Happy Summer Solstice or Litha! 🌞 Here are some ways to celebrate the longest day of the year and the peak of summer here in the northern hemisphere.
🌞 Reconnect with nature 🌞
The most yang part of the year, summer solstice is a time when mother earth is at her most resplendent. The flowers are blooming, birds chirping, baby animals frolicking in fields. Take some time outdoors to breathe in the fresh air, admire the greenery around you and (hopefully!) take in the blue skies - even if it's just a quick stroll in your local park.
🌞 Singing & Dancing 🌞
There are lots of different ways of celebrating the Solstice around the world through ceremonies and gatherings ~ from dancing around a may pole in Sweden to Mayan ceremonies in Peru. Play your favorite music and allow your body to move you ~ no need to worry what you look like! If you're looking for some inspo there's a great Summer Solstice playlist here.
🌞 Yoga & Meditation 🌞
Never has a sun salutation been so apt! The solstice marks the time when the sun is at it's peak life giving capacity, and sun salutations welcome this light in and welcome the day. Spiritually this is a time to reflect on your life as a whole and consider what is in alignment and what is not ~ shedding light on any changes you may need to make to bring more abundance into your life for the next half of the year.
🌞 Sumptuous Feasts 🌞
The perfect time to enjoy fresh seasonal produce outdoors with picnics, barbecues and other gatherings, the abundance of daylight gives you plenty of time to feast with friends! Enjoy sun-colored fruits and vegetables include pumpernickel bread, mead, and grilled foods that use an open flame to represent the sun. Other solstice inspired foods include fruits like lemons, oranges, mangoes, peaches, or nectarines & vegetables like yellow squash, corn and heirloom tomatoes. Honey was also a popular ingredient in Pagan customs. (Taken from this article).
🌞 Making flower crowns 🌞
Creating flower crowns has long been a summer solstice tradition, perfect for enjoying singing, dancing and feasting! Sunflowers are the flowers associated with this time of year ~ warm and gorgeous in their appearance and nature, following the light.
🌞 Lighting Fires 🌞
Lighting (and jumping over) bonfires remains a traditional activity for solstice in many places, from Latvia to Finland. This tradition dates back Pagan times and jumping over the bonfire was thought to ward off bad spirits and invite luck into the rest of the year. Fires are also very symbolic of casting a light on the shadows, and lighting the way for the rest of the darker parts of the year ~ the period following the solstice a descent back to winter.
Feeling inspired? On Sunday 26th June we'll be celebrating the Summer Solstice in all it's glory with a one day women's retreat at a gorgeous venue in Stafford, combining several of the above.
We'll spend time connecting with other sisters, resting with Yin yoga yoga and sound healing, moving and playing through playful more dynamic yoga, feasting on a delicious summery plant based lunch, creating flower crowns to wear on the day and take home, opening our hearts with a beautiful cacao ceremony and finally dancing barefoot on the earth and reconnecting with ourselves through Awakened Belly Dance.
Only a handful of tickets remain for the event ~ and you can use the code 'Litha' at check out for a sweet little discount! I'll only be hosting this event once a year, so if it's calling to you now don't miss out! Click on the button above for full line up and details ~ I hope to see you there.
Wishing you a fabulous Summer Solstice ~ don't forget to let the sun shine in! 🌞