Summer Solstice

It was Mary Jane who propelled us into action. Last night at Yoga she said, "Its the solstice tomorrow are you doing anything? Remember Tom and Pat said that the sunrises on the petrogylphs at Grassi Lakes."

A persistent ringing summoned me from a deep sleep. I grabbed the alarm clock only to realize it was the phone. I looked at the clock it was 4.15 am as I picked up the receiver. "It's Pat. Are you going?" I pulled my brain into focus. "I'll pick you up in a bit." "Remember to dress warm. It's cold in there."

The eager Harper family were waiting for us in the parking lot and we proceeded to sprint up to Grassi Lakes rushing in case we were late for the sunrise on this the longest day of the year.  We sped past the rushing waterfall, perfectly formed yellow Lady's slipper, violet clematis and reached  the perfectly still lake, listening to the beat of Kendra's and Sabrina's drums. Once in the canyon the drum echoed back to us. Up ahead there were some people. Andrew Shona and some others were there to greet the sun with us.

Pat told us this had been a First nations trading route and back then the access was challenging. They came here to dream and leave their figures on the rock.

We began by calling in the 7 directions and Kendra called in the Goddess and honored her parents as "life givers." As the drummers beat out a rhythm we silently named our intentions, what we wanted to let go off, what we wanted blessings for. Kendra sang. An osprey flew overhead. It was amazing to see the sun rise over the shoulder of Lady Macdonald and warm our by now cool bodies.


We finished by singing  "How can anyone ever tell you your anything else but beautiful.."

And I read my favorite quote.





“There is a light in you which cannot die; whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you. All things that live bring gifts to you, and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet. The scent of the flowers is their gift to you. The waves bow down before you and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat and lay their leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness, while the wind sinks to a whisper around your holy ear.” Course in Miracles


Shona's shadow on petrogylph rock. 

With deep gratitude for a solistice to remember.