The summer solstice occurs once every year when the amount of daylight reaches its peak. Every day after will get shorter and shorter until the winter solstice. Depending on where you live, this day will be different.
For those who live in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice takes place in June. For those who live in the Southern Hemisphere the winter solstice occurs in December.
In Pagan traditions, this day is called Litha, while in many Nordic countries, it’s called Midsummer and is celebrated as a national holiday. Whether you identify spiritually or religiously, the summer solstice is a great way to show gratitude and appreciation for the sun that warms the Earth, boosts our serotonin, and brings us light.
The summer solstice is the perfect time for harnessing the sun’s energy and bringing that fiery and passionate zest into your existence. By celebrating the summer solstice you can invoke the warmth and radiance of the sun into your life.
Whether you want to take the ideas in this post and turn them into a full-on ritual or you’d prefer to pick and choose what feels good to you. Whatever brings you joy is how you’ll want to spend this day.
Set Intentions-
The summer solstice is an ideal time to set goals and intentions. The energy is very fertile, which is great for implementing a plan in place to put your goals into action. Set some time aside to think deeply about what you want to accomplish from now until the winter solstice.
Grab a pen and paper and write down your goals along with the steps you can take to help you achieve those goals. The winter solstice is great for introspection and resting, so use the summer solstice energy to get the ball rolling for whatever you want to manifest in your life.
Wear-
Stick to white, yellow, orange, and red if you have those colours in your wardrobe. Anything floral and summery is also a good option. If you’d like to make your Snapchat flower crown circa 2016 dreams come to life, then today is the day to do it. Make a flower crown for your head but keep a watch out for bugs.
Eat-
Eating seasonally is always a smart choice. It’s cost effective and foods taste 100x better when in season. Fill up on seasonal produce like peaches, cherries, and watermelon. Bake honey cakes or cakes made with seasonal flavours like lavender or lemon.
Use the element of fire to cook your dinner either on the BBQ or wrapped in tin foil over an opened fire. Roast s’mores as a way to incorporate fire into your dessert.
Summer Flowers-
Bring a bouquet of brightly coloured flowers into your home to set the summer tone. Today’s a good day to plant seeds in either your mini, regular, or herb garden for a fruitful harvest. If you’re not big on flowers then bring home a new plant you haven’t housed before.
Charge your Crystals-
We hear of cleansing our crystals under a full moon, so use this day to charge up some of your crystals under the sun. The most powerful crystals to work with today in your meditation or other energy work are Citrine, Carnelian, Pyrite, Amber, Sunstone, Tiger’s Eye, and Red Jasper.
Meditate-
Do a guided meditation outside in the sun (if it’s safe to do so) either in silence, with music, or following along with a guided meditation. Focus on your solar plexus chakra today which is located between your ribs and belly button.
This yellow chakra center is responsible for your personal power, self-esteem, and purpose and represents…you guessed it…fire. If you can, find a solar plexus clearing guided meditation to help you connect and clear that energy center.
Music-
Listen to upbeat, uplifting, and cheery music today. Do you know how some songs just sound like summer or remind you of the good times you’ve had in summer? Put together a summer solstice playlist of all of your favourite summer songs.
Ritual Bath-
Run yourself a skin-softening milk and honey bath. Light candles and add some flower petals for the full effect.
Get In Nature-
Aim to spend a good chunk of this day outside and in nature. Whether that’s going for a walk, sunbathing, spending a day at the beach, or hosting a BBQ, whatever it is, try to soak up as much of the sun as possible.
You’ll naturally feel more connected to Mother Earth on this day so it’s a good time to strengthen that connection. When we feel more connected to the planet, it’ll encourage us to take better care of it the way it takes care of us.
Health Tip-
While it’s encouraged to get outside and enjoy the longest day of the year don’t forget SPF! Even if you have a darker skin tone, it is still super important to protect yourself from harmful UVB rays. Reapply vigorously every few hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating a lot.
Creative Projects-
Creativity, inspiration, and fertility are at an all-time high today so what better time than to begin that creative project you’ve been feeling called towards?
Pick up a paintbrush, write a poem, sculpt some clay or if you’re artistically challenged, work on a mandala or colour-by-numbers book. If art projects aren’t your thing then make some fun adult crafts like candles, bath bombs, or body care products.
Light Up-
The summer solstice is a celebration of light, so bring in as many light forms as you can think of. Candles, Fairy lights, bonfires, salt lamps, tiki torches, lanterns, all of it!
Get Steamy-
Since today has such fiery and passionate energy in the air, what better time than to light some….. fireworks with your partner or yourself? As long as you’re doing it safely then don’t be afraid to try something new and turn up the heat. This could be a fun day to try to conceive if you and your partner are trying to get pregnant.
The Globe-
As we honour the sun and the earth today, let’s remember the harsh reality of what can happen to our planet if we don’t take action to reduce the harm being done to it. If we want our children and our children’s children to grow and thrive on this planet then we must be cognizant of how to take better care of it for years to come.
Do some research and find a few, small, realistic changes that you can implement into your life. Whether that’s using a reusable shopping bag, composting, or finding products that produce less waste. Sign petitions for large corporations to implement changes or find organizations that are spreading awareness that you want to support.
Conclusion-
Hopefully, you’ll take these ideas and run with them to enjoy celebrating the summer solstice. This time at the beginning of the summer is rich with vibrant and fertile energy.
Use this energy to set intentions for how you’d like the rest of the year to pan out. Show gratitude and appreciation today for the Sun and the Earth. Think of all the ways they work in harmony to give us the gift of life.
Spend the day outdoors enveloping yourself in radiant sunlight while you do the activities listed above to foster your connection to both the Sun and the Earth. Ignite your inner fire and creativity to bring up your feelings of power, confidence, self-worth, passion, and purpose. Have a fantastic summer solstice!
