CELEBRATING SUMMER SOLSTICE
The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year and the start of astronomical summer. This pivotal moment in the Earth's journey around the sun has been celebrated by many cultures and societies worldwide for centuries!
We celebrate the Solstice, as well as the changing of the seasons, to guide us and help us live more harmoniously with nature. Since the Winter Solstice, the days have been gradually growing longer. During those darker days of winter, we are more inward-focused. But now that we have reached the longest day of the year, we might start to notice a shift from introspection to outward expression. As summer unfolds, we can start to feel a surge of energy and playfulness. The Summer Solstice can often bring with it a boost of creativity and inspiration as there’s a sensation of joy and potential in the air. This is also a time to focus on gratitude, to shine light on what brings happiness and joy into your life. Much like Mother Earth, we’re likely to be feeling “in our prime” during these summer months.
Below are a few ways that might inspire you on how to celebrate the Solstice.
WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SOLSTICE
YOGA
Yoga is a great way to connect to the seasons, but also to how you feel at this point in the wheel of the year. Whenever we come to the mat, it is an opportunity to check in and see how you feel and then to respond with care.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ and each of us might respond differently to the changing seasons. While typically summer is seen as a ‘yang’ season with fiery energy, meaning you might be feeling a heightened sense of energy and playfulness, it’s also quite normal to feel the complete opposite. I know personally, I get a surge of energy through spring rather than summer and often by mid-summer I've burnt out, meaning I gravitate to more grounding practice and pranayama during summer to help me slow down.
What’s important is that you do what feels best for you and your energy during this season, let yourself be guided to the practices you need, whether that's fiery sun sals to expel that ‘yang’ energy or a slow grounding yin and restorative to help you pause and reconnect.
Yoga practices for Summer:
Practising Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) on the solstice is a great way to connect with the solar energies of this time of year and within ourselves. Traditionally, Surya Namaskars are done facing the sunrise; it is an ancient practice of gratitude to the sun for its life-giving energy. Sun Sals can be done at your own pace and adapted to your energy to be as dynamic or as grounding as you need.
You could also practice yoga poses that stimulate Agni, your inner fire, or your Solar Plexus, such as Boat Pose or Plank.
Take your yoga practice outside and spend some time connecting with nature.
Try Yin yoga for opening the heart. Summer is energetically a time of joy and gratitude, for shining light on what brings happiness into our lives. Focus on poses that open the heart, such as sphinx/seal pose, puppy pose, child’s pose, etc.
JOURNAL
What’s giving you energy right now?
What are you grateful for?
What do you need to feel nurtured this summer?
Did you sew any seeds at the Winter Solstice, New Year, or Equinox? What has come to pass since then?
Do you have any goals for the next 6 months?
SUMMER VISION BOARD/BUCKET LIST
Create a summer vision board/bucket list to help manifest any goals you wish to achieve over the summer months.
This is something I personally do every year with things I want to do over the summer months. You can include things such as: strawberry picking, swimming in the sea, going for a picnic, hikes you might wish to do or places you’d like to visit.
Get creative and allow yourself to experience joy.
GET OUTSIDE. CONNECT WITH NATURE
You might choose to start your day by having a cup of tea in the garden, maybe taking time to meditate or taking your yoga practice outside. You could go for a walk, maybe have a bonfire with friends, anyway, that helps you connect with nature.
You might even choose to visit sacred grounds for the Soltice, such as Stonehenge. Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices! I’ve been in previous years and it is an incredible experience. You can find out more about visiting Stonehenge for the Solstice on their website.
Remember, we are all a part of nature and we cannot remain the same all year round, so embrace the Sun and its healing energy. Have a Blessed Summer Solstice!