6~ Summer Solstice, Rhythm Principle, & Right Effort...

Summer Solstice

The Wheel of the Year, is an annual cycle of 8 seasonal festivals consisting of the year's solstices and equinoxes and the midpoints (cross quarter days). They are marker points to help remind us we are part of nature, mother earth AND the cosmos.

The 7 Universal Principles from The Hermetic Philosophy, helps the thinking mind and the intuitive mind ground and create from a more conscious awareness of time, space, dimensions, consequences and how the cosmos works.

The Noble Eightfold Path is a practical tool to implement and assist in living a healthier, happier life in the physical/material world of everyday living with a greater innerstanding of how to live your life.

And So It Begins....

“The Wheel of the Year” - The Wheel of the Year, is not only a spiritual practice but a practical practice that connects you back in with nature, earth and the age old cycle of seasons.

The Wheel of the Year is an annual cycle of seasonal festivals, consisting of the year's main solar events and the midpoints between them. Solstices and Equinoxes are the main solar events and the midpoints or cross quarter days are the start of the seasons and begin midway point between the solstices and the equinoxes.

Please note these turns of the Wheel are relative to living in the southern hemisphere. For the northern hemisphere they need to be swapped.

As this is a natural calendar, the Wheel of the Year does not begin on the 1st January, but rather the beginning of Winter and flows from there. To find the exact date the solstices, equinoxes and cross quarter days will fall on, besides the traditional days, please check this link for details:

http://www.russellcottrell.com/blog/solarEvents.htm

“The Kybalion.” - “The Principles of Truth are Seven; he who knows these, understandingly, possesses the Magic Key before whose touch all the Doors of the Temple fly open” The Kybalion, is a study of the Hermetic Philosophy. “The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding” – The Kybalion.

Studying and applying the 7 Principles of the Hermetic Philosophy is like comprehending the Universe at a sub atomic level. The Laws behind the Principles help us to walk through life forewarned. It is a guide on how to change at a fundamental level, not just a surface level. The alchemical process of change, the transmutation of matter.

The Seven Hermetic Principles, upon which the entire Hermetic Philosophy is based, are as follows: The Principle of Mentalism, The Principle of Correspondence, The Principle of Vibration, The Principle of Polarity, The Principle of Rhythm, The Principle of Cause and Effect, The Principle of Gender.

Buddhist Philosophy The Four Noble Truths - “The Noble EightFold Path” - The Buddhist Path for the Cessation of Suffering, and the fourth of The Four Noble Truths is The Noble EightFold Path.

An application guide for living a spiritually purposeful life. The Eightfold Path, although referred to as steps on a path, is not meant as a sequential learning process, but as eight aspects of life, all of which are to be integrated in every day life.

The Eightfold path consists of Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.

December 21st to 22nd

Wheel Turn ~ Summer Solstice / Alban Hefin / Litha

Hermetic Principle ~ Rhythm

& The Noble EightFold Path ~ Right Effort

This Turn of the Wheel:

Summer Solstice / Alban Hefin / Litha

Summer Solstice, also known as Alban Hefin or Mid Summer, is ‘The Light of Summer’. The day that carries the longest sunlit hours and the night that holds the shortest moonlit hours.

At Summer Solstice we find we are at the midpoint, the shoreline, turning or balance point between the waxing powers of spring and early summer, and the waning powers of late summer and autumn. It is therefore an ideal time to work on integration and finding balance.

The Summer Solstice is one of the three ‘Spirit Nights’ of the year (the other two being Beltaine 1st Nov and Samhuinn 1st May).

This is a good time to cull magical and healing herbs.

Meditate on the balancing and centering quality of the sun on the day of the Solstice, open yourself to the blessings of the creator.

Do something that you have always wanted to do but did not dare, for time is of the essence. Harvest will be coming soon and it’s a grand time to see what is manifesting, growing, blossoming and make sure it’s nurtured to fruition.

The Summer Solstice marks 6 months since our Winter Solstice where we dreamed the seeds we were to plant come Spring. As we see in the natural world, in our earthly world around us, and within ourselves the shift and changes, we see what took seed and blossomed and we also see what did not, what was attempted but was only to be unable to take root.

“Let unity, harmony and beauty be your watchwords. May you abundantly share in the illumination. Be you ready to hear the voice of those crying out for wisdom. Listen at the portals ~ for the world is large and many are seeking. Open the gates for them, and portal after portal shall open unto you.” ~ from the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids traditional ceremony

The Kybalion:

The Principle of Rhythm

“Everything flows out and in: everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right, is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensates” - The Kybalion.

The Principle of Rhythm embodies the truth there is always an action and reaction; an advance and a retreat; a rising and a sinking.

