This week: The Spirituality of Solstice Edited by: Sophurky  
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Hi, I'm Sophurky ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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I love nature – I love being outside, communing with nature – that is, as long as it’s not too hot and there aren’t too many bugs and I have a comfortable place to sit and it isn’t raining and the crows aren’t too loud. 
As human beings, we are part of the natural world as much as some of us might resist that notion. In the beginning, long before we ensconced ourselves in aluminum siding and gated communities, we were as much a part of nature as the bears and lions with whom we precariously shared our dens. Prior to air conditioners and gas furnaces, we were entirely dependent on the natural world as we wintered in caves warmed by fires, nourished by what we hunted, planted, harvested, and stored from the previous spring, summer, and fall.
Our ancestors depended on the sun and the location of the stars to help them travel and to mark their days, and they offered thanks and blessings to the nature "gods" to whom they believed they owed allegiance. Archeological evidence suggests that these earliest societies were likely matriarchal and egalitarian, practicing earth-based, pagan religions - calling upon the gods of sun and rain to nurture their crops and praising the Mother Goddess for the gifts of bounty in their lives with festivals, rituals, and great feasts.
The recognition and celebration of the Summer Solstice, which occurred in the northern hemisphere this past weekend, comes from these pagan ancestors. The word "Solstice" is derived from two Latin words: "sol" meaning sun, and "sistere," to cause to stand still. This is because as the summer solstice approaches, the noonday sun rises higher and higher in the sky on each successive day. On the day of the solstice, it rises an imperceptible amount compared to the day before, and in this sense, it "stands still." Solstice is also referred to as Midsummer because it falls roughly in the middle of the growing season throughout much of Europe. Whatever it’s called, on or around June 21 the daytime hours are at a maximum in the Northern hemisphere, and the darkness of night is at a minimum as we welcome the first day of summer.
In pre-historic times, summer was a joyous time of the year. The snow disappeared; the ground thawed out; warm temperatures returned; flowers were blooming; herbs were harvested for medicinal and other uses; food was easier to find. The crops had already been planted and would be harvested in the months to come. And although many months of warm weather remained before the return to winter, the people noticed that after Midsummer the days began to shorten, and they knew that the return of the cold season was inevitable. So they planned and toiled and tuned their daily lives to this natural rhythm to life.
The rituals of the earliest religions (and even of the early Christian church), which were essentially based on human understanding and interpretation of the rhythms of nature, helped people handle life’s ups and downs as they lived out their daily lives, and as such became meaningful in spiritual ways. But over time, as we became more "civilized" and removed ourselves from our caves and moved into carefully designed houses of brick and wood, we began to cut ourselves off from nature, and thus from its rhythms. We moved further and further away from the created world, becoming fearful of it. Over time, nature came to be associated with evil as we cut ourselves off from the solstices and equinoxes and other rhythms of nature, locking ourselves away in temperature-controlled environments.
So what can we do to reclaim our bond with nature and the rhythms that unite us all? How do we reconnect and engage with the core realities we inherited as biological creatures? Nature... the earth... the sky... stars... the sea, these are the basic realities out of which we evolved and were created. How do we get back into sync with them?
For me, healthy spirituality – make that healthy living, period – is manifested in relationships with the world around us. In nature, I recognize a power greater than myself and a connectedness to all of creation. Our lives are often so busy and distracted with things and activities that any sense of natural rhythm is lost, and our sense of wonder and purpose is often replaced with even more activity and commotion. So what can we do to repair this rift? Take a walk, turn off the AC and open the windows, sit outside and watch what goes on in your own backyard. Hug a tree.
What are some of your experiences that serve to reestablish the connection with nature? And is it a worthwhile endeavor to try to do so?
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Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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Here are responses to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (May 26, 2021)" - "Many Paths to the Same Destination"
From Whata SpoonStealer 
If we think the only 'right' way to heaven is through one religion, and/or one text, then we feed the machine on our hubris and egos that have begun and supported many a war throughout the ages. As in any relationship, we have to decide if we want to be 'right' at all cost, or if we want to live as we preach, in a more peaceful and mutually beneficial manner. 'Tis interesting how much history and current affairs have to teach us, even when we get tired of listening (me). Thanks for the nl!
Well said - thank you for writing in!
      
From Prosperous Snow celebrating 
I believe in Progressive Revelation, that is, that God sends divine messengers or prophets, at periodic intervals, to assist humanity in its path toward God. Each of these messengers were conduits for the Holy Spirit, and each brought teachings or revealed sacred scriptures that assisted humanity in its spiritual and material evolution. Some of the divine messengers that we know of are Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ, Buddha, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha'u'llah. The Bab and Baha'u'llah are the latest in this line of messengers. God will send another messenger in, at least, a thousand years to continue to assist humanity in its progress.
I love this, thank you so much for sharing.
From PastorJuan 
I can understand your perspective of many roads, but Christianity is not a many roads religion. According to John 14:6, Jesus said " Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." With all due respect to other people's opinions, there are no other "roads" to the Father except through Jesus. If there were other roads, then Christianity would be a hollow religion.
Thank you for sharing your beliefs. While traditional Christianity is not, as you call it, a "many roads religion," with all due respect it must be noted that Christianity is not the only religion practiced around the world. In fact, Christianity is predated by other religions practiced today - and many progressive Christians like myself respect other spiritual paths as part of our belief system. Blessings on your journey.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! Sophurky |
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Spiritual: June 23, 2021 Issue [#10837]
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