Celebrating the Summer Solstice the Kernow way
The Summer Solstice, and midsummer in general, is a time when activity peaks and manifests visibly as fertility in all its fullness.
Immersed in sacred ceremonial actions and in relationship with the sacred landscape of the Penrith peninsula at the tip of Kernow (Cornwall) this year, we at Sacred Earth Activism felt the edges of the seen and unseen worlds and the known and unknown over this sacred seasonal celebration.
Sensing into the joy and beauty of the web of life, we opened to our interconnected, embodied wisdom and sovereignty as the sun flowed through our crowns, moving us beyond the limited beliefs that sovereignty is only for select individuals. Renewed by the power and strength of the sun's peaking energy, we gave thanks.
Here is a taste of what activities supported us in enjoying such ecstatic experiences:
1) Golowan Festival
A 35-year-old revival of a free 10-day festival from 19-29 June to celebrate midsummer and the Solstice in Penzance. It included:
A torchlit procession and spiral dances with Penglaz, an archetypal fertility horse and close relative of Wales' Mari Llwyd
Community arts processions
Music and theatre
Community election of an annual Mock Mayor.
2) 'The Cornish Sacred Landscape' Solstice weekend
Organised by Carn Crescent Crow, the by-donation event is a three-day gathering that combines "art, ritual, music, and talks inspired by the ancient sites, folklore, and spiritual traditions of Cornwall."
It also included an exhibition, where artists drew inspiration from "ancient sites, local folklore, or the unseen qualities of place, exploring stone circles, standing stones, holy wells, and the stories and energies connected to them." All money raised went to the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network.
We also shared information about Sacred Earth Activism's Sacred Land Charter. Its aim is to reawaken society to the sacred value of the UK's ancient landscapes in order to preserve them as more than simply heritage landmarks.
Our time at the event was also inspired by such thought-provoking speakers as photographer Kathryn Sainsbury-Wilkes. Her 'Project Fogou' inspired us to seek a deep, personal Solstice experience.
Fogou is Cornish for cave. The night before the Solstice sunrise, we hiked to the Nine Maidens stone circle, which is northwest of Penzance, with the Pagan Teapot folk band and other friends. Our aim was to conduct ceremony, make Solstice offerings, and enjoy music and circle dancing.
Following a visit to the Men-an-Tol standing stones and burning with inspiration from Kathryn's talk, we then made our way to a Solstice sunrise-aligned fogou. There we held ceremony and received wise counsel in the dark, ancient underground cave, thick with the presence of our ancestors, in sacred preparation for the blessed sunrise.
Look out for us at the Green Gathering off-grid festival near Chepstow over Lammas (30 July-2 August) too, where we will be having more sacred adventures.
