Now that Solstice is almost here, warm weather has finally arrived and the greenfolk are making up for lost time!  I have been busily pruning and cutting herbs, flowers and seed heads (already!), pulling weeds and planning for the autumn plantings.  Nothing too heavy because my back is still sketchy.  I have to get out there and putter--it is part of my mental therapy to say nothing about physical therapy!

Every year when I turn the calendar page to June, I am looking for the personification of this season.  Have you seen the Pre-Raphaelite 'Flaming June'  by Lord Frederick Leighton?  It evokes my childhood body memories of what June was like in southern Maryland--so hot and humid, one became languid, somnolent, and at times so depleted by the onslaught that the effort of lifting a dripping glass of iced sweet tea to one's lips took the last feeble ounce of life-force one had left--gasp! 
I thank All the Gods that the Maritime climate west of the Cascade Mountain range  here in the Pacific Northwest is is nowhere near so brutal.  Oh, we may have some dog days come mid-August or so.  And that's OK.  How else will we get all those delicious local blueberries and corn and watermelon and, and...oops, getting carried away with anticipation! 

For now, I am looking forward to Litha.  Call it the Longest Day, Mid Sommer, or simply Summer Solstice.  Let's so down to the beach for sunset.  Or up on the mountain.  Or by the river.  Or in the back yard.  Invite your friends, family, lovers, children, critters and everyone else you love.  Light a Fire.  Sing and dance.  Feed each other.  Love this whole Day. 
You might want to smoulder some incense. 

I'm offering a Limited Edition 5 grams of Litha/Summer Solstice incense in a corked, red glass jar  for only $5.50.  There are only 3 of them available, so don't dilly-dally over that sweet tea, Darlins.  Just follow this link and be one of the first three folks to order it, and it's yours.

Now, need to get busy hanging up those cut herbs! 

Blessed Be,
~Rae