After irreconcilable differences with his previous musical project, Saturnus, Larsen began writing music of a different vein, similar in style to his neofolk influences but very different than the doom metal he had previously created.
In 1999, the debut :Of The Wand & The Moon: album was released, entitled Nighttime Nightrhymes. Characterized by folk songs with themes ranging from expressions of love, loss, joy and ancestral Germanic paganism, the album was interspersed with experimental dark ambient pieces and tribal drumming. The album marked a new entry for Denmark in a new wave of Germanic post-industrial folk projects alongside contemporaries such as Forseti and Sonne Hagal.
2001 saw the release of a second :Of The Wand & The Moon: release entitled :Emptiness:Emptiness:Emptiness:, with refined production and a continued but expanded sound from previous work, the album further cemented the reputation of the project. A live version of :Of The Wand & The Moon: also debuted in 2001, beginning a long series of shows over the next few years.
After the release of a split album with Sol Invictus and a few vinyl singles, a collection of b-sides was released entitled Lucifer in 2003. Themed after its namesake yet featuring a photograph of a surprised cat on its cover, the record included various outtakes and unreleased tracks from the :Emptiness:Emptiness:Emptiness period. A box set was also released featuring vinyl versions of previous recordings, as well as exclusive material.
A single entitled "Hail Hail Hail" was released in 2005 as a preview of upcoming material, showcasing a more experimental side of the project and making use of Arabic instrumentation for the title track. This was followed by a full length album entitled Sonnenheim which met to positive critical and fan reviews alike, marking the project as one of the major groups within its genre. The album further showcased themes of Germanic paganism, as exemplified by the title track "Nighttime in Sonnenheim" and introduced a more extroverted and thematically martial side of the project, with considerably less focus on the romantic love songs that had previously been hallmarks of the band's material.
Summer Solstice
Of the Wand & the Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Summer solstice so divine
A pledge to keep to sun above
A pledge to you my love
Summer solstice glorious and golden
Summer solstice fertile and gilden
A homage to life in all it's bloom
Summer solstice your hand in mine
Summer solstice here in Sonnenheim
A pledge to keep to sun above
A pledge to you my love
The lyrics to "Summer Solstice" by Of the Wand & the Moon are a celebration of the midsummer solstice, an important astrological event that takes place during the longest day of the year. The song is filled with imagery that represents the beauty and abundance of nature during this time, and the deep connection between two lovers who have made a pledge to each other.
The first verse speaks of the joining of hands, symbolizing the union between two people who have made a commitment to each other. The summer solstice is seen as a time of divine energy and power, and the pledge to keep the sun above represents the promise to honor and protect this energy. The second verse continues this theme, describing the solstice as both glorious and fertile, a time of life in all its bloom. The circle of the sun is seen as a rekindling of the fire of creation, a moment when everything is renewed.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are suffused with a feeling of joy, celebration, and gratitude for the natural world. The invocation of Sonnenheim in the last line gives a sense of place and belonging, as if the lovers are rooted in a particular landscape that holds meaning for them. By expressing their love in the context of the summer solstice, they are aligning themselves with the rhythms of the earth, and acknowledging that their love is one small part of a larger cosmic dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer solstice your hand in mine
An appeal for the connection between two hearts, symbolized by the holding of hands, as the summer solstice marks a time when nature is at its peak.
Summer solstice so divine
The summer solstice is a time of divine energy, where nature is at its zenith, and the universe is filled with powerful energy.
A pledge to keep to sun above
A promise to honor and celebrate the life-giving energy of the sun, which is particularly important during the summer solstice.
A pledge to you my love
A declaration of love and devotion to a beloved partner, amidst the beauty and power of nature's most energizing season.
Summer solstice glorious and golden
The sun is at its most brilliant and radiant during the summer solstice, and the earth is aglow with golden splendor and vibrant energy.
Summer solstice fertile and gilden
Nature is in full bloom during the summer solstice, with an abundance of fertility and growth in the flora and fauna of the earth.
A homage to life in all it's bloom
A tribute to the cycles of life and the fertility of the earth, which are celebrated during the summer solstice as a time of rejuvenation and renewal.
Circle of the sun rekindle the fire
The cyclical nature of the summer solstice, and its association with fire, is evoked in this line, which speaks to the connection between the earth and the sun.
Summer solstice your hand in mine
A repetition of the opening line, reminding us of the need for human connection and intimacy during a time of heightened natural power and energy.
Summer solstice here in Sonnenheim
A specific reference to a location where the summer solstice is celebrated, underscoring the cultural and historical significance of this ancient celebration.
Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.