The Illuminating Spark: Summer Solstice Reflections
Reflections at the start of midsummer.
(Image description: A photo of a sunrise coming up over the horizon. The light is casting trees, fencing, chairs, and a bench in silhouette.) Credit: Photo by Lyle Hastie on Unsplash
As of this week, this newsletter has been in publication for a year! It’s a small accomplishment, but it’s worth noting on the Summer Solstice!
As I’ve mentioned before, Polytheistic Monasticism is in its infancy, but it’s certainly developing. I like to learn from other monastics’ paths, as they can help me to understand my own path more.
I was catching up on Harvest Home Hermitage’s latest YouTube video, and she was discussing discernment while cooking. Discernment is a topic I don’t often reflect upon enough. It’s an important subject that can easily be forgotten in daily life, and I don’t even realize it.
Trust and change were key components of her discussion. I found myself greatly relating to her statement about wanting to control life’s course but also not excessively worrying about the future. The idea of leaving things up to deities tends to go against my character.
In a monastic path, there’s work involved but having a sense of certainty that things will work out, one way or another, also comes into play. It’s a difficult concept to accept, but it’s one that’s worth embracing.
Her video caused me to recall the fid I pulled during Bealtaine, Ór. Since the meanings around that letter are limited to imagery of items like gold, I understood that I needed to focus on things of substance or importance.
The video gave me an idea of what discernment means and how often to seek it. Checking in during the fire festivals is an appropriate time to see where I need discernment and what form it will take.
Additionally, trusting Brighid became clearer after watching it, such as when the Faith card in my oracle deck pops up as a reminder.
Based on the Bealtaine ogam reading, a couple important things to focus on were health and family until I do another reading during Lúnasa. I know these themes matter in general, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they turned up again during future holidays.
I typically view Bealtaine as the beginning of summer, with the Solstice as its peak. The days will gradually shorten until the dark half of the year comes around again. So far, summer has been unseasonably hot, so it’s hard to really appreciate the turning of the seasons.
However, I understand that the long, hot days will eventually pass as well. Summer won’t last forever. In the meantime, I will do what I can to value loved ones and do what I can to care for my health. Discernment will continue to be a part of my path, as I delve into what Brighid will direct me to do.
May the radiance of the sun bless the coming days!