BS: summer solstice

Subject: summer solstice
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:40 AM

I've been up since 3.30am (it's 8.30 am now). My flatmate and I drove to Avebury, arriving at 4.40am, 10 minutes before sunrise. It was my first time at Avebury, despite writing countless essays on henges in university, so I wasn't sure what it was going to be like outside of a text book.
As we approached Avebury we caught a glimpse of Silbury Hill through the mist against a lightening sky - very ethereal (and somewhat mystical - grooooaann)! We walked along the banks of Avebury and stood to watch the couple of men in sheets (sorry - druidic types) making last minute alterations (pun intended) to their altar, then we moved on around the banks to a quiet spot. We sat facing west across a meadow blanketed in low-lying mist and watched the sun rise past a bank of clouds. I made an offering of a chocolate biscuit to the sun, and ate it ceremoniously - bit more tasty than communion wafers. It was a perfect orangey-pinky-bluey-misty morning and we settled down to enjoy it for a while before ambling back through the stones and the people. My flatmate, who has been going for years, says it's one of the best sunrises she's seen there, so I feel really lucky that I got to see it like that on my first visit.

Anyone else been out and about this fine midsummer's morn?

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 04:19 AM

It's only 220a over here, so I've not been out, yet, but will be up when the sun brushes the horizon, here. It is so kewl to hear how the morning has already started over there and in such a special place, too. Thanks for the lovely description.

It's a good day what dawns on Spaw drawing breath! Merry Solstice!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: John J at home
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 05:50 AM

It's 10am as I write this.

At 4.15am this morning, my eldest son and I drove to Alderley Edge (of Wizard, and Brissingamen fame) for sunrise. We parked the car alongside a few others and walked through the almost silent woods to the Edge. Rabbits ran around through the woodland, and a few birds flew overhead.

We sat with our feet dangling over the Edge facing North East towards the hills of the Derbyshire Peak District. All the features of the foreground were perfectly visible in the subdued pre-sunrise light. There were a few clouds around, but not enough to spoil the morning; the all important horizon was perfectly clear. A few clouds well above the horizon were illuminated gently by the sun behind the hills.

The sun peeped over the horizon and everything changed. The very light mist that had previously been invisible and sat in the folds of the land before us, became illuminated, hiding some of the features, yet showing off others.

Very light shadows formed, silhouettes of trees, buildings (churches stood out well with their towers and spires), small hills. The sky changed from red to gold and back again, almost imperceptibly. The clouds almost became alive. Soon, as more of the sun rose beams of light around the shadows formed, exaggerating yet again the feature of the foreground. Later, as the golds and reds faded, the beams of light from the sun shone through the foreground towards us, adding yet another appearance to the countryside.

We weren't alone on the Edge, a group of four and a group of two people were near us. The couple, like us, sat silently watching the spectacle. The group of four performed some sort of ritual; the stood variously holding hands in a circle, then facing the sun with arms outstretched, then held each other closely in a huddle.

Soon after sunrise a group of four came to sit nearby. They may have seen the sunrise from somewhere else, but I rather think they missed it. There were others around on the Edge but we didn't see them. A horn was blown about five minutes after sunrise, somebody's whoops were heard through the woodland.

Once the sun was clear of the horizon, the features began to lose their magical appearance, and things returned to normal.

It was certainly a magical experience. My son was impressed by what he had seen, I was as glad about that as sceptical student I hadn't expected much but scorn for going tramping the countryside at that god-forsaken time of the morning…….'You're doing what? Why? You can see the sun ANY day' etc etc. But no, he enjoyed it.

I took loads of photographs, but I'm no photographer. When the photos are developed they'll mean nothing to anyone else, but lots to me.

We left for home after 40 minutes or so, and were soon climbing into our beds. Timothy could stay in bed all day if he wanted (he probably will), I had to be up for work around 8.00am.

It's a good job a friend phoned me at 9.20am and woke me up! There are many advantages to being self employed, flexible hours being one of them A major disadvantage is: no work = no wages. I'll have another coffee and then cycle off to work!

I can't wait until next year.

John (The bleary)

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Lyndi-loo
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 06:04 AM

You disciplined people. It was as much as I could do to crawl ou of bed at 7.00 am. But getting up earlier would have been to no avail anyway. It was solid cloud in Ayrshire at that time. Maybe next year

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Patrish(inactive)
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 06:10 AM

I wanted to watch the sunrise, but had a late night last night. I did manange to go into my garden this morning and appreciate the warmth of the sun on my face.
Brightest Blessings to all

Patrish xx

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Drumshanty
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 06:12 AM

JohnJ

Thank you for that beautiful description of Alderley Edge. I used to live in a caravan there and saw many beautiful mornings but that sounds like something special.

Tracy

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Micca
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 06:49 AM

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Micca
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 07:01 AM

I went to bed late, and rose early to find the sun had just cleared the Horizon here in East London, so I raised my arms to it.. and in the pale light of it streaming thru my kitchen window and the light of Spaws votive candle that has burned since before his surgery started, I made what private rites that I could for his continued healing, bringing together the hour, the symbols, and the thought, knowing that there are many joined together in this task, trying to draw them together , whatever their beliefs( or lack of) and concentrating this energy into a single bolt of healing love and knowing that this time it is for him and him alone....SMIB... Bright Blessings.. Merry Meet..

