Here comes the sun - summer solstice 2019
The summer solstice is almost upon us. On June 21st the sun will reach its highest point in the sky, move into the sign of Cancer and shine on the longest day of the year. Energetically and cyclically this marks a time to come out of the ‘dark’ to honor the sun’s nourishing light and the light within each of us.
Embracing the spirit of the summer solstice season will lead to greater peace and self-understanding, according to the Toltec wisdom of author and shaman Don Miguel Ruiz. He says, ‘the real you is loving, joyful, and free. The real you is just like a flower, just like the wind, just like the ocean, just like the sun. There is nothing to justify, nothing to believe. You have no mission except to enjoy life.”
From dancing along with thousands of modern-day Druids at Stonehenge in the U.K., to smaller personal rituals, celebrating the summer solstice – as well as the winter solstice (shortest day) and the summer and winter equinoxes (when day and night are equal) – helps us live in greater harmony with nature. By marking the movement of the sun we can gain insight into our own cycles: physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Here are some ideas:
• Set Summer Intentions: As an energetically charged day summer solstice is a powerful time to create intentions and affirmations. Make strong “I am” statements that embrace Ruiz’s words or the cycles of nature, such as “I am loving, joyful, and free” or “I am open to receiving nourishment and growth.”
• Light Your Fire: Gather up your friends and gather around a bonfire. You can do this safely by using a simple fire pit on a slab of concrete or rock in your backyard. Dance, sing, drum and cavort – this is the time for it. Or you can privately light candles to represent the light and fire of this time of year.
• Say it With Flowers: Create an altar or decorate a place in your home with summer flowers representing the colors of growth, fire, the sun and moon. That’s green, white, red, orange, yellow and combinations of each. You can put oranges or tangerines on there too.
• Crystal Persuasion: The summer’s light is also reflected in colorful crystals. Collect or purchase (The Om Shoppe is a great resource) your own selection of orange, green, white, red and yellow crystals and lay them into the pattern of a mandala as an offering to the earth.
No matter how you choose to celebrate the summer solstice, remember that creating something beautiful and energized is a healing act. As you enact your ritual infuse it with your prayers and hold a vision of peace for our planet.