Come join us for a day of festivities and Live-Food Cuisine!!
June 21, 2009

The Living Centre
5871 Bells Rd
Ontario, Canada
519-652-9109
www.thelivingcentre.com


Dreams
It is said that whatever is dreamed this night will come to pass—certainly Shakespeare acknowledged the magic of this time in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

With the warmth of the season caressing the land, the celebration of the Summer Solstice brings forth a truly joyous recognition that we can now enjoy the fruits of our labors in the past season. It is not surprising that this same spirit of pleasure and fun had carried over into our modern-day recognition of this, the longest day of the year.

Falling on or about June 21st. the Summer Solstice is a time of light and of fire. It is a time to reflect upon the growth of the season: the seeds that were planted in the earth and the seeds planted in our souls. It is a time of cleansing and renewal. It is a time of love and growth as well.

The First Harvest
This is the time of the first harvest, which usually consisted of the herbs planted during the Spring Equinox. Used for food, medicines and ritual, these gifts of the land clearly denote the importance of the harvest and the cycle of growth to the body, mind and soul. This is the time the magic and blessings of the fire flies come out in the evenings and blessed the land. According to some native traditions it is only after the blessing of the fire flies is the harvest to begin.

June Weddings
With all the reference to the cycle of life, it is small wonder that June has been the month for both Handfastings (trothing to one another in the Olde Way) and weddings. The pull to bring forth the harvest of feelings is as bountiful as the harvest of the land.

Even today, as we enjoy our summer vacations, we, too, reap the bounty of the past season of labor and renew ourselves to face the coming of fall.

The Summer Solstice and Honeymoons
The moon of Midsummer is, in some traditions called the “Honey Moon” from the mead made of fermented honey drunk after the many marriage ceremonies held on the Summer Solstice.

The Time of Joy & Laughter
Since this is the longest day of year it brings much joy and laughter to people coming together and singing in joy and laughter, for it truly is the time of abundance. A time to be bathed by the gifts of the sun.