I know they say time goes quicker as you get older, but the sabbats have a cheeky habit of creeping up on me, and this Summer Solstice was no different. This year, the longest day involved clearing out a shed in that ridiculous heat and going to the tip, followed by a well earned nap! As I journey along my path, I tend to feel the season, rather than focusing on just one day, so it was the following day, which was a whole half a second shorter, when I ventured out to mark the turn of the wheel.
An early start was required, well when the day was still in single figures, which is a shock to my Sunday morning system, and I headed off to spend some time with the lovely Ladies of Kent Goddess Group at the beautiful setting of Walmer Castle Gardens, a place I'd driven past several times, but never actually visited. In the Avallonian tradition, Summer Solstice or Litha as some people call it, is connected to the element of water, which I've always found a surprise, but over the years, I learned to go with the flow, every pun intended!
After much delighted hugging, we explored the grounds, and found the cool peace of the Pavilion overlooking a tranquil pool, where we held a short and heartfelt water ritual, which was sacred, life affirming, warm and funny all at the same time. The pool before us was seemingly still and serene in the heat, until we looked closer and saw countless damsel flies and dragonflies making merry and laying their eggs on the lily pads there.
I've always loved dragonflies, I have them all over the house, in jewellery, art, mugs, you name it and their magical gossamer wings and iridescent hues have always held a huge significance for me, their message of change, adaption, transformation and spiritual enlightenment are always welcome, and today was no exception. It was the perfect afternoon with the most beautiful company, tranquil and nourishing, full of laughter and chatter in equal measure.
Later on, after returning home, it was time to head out with himself, this time to the Lost Village of Dode for some more Solstice celebrations - this time the Return and Rebirth of the Dode Dragon. For those of you who have never heard of Dode, in a very small nutshell, it was an old village that was wiped out by the black death, the church lay empty, it was deconsecrated and fell into disrepair, until about 30 years ago when the current owner bought it and restored it.
Today it's a beautiful venue for Weddings and Handfastings, and also has a barrow for a final resting place for ashes, which I have also been privileged to visit. The whole site has beautiful magical and somnolent qualities about it, and yesterday it was the setting for the Litha Celebrations that welcomed back a banner of the Dode Dragon, 25 years after it had been cast aside, following an acrimonious debate with a local Archdeacon. Maybe not your normal Midsummer back drop.
It was a fabulous evening, a picnic in the sun, Morris dancing (we watched as opposed to taking part you'll be relieved to know), some amazing Japanese Drumming from Kensei Taiko which reverberated through the valley so that we could feel the very pulse of it, before the Dragon was restored to it's rightful home, in a procession of fire as the sun slipped away behind the hills for the night.
It was probably one of the most unusual and random days of Solstice Celebration that I've ever experienced, a day of opposites: water and fire, a castle and a church, but also a day of dragonflies and dragons, some of my favourite things, and it was certainly one of the most memorable.
Have A Blessed Week x x
