Honouring the Summer Solstice with Sacred Rituals

The Summer Solstice is approaching and it's time to prepare our rituals. Marking your calendars with the official first day of Summer! On Thursday, June 20th we will have the longest day of the year, with the sun rising at 5:06 am PST and setting at 9:21 pm PST. This day of sunlight has been celebrated many times over by cultures across the globe, and for good reason. The timing of the Sun plays a large role in the cropping and harvest cycles of food. In many cultures, this day was celebrated and honoured by having bon fires, which were believed to strengthen the power of the Sun on this day. Aside from the Sun's obvious importance in our food dependence, this day brings with it a deeper and more energetic change too.

The Sun is at its peak when it enters the Southern aspect of the year. It brings with it a warm and joyous glow that fills our bodies and souls with radiant solar energy. Afternoon hours of the Sun warm the Earth, gifting us with a feeling of fulfillment. The energy of Summer invokes us with a sense of freedom and play as we frolic in the flowers and bathe in the warm waters. Summertime is an important reminder to play and laugh, to release our inner child and harvest the fruits of our labor over the long winter. 

What hard work have you been putting in that you are seeing now pay off? Are the fruits of your labor from the long winter coming to fruition? This could be a creative project, a new health regimen, a relationship or spiritual practice that you have been working with the past few months. The Summer spirit invites us to see how far we have already come and to remind us that play is equally as important as the hard work that comes before it. Summer invites us to be proud of the work we have accomplished! 

Play is such an underrated concept in our Western world. We pride ourselves on the hard work that we do, that eventually burns us out and then we wonder why we are so tired. What lights up your inner child? What brings the spark of joy to your heart? What makes you burst into deep belly laughter? Whatever it may be, Summer is inviting us to bring more of THAT into our lives. 

Journal Prompts

• What makes me genuinely laugh? 

• Who makes me feel playful? 

• Which hobbies, activities or crafts bring a sense of joy to my being? 

• How can I incorporate more play into my life? 

Affirmations can also be a simple and yet effective way to reprogram our minds and hearts. A simple affirmation for the Summer could sound like  “I deserve more play.” Affirmations don’t need to be long incited paragraphs. I often find that the more simple they are, the deeper they can settle. How do these words sit in your body? Your heart? Your soul? 

Get out and Celebrate

The Summer Solstice is one of my favourite times of the year. It brings a lighter energy. More people are out socializing and spending time in nature. Families travel and go on summer trips. Long nights with friends and family. Warm nights under the stars. Long afternoons spent swimming in the waters. What are some of your favourite things about Summer? Do more of them! 

Some of my favourite ways to honour the Summer Solstice are by working with the element of Fire. Fire represents the South and Solar energy. It’s connected to our life force, our vitality, passion and inner child. Some ways to honour this time of year may be sitting around a bonfire with family and friends. Making food over the fire, swapping stories, charing glances across the flames.

It may be spending the day outside, soaking up the Sun! You can also make solar infusion or solar water to honour this day too. Add some dried or fresh herbs to a jar of water and let the jar of water sit out in the Sun for 12-24 hours. Take it inside the next day and drink it throughout the day. Notice how different the water tastes and feels after being charged by water! It's quite subtle but incredible.

If you are someone who has a relationship with herbs, Fireweed, Calendula and St. John’s Wort bloom around this time of year and can be found in the wild. Working with Rosemary and Hawthorn are some other herbs you can use by making infusions, syrups or tinctures, or simply adding Rosemary to a dish! 

I hope this little post has inspired you to get creative with how you chose to spend the Summer Solstice and bring in that Solar energy! 

Sincerely, 

Em at Rewellness