7 Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice
"May the long time sun shine upon you, all the love surround you, and the pure light within you, guide you on your way." -unknown
Hello Herbal People,
I have sat down to write a blog post about the summer solstice on practically the most gloomiest day we’ve had all week. All week the sun has been shining, opening up to blue skies for afternoon play time. It was a really lovely week. Now today there is no sun in sight, I know it’s there because it is lighter out than it was a few hours ago, but the glorious sun/son (the one we will celebrate tomorrow) is hidden behind ugly grey clouds. Tomorrow’s weather isn’t looking much better either. However maybe it is shining bright in the sky in your part of the world. <grin>
What is the Summer
Solstice?
The summer solstice is a celebration of the return of the sun and light to the northern hemisphere. This year this celebration is on June 20, 2021. Summer Solstice is the longest day and shortest night of the year for the northern hemisphere, this occurs when the North Pole and South Pole have their maximum tilt toward the sun. This day marks the astronomical onset of summer. For most of us though we are already full swing into summer. On this day the sun will reach its highest and northernmost points in the sky.
This day just happens to be Father’s Day as well this year. So don’t forget to celebrate dad!
Below I will give you seven ways you can celebrate the summer solstice this year while including your dad! But before I do that I want to share with you some of the spiritual meanings of the return of the sun. If you wish to skip this section go ahead and move on to the seven ways to celebrate the summer solstice!
The Spiritual Meaning
and Manifesting during the Summer Solstice
It is said that the Sun will be most powerful during this day. It represents new beginnings and a brand new season. For us that means we should be ushering in a time of abundance and reflection; spend more time outdoors, with friends and family, and reflect on all the ways our lives have been blessed. Even though it has been a crazy year for all of us there are still good things we can be grateful for in our lives. So grab your notebook or journal and a pen and head outside to sit with the sun and manifest on some things.
Journal Prompts: What are you most grateful for in your life? What accomplishments in the last six months have achieved? How will you continue to manifest on these in the next six months?
This is a time for birthing new energy out into the Universe. This season is the perfect time to celebrate ourselves. So although it is Father’s Day make sure you make the time to be with yourself. For me that is a solo yoga practice or creating art while watching reruns of old TV shows. But for you it could mean a rejuvenating hike in the woods or a warm, richly scented bubble bath. Whatever you choose, do it. Make the time. Don’t procrastinate. And while you’re spending time with yourself continue to think on how you will manifest those ideas, thoughts, and prospects out into the Universe. Lift them up to the heavens. Write them down in your journal and list how you are going to put those into action.
Some other journal prompting ideas:
Make a gratitude list: list all of the wonderful things that have come to fruition throughout the past six months that you are grateful for in your life that focus on celebrating light and call in abundance.
Make a celebration list: list all of your own achievements over the past six months. How will you continue to manifest these things in the next six months? Year? 3 years? And so on…
Make a resolution list: list all of the things you want to make different. How will you go about achieving these changes? Will they help you achieve a shift in the right direction?
Remember to honor yourself and where you are in life.
Get out into nature, connect with Mother Earth, celebrate life and new beginnings and the return of the sun. Take your dad for a hike or to a nature realm, go out and explore the natural world that God created for us.
7 ways to celebrate
the summer solstice
This is the season to celebrate light and growth. It is when we can be most present to ourselves and reflect on who we know ourselves to be, the person God created us to be.
1. 1. Go strawberry picking – in light of Father’s Day take your dad. Strawberry picking in summer is a great family activity. What a wonderful Sunday afternoon outing to take dad on. Once all of those strawberries have been picked and cleaned and after your dad goes to take his dad nap, you can enjoy a big bowl of them with some crème fraiche or make a strawberry pie for your dad and you to enjoy after his nap. Include the whole family and make a day of it <grin> Look up pick-you-own-strawberry farms in your area.
· Side note the June full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon, even more reason to go strawberry picking.
2. 2. Keep a fire burning – have a bonfire to celebrate with friends and family the return of light to the northern hemisphere. Keep the fire burning all day and night! Include food, games, and music for a really fun celebration. Make this a Father’s Day cookout and invite other families over and make a whole day of it.
a. This is a good time to experience the sunrise or the sunset on this day
b. If you are not in a place to have a bonfire you can light a candle and place it on your altar or your mantle to represent light.
4. 4. Gather with others to create a circle – exchange songs, stories, and poems; dance, drum, and sing; make art and celebrate this miraculous day, where the sun is most potent and stays with us longer with your friends and other like minded people.
5. 5. Make a prayer stick or prayer tree – use strips of ribbon, paper, twine , etc. to write specific prayers for those who need healing, kind words, wisdom, encouragement, whatever it may be. Write these things on the ribbon and tie it to a large stick or to branches of a tree in your yard. I’ve seen a few of these around my neighborhood and they are just so pretty! Form a prayer circle around the stick or tree with your friends, congregation, family, neighbors, etc. to pray for our nation, country, and world for a return to peace, vibrancy, and good health.
6. 6. Gather plants and healing herbs – go out into a nearby field or your own garden and collect flowers, plants, and herbs. It is said that wild herbs are at their most potent on summer solstice.
a. Make a bouquet(s) of fresh summer flowers and herbs and place these in bright area of your home or on your summer altar.
b. Make a flower crown – these are said to symbolize fertility and natural abundance. After you’ve made your flower crown you can wear it to your prayer circle, bonfire or celebration circle.
c. Make a delicious dandelion greens salad
d. Forage for wild herbs and make a summer solstice tea blend
e. Or use dried herbs to make this Summer Solstice Tea Blend:
1 tsp dried hibiscus flower
1tsp dried peppermint leaves
1tsp dried lemon balm leaves
1 tsp rose petals fresh or dried
1 tsp dried rosehips
*Mix all ingredients in a glass bowl scoop 1-2 teaspoons into a mortar and pestle or into a spice mill, grind loosely. Scoop this into a mesh tea ball or place directly into tea pot. Pour just boiled water into a mug with the tea ball and steep for about 5-7 minutes. Use a fine mesh strainer place over a mug to strain plant material from your teapot. Add honey for a little sweetness and enjoy hot or chilled. Or place dried/fresh ingredients in a tea bag, place the bag in a large container full of water and place this in full sun for 4-8 hours to enjoy a nice batch of fresh brewed sun tea! A summer time favorite of mine!! Add a little lemon for a vibrant taste!
7. Make a Summer Solstice Altar – bring light to your altar with an altar candle or switch our your current one for a summer one – use candles in colors of reds, oranges, and yellows. Place crystals in circles or use circular shaped crystals in reds, yellows, and oranges to represent the sun. This is a good time to focus on your solar plexus. Find power and energy in your solar plexus. The third chakra focuses on empowerment, self-esteem, and transformation, perfect for our theme of the summer solstice. The color is yellow, like the sun. Harness this energy and prepare to transform.
June 20, 2021 also happens to be International Yoga Day, so do some sun salutations upon awaking on this day, salute the sun and return of light! Have a happy day and whatever the weather is I wish you a most blessed, Father’s Day, Summer Solstice, and International Yoga Day.
Before I sign-off here is a picture of my dad and me! Happy Father's Day!
Namaste, my friends.
xo
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Resources:
www.almanac.com
www.exploredeeply.com
*images are found on google and are not my own.
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