Summer Solstice is the peak of summer, the period of the shortest night and longest day. So now we can see the rise of summer, which ultimately will give way and swing back to the depth of winter. It is no different even on the mental plane for mankind. The pendulum swings between the poles of thought even. However, when we learn and master only to observe, we become unaffected by the swing of emotions or thoughts.

In the same way we cannot control the seasons, we learn to adapt to them, accepting that Mother Nature swings from cold to hot, from wet to dry, from darkness to light. So too can we allow our own inner pendulum to swing through the thoughts and feelings to find balance and a lightness of being.

To change a pattern one within oneself, one must be aware of it first, allowing the pendulum to swing through the range of thoughts and emotions, while at the same time expanding your understanding to a higher plane of awareness to weave a new design.

And with harvest season now just around the corner, now is the time to allow the eternal pendulum to swing, learn to ride with the swing, and then from each peak take the lesson to heart to carry with you to help you master the swing. In this mastering, you begin to weave a new design for yourself, allowing yourself to leave what is no longer fruitful and embrace that which is.

The Noble Eightfold Path:

Right Effort ~ mindful behaviour

The Buddhist Path for the Cessation of Suffering, and the fourth of The Four Noble Truths. The application guide for living a spiritually purposeful life. The Eightfold Path, although referred to as steps on a path, is not meant as a sequential learning process, but as eight aspects of life, all of which are to be integrated in every day life.

Seeing the 8 Rights as a guiding light along the path to self-mastery. As a tool to remind us to come back into balance, knowing and direction.

Right Effort means cultivating an enthusiasm, a positive attitude in a balanced way. When we are practising Right Effort, the natural attitude is of steady and cheerful determination. In order to produce Right Effort, clear and honest thoughts should be welcomed, as Right Effort equates to positive thinking, followed by focused action.

“Right Effort”sometimes called right diligence is the sixth component of the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path, Right View, Right Intentions, Right Speech, Right Actions, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.

The idea of “Right Effort” is that the effort exerted in practice and in life needs to be “Right.” It needs to be finely tuned, neither too lax, nor too effortful. The Buddha taught that practice should be like a well-tuned string instrument. If the strings are too loose, they won’t play a sound. If they are too tight, they will break. Practice should be nourishing, not draining. So, “Right Effort” actually points precisely to the Buddha’s “Middle Way.”

“Right Effort” is not just for meditation practice but for how we conduct our lives. It calls for us to develop and encourage good qualities, ones that will lead forward on the path, and reduce or discourage bad qualities, ones that interfere or block progress. There are many good qualities to be cultivated such as mindfulness, investigation of phenomena, energy, joy, tranquillity, concentration, and equanimity.

This suggests that we should work to develop mindfulness, paying attention, on purpose, without judgement, to what is occurring in the present moment. After all, how are we going to progress on a spiritual path if our minds are lost in thought, memories of the past or projections of the future? Only by being attentive to what is happening right now, do we have any hope of seeing things as the truly are.

Mindfulness can be developed by engaging in contemplative practices such as meditation, yoga, contemplative prayer, mindful movement practices, journalling etc. So, “Right Effort” mandates that practice is necessary to cultivate our mindfulness, but do so with energy and striving, but not too much or too little. We need to practice the “Middle Way.”

Weaving them all together...

The wheel has turned yet again and we find ourselves at the peak of Summer, where the pendulum has swung to the shortest night and longest days. Where the outdoors is beckoning life to revel in this time of the wheel. To put energy into that which will sustain us come harvest and winter.

With 'Harvest' just around the corner, Right Effort and Rhythm are strong reminders of what we take care of inside and out will become our harvest shortly. Practice being mindful of where your energy and focus goes and course correct if necessary! This is the time NOW or hit pause and revisit next Spring.

As the pendulum of life swings to its rhythm, practicing the “Middle Way”will help you flow with life while not losing your way.

When we reflect back over the last 6 months, from the depths of Winter to the peak of Summer, and if we are truly honest with ourselves with no judgement nor criticism, just pure observation for information's sake, we can see if we did apply Right Effort. Did we over exert ourselves and burn out? Did we not put in enough energy and focus and something didn't take seed, let alone blossom? Some things may need revisiting come Winter... but for now focus on what has taken seed and is taking shape. Utilise the swing of the pendulum now, for very soon harvest will be upon us.

How you apply your energy, focus, thoughts, actions deeds during this time of the wheel will also show up come harvest. For the pendulum swings through all rhythms, it doesn't pick and choose just for you. But we most certainly influence the pattern the pendulum swings to.

So how you apply your energy this Summer, will be your free will and choice.

Blessings,

Mim

Litha 2025