Summer Solstice and Midsummer Visitors

“I have had a most rare vision. I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.”–Shakespeare “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” The summer solstice is the longest day of the year---and it marks the beginning of our return to the lingering darkness. Many people across time and cultures believed that the invisible world behind our familiar material plane was particularly accessible at this time. This meant that you could communicate with your ancestors and other members of the spirit world, as well as elves and fairies.This idea is often pooh-poohed these days, as a relic of a less sophisticated time. But is it ridiculous to believe in fairies? Or are we taught to ignore or discount experiences that are rare and/or difficult to describe?In this program I explore this question a bit, aided by a scholarly work on the topic, The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries by W. Y. Evans-Wentz. I also tell the story, “The Fairies of Merlin Craig” and a few anecdotes about folks who befriend fairies. These and other Scottish folk tales can be found at www. compassrose.org. Support the show