Wheel of the Year, Summer Quarter: Toil and Play! SEASONAL INSIGHTS
BY LISA ADAMS The Wheel is ever turning and time marches onward, based on the movement of our Sun and its patterns of waxing and waning. We align ourselves to the rhythm of nature when we follow its cues. If ever we aren’t sure about our next steps in life, look to nature for answers. The Sun is at the peak of its power on Summer Solstice (June 21) after which the days begin to get a little shorter. Summer is time to fill our reserves, preparing ahead for harvest and winter. It shines light on life and brightens our outlook. During Summer months our agrarian ancestors would spend time daily observing and tending to their gardens and livestock. This was the time they work each day, maintaining or changing the plan ac- cording to the conditions they encountered. Many would work along - side their neighbors, helping with big projects, borrowing and lending tools to one another. On Solstice the tradition was to work in the fields during the day followed by a large community celebration to honor the longest day and celebrate their ongoing effort. Summer sees the Sun at its fullest — long hours of daylight and warmth imbuing nature with vital lifeforce energy. Photosynthesis peaks, vibrant green is everywhere, nature teems with life. How can we glean from these cues? At this point in the Sun cycle, we have planted our seeds — those things we wish to grow — literally and metaphorically. This includes our intentions. Now comes the toil of summertime. The Importance of Toil Toil is crucial to our wellbeing. It’s the work we do day-in and day-
out to live our lives, take care of responsibilities, move our agendas forward, and tend to those things we cherish. The things we do, the actions we take daily, are how Divine/Universal Energies (fill in with your preferred cosmology) recognize what is important to us. Every mundane task demonstrates our dedication to life — it’s the gritty, grounded, embodied living necessary to being a human in this 3D time-space continuum. continued on page 18
PATHWAYS—Summer 23—17
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