Find balance with Solstice

Find balance with Solstice

A day of change, a shift between the balance of light and the dark, between the cold of winter and the warmth of summer. The solstice comes twice a year. It is both the longest day of summer, before the days grow shorter and colder, and the shortest day in winter before the return of the long, warm days. 
It has been an auspicious day on the island since Neolithic times, and it is no surprise that the people have developed ceremonies, rituals, and of course stories to mark this significant event. 

The story of the Oak King and the Holly King is one such story.

The Oak King is the personification of summer and likewise the Holly King is his winter counterpart. They wage a constant battle for control of the climate. The Oak King wins the battle every year at the winter solstice. He slowly returns warmth and daylight to the world until the summer solstice. Then it is the Holly King’s turn to reign supreme. This story embodies the cyclical nature of the seasons, darkness subsiding to light, winter subsiding to summer in an endless cycle. 

The solstice is believed to be the day when the veil between the world of myth and our world is at its thinnest.

Several burial chambers and Neolithic sites all over the island are built to align with these celestial events.  
One such structure is the Passage Tomb on the summit of Slieve Gullion at an altitude of over 570m. This structure is the highest surviving tomb of its kind in Northern Ireland. Here, the winter solstice — the turning point, symbolizing hope and renewal — can be observed. This burial chamber was constructed to align with the setting sun. On this day, the light illuminates the back of the chamber, bathing it in a warm golden glow. Sights like these provide evidence of how Neolithic people understood and celebrated the cycles of nature.  

Although the people from these times are gone, taking with them many of their customs, beliefs, and stories, we can find beauty and connection in appreciating the same moments as they once did. 
Soak in and find balance with our essential oil blend — Solstice with the warm mood-boosting notes of orange and bergamot and grounding effects of cedarwood. A celebration of the power of renewal brought by the sun.