“The sun does not shine for a few trees and flowers, but for the wide world’s joy.” — Henry Ward Beecher
Happy summer solstice! In the Northern hemisphere, the summer solstice marks the longest day and shortest night of the year and the exact moment when the Earth is at its fullest tilt towards the sun, announcing the start of the summer season. The Earth then begins its 6 month shift as the planet tilts away from the sun marking the winter solstice in December. The opposite is true in the Southern hemisphere where June is winter and December is summer.
Many people around the world have celebrated a variety of solstice traditions through the ages. It is such a joyful time of year to celebrate life, growth, abundance and the beginning of the bountiful harvest. I personally get excited over all the fresh produce finding its way on to my plate!
Often with the summer solstice comes a renewed sense of energy along with some down time. It is the end of the school year and brings vacation time for many. To embrace this transitional time, here are some fun ideas to bring in the fire energy of the sun on this solstice weekend!
- Join a summer solstice gathering in your community
- host friends and family for a potluck with dishes made from local and seasonal foods
- Eat berries to your hearts content
- have a bonfire
- Write down any negative thoughts and experiences that are weighing you down and burn the paper in a ceremonial fire
- Collect items from nature and make an outdoor (or indoor) mandala or art centre piece
- make a flower crown with fresh flowers and herbs
- Place a summer flower bouquet on your dining table
- Create a nature scavenger hunt for kids
- Check in with your New Year intentions and goals and reset
- Rise to greet the sunrise
- Spend the day in nature
- Stay up to meet the sunset
- Try a sunrise meditation
- Practice sun salutations or tree poses for yoga
- make popsicles
- Eat salads
- Make a seasonal jam like this Rhubarb Strawberry Chia Jam
- Sun bathe (safely of course)
- Dress in fiery colours like red, orange, yellow and gold
- Go for a hike, bike or swim outdoors
- Stop and smell the flowers
- Sing, dance and be merry
- hang a prism crystal in a sunny window and enjoy the rainbows around the room
- Make a summer bucket list
- Spend the night out under the stars
- Dry rose petals or lavender for a summer decoration
- Take time to enjoy the bird song of the dawn
- Plant something in your yard or a pot and watch it grow
- Make a fairy garden with kids
- brighten up someones day with a pay it forward, a helping hand, a donation to a food bank or good cause
- Take some time for quiet stillness during this extremely charged time of year and give thanks and gratitude for growth, abundance and the life giving energy of the sun
Whether it is customary for you to acknowledge the summer solstice or not, this day marks a planetary shift and the peak of daylight in the Northern hemisphere, and although it will take another 6 months for the Winter Solstice to arrive, the days begin to shorten from this point forward. So celebrate and rejoice in the Suns life giving powers!