Midsummer Night’s Eve (21st June) is the longest day of the year and it is at this time of the year that the Sun God, Bel is at his brightest and strongest and the Goddess, now full with child, symbolises fertility, abundance and prosperity.
To the ancient people the work that they undertook through the spring and summer months was vital to the survival of their families throughout autumn and the long, barren months of winter and it was necessary to have the God and Goddess on their side to ensure a plentiful harvest and they would burn giant ‘Sun Wheels’ to appease them.
The Druids called Midsummer Alban Heruin; it was at this time of the year that they made living sacrifices beneath an Oak tree. When the early evangelising Christians claimed these sacred sites they converted the people from their old faith by cutting down the Oak trees. These days it is rare to see an oak tree on any consecrated or hallowed ground. The Christian church converted the festival from that of the Green Man to the feast of
St. John the Baptist.
The Oak tree is the ‘Lord of the Forest’ and offers inspiration and protection. The ancient Celts and other Indo-European peoples venerated the strong and fertile Oak as the primary symbol of their Sky and Sun Gods. It is at Midsummer that the veil between this world and the Otherworld is at its thinnest and most accessible. Celtic tradition tells us that the Oak King is sacrificed at Midsummer and replaced by the Holly King (Holly is also known as the Holm Oak). For this reason, the Oak tree was often referred to as the ‘door of the year’ – in other words the doorway to deep, spiritual understanding.
The colourvibration that connects to the Oak tree is brown. This colour is a mixture of red and green. The colour brown reminds us that life is a cycle and that all life continues on this world and in the next. Brown is the colour of reliability and solidarity. This vibrational energy links with the sturdy, slow-growing nature of the Oak tree. Brown offers slow but sure development whilst the green element offers balance. There is a touch of red fire in the brown and this can surprise occasionally. The red element also offers protection and fires up the will. It gives strength of mind as well of body and helps one to work hard.
The oak leaf has seven segments and seven is a mystical number. Seven balances the chakra and other energy systems and is healing and soothing.
The Oak Moon is the first full moon after the summer solstice. The lunar energy of the Oak Moon is strong and it can help us to mark out, and set boundaries for, ourselves and for others. The energy of the Oak Moon will give us protection and strength and we can evoke this moon when we need inspiration and we can use its energy when we are seeking spiritual guidance and understanding. This is also an excellent moon under which to deal with issues of fidelity and men’s health.
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