Midsummer has been one of the important solar events throughout the evolution of humankind. It was an indicator that the year was about to begin waning, thus winter would be again returning.
 
The ancients knew that life came from the sun, it was life giving, life supporting, without it life would be lost.  In a good majority of ancient cultures the sun was given masculine attributes ~ Solar, active, creative, day, motion.  Summer Solstice is also known as Litha, Midsummer, St. John's Day, Celtic "Oak Festival," Alban Hefin or Alban Heruin (Light of the Shore) as well as others.
 
The journey of the sun impacted life at every level in the course of time, only relatively recently with the advances of electricity, greenhouses, transportation networks, has human reliance on the passage of the sun been lessened. Even with this dependence lessening, in this technological age, necessity of the sun and its path is crucial to our existence, however it is not as apparent today to many.
 
Litha honors the apex of Light, symbolized in the Tree King myth cycle by the crowning of the Oak King, God of the waxing year. At his crowning, the Oak King falls to his darker aspect, the Holly King, God of the waning year (days grow shorter after Litha). In terms of the God and Goddess cycle, the God is made King through his marriage to the Queen at Litha.
 
In Ancient Egypt, summer solstice was the most important day of the year. The sun was at its highest and the Nile River was beginning to rise. Special ceremonies were held to honor the Goddess Isis. Egyptians believed that Isis was mourning for her dead husband, Osiris, and that her tears made the Nile rise and well over.  Accurately predicting the floods was of such vital importance that the appearance of Sirius, which occurs around the time of the summer solstice, was recognized as the beginning of the Egyptian New Year.

 

We will gather on Monday, June 21 at 7 PM and start our participatory Ceremony at 7:30 PM.  Please bring a photo or object that symbolizes the Masculine and/or your father to place on the Altar.  This Celebration is about honoring the men, especially those that helped and those who are helping build Temple.  We ask that you wear White, Ivory, Yellow, or Gold,  and bring a side dish or beverage to share.  Temple will provide an entrée and dessert.  Everyone come ready to have FUN!

 

Sunday, June 20 is Father's Day. Temple has planned a special Service to honor the fathers.  We will gather at 12 noon for food and Service will start at 1 and end at 2 PM. 

 

As part of our Father's Day Service, we are building an Altar to the Fathers.  Please bring a photo or object to symbolize the important men in your life to place on the Altar.  It does not matter if they are living or have passed on.  There will be surprises for all Dads in attendance!