Tuesday 21 June 2011

Summer solstice

My ancestors would have no doubt rejoiced and spent today skipping merrily around a field before drinking some dodgy crushed-buttercup beverage. They would probably have regretted it the next day, but would have licked a toad believing that was the latest remedy to cure buttercup hangovers. I know my people.

I’d rather like to be skipping around a field but it’s a work day. Skipping is most definitely frowned upon within the office, although I was caught dancing in the ladies bathroom. I’m always a little out of sync with the corporate world. Some days it shows more than others.

I haven’t actually stepped out of the office today. I have looked at the natural world from the window (the sky, the clouds, a tree) and watched a discarded plastic bag sail beyond the buildings. It’s not much of a homage to nature, is it?

But still, here I am, sharing a story, enjoying your fellowship. Our hearth may be virtual but the symbolism is the same. The solstice is all about creativity, about story-telling and companionship. It is a day for giving thanks and making provisions for the season to come. So if you are hoarding stories like a squirrel, today is the day to check your stores!

27 comments:

Maria Zannini said...

I'm glad today is the longest day of the year because it'll take me that long to recover from my near computer meltdown.

I seem to be running again...but oy. Very scary.

Hope you can skip out of work soon.

Eliza said...

Hope you got some sun on the way home, if you've escaped yet. The corporate world doesn't suit me either, and hospitals are getting increasingly that way!

Old Kitty said...

I say skip away and lick some toads!!! :-) Tis tradition!!

Enjoy the rest of this wonderful day!! Happy Summer Solstice!! Happy story hoarding and reading! Take care
x

Laura S. said...

I'd rather be skipping in a field drinking in the buttercups, too! Happy summer, Jayne!!!

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I'm pretty sure my family in England would have been frolicing around drinking buttercup wine with you. :)

I'm celebrating today at our cabin in the Ozark Mountains...It's a beautiful day here. We have a gentleman who mows our grass here and he did some pruning today too. To my surprise a bush near our cabin is really a wild cherry tree. It is beautiful. We had no idea! What a wonderful day to discover a new tree in our garden. :)

I hope you can head out for some fun this evening.

Angie Paxton said...

I love the summer solstice and make it a point to be outside when the sun finally sets. So here's to skipping outside and buttercup hangovers and licking toads. Well, maybe not licking toads. I'll stick to black coffee and ibruprofen.

Emily R. King said...

I want to try dancing naked under the moon once just to say I've done it (TMI?). The only time I'm tempted is when it's warm and sunny outside, which because of where I live is rare. For my neighbors' sake that's probably a good thing.
Happy summer!

Deniz Bevan said...

Dancing in the ladies'? Hee hee. I skip down the halls sometimes and get some funny looks :-)

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Happy Summer Soltice! I wondered why it was still so bright outside! I'm off now to find me something unusual, and appropriately hereditary, to drink.

Clair Humphries said...

Wishing virtual sunshine and birdsong your way! Still lots of summer left, even if the days are getting shorter x

MorningAJ said...

I thought the toad licking thing was another kind of high... rather than a hangover cure. Though 'hair of the dog' must have originated somewhere!

Happy solstice - hope you got out into the daylight eventually!

Out on the prairie said...

We stayed up the last two nights telling tales. I laughed getting up early today, I am not sure what time I went to bed.it has been the meeting of the minds for a few days in the middle of nowhere.

Out on the prairie said...

We stayed up the last two nights telling tales. I laughed getting up early today, I am not sure what time I went to bed.it has been the meeting of the minds for a few days in the middle of nowhere.

Hermana Maw said...

I love the idea of checking my story hoard today. What a fun way to view the solstice. :)

snafu said...

Bit too hot to go outside for too long here, aircon is better than nature with temperatures above 100F. Not tried either buttercup wine or licking toads. Are they likely to turn into royalty or does that only work when kissing amphibians?

Barbara Scully said...

Love this... yes I too feel a strong connection with my celtic pagan past. And I love both the winter and summer solstice and the marking of the constant turning of the wheel of the year. Happy Solstice to you too

Talli Roland said...

Happy summer solstice! I say skip away. I reckon no-one would even notice! :)

Talli Roland said...

But don't lick toads.

penandpaints said...

Good for you having a little dance in the ladies'! I sometimes catch myself dancing in the supermarket when there's something inspiring on the radio. It does seem to be frowned upon, but I don't care!
I hope we get a sunny weekend to enjoy!

Dolly said...

Never stop skipping and I enjoy the thought of a story hoard and sharing it with our online friends. Unfortunately it was rather a rainy solstice here in the south west of Ireland. Could do with a glass of whiskey seeing as there is no buttercup punch to be found :) Toads and those funny mushrooms hmmmm

Al said...

We've had our shortest day down this end. More light from now until Christmas!
The only toads in Oz are feral cane toads. Lick one of those and you'll never have another hangover!

Pamela Thacher said...

I like that word, dodgy: fun to say, fun to think about. A dodgy drink. A dodgy sort. A dodgy bit. The dodgy dog.

Nice to have long days, long sunsets, long dawns. summer is deeply relaxing in a completely different way that a short winter day is also relaxing, with the wood stove and the knitting in hand and the sound of stories being typed up as the snow falls.

but here's to summer, to the solstice, and to dodgy drinks!

Anonymous said...

I'm late to this, but I did enjoy the solstice. I recall being out and about, enjoying the sun and water.

I've always been intrigued by the solstice and equinox ceremonies of the past. No doubt the spirit of them still exist today.

Bob Sanchez said...

Buttercup wine sounds like a lovely way to get blasted!

nutschell said...

Hi Jayne!
I've given you a BLOG AWARD. Feel free to drop by anytime to pick it up. Just a little something to brighten up your day. :)

warm regards,
nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com

Theresa Milstein said...

Too bad I didn't read your post in time. I love summer. Summer solstice brings such a magical time.

Wendy@FabNouveau said...

I really enjoyed the magic in this post. :-)