Summer Solstice

On the closest weekend to the Summer Solstice lay a 4′ by 4′ square sheet of cotton cloth on the floor in the middle of a room. Create a 2 foot long soft modeling clay image of a fish to represent the shark spirit Kahaya and lay it in the middle of the sheet. Each participant should arm himself or herself with a wooden dowel about the thickness of a pencil about a foot long (a wooden shish kebab skewer will do also). If it is possible a turkey feather may be tied to the end of each dowel with string.

The ceremony begins with a tobacco smoking ritual. After the tobacco ritual each celebrant takes a turn sticking his or her “arrow” (the wooden dowel. In this way the shark of despair and hopelessness is defeated and the way is opened for Life and Hope of Summer Solstice.

The occasion is capped off with a dinner which could include casabe or yuka.