Celebrate the Summer Solstice

People have been celebrating the summer solstice for thousands of years, across all cultures and traditions. It’s that time of the year when the northern hemisphere is at its maximum tilt towards the sun, when the day is longest and the night is shortest.  This is when the sun's light is at the height of its life-giving power. 

Summer solstice is a time of transformation and rebirth. It has traditionally been the time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, to celebrate the fullness of life, to invoke fertility and abundance for the harvest ahead. 

It’s a time to celebrate the Earth as well as the Sun, the connection and the interdependence, and the extraordinary gift of life that they give us. The summer solstice is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge with reverence and gratitude the abundance our beautiful planet provides in so many ways. And to remember that we are simply stewards of the Earth and of all life. 

The 2021 summer solstice in the northern hemisphere will happen specifically on June 20th at exactly 11:32 PM EDT. Both June 20th and June 21st will be high energy days, and the ideal time to celebrate the solstice, in whatever way feels right for you.

You may want to watch the livestream of the solstice sun rising and shining directly through the ancient sacred stones of Stonehenge on the morning of June 21st. Learn more on their website.

Or you may wish to create your own rituals and celebrations.

Here is an abundance of ideas to inspire you to celebrate the powerful energy of the summer solstice, to fuel your journey towards your wildest dreams and your highest potential.

Take stock and set new intentions as you stand on the cusp of new creation, new abundance 

The summer solstice is a perfect time to review your goals and intentions, to set newintentions for the next phase of the year. Remember that your thoughts, intentions and actions can influence your life in powerful ways. So take this opportunity to dig down and think about what really matters to you, about where you are on your journey, and where you would like to go. Here are some questions to guide your reflection.

• What would you like to create for your life, for your family, for the world?
• What are your deepest desires?
• Is there anything out of alignment right now, holding your back from living your highest potential?
• What intentions can you set to empower you to live the life you dream of?
• What limiting beliefs can you let go of right now, so that you can open up to the light of possibility?

Transmute anything that is holding you back through the power of fire

Traditionally the summer solstice is celebrated with fire. This is a wonderful time to celebrate the light by building a bonfire, or simply lighting a candle on your altar. Fire is powerfully transformational - it consumes and destroys anything in it’s path, and makes way for new life and new creation. Like the Phoenix rising from the ashes. The solstice is an opportunity to let go of any painful emotions or hardships, it’s your opportunity to toss into the fire anything that is holding you back. What do you want to let go of so that you can move forward with harmony towards your highest potential? Write it on a slip of paper and toss it into a bonfire, or light the paper with a candle and allow it to safely burn away. The fire will carry your offerings and intentions to the universe, and transmute your troubles into positive energy and future opportunities.

Connect with nature to reconnect with your abundance 

Abundance can be present in your life in so many different ways. On the occasion of the summer solstice, take a walk in nature to appreciate the abundant world all around you. Be mindful about it, walk with awareness, noticing the bounty of the season, the abundance of what is all around you. Take the time to appreciate it.

• Abundance meditation - Sit anywhere in nature and focus on what nurtures you and see the abundant world all around you.  Acknowledgement and appreciation will create even more abundance in your life.
• Mindful walking meditation - walk on the ground, the grass, the sand in bare feet to really feel the connection with the richness of the Earth.  Notice how it feels on your feet.
• Pick a big bouquet of wild flowers
• Create anatural mandala with gathered leaves, twigs, blossoms, grasses, stones, shells etc.
• Put your garden in order and make it especially lovely; your garden can be a flower pot on a windowsill or a planter on your balcony.

Give gifts to share your abundance with others

The summer solstice is also an occasion to give gifts to others as a way of sharing your gratitude for all you have.  Gifts with no strings attached, without expecting anything in return. Hand made gifts are a beautiful way of sharing your talents and the things that are precious: love, kindness, caring. This will enable you to connect with the feeling of gratitude, in reverse. And what you give away freely will flow back to you. Use your imagination and your creativity to find the right way to share your good fortune with others. Here are just a few gift ideas.

• A bouquet of flowers or a plant dug from your garden
• A lovely bunch of wild flowers gathered on a forest walk
• Paint a small picture
• Bake some cookies, scones or muffins
• Make dinner and take it over to your neighbour  
• Write a poem, straight from the heart
• Make some strawberry jam and share the jewel-coloured jars of sweetness
• Or simply offer a smile, a nod, a word of encouragement to a stranger.

Harness the symbolic power of the circle

A circle is a symbol of unity, of interconnectedness. Of oneness with each other, with the Earth, together through every season, every joy, every crisis and every cycle of life. Sacred circles have been part of human culture, appearing in art and architecture throughout the world from the earliest know times. There is no one meaning or definition for sacred circles, the meaning is different from person to person, culture to culture. But they are ever-present. Take the opportunity of the summer solstice to harness the power of the circle. Here are some ideas:

• Gather your friends in a sacred circle, around a bonfire, to sing or dance together, or just to laugh and be joyful together.
• Meditate on a mandala image: explore the mandala with your eyes, noticing the shapes and patterns and colours, moving from the outside to the centre. Always coming back to the image if your mind wanders.
• Notice the circular design of flowers and plants on your mindful walk through nature.  Once you start to notice, you’ll see circles everywhere.

Start something new

Summer solstice is the perfect time to start something new. If you have a project, start it now. If you have a dream, dream beyond you wildest imaginings and just go for it. And now is a great time to start a daily routine! If you haven’t got a home yoga and meditation practice, you are truly missing out on the benefits of a daily practice. Click HERE to get your free guide to KICKSTART YOUR HOME PRACTICE.  

International Day of Yoga

June 21st is the United Nation’s International Day of Yoga. The theme this year is Yoga for Well-Being. Join the virtual event on June 21st from 8:30 to 10:00 EDT.  Learn more HERE.