Honoring the Solstice

[Lisa Walford]

A certain day became a presence to me,

there it was, confronting me -- a sky, air, light

a being. And before it started to descend

from the height of noon, it leaned over

and struck me with a sword, granting me

honor and a task. The day's blow

rang out, metallic - or it was I, a bell awakened,

and what I heard was my whole self

saying and singing that it knew: I can. 

Denise Levertov

When I read this, I feel like I am right with her, walking, the sky, air. And I suddenly really feel the sunlight, the warmth entering into me. While the image might seem religious, the metaphor of a "being" can be, as Levertov suggests, like a bell ringing inside that says, wake up! Wake up, YOU CAN! what a powerful affirmation! The simple verb, can. 

The summer solstice is a time of harvest, fullness, ripeness, celebration. 

May this time of year, for you, for us, be one of looking out, and looking in. We have made it through three years of fall and winter, emotionally, culturally. Now, as we emerge, celebrate this being, awakening, we can!