Happy Summer Solstice!
On Monday 21st June the sun will be at at its highest point in the sky for the longest day of the year, with the sun rising at around 4.43am and setting at 9.21pm.
Summer solstice is a time to count our blessings, to celebrate our achievements. It signifies prosperity, good spirits, and personal awakening. All of these things are amazing, transformational, and when we can align our energy with the energy of midsummer it offers us an opportunity to connect more with our self.
Traditionally Summer solstice was an important time of year, the turning of the season. People stay up all night to watch the sun come at dawn. Many of the stone circles in the UK are aligned to the solstice sunrise, Stonehenge, Avebury, Castle Rigg in the Lake District to name a few. This year the gathering at Stonehenge has been cancelled however Sunrise and sunset will be live-streamed for free on English Heritage’s social media channels.
Rituals for the Summer Solstice
Practicing yoga is another way to honour this time and to embrace the shift in energy of this time. It can help us tap into the sun’s solar power and our own innate power, energising ourselves for what’s to come while keep us grounded.
Here are some other simple rituals for the summer solstice that you can do to honour this time of high energy and change.
Ignite Your Inner Fire
Summer is quite literally a time when things heat up. You can practice this in your yoga practice by using breathing techniques (like breath of fire), energising mudras, and focusing on yoga poses that build heat in your body by firing up your core.
Salute the Sun
If you practice yoga regularly then you’re most likely already saluting the sun through your sun salutations as most yoga classes incorporate some variation of a sun salutation. Now would be a great time to come back to the basics though and build off of a traditional sun salutation.
Get Outside
Celebrate the summer solstice and the season of summer by getting outside more. Not only will this do wonders for your mind, body, and soul, it’s a great way to feel better in general. Try bringing your mat outside for a practice (or make it a part of your new routine), or just sitting outside to meditate, journal or relax.
Shake Up Your Routine
Whether this is a morning or bedtime routine, shaking up what you usually do can bring new insight, new fire, passion, and understanding into your life. With some of the longest days of the year still ahead of us, it’s a great time to take advantage of the light in the morning or evening with a different routine.
Journaling and Reflection
Winter is the time when we take a deep dive inwards however whenever things shift, either in life or energetically, reflection is always a good idea. It helps to keep a balance and perspective when the energy around is high and sometimes all consuming. I love to journal, through my reflections things often come out differently on paper and make it easier to understand what’s going on in my head. I also like to ask questions – to my soul, my healing team or higher self – what does my soul want to tell me today?
Some journal prompts to guide you through reflection are:
- What habits, thoughts, and/or limiting beliefs am I ready to let go of/leave behind?
- What makes me feel heavy or exhausted? How can I move away from these patterns, people, or habits?
- What was good about the first half of the year? What do I want to bring along with me for the second half of the year?
- What am I proud of myself for doing this year?
- What’s something amazing/exciting that happened?
- What am I most looking forward to in this new season?
May this new season be full of happiness, growth, abundance, and joy.
Much Love
Amanda x