Summer Solstice on My Own Terms

Hmmm, on that day when the sun appears to be still in the sky, does all of life follow suit?

Welcome to summer. Yes, I am a bit latewith that greeting by official standards. Summer Solstice, which marks thefirst day of summer, took place on June 21.

But being a nonconformist, I have my ownmeasure of such things. Summer officially begins for me when I sight the first Silver-spottedSkipper (displayed at the head of this post) which happened on Thursday. Incelebration of the bloom of summer, here are a few facts about Summer Solsticeinterspersed with the winged wonders that hold court during the season.

Summer Solstice is the day with thelongest period of sunlight in the northern hemisphere. The sun appears highest inthe sky and its rays strike the earth at a more direct angle causing thewarming we call summer.

Eyed-Brown

On Summer Solstice, your shadow at solarnoon is the shortest that it will be all year. Solar noon, asopposed to clock-time noon, is when the sun crosses the local meridian – an imaginaryline between the North and South poles.

White-winged Meadowhawk

After Summer Solstice, the sun appearsto reverse course and head back in the opposite direction. But in point offact, the sun itself is not moving. This change that we perceive in its positionin the sky is caused by the tilt of the earth’s axis as it orbits the sun.

Northern Pearly-Eye

In some cultures, Summer Solstice is celebratedwith the gathering of family and friends, raising and dancing around a maypole,decorating houses with greenery and enjoying food and drink.

Eastern Pondhawk

The word solstice comes from theLatin solstitium – from sol (sun) and stitium (still orstopped). And so for me, Summer Solstice is when the relentless march of timepauses for a heartbeat, when life in all its myriad forms breathes most deeplyand when winged wonders unfurl their gossamer wings in humble praise and celebration.

~ Now Available Online from Amazon,Chapters Indigo or Barnes & Noble: Hunting Muskie, Rites of Passage –Stories by Michael Robert Diet

~ Michael Robert Dyet is also the author of Untilthe Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel which was a double winner inthe Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com .

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