Our Abundant Becoming

What the longest day of the year is asking of us

Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the seasonal year. The light stretches out long and full, beckoning us to do the same. The seeds we planted in the spring are beginning to take shape, our raspberries are bountiful, and the branches of our plum tree are heavy with fruit patiently waiting for their harvest.

It’s been a while since I’ve written about the Seasonal Calendar, but I think it’s important for us to continue to observe what is happening in the earth because it can be a mirror to what is happening within us. Some of us may be feeling this high energy already - it may even feel a bit chaotic - like my yarrow bush in the front yard, full and wild, falling all over the place. But the largeness of this season invites us into our largeness. There is an opportunity here to shed what keeps us small and grow in our gratitude as this season lures us out of our tight spaces and into the light.

There is a line of the Aramaic translation of the Lord’s Prayer that has resonated for me in this season. This translation comes from the book, Prayers of the Cosmos, by Neil Douglas-Klotz. The book translates the Lord’s Prayer and other teachings of Jesus from Aramaic (Jesus’ spoken language) into English.

As many of us are familiar with the first line of the Lord’s Prayer (Greek translation): Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Here is the Aramaic translation:

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos, you create all that moves in light. Focus your light within us - make it useful: as the rays of a beacon show the way.

Focus your light within us - make it useful.

This is the line that is stretching me on this Summer Solstice. This is the line where the author describes as “clearing space for the name (of God) to live”. Just as light entering a dark room reveals what’s inside, so the Divine Light gently exposes our inner rooms.

At Summer Solstice, we are given the radiant and abundant energy to clear the space, to celebrate the growth we’ve experienced, and step into a fresh awakening. As a loving Mother enters the room of her child to awaken them to the light of day, so our Divine Mother is shaking us gently, whispering, “Child, awaken.” Awaken to your soul. Awaken to your passions. Awaken to your callings, vocation, to justice and love.

As the rays of a beacon show the way.

If we are image bearers of the Divine, the Imago Dei, then we, too, are the rays of light showing the way. But we cannot become beacons if we are afraid of our own becoming. The Summer Solstice invites us to shake off the dust of winter, the uncertainty of spring, and to step fully into our abundant and ever-unfolding becoming.

And yes, this energy is big and at times scary, but can we trust the seeds we’ve planted in faith? Can we pause, for just a moment, to observe what is bearing fruit in our lives? Because it’s there.

For the past week, my husband has invited me out every morning to pick raspberries, and each time, I was “too busy” or “tired” to join him. Finally, after a little love-nagging, I joined him on the grass. The morning sunrays were gentle on our faces as we searched the green foliage as if for hidden treasure. I almost felt like a child again when we’d reveal a vine filled with little red jewels. Sweet and tangy right off the stem, we gathered and praised this little bush for its fruitfulness.

The fruit is there. The becoming is unfolding. Our Mother is gently nudging us awake. May we open our eyes to see the abundance of the Divine and pray with arms stretched wide: Focus your light within us-make it useful.

Then pick a handful of raspberries.

Blessed Summer Solstice, my friends.

Pictures from my Summer Solstice gathering with friends. How will you celebrate the longest day of the year?