Solstice - Light & Darkness

Yesterday was the summer solstice and maybe also the longest day. According to some calendars it is the first day of summer although in the Celtic calendar, it's Midsummer Day, which makes more sense. The Celtic calendar features the solstices and equinoxes as the middle or height of the season, and the first day on the "cross quarter days." Therefore, summer starts on May Day or Beltane, and Winter starts on Halloween (Samhein), so that the winter solstice, December 21, is Midwinter.

I love the long daylight this time of year. It's so easy to get up at 5:20 in the light; by contrast, it's so depressing to get up in the pitch dark, just 6 months away, in midwinter. So today is always a bit sad because it means that more darkness is on the way.