On June 21st, the Northern Hemisphere welcomes the Summer Solstice - also known as Midsummer or Litha for those who observe the Wheel of the Year. This is a day of transition when the sun reaches its highest peak in the sky and we begin our long journey into the darker part of the year.
Beltane is a cross-quarter holiday within the Wheel of the Year that sits halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It is also known as May Day because it is celebrated from sundown on April 30th through the 1st of May.
This year’s spring equinox will occur on Saturday, March 20th, 2021. In the Northern Hemisphere this is the start of spring - a season of rebirth that holds the promise of joy, energy, and abundance. On this day, the sun rests directly above the Equator and we have equal parts of dark and light in our skies. From here thru to the summer solstice, the amount of light we receive each day will grow greater and greater until we reach the longest day of the year at the summer solstice on June 20th.
The 21st of December marks the Winter Solstice for the northern hemisphere. This is the day when the sun stands still (which is the meaning of the word solstice) at the lowest point in the sky. After this day she will begin to ascend again - hence the use of phrases such as “rebirth of the sun” or “return of the light”. We’ve reached a turning point and from here, our days will begin to get longer and longer until we reach the peak of the sun’s height at the Summer Solstice in June.
Samhain (pronounced sow-an) is a symbolic transition in our journey around the sun. It is the halfway point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice marking the end of the lighter half and the beginning of the darker half of the year. Celtic pagans celebrated the death and rebirth of the year on this third and final harvest festival falling on October 31st in the northern hemisphere. It is a day of liminal space where the veil between our world and the otherworld is at its thinnest. Those who celebrate Samhain engage in activities that honor their ancestors and also ward off evil spirits.
This blog is a resource for spiritual seekers, aspiring to professional dancers, and all those in between. I've spent more than half of my life weaving together my professional dance career and my spiritual path as both are equally important to me. The points of intersection that I've discovered over the past two decades are what fuels my soul. It's been a wild adventure and also a profoundly transformational journey - one that continues to evolve. My hope in reading this blog is that you'll be inspired to explore spirituality in new and embodied ways while also deepening your relationship with yourself and this incredible world we inhabit.
