Rose of Heaven
A day for contemplation and picnics, roses and bonfires, spirits and ancestors--the summer solstice has arrived! Helati celebrates those who have gone before us; Rose of Heaven--also called Rosa Mundi or Rosa Caeli--is supremely a Mother God festival that calls us to meditate on the profound love and attachment God has for us and to recall where we are going after this life; the Summer Solstice is considered one of the two great Gates of the year concerning the movement of souls between this world and the next; and in pre-Christian times, the solstices have always been one of deep significance surrounding life and death : in short, Helati & Rose of Heaven combined on the summer solstice is a rather perfect combination. Contemplation on the world beyond the veil of matter is an important part of how we mark the festival Rose of Heaven. Fasting before the holiday, presumably to be broken with a festive picnic later, is advised though not required. Fasting combined with the mugwort i
