Hello, welcome to our Autumn 2026 newsletter.
This Newsletter discusses how the Kosmon Sanctuary has presented the Celtic ceremonies of The Summer Solstice, Beltain and the Spring Equinox.
The Trustees present the eight Celtic festivals as a means of nurturing our connection with nature, and what it has to teach us. The eight Celtic festivals follow the cycle of the year, which was uniquely possible for an agricultural community without the distractions of electricity and modern conveniences.
Contents
- Summer Solstice – June 21st
- Beltain – May 3rd
- Spring Equinox – March 22nd
- Charitable Donations
- General Information
1. Summer Solstice – June 21st
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and the time of the peak influence of the sun. We celebrated this time by following Celtic insights regarding the significance of this time, insights unknown to our culture. The Celts were deeply connected to the energetic qualities of trees and plants and how these qualities could be utilised to support their life. They knew that the qualities of the Oak were particularly relevant for their work during the Summer Solstice.
The Oak is sacred to the Celts and represents the doorway into the second half of the year at the Solstice. —— The Oak is the Sun king whose attributes are strength, courage, inner peace, and the endurance to survive.
Sit with the Oak when you need to find the strength to face difficulties and sort out complicated problems. It will bring deep calm and restore the will and self-determination. It is the doorway to your inner spirituality and the power of Love within. (Glennie Kindred. Sacred celebrations.)
As part of the Summer Solstice ceremony, each person collected a branch from a near-by oak tree. Returning to sitting with the group, they connected deeply with its qualities and reflected deeply on what was holding them back in life, something thy wished to be clear of.
The Special Oak Fire
At the Summer Solstice, the Celts built a special fire from oak branches, and herbs such as lavender thrown in. Cattle were driven through the smoke to protect them from, or to cure, disease. People also walked around, or jumped over the fire to protect against disease or what we would call “negative vibrations”. This practice lasted until the mid-19th Century, when it was displaced by science and its materialist perspective. We live at a time when we are open to insights from the past as well as modern practices.
Following this Celtic practice we built an oak fire. Each person placed their oak branch on the fire in order to create cleansing and purifying oak smoke.
We then worked with our special fire to clear something that we felt was holding us back.
We asked inwardly: “What do I want to leave behind in the fire?”
Each person then circled the fire three times, expressing fully what they wished to be clear of saying: “I leave behind ——– in the fire”.
We concluded with a quiet time and a Celtic chant.
2. Beltain May 3rd
Beltain is one of eight traditional Celtic festivals. It comes precisely between the Spring Equinox, March 21st, and the Summer Solstice, 21st June. So, we are experiencing the peak of Spring and the beginning of Summer. This was the time when livestock were taken to upland pasture.
The Practice of May Day, Beltain
Beltain is a wonderful time, full of joy, abundance, delight and growth. Beltain means the fire of light, and comes from the word for the Celtic God Bel, meaning “the bright one” combined with teine, Celtic for fire.
In Celtic times, a special fire was kindled after all the other fires in the community had been put out. People jumped the fire to purify, cleanse, and to bring fertility. Couples jumped the fire together to pledge themselves to each other. Cattle and other animals were driven through the smoke as a protection from disease and to bring fertility. At the end of the evening, the villagers would take some of the fire to start their own fires.
Beltain is a celebration of the fertility and rampant potency of the life-force. All of nature is growing and manifesting now in a whirl of creative energy. This is the time to celebrate unions of all kinds, fertility and manifestation on many different levels, love, sexuality and fruitfulness. It is a time to be in touch with the instinctive wild forces within and without, to be aware of the potency of the life force and its power on the physical and mystical levels.
The life force was celebrated on May-Day, especially with dancing around the maypole. This symbolised the interweaving and joining of the male and female energies to bring fertility to all unions.
At Beltane, the vibrant spirit of vegetation was represented by a man clothed in green leaves, who danced around the edge of the Maypole dance. A contemporary expression of this is celebrated in the “Jack in the Green” Hastings Festival in early May.
Hawthorne was especially valued at Beltane heart through its ability to promote the opening of the heart on the subtle levels to spiritual growth and Love. It will help release blocked energy, release stress and fears, and open the flow for healing and open-hearted loving communication. Garlands of May blossom were used to decorate houses, doorways and each other. (Glennie Kindred Sacred Celebrations)
The Veil between the Physical and the World Beyond
Beltain, like its opposite on the wheel of the year, Samhain (end Oct./beginning Nov.), marks a particularly potent transition in the yearly cycle. At dawn and dusk especially, the boundaries between the worlds are thin, and we may find ourselves spellbound by the power of the moment, touch the Fairy realms, or experience the paranormal. This will bring understanding which will greatly expand our consciousness. (Glennie Kindred. Sacred Celebrations.)
We shall explore the value of this time of a thin boundary between the worlds for gaining connection with our inner knowing by working with the 7-circuit labyrinth as a powerful tool for this purpose.
