I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one,
so that the world may know that you sent me and love them even
as you loved me. John 17:23
Life Question: When was the last time you fed your soul in
fellowship with others?
Last weekend was a rare getaway for me. The Villa Maria Retreat Center
in
the coming together of heaven and earth(God and Mother Earth respectively)
and is celebrated by neo-pagan, Western Mystery tradition, Wiccan, Native
American and the Catholic faiths.
As I researched further about Summer Solstice, I came to learn also it coincides
with a day celebrated by those in the Catholic faith, The Nativity of St. John the
Baptist. With all this fresh in my mind, I made my reservation for this special holiday
was thinking about what I could bring to the celebration(besides myself). Summer
Solstice is ushered in with dancing, drum sessions, exchanging stories or poems,
gathering around a camp or bonfire(fire representing of course, the fire of the Holy
Spirit).
Twelve of us were in attendance for the celebration drinking lemonade, roasting marshmallows for s'mores(YUMMY!), and using shakers and saying an opening
prayer to our Lord and Savior to start the festivities. This went on for about twenty minutes.
For another twenty minutes or so, all of us enjoyed each other's company with
good conversation, lighthearted joking and sharing life experiences. Then the
inevitable happened, A RAINSTORM chased us inside!
Taking shelter in one of the Villa Maria's cabins, we grabbed ourselves some more food
and drink then settled down for our first drum session and poetry reading. All of us took
turns reading our favorite poems and then drummed and used shakers in between. Some
of us, after the readings and drum sessions ended stationed ourselves outside to watch
the storm that broke the silence of the outside.
The air was thick with heat and humidity, the rain fell in huge drops. Not something I've
seen before. We all remarked about how appropriate we thought it was that it should
rain on that night because Summer Solstice Celebration is also about renewal and
cleansing, the sowing of seeds in the earth and the sowing of seeds with our own
souls.
Happy Summer Solstice to All!
Blessings,
Liz Ciccone
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