Events | Summer Solstice, International Yoga Day, Strawberry Moon

On June 20 2016 the solstice coincides with the full moon—called strawberry moon. June 21 is also  International Yoga Day. The June solstice marks the shortest nigh and longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere (summer solstice), while coincide with the shortest day and longest night in the southern hemisphere (winter solstice)
In this very special day I am practicing the "Finding the Axis Mundi" movement sequence in a place very special to me: the NYC Hudson River waterfront, by the 70 Street pier. It is a healing practice dedicated to victims of domestic violence and bullying. Awareness of movement empowers and promotes healing.
Namaste to ourselves, sun, earth and moon, in this special moment of connection with the universe.

Celebrations | International Yoga Day and the June Solstice in NYC

Gāyatrī  Mantra

ॐ भूर्भुवः॒ स्वः ।तत्स॑वितुर्वरे॑ण्यंभ॒र्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि ।धियो॒ यो नः॑ प्रचो॒दया॑त् ॥

Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ

tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ

bhárgo devásya dhīmahi

dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt

June 21 has been designated International Yoga Day by the United Nation General Assembly in 2014. In the northern hemisphere June 21 is also the date of the summer solstice, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year.

Several celebrations took place in NYC, in private studios as well as in public places.
I began my celebratory practice at Pure Yoga, in the Upper West Side. The practice lasted two hours and consisted of 108 sun salutations, introduced by a beautiful chanting of the Gāyatrī  Mantra.

The main celebration took place in Times Square, where the yoga practice spanedv twelve hours, from 7am to7:30pm, led led by yoga celebreties. I attended only the 6:30 practice, led by Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee. Honestly, I was not impressed by the teachings of the Yees who are among the yoga celebrities. There was no guided flow, or transition, from one asana (pose) to the following; modifications should have been offered, considering the broad range of bodies and yoga practice level amount the hundreds of practitioners. The main experience was for me to be able to isolate my self,from the crowds in one of the densest urban places in the world, sitting in a lotus pose with closed eyes. And of course being able to view from a laying down pose the towering buildings wrapped by ten-floor tall lit billboards was a quite unique, almost surreal experience.

Events | Summer Solstice

The summer solstice in the Northern hemisphere marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.The name solstice comes from the Latin "sol" (sun) and sistere (to stand still). It is the moment (happening twice a year) when the Sun's apparent path north or south reverts its direction. Geometrically the summer solstice happens at the moment when the earth axis defines the smallest angle about the plane defined by the earth orbital plane.
I usually record the sun as it sets at the northernmost point. This year I arrived to my favorite viewing point in the Hudson waterfront, at the 69th Street Transfer Station too late...

Performace NYC | A different Summer Solstice Celebration

This year the first day of summer began with an overcast sky and I decided to skip my annual solstice celebration with a meditation of setting sun. But I was not disappointed landing at Hendershot Gallery, which hosted a "Special Performance by Christopher Brooks and Christopher Lancaster". Christopher Brooks created a figurative portrait of Christopher Lancaster playing the cello.




Before the performance I also had a chance to visit the remarkable exhibition "Of Memory and Time" themes which I explore quite often in my own work —time more than memory.

Installation views from "On Memory and Time"

Camminando | NYC, Summer Solstice Celebration at Socrates Sculpture Park

My axis mundi at this Summer Solstice was at Socrates Sculpture Park, in the art vibrant Long Island City.

The event, besides the many sculptural installation throughout the East River park, included a performance by musician Reggie Watts and a "Soul-stice" ritual celebration by spiritual healer Mama Donna.

And a beautiful sunset, of course....

Camminando | Summer Solstice at Sun Farm

The summer solstice in the Northern hemisphere marks the longest day and shortest night of the year.

The name solstice comes from the Latin "sol" (sun) and sistere (to stand still). It is the moment (happening twice a year) when the Sun's apparent path north or south reverts its direction.

At Sun Farm the sun rising and setting at the winter and summer solstices are defined by markers or frames. The Solstice Helix ---framing the sun setting at the summer solstice--- unfortunately was torn down by a major ice storm last winter.

This summer the sun setting approaching the Solstice has been recorded in reference to Working Pyramid, a new functional sculpture placed at the intersection between Noon Columns and Sun Axis.