Litha: Second Thoughts

The God and Goddess

The God, in his solar aspect is at the pinnacle of his powers before he too, begins a slow descent through dying at Mabon, his death and later rebirth at Yule, and so the wheel keeps turning.  Yet, for now, he still has much to do.  Before that, he is crowned as the Sun God and assumes his responsibility to the land, as consort to the Earth Goddess. Both deities are at the peak of their young, vigorous strength, creativity and fertility and bring joy, abundance and celebration.   

The dual nature of the God battles to gain power.  Now the mature Oak King battles with his twin, the Holly King, who presides over winter.  At Midsummer, the Holly King wins the battle and gradually takes the year into the darker, waning, cold and decaying half.  They battle again at Yule, when the Oak King wins to rule the bring light, life and brightness into the world.  Although others may see this fight as being held at Mabon and Ostara, the two equinoxes.

The Sun leaves Gemini (mutable Air) and enters Cancer (cardinal Water) the sign of the crab and of the dark devouring Mother/Goddess, who starts the journey of the defeated King into the Underworld to await rebirth.  

Even as the earth ripens its bounty, the Goddess is now pregnant with the God Child who will be born at Yule.  There are no breaks in the wheel of the year as it continually turns through, birth, maturity, dying, death, decay and birth again.

What responsibilities are you answerable for?  Where on the turning wheel do you see yourself?  What is within you, waiting to show itself later?  What do you need to grow and protect to bring forth later?