Kemetic Summer Solstice (June 20, 2016)

Kemetic Summer Solstice

The Kemetic summer solstice is an ancient tradition and had/has deep meaning for the people of Kemet (Egypt). Some would argue that the summer solstice was one of the most significant celebrations for the people of Kemet. In ancient times the summer solstice was celebrated for a period of nearly two full weeks usually starting around the 21st of June.

One of the reasons the summer solstice was so significant to the ancient people of Kemet was that the summer solstice was also considered to be the Kemetic New Year. The reasoning behind this is less about the sun and more about the reappearance of the star Sirius. In ancient Kemet, the reappearance of Sirius and the summer solstice meant that the Nile River would soon be rising. The rising water meant that crops would be nourished, which is one of the reasons that the people of the Nile Valley were so successful.

The summer solstice at the same time has/had a deeper spiritual meaning as well. In Kemetic beliefs the sun is represented by the deity Heru, whose mother is Auset who represents the star Sirius. The rising of the star Sirius represented the increased flow of water down the Nile River which this increase in flow of water was associated with the birth of Heru the sun, as many know the first sign that a woman is ready to give birth is when her water breaks. The summer solstice is also the day that Heru defeats his uncle Set, the ruler of darkness, and confusion this is because the sun is powerful on the day of the summer solstice and thus creating an imbalance between light and darkness in which the scale is tipped towards the light i.e. the longest day of the year.

The Kemetic summer solstice can be celebrated for nearly two weeks during this time you can engage in as many outdoor activities as possible. Give thanks to all the things that the sun provides for life here on Earth. You can feast on the gifts from the sun like summer fruits and vegetables. You can also establish new objectives for your life, many take this time to recreate or add to their vision board. Many also burn candles and place them in the sun light to give power to their new goals or life objectives. The summer solstices can be thought of as a time of renewal, you should reflect on bad habits, mistakes, and other problems and determine how you can move forward and leave those problems behind and let them be washed down river while at the same time planting new habits and adding positivity to your life.

More info:
http://urbanintellectuals.com/2015/06/21/history-of-the-kemetic-summer-solstice-celebration/

Hetepu,
Asar Maa Ra Gray