The summer solstice marks our entrance into Cancer season with the longest day of the year, but it also marks the rebirth of darkness. So goes the age old tale of the never ending battle between light and dark, life and death, growth and decay. It can be hard for us humans to hold space for both in our hearts -- so much do we want to have all good all of the time -- yet what glitters and shines for us in this lifetime is made all the more exquisite by the shadows surrounding it.
It is probably no coincidence that the height of the Sun's reign takes place in the home sign of the Moon. Cancer is a lunar kingdom, which keeps the Sun in check by reminding him of his interdependence on others and his environment. None of us are self-sustaining sovereigns. We each begin our lives in the darkness of the womb, utterly dependent on our mothers for nourishment and protection. Light too is born from darkness and life pulses in the places where the two intertwine. This is most visibly expressed in the Sun's journey through the zodiacal sign of Cancer and the vitality and abundance of the season.
So whatever you have planned today on this sweet summer solstice, take a few moments to honor the dark watery realms that hold your light. Who has nourished you in the past? Who has held you? What nourishes and holds you now? Light a candle and make an offering of food, drink, incense, or flowers to all that brings you life and strength. Merry Summer Solstice to you, my fellow human spirits, and thank you.