Summer Solstice 2009, Day 1

I'm back in from a very good day spent out on the hills celebrating the Summer Solstice. I'm not finished yet as I plan to be up and out in time to see sunrise from the top of Camphill in Queens Park tomorrow. In the afternoon I will be attending one of the open rituals held by Tuatha de Bridget. A handfasting (legally recognised in Scotland) is also planned as a part of this so we've all to wear our finery.

Today I was celebrating the solstice with a group out on the hills. There's a particular hollow we frequent which is open to the sky but sheltered from the winds. The sides are covered in gorse with pines and rowans at the north end. It's a bit of trek up the hill to get there with a wee bit of a steep climb at one point but it's always worthwhile. It's a good place to be and it seems to welcome us.

We are normally never disturbed by anyone when we're there. Last year's summer solstice was the exception when a family suddenly poked their heads out of the gorse, looking like a group of meerkats. Quite how they got there we have never been able to work out as there are no paths which would lead them there. They simply appeared, in the middle of the gorse, and then tried their best to walk as far away from us as they could, again down a path which wasn't actually there. The fact that they appeared at the point where there was a battle going on between the Oak King and the Holly King may have had something to do with it.

At this year's ritual I offered to play the battle music from the “Amok Time” episode of “Star Trek” while the two kings were battling each other with big sticks. This may be something we work on for next year :-)

Afterwards we headed into Paisley town centre where we had an excellent meal in a Thai restaurant. (Interestingly enough there were Santa Clauses hanging on a flower vase in the ladies!) Some people have gone on to Rufus T Firefly's in Glasgow while some of us (myself included) have gone home. I have my alarm set for 3.00am as sunrise is 4.30am. I will be up and ready in time to meet up with the others who will be joining me. I have my mead and my drinking horn all set.

Time for bed, said Zebedee.

Summer Solstice 2009, Day 1

I'm back in from a very good day spent out on the hills celebrating the Summer Solstice. I'm not finished yet as I plan to be up and out in time to see sunrise from the top of Camphill in Queens Park tomorrow. In the afternoon I will be attending one of the open rituals held by Tuatha de Bridget. A handfasting (legally recognised in Scotland) is also planned as a part of this so we've all to wear our finery.

Today I was celebrating the solstice with a group out on the hills. There's a particular hollow we frequent which is open to the sky but sheltered from the winds. The sides are covered in gorse with pines and rowans at the north end. It's a bit of trek up the hill to get there with a wee bit of a steep climb at one point but it's always worthwhile. It's a good place to be and it seems to welcome us.

We are normally never disturbed by anyone when we're there. Last year's summer solstice was the exception when a family suddenly poked their heads out of the gorse, looking like a group of meerkats. Quite how they got there we have never been able to work out as there are no paths which would lead them there. They simply appeared, in the middle of the gorse, and then tried their best to walk as far away from us as they could, again down a path which wasn't actually there. The fact that they appeared at the point where there was a battle going on between the Oak King and the Holly King may have had something to do with it.

At this year's ritual I offered to play the battle music from the “Amok Time” episode of “Star Trek” while the two kings were battling each other with big sticks. This may be something we work on for next year :-)

Afterwards we headed into Paisley town centre where we had an excellent meal in a Thai restaurant. (Interestingly enough there were Santa Clauses hanging on a flower vase in the ladies!) Some people have gone on to Rufus T Firefly's in Glasgow while some of us (myself included) have gone home. I have my alarm set for 3.00am as sunrise is 4.30am. I will be up and ready in time to meet up with the others who will be joining me. I have my mead and my drinking horn all set.

Time for bed, said Zebedee.