Summer Solstice in the Land of the Midnight Sun

Last month I was blessed to be in Denali National Park, Alaska for the summer solstice. Now Alaska has about 20 hours of daylight during the summer so to be there during the summer AND during the solstice felt sacred and mystical for me. I didn't plan to be there during the solstice, it just worked out that way. But if you've traveled to Alaska you'll know that it's a land of indigenous people who protect their native culture with each generation. They fish and hunt off the land and in order to do that the land must be honored and protected from most development. Indeed while there are many towns that cater to big cruise ships there are many small working villages whose main form of income is fishing. Alaska must be kept clean in order to support the people who fish and hunt for their very subsistence. To be a part of the Alaskan mountain, environment, the forests, rivers, bays and oceans is like walking back in time when the people just took what they needed from the earth with care and by doing so, honored the earth as the living vessel it is. While grounding into the earth and sky I often meditated on the sacredness of this land.

While in a Sitka totem park a raven flew overhead while I was viewing a totem that honored the cremated remains of a significant tribal member. Was the raven there guarding the totem? I think so. . .at least that's what I intuited. When wildlife is around it's sending a message of sorts. If you've read part of the book " Animal Speak," you'll get the sense of what I mean. This raven was definitely standing guard over this special place.

I often wonder what the spiritual significance of all the extra light means for those states near the Artic Circle. Certainly, people can grow huge vegetables and huge beautiful flowers but there is something to say for this stream of light where the sun never sets. I haven't figured it out yet but enjoy reflecting on it.