Summer Solstice Inspirations, Highlights, and Expressions from three Balanced Rock events over the summer solstice
The summer and winter solstice mark the longest and shortest days of the year. On these days, I celebrate my connection with all beings and things on our planet. At the winter solstice, I have a time of meditation, silence, and reflection on the past year. During the summer solstice, I travel into the mountains, go on long adventures, or work in the garden to take advantage of so many hours of daylight. In both seasons, I usually sit by a campfire to reflect on work accomplished, adventures, and relationships from the past year and set intentions for the coming year. I remember where I was and how I spent the previous solstice holiday.This year, Balanced Rock was quite busy during the summer solstice week. Our Youth Trip returned from May Lake and Mt. Hoffman, and we had two simultaneous solstice backpacking trips. One was a four-day trip to Mt. Hoffman and May Lake, and the other was an overnight trip, a partnership between Balanced Rock and the Yosemite Conservancy, to Mt. Watkins.On the first trip, Paula Wild and JP Salonen led 12 participants. Adonia Ripple and I led the second trip. My highlight from the Mt. Watkins trip was an incredible sunrise on solstice morning. The sky was burning bright, welcoming us to enjoy a long day!Balanced Rock was also present at the Sierra Eco-Summit in Groveland, Calif., on Solstice Day. I facilitated a journal-writing workshop that focused on California’s drought and the Rim Fire. It was wonderful to spend time journaling about such important matters on the fieriest day of the year!Below are quotations, readings, and highlights from staff and participants in some of these solstice outings:The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but through us. Thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance of our bodies, making them glide and sing. The trees wave and the flowers bloom in our bodies as well as our souls, and every bird song, wind song, and tremendous storm song of the rocks in the heart of the mountains is our song, our very own, and sings our love. (John Muir)Summer Solstice PrayerBlessed Sacred Spirit,
Awaken us to love life
enough to honor nature to the best of our ability.Summer Light,
Beloved Sun,
we honor your radiance within and without. Grant us the ability
to experience the light of truth — enough to make it easy
to honor all of our relations.Sacred Earth Mother,
we REMEMBER
to honor you in gratitude,
enough to know
how towalk in beauty.Human family, let us be committed to love, honor, and respect the natural cycles of life throughout time and space in order to heal ourselves in harmony with this beautiful planet. So be it.“It was an ebullient occasion and a splendid saunter in the high Sierra! We were a family of peripatetic participants.” (JP Salonen, Balance Rock instructor)“Witnessing others connect with the beauty of nature on such a grand scale was so amazing for me. In conversing with participants during our journeys, I found myself reawakened to how amazing this place is, over and over again. And just running, all-out, into those glassy aquamarine high country lakes, feeling the brisk pure water envelope this awesome group was a mini rebirth and the biggest burst of joy and laughter, much welcomed by all. The whole trip was a gift of community and awakening.” (Jen Bowen, Balanced Rock support staff)The Summer Day (read by Adonia Ripple)Who made the world?Who made the swan, and the black bear?Who made the grasshopper, I mean-The one who has flung herself out of the grass,The one who is eating sugar out of my hand,Who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-Who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.I do know how to pay attention, how to fall downInto the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,How to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,Which is what I have been doing all day.Tell me, what else should I have done?Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?Tell me, what is it you plan to doWith your one wild and precious life? (Mary Oliver)The Gayatri Mantra is a chant that was sung on both Balanced Rock solstice trips. Here are two favorite translations from S. Radhakrishnan (philosopher and second president of India) of what the ancient chant means. It’s perfect for summer solstice.
- “We meditate on the effulgent glory of the divine Light; may he inspire our understanding.”
- "We meditate on the adorable glory of the radiant sun; may he inspire our intelligence.”