The Labyrinth:
A labyrinth is different from a maze, though the two are often confused. The labyrinth is one of the oldest contemplative and transformational tools known to humankind, used for centuries for prayer, ritual, initiation, and personal and spiritual growth. The labyrinth offers only one route to the centre and back again: no blind alleys, dead ends, or tricks, as in a maze. No matter where you are in the labyrinth’s circuits, you can always see the centre. Once you set your foot upon its path, the labyrinth gently and faultlessly leads you to the centre of both the labyrinth and yourself, no matter how many twists and turns you negotiate in the process. (Exploring the Labyrinth, Melissa Gayle West).
Working with The Labyrinth for Inner Enquiry
We are all familiar with habitual beliefs and habitual behaviours which cause disharmony within our-selves and with others. Working with the labyrinth can aid the release of these habitual patterns, with the result that life becomes more meaningful and joyous.
Each member of the group received an A4 print of The Labyrinth backed with stiff paper. For us, the entry point represents the world, the twisting and turning of the path, life’s journey, and the centre a still place where valuable insights may be received. We again encounter the world on the return journey with the insights which will enrich life. Such insights may not be appreciated immediately.
The group was situated in a circle. Each member traced the path of The Labyrinth in their own time, embraced by a profound silence. Afterwards we went for a walk in the garden to connect with nature.
3. The Spring Equinox March 22nd
Today we celebrate the Spring Equinox, when day and night are in perfect balance all over the world. The first signs of Spring are everywhere: spring bulbs begin to flower, blossom and catkins are on the trees, and birds prepare their nests so we see that the key qualities of this time are those of balance and renewal.
At this time the Sun enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, symbolised by the Ram, the male sheep with curved horns. Aries is a fire sign with a very forceful quality. The ram will butt its horns against any obstacle to break it down. This expresses the creative quality of the sun, which increases rapidly after the Spring Equinox, and we remember that all life depends on the sun.
At the Spring Equinox, the inner, consolidating, reflective quality of Winter, is precisely balanced by the rising creative energy. This is a very special time, when we are neither dominated by inertia, nor driven by creative activity. We are more able to experience inner stillness.
The Book of Secret Wisdom gives us a deep insight as to the nature of the spiritual life force of the Sun.
The Sun is shining. Keeping a close watch on human Hearts, he tries to nourish them with Fires in a bid to reinforce the power of Life. Life herself is a gift of the Light, for without it she could not be conceived. Would this world even exist if there were no Sun? He gave the Light, and it was in the rays of Light that life spreads her immortal wings ——- Life and Light are one.
The Sun is endeavouring to give all that he can. He tirelessly warms the ever-cooling Hearts in his rays of Love. The Sun wishes to apply the full force of his energising currents to restore human souls to life ——- For the Sun, the most important thing is Love. Therefore, he keeps on blazing with greater and greater fervour, so that the Fire-breathing warmth of his Heart will be enough for all.
The Central Display
In the centre of the display is the Celtic Cross, which was part of the Celtic tradition both before and after the advent of Christianity. The Celtic Cross is based on the ancient symbol of the Solar Cross, an equal armed cross within a circle, as seen is the Celtic standing stone above.
The Solar cross is probably the oldest religious symbol in the world, probably used in ancient spiritual practice in the worship of the Sun. For the contemporary world we may view the circle as representing the Sun and the cycle of the year. Where the arms of the cross touch the circle we have the two solstices and two equinoxes, represented as four candles. The central candle represents the ultimate Source.
The outer circle of daffodils represents the cycles of life in nature, totally dependent on the Sun. Many Spring flowers, e.g. daffodils and crocuses, have six petals, as shown in the display and the photo above. Six petals express the symbol of the six-pointed star.
Symbol of the Six-pointed Star
The six-pointed star (known as the hexagram) is an ancient geometric shape, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. In the Hindu tradition it is called the Shatkona, symbolising the union of masculine and feminine divine energies. The six-pointed star has been adopted as the symbol of Judaism.
Two triangles come together in the six-pointed star. The triangles represent polarities, e.g. physical and spiritual, male and female, light and dark. Their coming together produces the six-pointed star, which symbolises balance and the resolution of polarities. In the balance present at the Spring Equinox the energy of Winter is precisely balanced by the Sun’s rising creative energy.
4. Charitable Donations
Each month we donate to charities whom we wish to support in their valuable community work.
Jessica Brady Cedar Trust: The aim of this trust is to raise much needed funds to support earlier cancer diagnoses within primary care.
Play-Wise Learning CIC: This is a highly regarded non-profit Community Interest Company based in Wallington, Sutton, that specialises in early intervention and support for neurodivergent children. They explicitly focus on children ages 0 to 8 who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), e.g. autism and ADHD.
KIVA: KIVA is the world’s first on-line lending platform. Kiva uses crowd-funded micro-loans as a force for good, creating a space where people can have one-to one contact, expanding financial access for all.