Litha: Summer Solstice

Yay! It's officially summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Midsummer, or Litha, holds some fond memories for me.

My middle school art teacher showed us how to make “God’s Eyes” with popsicle sticks and yarn, and soon I was obsessed. I ended up with half a dozen hanging in my bedroom. At the time, I had no idea of the connection to protective pagan amulets and Indigenous South American talismans created to symbolize the Sun.

In a popular park where I grew up, there was a row of trees that dropped buckeyes (a type of chestnut) to the ground. I remember because I ran too fast under the trees, slipped on the buckeyes, and skinned my knee. Later, when some well-meaning adult offered me a buckeye (a chocolate-peanut butter treat) to eat, I wanted no part of it!

I’ve been thinking about making some yummy buckeyes and a God’s Eye as a meditative creative endeavor to celebrate the summer solstice this year. For certain I plan to be outside, preferably barefoot. Happy Summer!