Tuesday 21 June 2011

Solstice

Irony – there’s a feeling in late June that we’re still only just entering summer… Wimbledon's begun, Glastonbury approaches – and yet the longest day of the year has already arrived. Happily the warming effect of lengthened days trails behind, casting its balm over the coming months (seas won’t properly warm up for a while yet).

At such boundary points and junctures of nature, it's good to stop and ponder these great rhythms - and the relationship between vast macro planetary mathematics and their effects on the natural world that sustain life and growth. The earth’s annual motion through its axis like a vast rocking chair or ferris wheel, imperceptibly edging towards its peak today, then falling, slowly accelerating, till it hurtles through the equinox… then slows to a crawl at winter’s sluggish nadir, before recommencing its long climb back… And accompanying this arc, the kaleidoscope of beauty with which nature’s miracle of design assaults our senses: from yellow burst of daffodil, to skylark in balmy meadow, through fall’s fiery extravaganza, to taut crisp shadow, and ice daggers.

3 comments:

john mansfield said...

Yes, the longest day seems to come upon us so quickly. think it would be much better if we didn't have the clock changes, then we could enjoy a more gradual journey through the seasons.

Billy said...

I think the astronomer royal might just disagree with your piece :-)

Anonymous said...

Aye, I was wondering if "Vast Macro Planetary Mathematics" (as opposed to wee macro planetary mathematics, or vast micro planetary mathematics?) is a legitimate brand of science, or the sort of shite that creotards traffic in ;-)