A Deeper Dive into the Symbolism of the Summer Solstice: Guenon, Stonehenge, and Dreams
Introduction:
The Summer Solstice, a celestial event that annually marks the pinnacle of sunlight, has long been celebrated across cultures, epochs, and continents. Its significance transcends the simple celebration of the year’s longest day, embedding itself in the tapestry of our shared human history and spiritual understanding. Yet, the deeper symbolism underlying this solar phenomenon is often overlooked, lost amidst the joyous bonfires, dances, and merriment of modern celebrations.
A year ago, I found myself plunged into a world where this symbolism was vividly alive. A lucid dream at the stroke of midnight (While parked at stonehenge) transported me back in time to Stonehenge during an ancient solstice ritual. The echoes of this dream aligned remarkably with the symbolic interpretation put forward by Rene Guenon, a prominent French metaphysician and founder of the Traditionalist School. Together, my dream and Guenon’s work present a complex, profound, and compelling perspective on the Summer Solstice.
Guenon’s Solstitial Gates and Zodiacal Symbolism:
Guenon weaves an intricate symbolic interpretation of the summer and winter solstices, grounding it in the cosmic wisdom of Hinduism and astrology. In his writings, he described these solstices as gates — the entry and exit points from the ‘cosmic cave’ of manifestation. These gates correspond to the Zodiac signs of Cancer and Capricorn.
Guenon’s understanding presents a beautiful analogy of life’s journey. When a being is manifested in the ‘cosmic cave,’ it must eventually depart. Depending on the spiritual level attained during its existence, the being may exit via the ‘gate of men’ or the ‘gate of gods.’ The ‘gate of men’ signifies the pathway of ancestors and human life. In contrast, the ‘gate of gods’ represents the divine path of spiritual attainment and liberation.
Guenon’s dichotomy of these gates provides a meaningful framework to understand the ebb and flow of life. The ‘gate of men’ aligns with the summer solstice, marking the beginning of a being’s journey toward manifestation and inevitably, its decay. The ‘gate of gods,’ in contrast, corresponds to the winter solstice and signifies a spiritual departure — a liberation from the cycles of manifestation.
The Dream of Stonehenge — A Vivid Portal to Ancient Wisdom:
My dream, which I had had before as a child when visitng with my father, served as a portal, transporting me back in time in the mystical landscape of Stonehenge. This dream was very much a remembering of anchient memories rather than a construct of my mind. This place, shrouded in the mist of time, held a ritual of stark contrast — a dance of black and white, life and death. The participants, garbed in white, were in the throes of banishing a black-feathered entity symbolizing ‘death’ or the ‘gateway of men’ to the North.
The Heel Stone, an integral part of Stonehenge’s structure, served a critical role in this spectral dance. It stood as a sturdy sentinel, preventing the rays of the morning sun, on the morning of the symbolic ‘gateway of men,’ from entering the sacred circle. Thereby restricting the first rays of the beginning of the sun’s death in the years cycle from touching the centre of the sacred circle.
When I awoke from this dream, it dawned upon me that the ritual in the dream was a metaphorical enactment of banishing the ‘gateway of men’ or the corporeal manifestation from the sacred space. The symbolism and wisdom of our ancestors were brought to life, offering insights into their understanding of the cycles of existence. The summer solstice was not just the zenith of the sun’s journey but also a poignant reminder of the commencement of its descent into darkness.
Contemporary Misinterpretations of the Solstice:
Our contemporary understanding and celebration of the summer solstice often overlook the profound symbolism tied to the event. Stonehenge, once a ceremonial site reverberating with the wisdom of ancients, is now a popular venue for modern solstice celebrations. These gatherings, replete with mirth and joy, often culminate in couples marking their love through weddings. However, they inadvertently celebrate not the ascendance of light and life but the descent into the corporeal and mortal realms.
Guenon’s interpretation and my dream offer a different perspective. The summer solstice, while marking the zenith of sunlight, also denotes the beginning of its decline towards death from the ‘gateway of men.’ The solstice’s true essence might be closer to a solemn commemoration of the transient nature of life rather than an exultation of perpetual light.
Guenon’s Inverted Celestial and Terrestrial Orders:
Guenon further delves into the celestial and terrestrial orders’ complexities, offering a resolution to the apparent contradiction in the solstice symbolism. He posits that these orders, while interconnected, are inversely correlated to each other.
The winter solstice, marking the beginning of the sun’s ascending movement, is deemed the celestial order’s lowest point. Paradoxically, in the terrestrial order, it symbolizes the highest point, the entrance to the deva-loka, or the realm of gods. This inversion reveals the subtlety of the symbolism, demonstrating that what is ‘high’ or ‘benefic’ in one realm might be ‘low’ or ‘malefic’ in another.
Conclusion:
The Summer Solstice, steeped in symbolism and ancient wisdom, is much more than a celebration of the sun’s zenith. Guenon’s insights, coupled with my Stonehenge dream, unravel the profound connection between this celestial event, the cycle of existence, life, and death.
As we bask in the warmth of the summer solstice, understanding its intricate symbolism could help us appreciate this event’s delicate balance between light and darkness, life and death, and the corporeal and divine. Through this knowledge, we can approach our solstice celebrations with a deeper respect for the sun’s dance, embracing its lessons of transience, transformation, and the eternal dance of existence.
© Rowan Ramsay 2023
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