Summer Solstice – Midsummer

Thursday, June 19, 2024 

4:50 p.m.

 

One of the four solar holidays;

the turning point

at which summer reaches its height,

 and the sun shines longest.

 

Solstice Sunset Shadows
(Photograph by CDI)

“Brightness appears showing us everything
it reveals the splendors it calls everything
but shows it to each of us alone
and only once and only to look at
not to touch or hold in our shadows
what we see is never what we touch…”

 

            W. S. Merwin, “The Wings of Daylight”

 

Winter Solstice 

10:27 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 2023

 

The Winter Solstice…is the shortest day of the year.  Long ago it was believed on that day the Sun stood still in the sky.  Then, the next day, the Sun continued on his journey; and the days began to lengthen!

The word Solstice evolved to Middle English, from Old French from Latin solstitium, from Latin (combination of sol, the sun, and stitium, to stand still.)

 

Paperbark Maple in Winter

Photo by C.D’I

It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
…

On stump and stack and stem, —
The summer’s empty room,
…

It ruffles wrists of posts,
As ankles of a queen, —
…

Emily Dickinson

 Tuesday, October 31, 2023  

5:39 p.m.

Samhain

          …begins at  sundown…when the veil between the two worlds is most pervious.

            This third and last of the three pagan Autumn harvest festivals acknowledges a time of cleansing and preparation for the darkness of Winter.  It is the most important of the four greater Sabbats. 

 

Monoprint:

“Muntins Series IV … Moon Shadow”

 

"All to myself, I think of you.

Think of the things we used to do,

think of the things we used to say,

think of each happy yesterday.

Sometimes I sigh, and sometimes I smile;

but I keep each olden, golden while

All to my self."

Wilbur Dick Nesbit 

American, 1871-1927  

Summer Solstice – Midsummer

Tuesday, June 21, 2023  

    Sunrise: 5:07a.m.  

Sunset: 8:25 p.m.

 

One of the four solar holidays; the turning point

at which summer reaches its height,

 and the sun shines longest. 

 

"SUNBEAM"  (monoprint) 

Good Day Sunshine

I need to laugh, and when the sun is out
I've got something I can laugh about.
I feel good, in a special way
…

Paul McCartney

 

2022 Winter Solstice  

4:48 p.m. Wednesday, December 21

 The Winter Solstice…is the shortest day of the year.  Long ago it was believed on that day the Sun stood still in the sky.  Then, the next day, the Sun continued on his journey; and the days began to lengthen!

 

"Red Motion"
Monoprint
(by C.D'I)

 

"I need to laugh, 

and when the sun is out,

I've got something I can laugh about;

I feel good,

in a special way."

 “Good day sunshine!”

By Lennon & McCartney

 

October 31, 2022

5:39 p.m.

Samhain

           Observance begins at  sundown…when the veil between the two worlds is most pervious.

            This third and last of the three pagan Autumn harvest festivals acknowledges a time of cleansing and preparation for the darkness of Winter.  It is the most important of the four "greater Sabbats." 

 

“Spirit Conversation” Monoprint (CDI)

 

“I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places …

I'll be seeing you in every lovely summer's day,

In everything that's light and gay;

I'll always think of you that way.

 

I'll find you in the morning sun;

And when the night is new

I'll be looking at the moon,

But I'll be seeing you.”

         Irving Kahal

 

 Summer Solstice – Midsummer

Tuesday, June 21, 2022     

Sunrise: 5:10 a.m.  -  Sunset: 8:23 p.m.

 

One of the four solar holidays;

the turning point at which summer reaches its height

and the sun shines longest.

 

Summer Solstice Sunset 

(Photo by CDI)

“What you are watching
is light unlearning itself,
an infinite unfrocking of the prism.

Before your eyes

the ordinary life
is being glazed over:
pigments of the bibelot
the cabochon, the water-opal
pearl to the intimate
simple colours…

Can't you feel it?

Aren't you chilled by it?
The way the late afternoon
is reduced to detail -
the sky that odd shape of apron -
opaque, scumbled,
the lazulis of the horizon becoming
optical greys
before your eyes…”

Self-Portrait on a Summer Evening

Eavan Boland