Happy Summer Solstice!

"May the longtime sun

shine upon you ...

All love surround you ...

And the pure light

Within you ...

Guide your way on ...

Guide your way on."

Those lyrics are from a song often incorporated into yoga practice, possibly based on a Celtic song. Whatever the origin, it is a beautiful way to mark the solstice today, the longest day of the year.

The nature photographs are all from my walk this week in the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island with the Feet and Forks. It is such a lovely, quiet, peaceful yet joyful spot.

"Summer Grass" by Sherrie Spangler

The quilts are mostly old ones of mine celebrating summer. 

"The Purple People Celebrate Summer" by Sherrie Spangler 

"Fragments: Summer" by Sherrie Spangler

I can't remember the name of this one.

Many yogis salute the summer solstice by doing 108 sun salutations, a series of yoga poses. Now I won't be doing that (don't think my shoulders could handle that many) but they will be doing it at the Y in Gig Harbor this weekend. I'll salute with my iced tea glass from home!

Why 108? It's open to interpretation, but here is one insight courtesy of the magic of the Google search: 

"Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. Such phenomena have given rise to many examples of ritual significance.
According to yogic tradition, there are 108 pithas, or sacred sites, throughout India. And there are also 108 Upanishads and 108 marma points, or sacred places of the body."

And last but not least, this is from our local weekly, and it is SO true:

 Have a colorful day