As the sun rose this morning, I faced its blazing glory and offered my appreciation.

The summer solstice is the only day of the entire year that I'll bid the glowing star a hearty greeting. You see, the sun and I generally maintain a relationship of distance.

As the days lengthen, the sun throws my lunar-leaning circadian rhythms into disarray, resulting in a seasonal bout of insomnia. I also get vicious migraines each summer, usually induced by high temperatures and bright days. Instinctively, I head to the shadows whenever I walk through my neighborhood, and I wear long-sleeve shirts year-round. (No possibility of skin cancer in my future.)

But even as I patiently wait for the cool shade of autumn to arrive, I respectfully acknowledge its polar opposite, for without light, there would be no blessed darkness.

While I couldn't, in good conscience, light a bonfire inside my apartment to pay homage to the sun, I did spark up a vanilla candle, placed it in an eastern window and offered my gratitude. I thanked the sun for providing the earth with its warmth and light and bid it a quick journey through the summer months so I could once again enjoy darker, cooler climes.

My own solitary sabbat celebration suited my independent nature, but I hope to one day experience the summer solstice in England. This morning, while most of the world slept, more than 20,000 pagans, druids, witches and tourists gathered at Stonehenge to cheer the sun's arrival.

The stone circle, 80 miles southwest of London, was built sometime between 3000 B.C. and 1600 B.C. No one knows how the huge monolith was formed, but each year, its visual and astrological alignment with the sun provides a magical moment for those wishing to honor the Old Ways.

At dawn, these revelers celebrated the northern hemisphere's longest day by singing and dancing to primal drum beats, performing fire-inspired spellwork and praying to an old deity.

For all of recorded history, people have worshipped the sun or created legends and myths about the gods/goddesses that represent its mighty force. The Egyptians called him Ra, the creator of light and all things. The Sumerians worshipped Shamash, a sun god who was also the god of justice. To the Romans, Apollo was the god of logic, reason, light, music, healing and prophecy.

Surya represents the sun god in Hindu mythology. A benevolent deity, he's capable of healing the sick and bringing good fortune to those who respect him. The Greeks honored Helios, a god who rode across the sky in his golden chariot and forced the sun to make its east-to-west journey. In Chinese mythology, 10 suns once burned the people of China -- until an archer named Yi shot down nine of them. The one remaining is the sun that we see each day.

The summer solstice is also celebrated in many cultures. It is known as Alban Heruin, All-Couple's Day, Aridian Strega, the Day of Cerridwen and Her Cauldron, the Day of the Green Man, the Feast of Epona, Gathering Day, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide and Vestalia. To pagans and witches in the northern hemisphere, the solstice is a lesser sabbat known as Litha or Midsummer.

When the Catholic Church spread into Europe, its leaders appropriated the solstice and renamed it Saint John's Day as a way to convert the pagans. Despite this effort, however, many of the original traditions endured.

The summer solstice is a day of power, a quarter day, a time when fires are lit for purification and protection. In the past, pagans leaped over the flames in the belief that their crops would grow as high as they could jump (sort of like a limbo stick in reverse). The following morning, the herds were driven through the embers to destroy the possibility of sickness or disease. Farmers would take the ashes home and sprinkle them on their crops and in their fireplaces for protection.

Couples who declared their love on Beltane (May 1st) often exchange vows on Litha, a tradition that's inspired millions of June weddings and handfastings. Many witches perform love magick and healing spells on this day.

For those who still believe in fairy tales, Midsummer Night's Eve is an excellent time to commune with the wee folk. At midnight, the stories say, the fae throw a party and create mischief before traveling to a new faerie mound. To wish them well, it's best to leave an offering of food, milk or herbs.

Regardless of your personal beliefs or traditions, the summer solstice is an excellent time to clear away negative energies. Clean your workspace and decorate it with flowers. Eat natural foods, foods of the earth like fresh vegetables and grains. Kiss the ones you love or take an hour to experience the activities that bring you joy. Then, just before it sets, celebrate the sun's illumination.

As the Maoris say, "Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you."