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: John J
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 08:24 AM

Beautifully put Micca.

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 08:45 AM

Very beautiful, micca. Happy day!

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Fortunato
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 10:07 AM

Good on you, Micca, old son.


regards, chance

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: kendall
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 11:03 AM

I was up at 3 am, but, heavy overcast here. I'm about to get excited about Old Songs.

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Matt_R
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 11:15 AM

Bad things have already started happening here. This IS going to be a long day...

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Jim Cheydi
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 12:11 PM

I watched the rising of the sun. Closely followed by the rising of the 14 pints of Kronenberg I had last night.

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: mousethief
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 12:13 PM

I was woke up by my stepdaughter asking for a ride to school at about 6:55. Then I got dressed and drove to work. You early risers are an inspiration, albeit a tiring one.

A wish for Midsummer's day: May your lives grow fuller of love and peace as the days grow shorter.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 01:03 PM

It's overcast, and cold here today.. just the way I like it!!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Paul Mitchell
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:10 PM

We were at Avebury too. A great day out, relaxing with family and friends, snoozing in the sun, meeting new people and a picnic at West Kennet Long Burrow. Just the break from work I need at the moment.

Hope you all had a groovy day.

Paul

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Morticia
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:10 PM

Jim, 'nuff respect, mate, you just caused me to fall off my chair in paroxysms of helpless laughter.....nuff respect for the 14 pints of Kronie too.....I can only do 6 before the 'Rising of the Beer'.Oh, and I was too tired and sad this morning to get up but Merry Solstice to all.

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: hesperis
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 03:30 PM

I missed the morning sunrise after a late night, but had an allergy treatment today. It was very powerful healing, and now I feel surrounded by a rainbow garment of protection. Let the light shine!

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: lady penelope
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 05:58 PM

A spirit in the form of my cat Mungo, woke both me and Parker at 4.20 precisely. Just long enough to get up, have a drink of water, ablute, say "hi" to creation and then slouch off back to bed.

Bless 'is furry cotton socks ( quoth she between gritted teeth )

Blessed be, each and every one!

TTFN M'Lady P.

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: John J at home
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 07:54 PM

This really is a wonderful end to midsummer day.

Given that I had a rather early start today experiencing sunrise on Alderley Edge this morning, I had a kip in the armchair this evening. This made me rather later than usual for my trip to the folk club in Lymm.

I left home around 9.15pm on my bicycle to pedal the 6.5 miles through Altrincham and on to the Trans Pennine Trail, a resurfaced disused railway line that conveniently goes directly to the pub where the folk club is held.

The trail goes through farmland and has open views for some miles. As I pedalled along, singing the songs I intended to sing at the club, I watch the sun sink into the west. There were some clouds, enough to illuminate the sky, but not enough to grey the evening.

As the sun sank down, the sky and the clouds changed colour in sympathy, almost the complete opposite of what I had experienced around 4.45am. One significant difference was that while sunrise was a peaceful, almost silent affair, this event was still embroidered with the day's life. Within a few minutes, the sky changed from blue to gold, the to red as the sun's rays refracted through the atmosphere.

It really was perfect.

The folk club was as good as ever. Plenty of good singers and musicians, very good company, too much Timothy Taylor's Landlord bitter (I was on my bicycle), and, surprise, surprise, no bodhran.

I came out of the pub around 11.40pm and the horizon was still quite light even though the sun had long since vanished.

Such a shame there was nobody to share it with.

Ah well, a shower, a cup of Horlicks, lots of thoughts of loved ones, and then bed.

Good night.

JJ

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 08:28 PM

Beautiful, John. Thanks for rounding off the day for us.

Goodnight.

Noreen

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: DougR
Date: 21 Jun 01 - 11:03 PM

In Arizona you don't look forward to sunrise. It's there all day and when I took my two mile walk this morning at 9:00am, it was over 100 degrees.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: GUEST,Mater Amabilis
Date: 22 Jun 01 - 11:43 AM

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Gypsy
Date: 23 Jun 01 - 12:28 AM

Went to the beach with my two closest woman friends, and had sushi/sashimi. Did similar with the handsome husband later in the day.

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Peg
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 06:35 PM

nice posts everyone!

For a nice pic of me at Avebury last year and an article on my adventures at Stonehenge, go to www.witchvox.com.

blessed be at Litha,

Peg

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Matt_R
Date: 25 Jun 01 - 06:37 PM

Well, I just like so say the the day started off crappy, with things going bad...but by the end they were resolved and the night was beautiful...

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 11:12 AM

My pictures of Avebury are now online and you can see 'em here.

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 01:03 PM

I saw the sun rise over Miami, as I do every day, solstice included.

This thread reminds me of a beautiful song written by American songstress Cindy Mangsen, called "Sunrise". She wrote it after staying with Bob Copper, and the song is based on a story which Bob recounted to her.

Can any UK Catters tell me whether this song has entered the folk repertoire in England yet?

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: summer solstice
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:20 AM

Glad to hear, Matt! And I got the boys back from the longest time we've ever been apart, nearly 2 weeks.. Joyful, joyful!