Summer Solstice (From Western Telegraph)

Summer Solstice

9:06pm Friday 18th June 2010 in Karen Deverson By Karen Deverson

This Monday, June 21st, is the summer solstice – the shortest day and longest night of the year. Summer has arrived, and we have certainly been enjoying summer weather at the moment. It is a very important day, the ancient Celts and Druids thought that abundance could be manifested and negative thoughts and evil spirits could be warded off. The Celts practised fertility rituals at this time, and it is a time to honour the Sun God.

The sun is at its highest most northern point in the sky, and is said to ‘pause’ in the sky – hence the name solstice which is Latin for ‘sun’ and ‘to stand still’. It is this that is the start of summer.

There are many festivals and celebrations held on this day, as well as individual prayers for wealth to materialise, and thoughts to be positive and uplifting. To have your own celebration, wear yellow, carry or meditate with relevant crystals such as citrine, or sunstone. Write down your wishes and ambitions for the coming year, spend the day (or part of it) with nature, by the sea, in woodland or in your garden. Many people will rise to see dawn break on this special day.

Stonehenge attracts many people to celebrate summer solstice because it is believed that the 5000 year old monument was designed to capture the sunrise on Midsummers Day.