The Still Point: Midsummer, the Cancerian Solstice, Oaks + Becoming an Earth Citizen

Elder Oak Leaf

THE STILL POINT: Midsummer, the Cancerian Summer Solstice, Oaks + Becoming an Earth Citizen

This past week, I have been plagued with stubborn and severe vertigo that had me crawling on my knees to get my phone. The wobbly, woozy dizziness directly activates nausea, and in my case, crushing, devastating headaches. Basically, the situation is debilitating and isolating, and there is no driving. Long days are trying to sit up and walk, asking friends to drive you to the ENT, where health practitioners maneuver your head and neck from side to side, that had me screaming in terror. All one can do is look for the STILL POINT. Look straight ahead or straight ahead on one’s side. This is not my first bout, but it has been my worst. Vertigo is IYKYN experience, for those fortunate not to have done battle with this insidious situation, count your blessings!

Naturally, my metaphysical healers and mentors blame this on the elevated, evolutionary change in frequencies here on our beautiful blue-green planet. Yes, so woo-woo, but I mean . . . . .  haven’t we all heard that more and more of our friends and family members are experiencing vertigo? A couple of weeks ago, at a hair salon, one person yelped as they sat back, leaning their neck into the wash basin.  When the stylist helped her to sit up, she questioned, “Vertigo?” Yes, was the answer. A mini discussion ensued about how many of us have dealt with vertigo zaps.

“You are a highly sensitive, intuitive, psychic, energetic healer, etc, of course, proclaimed my mentors, this is all cosmic timing; it is the Still Point, after all, Maggy.”  She rattled on as my connection to these energies would have me spinning as my nervous system and third eye are heightened, being rearranged, attempting to catch up and realign with these higher frequencies. So be it.

I am still here, and as many of you are aware, I am a ‘medical miracle’, Chiron the wounded healer. And naturally, indeed, to my mentor’s words, the vertigo aligned with the energies of this year’s still point, midsummer, the summer solstice, in the very watery and emotional sign of Cancer, the sign of home, of coming home to ourselves.

The summer solstice is a powerful time to reconnect with the land, honor the earth’s abundance, and bless Mother Gaia. We are at a culmination point, reflecting on the past six months, our accomplishments, our near misses, and misses. How far we have come this year and what we want to create and move forth toward by the winter solstice, six months from now. If you have yet to tend to your inner garden, now is the time.

This Solstice in particular is asking us:

Does the life you are building feel good to live in?

It asks to ground in what truly matters

Release the OMG what if this happens thoughts and patterns

And ask what is available for us to work with in the now

Whether you are making sun tea, gathering flowers and herbs, or partaking in large or small gatherings, I encourage all to honor our planet in a meaningful act, collective or personal. Ritual and ceremony are embodied acts of devotion; they are ways that root us with the earth and ways in which the earth listens to us. They illuminate the powers of invocation. Everything is always speaking to us if only we are still enough to listen, and it is all about the power of dedication, for what you dedicate yourself to becomes a personal protective ally.

SIDE NOTE: Midsummer is also a time of heightened magic. What is magic? “Magic is simply the willingness to cooperate with everything,” Caroline Casey, quote. Once aware the otherworldly is ready to communicate and work with us, but again there is the willingness part.

CASE IN POINT:  In the midst of this past week’s vertigo, when I could begin to walk, although sideways, I headed toward my 120 years + oak tree. Interestingly, in the wee village, where I now spend much of my time, my little bit of land has one of the elder oaks left. Oaks are revered during the summer solstice as they represent strength and protection. There is an Irish or Celtic saying, “Faerie folk live in old oak.” Offerings are left around oak trees, coins, chocolate, flowers, or whatever calls you to offer for the faeries and tree spirits. I sat with her (who cares what my neighbors think, the wild tree lady from CA, I’ve been called worse).

Learning from Native Americans that tree spirits live high in the tree branches, because tree spirits communicate with the star nations and bring their knowledge to the earth. When first sitting with a tree, introduce yourself and send love energy to the very top. The tree spirit (s) will come down to see who is visiting. I asked for help to be healed of this menacing vertigo and asked for groundation (Jamaican word) while sending continuous blessings to all that is scared, aka our earth. This, to me, is what becoming an EARTH CITIZEN is all about. Revering and honoring all that is sacred. All that remains a mystery, not to be destroyed or dismantled, but again to revere. After sitting for a long while, I steadied myself and walked inside. I slept the best I had in days, and to my delight, the next morning a single oak leaf was perfectly centered on my front doorway.

Happy Solstice, It’s summer, let’s dance.

Stay True World,

MGH