Happy Solstice Greetings

I hope you had a lovely time, if you marked the occasion.

21-06-08_0539, originally uploaded by Beautifu1.

I have traveled to Castlerigg Stone Circle to greet the dawn at many Solstices and Equinoxes but this Summer Solstice was the first time I stayed there overnight. My ex-husband never ‘let’ me do so before, isn’t freedom wonderful

Unfortunately I was functioning on Pagan Time and arrived too late for the sunset … I nearly didn’t go at all because I’ve been having a lot of trouble with my back but decided “Sod It, this is my first chance and I’m not going to miss it!!!” I took a picnic blanket, a flask of hot water (sipped sparingly due to lack of facilities), some cereal bars, my pain meds, an apple, some seeds, a wind-up torch, waterproof, umbrella, woolly hat, gloves and wore … several layers lol

Though I missed the sunset I didn’t miss the fire poi dancers … fantastic!

20-06-08_2232, originally uploaded by Beautifu1. 20-06-08_2248, originally uploaded by Beautifu1.

It was a mad, wonderful night, I thought I might sleep some. In the past I’d watched the sunset at the shore, gone home for some sleep then traveled to Castlerigg Stone Circle for the dawn, I’d never actually kept the vigil before but this year I did and I’m glad I did. With my back I didn’t actually do my ‘normal’ three times around the circle in one go, I spread it through out the night and that felt right. The later times were especially magical because someone, thank you whoever you were, had put lights around the circle. Tea tree lights in paper bags which were weighed down with sand … a lovely effect.

21-06-08_0046, originally uploaded by Beautifu1.

Some old friends were there too, the Cumbrian Druid Order. They arrived half way through the night and I joined in with their Ritual, held before the sun was supposed to rise. It’s always good to see them even though they generally bring the me dia!

Here we were waiting for the sun to rise, according to the BBC weather website dawn at Keswick was supposed to be at 04:36. The sky was bright but, though we kept watch, no sign of the sun yet …

21-06-08_0442, originally uploaded by Beautifu1.

I took this photo after the sun was up, even though it was warm enough that layers had come off (hats, scarfs etc) the valley to the south was still full of mist … a beautiful sight and not really surprising as it was easily cold enough for us to see our breathe during the night.

21-06-08_0534, originally uploaded by Beautifu1.

If you’re interested in checking out my photographs from previous years just pop over to my flickr account, I have a few … I mean I took slightly over 90 photos this year alone lol.

Peace, Health and Happiness to us all