Summer Energy
Welcoming the Summer Solstice 🌞
As the days stretch longer and the warmth of the sun envelopes us, we find ourselves on the brink of another wonderful summer season. With the arrival of the summer solstice, also known as midsummer, we are invited to bask in the longest day of the year and the shortest night.
According to National Geographic, "On the June solstice, the North Pole is tipped more toward the sun than on any other day of the year," marking a moment of celestial alignment that has captivated humanity for centuries.
Intrigued by the ancient rituals and celebrations that accompany such astronomical phenomena, my curiosity inevitably leads me to the awe-inspiring monument of Stonehenge. The sheer magnitude and mystery of this ancient structure evoke a sense of wonder and reverence, drawing me into a deeper appreciation of the cycles of nature and the passage of time.
I did a little more diving into the significance of the summer solstice and the timeless traditions that have surrounded it for millennia. Join me to explore the fascinating history and allure of this celestial event, and embracing the magic of the solstice . 🌿✨
Ihave simply copied much of the story here- to read the whole thing – here are two very interesting websites.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/stonehenge-1 and
https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/stonehenge
First, let's marvel at the architectural wonders of ancient Egypt, where the majestic pyramids stand as a testament to human ingenuity and cosmic alignment. According to National Geographic, the Egyptians constructed these monumental structures with such precision that the sun, when viewed from the Sphinx, sets precisely between two of the pyramids on the summer solstice. It's a breathtaking testament to their astronomical knowledge and reverence for the celestial dance of the heavens.
Now, let's journey across the seas to the mystical stone formations of Stonehenge in theUK. This unfathomable site, shrouded in mystery and wonder, has long captured the imagination of scholars and dreamers alike. Constructed over approximately 1,500 years, Stonehenge is comprised of around 100 colossal upright stones, each weighing tons. The sheer scale and complexity of this ancient marvel leave me in awe, inspiring me to delve deeper into the rituals and celebrations that have surrounded it for millennia.
As we reflect on these ancient marvels,honor the wisdom of our ancestors and the timeless mysteries of the cosmos. Join me through the ages, uncovering the secrets of the past and embracing the magic of the present moment. 🌌✨
“While many modern scholars now agree that Stonehenge was once a burial ground, they have yet to determine what other purposes it served and how a civilization without modern technology—or even the wheel—produced the mighty monument. Its construction is all the more baffling because, while the sandstone slabs of its outer ring hail from local quarries, scientists have traced the bluestones that make up its inner ring all the way to the Preseli Hills in Wales, some 200 miles from where Stonehenge sits on Salisbury Plain. … Archaeologists believe England most iconic prehistoric ruin was built in several stages, with the earliest constructed 5,000 or more years ago. First, Neolithic Britons used primitive tools—possibly made from deer antlers—to dig a massive circular ditch and bank, or henge, on Salisbury Plain. Deep pits dating back to that era and located within the circle—known as Aubrey holes after John Aubrey, the 17th-century antiquarian who discovered them—may have once held a ring of timber posts, according to some scholars…. Several hundred years later, it is thought, Stonehenge’s builders hoisted an estimated 80 non-indigenous bluestones, 43 of which remain today, into standing positions and placed them in either a horseshoe or circular formation.
During the third phase of construction, which took place around 2000 B.C., sarsen sandstone slabs were arranged into an outer crescent or ring; some were assembled into the iconic three-pieced structures called trilithons that stand tall in the center of Stonehenge. Some 50 sarsen stones are now visible on the site, which may once have contained many more. Radiocarbon dating suggests that work continued at Stonehenge until roughly 1600 B.C., with the bluestones in particularly being repositioned multiple times.” - https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/stonehenge
As to its purpose –
“There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and perhaps spiritually connect with distant ancestors.
In the 1960s, the astronomer Gerald Hawkins suggested that the cluster of megalithic stones operated as an astronomical calendar, with different points corresponding to astrological phenomena such as solstices, equinoxes and eclipses. While his theory has received quite a bit of attention over the years, critics maintain that Stonehenge’s builders probably lacked the knowledge necessary to predict such events or that England’s dense cloud cover would have obscured their view of the skies.
More recently, signs of illness and injury in the human remains unearthed at Stonehenge led a group of British archaeologists to speculate that it was considered a place of healing, perhaps because bluestones were thought to have curative powers."
My question to you is....
Will you be celebrating the summer solstice? Is it a day of wonder and magic for you? Fun fact for me: My nice was born on this day which always seems great to me! Around the globe,some folks have dances, festivals, bonfires, and grand celebrations.
As for me, I think I might just take the chance to sit down, look at the water by my home, drink a tall glass of water and be gratful to be alive and well – If I an lucky, it will be a clear I can watch a lovely sunset and and/or moon rise-a gentle reminder of the beauty that surrounds us. 🌅🌕!
