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Summer arrived on June 21 with a heat wave here in the Hudson Valley. The air was still thick with humidity. The afternoons were agitated with strong thunderstorms and downpours of rain. The summer equinox is an exciting day filled with astronomical, cultural and historical significance for the height of the Sun's journey and the midpoint of the solar year. The word "solstice" comes from the Latin "solstitium," meaning "Sun standing still". This made me thing about the constant movement of the universe and how hard it is to truly find stillness.

Humans have created many symbolic meanings to further illustrate the depth and richness of the summer solstice's significance and impact on culture, spirituality, and connections to the natural world. Many cultures celebrate the summer solstice with various festivals and rituals. Ancient monuments like Stonehenge in England are aligned with the solstice sunrise.

Consider the effects of the summer solstice on you and your environment. What are the changes you notice or that you are seeking to discover?

I love the stillness of the garden and the buzzing of the insects racing from flower to flower or the agitating wings of hummingbirds. Pollinators like bees and butterflies are particularly active, aiding in the reproduction of flowering plants. Many plants use the increased daylight as a signal to flower or bear fruit. This timing ensures that pollinators are active and that seeds can develop in the warmest part of the year. Many insects, such as butterflies, beetles, and dragonflies, time their life cycles to emerge as adults around the summer solstice when temperatures are are just right and food is abundant. Nature’s cycles are so in tune with the solstice.

What will you explore? Below are just a few symbols to consider to add additional meaning to your art:

Light and Enlightenment, Growth and Abundance, Transformation and Renewal, Celebration and Joy, Balance and Duality, Fertility and Life, Fire and Sun Worship, Connection to Ancestors and Heritage, Healing and Well-being Nature and Earth Cycles, Community and Togetherness, Nature's Resilience, Time and Passage, Mystery and Magic, Reflection and Gratitude, Hope and Optimism, Creativity and Inspiration, Mythology and Legends, Protection and Purification, Balance of Elements