June

"In these divine pleasures permitted to me of walks in the June night under moon and stars, I can put my life as a fact before me and stand aloof from its honor and shame."-  Ralph Waldo Emerson

June the sixth month of the year, was originally the fourth month in the ancient Roman calendar and originally only had 26 days. On the Roman calendar, it was considered the fourth month and had only 29 days. Julius Caesar gave the month 30 days in 46 B.C., when he reformed the Roman calendar.

The month of June, sacred to the goddess Juno, the Roman mother goddess.  She is ruler of the high point of year, when there is maximum light and minimum darkness (in the Northern Hemisphere). Juno was the special deity of women and the goddess of marriage and childbirth. The Romans held her annual festival on June 1st.  In Roman times, couples wanted to start their lives together under her protection; hence, the beginning of June weddings.

At this time, young ladies were often anxious to discover their future lover.  One method of divination they used was to wet a clean shift, turn it inside out, and then hang it on the buck of a chair before the fire. Thus magically summoned, the girl's lover was guaranteed to make his appearance.

Another, not less potent in its result, was to tie one's garter nine times round the bed-post, and to tie nine knots in it, saying to oneself all the while;

This knot I knit, this knot I tie,
To see my lover as he goes by
Id his apparel and array,
As he walks in every day.

The Celts believed this was the time associated with healing of the body and of the spirit.  An important part of the healing process was to use herbs which were used both as preventive medicines and as remedies for sickness. Midsummer has always been the most important time of year to gather magical herbs. On this day, herbs are harvested, for food, medicine and magick. In Celtic belief, the healing powers were believed to be directly linked to their Gods.

June is the month of roses, and this flower being the emblem of love and beauty, was perhaps the reason why the Romans considered June the most auspicious month in which to be married.   

According Greek mythology, the rose was created by the goddess, Chloris, who found the lifeless body of a nymph in the forest and asked the gods and goddesses for help. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, gave her beauty; Dionysus added nectar to give her a sweet scent, and the three Graces gave her charm, brightness and joy. Zephyr, the West Wind, blew the clouds away for Apollo to shine on her and make her bloom. Cupid, however, was shooting his arrows at some bees that had stung him and missed his mark. His arrows became the thorns. This, say the Greeks, is how the rose came to be.

Roses are of special importance on Midsummer's Eve. It is said that any rose picked on Midsummer's Eve, or Midsummer's Day will keep fresh until Christmas.  The birthstone for June is the Pearl. Pearls signify purity and innocence and over time have even been called “teardrops of the moon”.

June is a time for harvest and mythical beliefs. It is the time which since ancient times was thought to herald good luck with his coming.  The month of June is mentioned in many European countries’ folklore. Some myths associated with June are that if bats are seen flying on a June evening, it means that hot weather is surely coming. Another is that if swallows are seen to fly near the ground, it means that rain is coming.  There is an old saying that a swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon. This may also be taken to mean that if there is to be a long harvest, good weather is needed in June. Another saying is a calm June puts the farmer in tune.

On or about June 21, the northern Summer Solstice will occur, and in the south, will be the shortest day (Winter Solstice). 

By the way, I did some blog cleaning when I was sick.  Got rid of those that never took off.  By taking off, I don't mean the number of followers.  I mean blogs I started off all gung ho about and then ran out of stem, blogs that have sat there for months.  The Egyptian blog was becoming more of a chore than it was fun.  

Speaking of fun, I have started a new blog.  I've so many fun memories to share that I have started a blog that so far has been a joy, a real trip down Memory Lane.  It's for all of us Baby Boomers out there and then some.  Check it out at Remember When....

"It's beautiful the Summer month of June

When all of God's own wildflowers are in bloom

And sun shines brightly most part of the day

And butterflies o'er lush green meadows play.

Light hearted skylark songster of the wing

High o'er the quiet and lonely moorland sing

Above her nest cloaked by the tangled heath

Her charming song so exquisitely sweet.

So mellow the gentle breath of june day breeze

The birds rejoicing on the leafy trees

And dappled trout in pool bed of the stream

Bask in the sun their spotted skins agleam."

-  Francis Duggan, June