The word “Solstice” is rooted in the early Roman reference to the “stopping” or “standing still” of the Sun. This occurs twice each year, when the Sun appears to attain a position highest above or furthest below the celestial equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, we mark these days as the first day of Summer and the first day of Winter, respectively.
This year, the Sun reaches its highest moment above the celestial equator at 6:51 am eastern daylight time on Saturday, June 21st~we call this Summer Solstice and it marks the first day of Summer and longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is important to note that this moment of solstice does not occur at the same time each year, because we inhabit a system that is in a state of constant motion. And though this motion is largely regarded as rhythmic and regular, it is slowly shifting over time, resulting in the dynamic change we refer to as ‘precession.’
To understand this, we can liken the cycle of the Earth year to the breathing process in the human being. After each in breath and out breath, there is a slight pause. The apparent standing still of the Sun at its Solstice is like the pause that occurs in the human breathing.
With a little mathematic equation, we find that the human being at rest, breathes an average of 18 times per minute. At a rate of 18 breaths per minute, with 60 minutes in an hour and 24 hours in a day, we find that, on average, the human being breathes 25,920 times (18x60=1080; 1080x24=25,920).
The rate of precession in the Earth cycle occurs at a rate of 1 degree every 72 years. Since it appears that the Sun is precessing around us in a 360 degree circle, then we find that one compete precession occurs over a period of 25,920 years (72x360=25,920 yrs).
This marvelous cosmic harmony between the individual human breath and the universal Earth movement relative to the Sun in units 25,920 each has been known since ancient times, and is referred to as the Great Platonic Year. So tomorrow morning, at the moment of Solstice, it is appropriate to pause with acknowledgement for humanity’s place in the greater cosmic harmony!
I’m Mary Stewart Adams, from Emmet County’s International Dark Sky Park at the Headlands.