Welcome to Gaia! ::

Today marks either the Summer or Winter solstice depending on which of the Hemispheres you live in.

I am in the northern hemisphere so I am celebrating the Summer Solstice today. For me it's a chance to really feel and open myself up to the mysteries of the Lord and Lady of Fire-The Lord and Lady of the Summer.

They like the other seasonal Lord and Lady are the children of the Sun Lord and Moon Lady. These are one of the set of deities worshiped in the tradition I am developing. The Lord and Lady of Fire and Summer rule passion and excitement. For me in many ways this is what the Summer is really about.

As deities they primarily focus on the leafy greens. She is the lady of the summer flowers and hills, he is the lord of the plowed fields and leafy greens. Her fruit is strawberry and he is blueberry. One is always tame and the other always wild, though they each protect the animals of the summer. Here for birds you have humming birds and robins as the birds and you have typically Deer, Skunks, and Porcupine. Thus they are the protectors of the young animals during the summer while they grow and mature as well as mate.

What does the Summer solstice mean to you? If you are celebrating the Winter solstice what does that mean to you?

I think one of the reasons I acknowledge and notice the seasonal changes so much is that I live in an area where at least (probably more) of my state's yearly income is based on tourism. Summer is an incredibly busy time for Maine, and there is a substantial increase in the states population during the summer months. Many are only here for a week or less for Vacation.

I lived in Route 302 Raymond for most of my life. I noticed an increase in traffic every year after Memorial day, but even more from the Solstice to shortly after the Equinox until ski season. It was nearly impossible for my parents to go out and do anything on the weekends, which thankfully we mostly spent on the boat.

I know that my feelings and experiences of the elements and the seasons is enterily based on where I have lived and grown up. I'm proud to have a Pagan spirituality based on the energy of where I live. Hell the spirit of New England is that of wild and unpredictability. The area I live lends itself to Pagan worship easily.

I can understand why the early settlers really took Native advice in hand after they started to die. Even though New England is known for its Puritan past, the land itself is very haunted. Nature based spirituality really is at home in my land, and I am proud of it.

I will never descibe my path as anything than that of a New England Girl.

I don't think I could live in the south. I think it would too much heat for me. Visit yes but live nope,

Hows the humidity? That's really the problem here in the Summer. The humidity gets very thick that as an asthmatic I can have a hard time breathing that makes me sick and causes many other issues. I mean I love the Summer and Fall above all other months as they to me are the most full of life, and beauty.

Great. Yeah. I don't think you'll find me there any time soon. I have heard that Memphis is a very interesting city to visit full of culture and activities. I don't think I'll visit though...

Why is it all of the people I know online I would like to meet for coffee in person some day live in places where I'd die....and yes Obs its because of your cynicism and your unique views that I would like to meet face to face and have coffee and talk

I think you got the idea behind what I was saying :-p