Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice is in two days. 

A typical understanding of the Summer Solstice is that Jesus Christ is the fullness of light and most glorious of us all because it's the longest day of the year. Other representations of this sacred moment are the 'perfect day' of coming into his presence, the light we can obtain, and the fullness of light followed by a period of waning darkness. The Summer Solstice is the complete opposite of the Winter Solstice, which was just six months earlier and was the shortest day of the year. 

In some cultures, the Summer Solistice is celebrated by wearing a wreath on one's head and holding hands while dancing in a circle around a large fire. Obvious symbols there. But as to these wreaths, men might wear a handmade wreath or, better yet, a crown of oak leaves, and women a crown made of flowers. 

These wreaths or crowns represent many things, including ascension, gaining light, and victory over battles. 

But the noblest battles are not just about oneself (though those are the ones we control most) but about how one condescends to help others. 

This Summer Solstice, may we reflect on the opportunities before us to give the most of our light to others or, at least, the most they are willing to receive.  


"Verily I say unto you all, arise and shine forth, that your light may be a standard for the nations, and that your gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth." Teachings and Commandments 131:2

— 

Addendum:

Here are a few notes I wrote down from yesterday's Summer Solstice:

1) Today is the fullness of the sun (Father), and tomorrow is the fullness of the moon (Mother). A full moon in June doesn't always happen back to back with the summer solstice, but it does this year. Interestingly, one article said that though the moon is complete in its illumination tomorrow, it will appear whole beginning today, on the Summer Solstice. Article here: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/june-full-strawberry-moon-arrives-with-summer-solstice/

2) Further, I didn't know this, but apparently, in June, the moon reaches its lowest peak above the horizon. This year, it's lower than it's been in years, being only 21.9 degrees above the southern horizon, which will occur about 11:45pm Pacific Time. So, this year and this month, we have the sun ascending to his highest and the moon condescending to her lowest.  

3) There was vandalism yesterday at the famous Stonehedge, where people travel worldwide to observe the Solstice. Protestors painted the hedges with some sort of orange powder. Although the paint was thankfully removed, it's an interesting symbol of protesting and the upcoming season of losing light. Article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/world/europe/stonehenge-just-stop-oil-solstice.html

                                            (photo taken at sunrise, 20 July 24)                                                         (photo taken by NASA of this full moon, 21 June 24)



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eyes Like a Flame of Fire, Part 1

This first post is dedicated to my friend and brother.  Here are two descriptions  of the Lord's eyes: His body also  was  like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and  his eyes as lamps of fire , and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. ( Daniel 10:2 ) And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire , and his feet  are  like fine brass. ( Revelation 1:13 ) How are his eyes like "fire"?  First, eyes are a representation of knowledge, intelligence, and the ability to see things as they really are ( Jacob 3:4 ,  Teachings and Commandments 74:4 ). Christ, the most intelligent of us all, sees all things clearly. There is no speck in his eye that he would misjudge or misvalue any situation  ( Matthew 3:41 ) . We can hide nothing good nor bad from his sight ( Psalm...
Read more

Lehi's Covenant

I consider this the most important post I've written thus far. Most scholars believe Lehi was born between 660-640 BC. These birth dates are based on the information and clues we get from 1 Nephi that: (1) Lehi lived in Jerusalem his whole life (2) he lived there during the first year of king Zedekiah's reign around 600 BC (3) he was already married at that time with at least four kids (some of whom were old enough to be married) and (4) after eight or so years of traveling in the wilderness he and Sariah were considered "old".  For the sake of argument, let's say Lehi was born at the earliest accepted date, around 640 BC. This means by the time king Zedekiah began his reign around 600 BC, Lehi was about 40 years old. Again, for the sake of argument, these dates are give-or-take a couple years.  If Lehi was born around 640 BC, this also means that he grew up during king Josiah's reign, which was from 640-609 BC ( 2 Kings 7:5-12 ). For those who need a quick re...
Read more

Eyes Like a Flame of Fire, Conclusion

If you Google search the Urim and Thummim, you will find many articles and videos about them. Much of what you will find is just a repeat of what others have already said. Other than providing the necessary introductory context, I intend not to rehash what's already been shared but to provide new insights. The first mention of a Urim and Thummim is in the Book of Mormon when the brother of Jared receives them from the Lord around the time of the Tower of Babel. In that story, they are called "stones" by the Lord and "interpreters" by Moroni. We are told that one of their functions was to translate the brother of Jared's record in some future time ( Ether 1:15 ). Much later in the Book of Mormon,  King Benjamin possessed them, and we're informed they are also used to uncover hidden mysteries ( Mosiah 5:13 ). He passed them down from generation to generation until they were sealed up by the last prophet, Moroni. In the Book of Abraham, we discover he also ...
Read more