Midsummer is always a strange time of year and a strange
festival for me. There is the obvious – not really at the moment, the weather
is positively bipolar at least 3 times a day at the moment – connection with
the sun; the longest day and all that, but it isn’t obviously the ‘strongest’
day for the sun. The weather has more warming o do and to me the sun will be
stronger in a month ro two when (and if) summer really kicks in, the temperature
rises and the landscape around me really gets its sex on. The trees and hedges
are leafy and green but it is over the coming months that it really hits full
lushness and fruitfulness; it is probably six weeks time till the sun is
reflected back on itself in the wheat and barley fields.
The summer solstice feels more like a beginning; the sun and
the earth really were making leaps forward back at Calan Mai and are now really
getting into their stride, it is from now that summer is really here –
generally speaking and weather notwithstanding.
My other problem is Maponos. The solstice is the time when Brython
honours him. I just don’t see the connection between him and the sun. To be
honest I struggle when it comes to the sun full stop. The sun is millions of miles
away and is a huge ball of burning gas. It isn’t alive, my own theology is that
the gods and ungods come from life and the living, so to connect a ‘dead’ ball
of gas with a living force just doesn’t really fit into my cosmology or
theology at all.
Maponos though... now he is an enigma. The recent
interpretation of an inscription has get me thinking. I am seeing Maponos in a
whole new light. Last night I lit the Briganti flame, offered incense and
recited the ‘inscription’ to Maponos and he felt like the one opening the gates,
he was the one who lay down his two spears and made the bridge between this
world and the Other. Maponos is turning into the White One at the edge of the
worlds, our own Eleggua. This role works; it sings in my gut and asks to be
acknowledged. And it isn’t just me thinking this.
Divine Maponos; who stands at the edge of this world and the Other.
I seek your hand, I seek your aid.
Guide my crossing,
Show me over the threshold,
to the Otherworld and the spirits within.
2 comments:
My personal view, Lee, is that we should not think of Midsummer in terms of the Solstice. This is an astronomical event, whereas Midsummer is a season when the days are long and the Sun is in the sky for longer than any other time, but when, also the god in the green is resplendent and enchantment is cast over the land. Maponos, as the embodiment of the awencan be seen as ruling over this realm. So it seems to me.
Lee, congrats. Here in Brazil is Winter, we celebrate the death and the renaissance of the Sun and of the Light. Is good see how peoples across the world can feeling the Ancients gods today. I liked your blog, I'll follow.
Blessings.
Post a Comment