The Summer Solstice. Sol Invictus, the all-conquering sun. Put Sweden and the Solstice in your browser to see naked blond people dancing around huge bonfires. The growing season, whose beginning we celebrated at Beltane, has come to its midway point. The energy giving power of the sun available during longer days. Corn in Iowa well beyond knee high even in June.

We need this maximum sun for agricultural crops, flower gardens, trees and grasses. Photosynthesis is Sol loving us as only a nuclear fusion reaction can. Vividly. With all its fullness.

Yet. All these positives granted and celebrated, I find one more cause to dance. The Summer Solstice marks the end of the triumph of the light begun on the longest night, last Winter’s Solstice. From this point forward darkness will grow, the nights will become longer until at the Vernal Equinox, the nights will be longer than the days. This is the beginning of the triumph of darkness. I love those cold, dark nights of Midwinter. I look forward to a blazing fire, snow falling, Black Mountain turning white.

Mary has a mission. Using her librarian’s fundamental need to impose order, she’s going through each room, sector, and cabinet rearranging, culling, making sure each item has a place. Expiration dates runout? Toss. Smell rancid. Trash it. She’s filled bag after bag, all headed to the landfill in Park County, This work energizes her, makes her smile.

I’m going through anoter of trial related imaging this week and next. Feeling stronger, stamina an issue. Better than before!