution" - Emma Goldman (not an exact quote, sorry)

[demmiblue]

12. Thank you for reminding me to be more mindful.

Merry Summer Solstice to you! :hi:

[scarletwoman]

15. Thank YOU! I'm a big fan of mindfulness.

:hi:

[LiberalAndProud]

14. How thoughtful, scarletwoman! Thank you.

Merry Summer Solstice to you as well. Have a happy summer!

[scarletwoman]

16. Much appreciated. The year is turning, there are many more wildflowers yet to bloom this summer.

The fireflies have shown up on schedule, and the dragonflies have begun to dance in the daytime. May the creatures of summer prosper.

[Zorra]

19. It's Summer!!! Happy Summer to you, and to all!

I love Summer, it is my time.

[scarletwoman]

20. "I love Summer, it is my time" -- I totally understand!

As a native Minnesotan, when I lived in S.California for a time (40-some years ago) it was the biggest thrill of my life. Like, it was SUMMER all the time!!!!

On the other hand, I also lived in Alaska for a time, about 25 years later, and discovered a new appreciation for winter that I'd never experienced before.

Back home in Minnesota these past 16 years, I find that what I really like the best about the Summer Solstice is that it means we're getting that much closer to moving back into winter. :D

sw

[Odin2005]

27. I much prefer our Minnesota springs, love the flowers and mild air.

I hate heat and humidity.

[Zorra]

50. I live in AZ,

and usually go south in the winter. I love to be outside and swim and play and don't like rain or cold.

So Summer all the time means happy for me.

[RebelOne]

40. I hate summer. Winter is my time.

Especially after the heat we have had since May, I hate it worse than ever. Finally, a little relief today. The high will be 87 instead of 97.

[demodonkey]

60. Winter would be a lot nicer if we could afford heat.

Seriously, we had a terrible time paying for heating oil last winter, and not a penny left saved up to do it for next.

[stevedeshazer]

21. +1.

You're right.

[Octafish]

22. Merry Summer Solstice to You, Yours and ALL DU, scarletwoman!

Our time here isn't long. That's why crossing paths with someone kind is so wonderful.



Thank you, Scarlita!

[stormpilot]

24. Thanks! Merry Solstice to you too.

[Odin2005]

25. I'm a spring person, I hate the days getting shorter!

:cry:

[scarletwoman]

30. Ah, well. The days get shorter, then they get longer, then they get shorter...

I do love the yearly round. If we lived at the equator, the days would be the same length all year, there'd be no longer days to look forward to.

:hi:
sw

[BlueJazz]

56. That's not true but don't hate me for pointing that out. I still love your post.

:)

[W_HAMILTON]

28. Thank god.

I hate hot weather. I hate the summer. I hate sunlight.

Each year, getting over this hump is a milestone for me. Here's to "shorter" days!

[Ilsa]

29. I'm ready! And I can't wait for 100° shit to be over and done with in a few months. nt

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

31. Happy Solstice everyone! (I'm a little late in posting this)

I gladly welcome the beginning of shorter days.
I live with nearly constant migraines, making me very sensitive to the bright sunlight
and so the sun is my wolf-bane.

I hope that everyone here has a good or better second half of the year.

May Odin (or your Deity of preference) give us the sight and wisdom
so that we can lead our country and world to a better future.

May Thor give us the strength to face and defeat those that want to take
our society, government, schools, etc in the wrong direction

May Tyr aid us in bringing justice to our country so that we can hold those
who break our laws accountable and that they face the appropriate punishment

May Freya help bring love (both old and new) into our lives and with Frigga
that they help us allow all those who wish to marry to do so, whether it is m-f, m-m, f-f

Finally, I hope everyone takes the time to prepare for winter so that they don't fall prey to the Yule-Cat
( http://www.sbpoet.com/2004/12/jlaktturinn_yul.html )
(I had a dream once where the Yule-Cat ate one of my toes. I had fallen asleep and when I woke up
I saw that my parents' cat was chewing on my toes through my socks)

[Javaman]

32. Can't happen soon enough...

I'm getting burn out on 102+ temps each day.

[H2O Man]

33. Recommended.

Thanks for this!

We do well to remember that we are within the Big Clock. We get our own number of rides on this living rock, as it revolves around the sun. Let's spend our time well.

[pipi_k]

34. My favorite time of the year, actually...

between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox.

In Winter, the sun is often harsh and bright, even more so with the snow cover. Late Winter to late Spring, the sun mellows a bit, but it still feels harsh. When it's out. Mostly we have lots of rain...sometimes for days on end. The days can be so gray and depressing and cold and damp.


Summer Solstice...there's a golden glow in the sky. The days feel peaceful...somnolent. Storms come and don't stick around for days on end. The leaves (in my area) start to show signs of changing color in late August, yet the air is still warm. The crickets are singing every night. I love the crickets.

And in September the air can be so clear and the sky such a shade of blue that it can make a person cry.


:loveya:

[Scottybeamer70]

35. Thank you, scarletwoman

for a beautiful post. We need more compassion on this tilted globe we ride on..
Beautiful comments by others! Thanks!

[WolverineDG]

36. I've had enough summer already

over 100F temps since April...I'm done for this year, thanks. :)

dg

[RebelOne]

48. Me too. Seems it skipped from winter

to a few days of spring and then right into summer here in North Georgia. We have had temperatures in the 90s since the middle of May.

[G_j]

37. aho

:hi: :loveya:

[amborin]

38. K&R

[anamandujano]

39. We had a beautiful ground soaking rain last night

in San Antonio to usher it in. (I didn't know we were having the solstice until I saw this thread.)

May the sunflowers start their rise.

[roody]

41. Summer Solstice, return of the night.

Tomorrow the nights grow longer,
Tomorrow the heat grows stronger,
Tonight, the shortest night.

[felix_numinous]

42. Last couple mornings

I awoke at dawn and recorded the bird's symphonies, we have had a lot of rain and they are thick in the trees around here. During the last Full Moon and the Solstice mornings they sounded especially boastful and enthusiastic. :)

Happy Summer Solstice~~

[Withywindle]

43. To you and yours as well, scarletwoman!

Merry meet!

The Earth is a beautiful place, a good place. It's our home. If it's riddled with injustice and suffering, it's largely because we've made it that way. We can also make the choice to make it better. Our ride is short; let's show our home and all of our neighbors love and respect while we're here.

[libodem]

44. Back atcha

Went to a witches circle last night for a celebration. Homage to the 4 directions and earth, wind, fire&water.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

45. Merry Summer Solstice to you too, Scarletwoman! Great post!

Thank you and :hi:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

46. Axial tilt -- It's the reason for the season.

[Evasporque]

47. Scott Walker is calling for abolishing solstice.

Dictating that pagan beliefs are no longer relevant.

[RagAss]

49. Yes ! "Live like you're already dead".

[Bill McBlueState]

51. Happy solstice.

New religions pop up all the time, but people have been noticing and celebrating the solstice for more than 10,000 years. It really belongs to everyone.

[sarcasmo]

52. A day worth celebrating.

[LuckyLib]

54. A lovely post I found at the end of a long, tiring day. Thank you.

[scarletwoman]

55. You're welcome. May the night revive you.

[Kurovski]

57. All of my plants and seeds are taking off after a slooow crawl toward the sun.

That rain really helped, but yes, as you say: A lotter' mousequetwos flyin' all over the place.

[slipslidingaway]

58. Thanks scarletwoman - lovely post and reminder :) n/t