Celebrate the Summer Solstice

On June 20th when the Sun moves into Cancer in the Northern Latitudes, we celebrate the Summer Solstice. it is one of the eight great spokes on the Celtic Wheel of the Seasons. The Solstice (meaning sun stands still) is universally recognized in all cultures as an important turning point—it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere the Summer Solstice will be celebrated at the Winter Solstice in the North.

I have often written about the Fae (people of Fairie) and their role as protectors of the natural world. Since Summer Solstice was the time when encounters with the Fae were most possible, I felt called to write about such encounters.

2025 Beltane Newsletter

Celebrate Life Force Energy on May Day,

May Day is the time when nature has truly come alive. Our ancestors joyfully embraced the fertility of Mother Earth; flowers bloom, offering their pollen to the bees. The Celtic name for this period is Beltane, which means bright or sacred fire. During the festival, great bonfires were lit and animals and fields were blessed in hopes for an abundant year. 

Traditionally May Day began on the eve of May 1st and was celebrated with feasting, dancing, and merriment for two weeks. Beltane was a time when lovers ran off to the fields and woods together to honor the Great Goddess with ecstatic lovemaking. These Lovers knew that sexual energy was the most powerful connection to Spirit.

Celebrate the Spring Equinox, the time of green fire,

This year in the Northern Hemisphere, March 20th is the Spring Equinox when day and night will be equal in length at the equator.  Also known as Ostara or Eostre (the origin of the name Easter) light and dark will be perfectly balanced. It is also the New Year for Persians as well as the Earth Honoring spiritual traditions that follow the ancient ways.

In these ancient traditions the Vernal Equinox is considered the time of Green Fire. It refers not only to sap rising, but also to the electrical energy pulsing through the growing plants. This is not a metaphor. My electrician husband told me that green fire is literally electrical, just like our nervous systems.

Embrace Hope my friends,

Imbolc is the time of hope for new life and the return of the light.

In the US, most people think of February 2nd as Groundhog Day, the portent of how many more weeks of winter are in store. However, for thousands of years, Imbolc, meaning “in the belly” was a sign of hope that the ewes were pregnant and there would be lambs born in the spring. People also noticed that the days were gradually lengthening. 

Hope is one of the most important emotions that allow us to feel alive and attract the possibilities that lead to feeling that we do have agency. When hope is purposely destroyed, we lose the will to live.