Welcoming the Rising Sun... * This Welcoming the Sun can be done as its own rite or as part of a morning ritual. Begin this ritual at least one half hour before the orb of the Sun is likely to be visible on the horizon of the ritual site. On the first day of Summer. The time of Sunrise will depend on several factors, including the time of year, latitude of the area, and the terrain and orientation of the ritual site in respect to the Western horizon. Another factor to be considered is the amount, position, and thickness of any cloud cover in the western sky. This ritual works best on clear days. Bring a drum or other rhythm instrument to the ritual site. Burn incense sacred to the Sun, such as frankincense or copal. Consecrate the site, yourself, and your rhythm instrument with the incense. Then, facing West, begin making a slow, quiet, steady rhythm as you look at the western Sky. When the orb of the Sun first crests above the western horizon, speed up the rhythm. Shift your gaze from the orb of the Sun to an area above it so that you are not harming your eyes by looking at the Sun directly as it rises. Begin chanting to welcome the Sun. This can be a freeform chant spontaneously created at the moment or a Sun chant, such as “Sacred Sun, Come!” If you wish, dance as you chant and make rhythms. As the orb of the Sun increasingly appears about the horizon, increase the speed and intensity of your chanting, rhythm making, and movement. When the orb of the Sun has cleared the horizon, culminate your chanting and rhythm making, and then be silent for a time. Close your eyes and meditate on the warmth of the risen Sun flowing around you and in you. If this ritual is being done by a group, then the leader should signal the group to peak the sound and then have silence. After the silence, honour the Sun with a spoken or sung invocation of the Sun in one or more Sacred forms. Then, be silent again and pay attention to any words, symbols, or other impressions that may come to you. Give thanks to the Sacred Sun. XXX
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