Early on the Solstice morning, our basins and wine were placed on the grass in our main camp area.
We watched in silence as the sun crept closer.
We set up an altar with an image of Archangel Mikael, flags created for the Gate of Grace formation, our 'happy' camp flowers, and a torch.
Here is another view of our Solstice morning altar.
It seemed to take forever for the sun to finally reach our basins. We wondered how long it would take, as the arc of the rising sun is quite lengthy along the horizon at this lattitude.
Finally, the sun begins warming the wine in our basins, as Joanne watches by the picnic table.
Nance placed her Grandmother's vintage bowl in the centre of the designated sacred ground. The sun begins to lite upon it.
Nance was very present with this cherished bowl and her experience of the Cleansing Ceremony. She photographed these amazing rainbow bubbles after she poured the wine.
Again ... when Nance saw this cameo reflection of the sun and trees in the wine, she captured the experience.
The entire experience with her Grandmother's bowl, brought tears to Nance's eyes. Two of them fell into the wine. They can been seen here as two faint gray circles; one at midnight and the other at 4 o'clock on the circle of wine in the bowl.
All basins are now in full sunlight, while the 10 of us fast in silence ... awaiting the moment of 'cleansing'. White Wolf sits at the picnic table, looking up the valley.
Another photo of our basins in the sunlight within the 'sacred ground', which we marked with logs set upon the grass.
Archangel Mikael's image oversees the entire scene, with our flags set out on the table.
White Wolf and Teal Blue Butterfly sit quietly in the sun ... meditating.
Blue Mountain Dove reads "On the Wings of Heaven".
A closer view of Teal Blue Butterfly and White Wolf sitting in silence ... preparing for their cleansing.
While we waited, cloud ships appeared in the sky.
It was exciting to know that our Star Brothers and Sisters were there to honour the events of Solstice with us.
Many lenticular cloud ships appeared during the morning.
This was the largest cloud ship to make its presence known.
This cloud ship took the form of a heart. What a message for us!
Here's another pic of the heartshaped ship.
Later in the morning, this layered cloudship appeared.
It was magnificent!
The ship seemed to expand as we focused upon it.
Here's another one over the valley, that seemed to be tagging along behind a cloud ... creating an 'angelic' form.
Nathalie in her quiet time under a grandfather tree.
elaya* sits in deep contemplation just outside the 'sacred ground' enclosure, while Nance processes with her Grandmother's bowl before the Cleansing.
elaya* sits near the kitchen tents, while White Wolf looks at the river in deep contemplation.
Here's another photo of White Wolf quietly preparing for her moment of cleansing
elaya* in deep meditation.
All is still at Split Creek.
We did not take any photos during the Cleansing Ceremony, but, when all was done, Nance captured this image of the interesting marks left by the wine in her bowl.
This is a photo of the lenticular cloud which was directly overhead covering the sun during the ritual. It was taken by elaya* immediately following the Cleansing Ceremony.
