The Summer Solstice is the first day of summer (which happens to be this Sunday, June 21st), which notably has the most sunlight hours than all the rest of the days in the year--hence the Latin translation of solstitum meaning "sun stands still." It is a magical occasion, marking a time of harvest fertility, and celebration.
I am now learning about the different religious and spiritual celebrations that the pagan culture has commemorated for a very long time, and its a lot like learning a whole entire culture from square one. Being raised in the Christian household, I was never exposed to solstices, retrogrades, full moons, or any other spiritually rich moment besides going to church on Sundays. It absolutely amazes me that so much has been happening in the world around me to which I was absolutely blind and deaf; I was completely unaware that this sort of stuff even existed! I often feel nowadays that every full moon has the potential to be a Halloween and every Solstice to be a Thanksgiving or Christmas. I am giddy with delight.
But I decided to check out how the Solstice is celebrated throughout the world and amidst the rich and diverse pagan culture I found the Druids to be the most interesting in their celebration of the Summer Solstice. They gather at a histroically and spiritually mysterious location called Stonehenge, whose construction was thought to be in response to the sky at night or to the sun's movement patters. They perform several sun rituals to celebrate the purification and renewal of the sun as it dances in the sky. Throughout the world there are feasts, parties, gatherings, and of course the pagan recognition of this annual event.
I wanted to add my portion to the mix and see if I could use the tarot deck to celebrate the fantastic season of summer, and the wonderful joy and harvest that comes with it.
As with any other intuitive field, there seems to be a variety of responses that come with the territory of tarot, so not everyone agrees on which tarot card suite technically represents a specific season or not, but I have found that this is how it works for me:
Swords: Swords for me are a suite of movement, air, dynamicism, and sharp precision. The sword cards are graceful and elegant, like a sword, and like to speak in both quiet whispers and loud shouts. I find this suite to be representative of Spring, a season of gracefulness, dynamic growth and development. This suite represents the cardinal direction of East.
Wands: Wands are the representation of fire, strength and diligence, determination and wittiness. They are blunt, sometimes ineffective, but always available to give support. This suite represents the "peasantry," or working class, which are blunt people but bawdy and kind all the same. A place of acceptance and diversity where people live in the moment and strive with one another makes a heart warm with appreciation of life. However, I do not see this suite as representative of summer, I envision these cards to be a herald of winter's arrival, and thus prefer to use these cards in respect to the season of autumn. And the red leaves that fall off of all the trees look a lot like little dropping flames if you ask me. These cards refer to the cardinal direction of South.
Pentacles: Pentacles are representative of the element earth, and mark a people of buisness that dip into the wealth of the earth and use it to fill their pockets. Pentacles often have to do with financial wealth, and I have noticed that even though the wildlife sleeps in the winter, the humans have made enough progress to use money to combat the nasty effects winter may have for homes, work and personal life. Therefore, I see Pentacles as representative of winter, the solemnity of peace and hard work and groundedness. This is representative of the Northern direction.
Cups: I know, its counter intuitive to think that a suite of cards dealing in water represent the heated and dry season of summer. But, looking beyond just the element in question, the suite of cups lends a little more understanding to the entire scheme of summer and connects to the season in its own special way. Cups are the suite of spirituality and depth of meaning. Summer is a mysterious season--winter is a season for solemnity and memory, spring for rebirth and life, and autumn in preparation for death and better understanding, but summer doesn't operate on absolutes. Summer is most known for harvest, but also is known for its heat, turmoil, deprivation, but also is known for celebration, camaraderie and romance. Summer in some places can be hellish, while others can be a heaven. For me (summer being my favorite season), I think of summer as the "afterlife," where as the other seasons are various stages of life. Winter is conception, Spring is life, Autumn is death, and Summer is the ethereal. I think cups are therefore more than suitable for such a spiritual season, and represent the cardinal direction of West.
From my research on the internet (consisting of two websites: a forum discussion and a blog post) I have found that the Ace of Cups is a card that distinctly represents the Summer Solstice.
The Ace of Cups is (in the rider waite deck) is a card that shows a hand (seemingly conjured from a cloud at the wayside) holding a cup with a "W" inscribed on the cup, a dove kissing a wafer with a cross on it descends to place its luggage within the cup. Five streams overflow from the cup, filling a calm and supple pond below. The flakes that surround the hand that fall to the ground are water droplets.Water in the tarot almost always refers to the unconscious--just like water we always see the surface of our subconscious in our own conscious actions and decisions, but often the motives or developmental process of this evident observation is unknown, hidden in the depths and shadows of the water. Water also refers to spirituality; we are cleansed by water physically inside and out, and water is used in several ceremonies to indicate a spiritual cleansing (baptism, holy water, initiation rituals for witches). The hand itself takes on the meaning, therefore, of consciousness, intuition and spiritual wisdom. Rays spill from the hand, indicating enlightenment and reverence. The dove dives down from heaven, indicating a heavenly apparition in the form of spirit to mix within the presence of our consciousness to make our own spirituality.
Upright the card could mean any positive spiritual or emotional experience--romance, compassion, love, brotherhood, enlightenment or growth. This card also hearkens to its astrological sign Cancer and grants a boon of creativity and imagination. Reverse, the card could mean negative emotional or spiritual experiences such as repressiveness, ignorance, stagnant tendencies and lack of creative ability. This card represents the epitome of spiritual and emotional achievement--inner peace.
I look forward to this Solstice with delight, and gladly seek to find my inner peace within this season. I am eager to see what this season has in store for me. Does this season have anything exciting planned for you? Please do share! Summer escapades and expeditions are always the most opportune time for growth and deliverance; your good fate and well-being forever permeates my thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment