Summer Solstice - A time of growth

Nim Upam Ri Q'ij "Big is His Stomach of the Sun" (Summer Solstice)

The heritage left to us by the great Mayan Grandfathers and Grandmothers reminds us that in our deep relationship with the Cosmos and Nature, we find the power and wisdom to create spaces where the development and expansion of our being can emerge. In the harmony, cooperation, and union we experience with U'ku'x Kaj and U'ku'x Ulew, the Heart of the Sky and the Heart of Mother Earth, we powerfully nurture our processes. This day, as we celebrate the arrival of the Solstice and the light of Grandfather Sun that illuminates our paths and gives us life, we are led to recognize the light that resides within each one of us. We are invited to practice living in communication with the Sky and the Earth.

Ancestral cultures such as the Maya gave great importance to the phases of Grandfather Sun, as they were conscious of the influence that each of its cycles has on Mother Earth and on each of us. One of my father's teachers, Carlos Barrios, Grandfather Ramon, shared a teaching that said although all days and places are special, there are moments when precise energies converge to open spaces that propel our development. This is one of those moments. Today, we celebrate the Solstice on a day Kajib' Kawoq, which reminds us that we are part of everything and our awareness of that connection with the whole, and our actions as part of it, allow us to expand our being.

The wisdom of the Mayan ancestors tells us that just as the cycles of Grandmother Moon influence us and Mother Earth, we can align ourselves with the cycles of the Sun throughout the year, as these are also connected to the cycles of life. Today, as we in the northern hemisphere celebrate the Summer Solstice and the Sun gives us the longest day of the year, we receive it with celebration and joy. We celebrate that the Sun provides us with enough light for the growth of life, that the rain nourishes the Earth, and that it is a time when we receive the necessary sustenance for the growth and evolution of our minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits. This is a time to collaborate with the development of life, to nurture ourselves and others. It is a time of joy, celebration, and gratitude. Let us take a moment on this day to connect with Father Sun, receive his power and energy, and offer him our prayers and gratitude for all he gifts us to allow our development on Earth.