Each year, around June 21st, the Earth reaches a point in her great turning when the Sun lingers longest in the sky. This is the Summer Solstice, or Litha in the Celtic wheel - a moment of radiant fullness and sacred stillness. The word "solstice" comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning "Sun standing still," and that's exactly how it feels: as though the world pauses to soak in the light. As we step into this seasonal gateway, we can feel a gentle invitation not only to celebrate the Sun outside, but to honour the light within.

In many ancient traditions, the Solstice was a time of fire and fertility, of dancing beneath the stars, and of deep reverence for the Earth’s abundance. Bonfires were lit on hilltops, sacred herbs were gathered at their peak potency, and people would leap through flames to bless their health and hopes. In the Celtic view, this was the height of the Oak King's reign - the embodiment of solar power, strength, and creative energy. Yet even in this crescendo of light, there was the quiet knowing: from here on, the days begin to shorten. Light reaches its peak, and then begins to return inward.

And so, the Solstice holds a beautiful paradox: it’s both a celebration and a turning point. A culmination, and a letting go.