Celebrating the Summer Solstice UMA GAIA
This year the Summer Solstice falls on June 21, in the Northern Hemisphere (for those in the Southern Hemisphere it will be the Winter Solstice). The Solstice happens twice a year; the first in June and the second in December (the December in the Northern Hemisphere is the Winter Solstice and in the Southern Hemisphere it is the Summer Solstice). We will be celebrating the Summer Solstice as we are in the North, and we welcome June 21st as the longest day of the year. Solstice comes from the Latin word sol; meaning sun and sistere which means to “stand still, to take stand and/or to stop”. Thus, it being the longest day in the year, it is as if the sun never sets and is standing still in the sky. In the Arctic Circle, the sun actually does stay bright in the sky all through the day and night; a magnificent phenomenon.
For thousands of years people of all walks of life, cultures, religions and countries have been embracing and honoring the Summer Solstice and its astronomical significance. For some they used it as a guide to plant or harvest, as a way to practice and plan their days, rituals and sacred ceremonies. For the Mayans, Aztecs and other ancient societies they would build structures that would align with the shadows created by the sun; the most famous being Stonehenge. Many Indigenous Native Americans would mark the Summer Solstice with the Sun Dance, the Ancient Greeks used it as the official countdown to the Olympic games, and many Norther European countries like the Swedish believed it to be the true season of fertility and new life. No matter the location or the era, one thing is true; the Summer Solstice is a day a of great power, brightness and festivity.
Bend low again, night of summer stars.
So near you are, sky of summer stars,
So near, a long-arm man can pick off stars,
Pick off what he wants in the sky bowl,
So near you are, summer stars,
So near, strumming, strumming,
So lazy and hum-strumming.
‘Summer Stars, by Carl Sandburg’
There are many ways to align yourself with the Summer Solstice so you too can be empowered by this day of grandeur, and utilize the energy of the Sun for yourself and the coming months leading you up to the Winter Solstice. It is time to take stock of your accomplishments and open the door to the new possibilities that Summer has waiting for you to discover. Ultimately it is a potent time of abundance and the triumph of light over dark.
Sound Bath Meditation
Fire Ceremony & Manifestations
If you have the ability to make a bonfire there is no better day to do this, connect to the vibrant energy of the flames and the Sun. If you do not have the ability, do not fret, you can do the Manifestation ceremony simply with a candle or a few!
Sit directly in-front of the flame (whether a candle or a bonfire), and then close your eyes and begin to visualize your new manifestation whatever it may be. Allow yourself to ‘see’ the manifestation growing in light and power as the flame does. Visualize yourself nurturing the manifestation with joy, harness it, tame it, let it expand in harmony within you and the fire. After you have visualized it to a grand capacity gentle open your eyes, smile and watch the flames dance, as if your manifestation is dancing before your eyes. Take the time to write down your manifestation and how the flame makes you feel, honor whatever emotions come up. Know you are the divine manifestor of your life and that your inner-flame is lit with new life and new avenues that are ready to flow towards you.
Build Your Own Crystal or Rock Stonehenge
You can simply collect a bunch of stones from Nature to do this or to double-down on the intention you can use what we call Sun Stones. Sun Stones are the follow crystals that all relate to the Suns energy and represent your lower three Earthly Chakras (Muladhara, Svadhisthana & Manipura). Sunstone, Amber, Citrine, Golden Calcite , Yellow Jasper, Golden Quartz – are all Sun Stones and resonate with the sunrays, your inner-flame, power and also the Apollo energy that can refresh your inner-chi. Once you have gathered your stones or crystals choose a sacred space whether in your home our outside and build a circle with them. With each stone you place in the circle ignite with an intention or a word that you would like to create more of in you. Once the circle is complete, leave it up for at least 3 days and let the energy of the circle, intentions and vibrancy flow through your abode.
Get Your Roots in Nature
It is the season to be outside, to connect to Earth and the animals all around us. It is a time to use the Earth and the animals as a guide towards enlightenment and renewal. For this ceremony it is important that you are either barefoot or in comfortably low-to-the-ground shoes. Connect to soles and heals of your feet on this walking meditations, do not have a destination or a place you want to end-up. Give yourself at least 30min to just wander, walk and be guided by your feet and breath. Observe your surroundings, the perfect Earth around you, the animals you come in contact with. When you feel called to stop, stop and look around, then keep going, but let your soles/soul guide you. An intention you can repeat during this walking ceremony is: “My foundation and security comes from within. I am secure and grounded within myself”.
Seven Simple Ways to Celebrate the Summer Solstice
1. Celebrate all your accomplishments that you have built for yourself in the past six months. Write them down!
2. Get outside and watch the sunrise on the day of the Summer Solstice and place a giant smile on your face and repeat: “I honor the Sun and the Sun within me”
3. Herbal Tea Ceremony – choose any of the following in-season herbs and mix with fresh lemon for a revitalizing Summer Solstice tea: Verbena, Fennel, Rose, Chamomile, Calendula, Meadowsweet. Drink slowly, and with intention and if you can outside.
4. Take A Sun Bathe – find a comfortably place outside and lay on the ground on your back, soak up the sun for 15min and then flip sides. Let the Sun enter your cellular being and honor the heat, the warmth and the life that it gives to us all.
5. Make In-Season Preserves – choose your favorite in-season fruit such as apricots, peaches and strawberries and find your favorite preserve recipe and make a homemade batch for yourself and loved ones. Keep a few jars stocked away so that when the Winter Solstice arrives in December you can enjoy the Summer abundance.
6. Make a Flower Crown – gather wild flowers, or take a trip to your favorite florist and make yourself a bountiful and bright flower crown. These are to be worn on the day of the Summer Solstice or even the days to follow. Both for men and woman, perhaps gather a few friends to do this creative and light-hearted sequence with.
7. Have a Picnic – gather your friends, your favorite in-season foods, a blanket and find a lovely spot outside to eat and enjoy the season picnics
