Summer Solstice
For those of us living in the Northern hemisphere, June 21st is the beginning of summer. This is the longest day and the shortest night of the year and is also known as Summer Solstice.
This year during the Summer Solstice, I went to a presentation by Laurie Blackwell, who's part of the Ray Of Light community (more about that in the 500 Days of Sober post). Laurie is a teacher, tarot card reader, and an artist. You can find her at www.laurieblackwell.com. I really enjoyed what I learned and the thought prompts she shared to get me in the summer mood and am happy she’s allowed me to share this with you.
The Summer Solstice, also known as the June Solstice or Estival Solstice, is the precise moment when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, marking its farthest north position in the sky. Interestingly, the term "solstice" can be translated to "sun stands still" in Latin. During this time of year, the sun seems to rise and set at nearly the same spot on the horizon for a few days.
I can't help but feel energized and hopeful during this time of year. The winds in the Gorge have finally warmed up, and the additional daylight feels like a sensory gift. Just sitting on the deck and soaking in the warmth of the sun is all I need for a moment. Though, I must admit, there's also a slight pang of- "Oh no"- as the daylight will gradually start to diminish. I'll save that worry for another day.
This week, I attended my first outdoor concert of the season. I brought my seventy-six-year-old mother to see Diana Ross. It was her second concert ever, the first being in 2019 when we saw Cher (which was absolutely amazing!). I thoroughly enjoy being sober at concerts. In the past, so much energy was spent on getting buzzed before the show, maintaining it during the concert, and keeping that feeling until I went to sleep. But in sobriety, I am fully present and in the moment throughout the entire performance. I didn't miss any of the music because I didn’t have to wait in line for a drink or to use the Porta Potty (ew). Plus, I'm not spending a fortune on overpriced alcohol. Cocktails were $12 and served in a tiny 4 oz plastic cup. Yikes!
I also loved that the concert started at 6:30 pm, had no opener, and ended at 8:30 pm. Diana Ross, who is seventy-nine years old, delivered an incredible performance. She showcased her new album along with all the hits and sang for a solid two hours with a fantastic band and four backup singers. At one point, she even demonstrated her flexibility by bending over and touching her toes. It's worth noting that she's also sober. In 2002, at the age of 58, she entered rehab for drug and alcohol abuse, spending three weeks there. She was checked in again before the end of the year, but unfortunately, she faced legal consequences when she was later arrested for a DUI and ordered to serve 48 hours in jail. Before taking the stage, Diana used to enjoy putting cognac in her coffee. Her children grew concerned about her wine consumption, and she developed a dependency on prescribed painkillers. Reportedly, the end of her 14-year marriage sparked her addiction. It's astonishing to think that my own struggles with alcohol and drugs were for far less significant reasons.
During the concert, she wowed the crowd with six fabulous and sparkly costume changes. While singing "Upside Down" to a sea of people standing and recording her on their phones, she paused and urged the audience to, "Move it or lose it. This is not television. You've got to participate. Move your body. If I can move my body like this, and I'm forty-seven (pause for laughter) you know I'm seventy-nine, right? (pause for cheers and applause)." Her message and music were filled with gratitude. At one point, she led the crowd in repeating an expressing of thankfulness for the blessings we have in life. The finale was a cover of Gloria Gaynors I Will Survive. Yes, she has and we will. It was a beautiful way to start the summer.
To help set an intention for the 93 days of summer we have this year Laurie Blackwell shared this poem by Mary Oliver:
The Sun
“Have you ever seen anything in your life more wonderful than the way the sun, every evening, relaxed and easy, floats toward the horizon and into the clouds or the hills, or the rumpled sea, and is gone– and how it slides again out of blackness, every morning, on the other side of the world, like a red flower streaming upward on it’s heavenly oils, say, on a morning in early summer, at its perfect imperial distance– and have you ever felt for anything such wild love– do you think there is anywhere, in any language, a word billowing enough for the pleasure that fills you, as the sun reaches out, as it warms you as you stand there, empty-handed– or have you too turned from this world– or have you too gone crazy for power, for things?”
I do enjoy watching the summer sun set. Even more than that, a sunrise. I used to stay up all night partying, eagerly awaiting the break of dawn with saucer-eyes, a racing heart, and a dehydration-induced haze, accompanied by the distant thumping of bass. Now I delight in waking rested before the first light, when life is quiet and watching the sky glow warmer into the morning as the birds begin to chatter and the bushes rustle.
Find a quiet time by yourself to finish these prompts:
This Summer…
I can’t wait to
I hope I
I plan to enjoy
I want to feel
I will stay cool by
I don’t want to forget to
I will use the extra daylight to
And just for fun and inspiration choose one:
Popsicle / Ice cream
Theme park / National park
Sundress / Shorts
Lemonade / Iced tea
Beach / Mountains
Stargazing / Fireworks show
Watermelon / Cherries
Lazy River / Water slide
Road trip / Staycation
Concert / Baseball game
Thank you for reading this. I hope you'll come back. I'll be over here.
