summer solstice ritual
Next week, June 21st, we have the summer solstice.
It also marks the end of the first half of the year and the beginning of chapter two of 2024. I urge you to take the time to reflect on the first half of your year. Whatever that time looks like, giving your self permission to take space to reflect, process, and integrate all that has unfolded for you so far this year.
The solstice is the time to honour the sacred magic of the sun. How it gives us life and energy and vitality. It's a time to celebrate renewal and rebirth. What in you is being renewed, what in you is being reborn and regenerated? What in you is feeling vital and alive? What are you excited about?
The summer solstice is really where we see things coming to fruition. The traditional reason for the summer solstice was a time to celebrate renewal and rebirth. It was the beginning of the new agricultural cycle symbolized the renewal of life and the start of a new phase of abundance and growth. And it's no coincidence that our phases of our lives correspond with the phases of the earth, with the seasons and the cycles and the rotation of the earth.
We are so connected, and that's why I think it's so powerful to celebrate these earth based holidays.
And how do we do that? Ritualism.
So - let’s get into the ritual.
If you want to hear more about the summer solstice and the details of this ritual, tune into this episode of the Intuitively Wild podcast.
S U M M E R S O L S T I C E R I T U A L
Here’s what I’ll be doing —- MAKE THIS YOUR OWN - this can be as intricate or simple as you like, as long or as short, you can pick and choose what you do and add and subtract intuitively - make it your own, you can't do it wrong.
STEPS
The first thing I do, before anything else, is tap into the energy I want to magnetise and embody, the energy I want present during this ritual and therefor during this season. This is similar to setting an intention although often the intention for the season is revealed throughout the ritual. You can use that energy you established to decide how you want to curate your environment - the music, the vibe, the smell etc.
Then you set up your space - your alter, the container for your ritual, your environment. This is a crucial part of the ritual. Setting up the environment is part of the intention, setting up the ritual is part of the ritual. I like to make sure each of the five elements are present. I light my candles to bring in the fire element, along with incense for air, crystals and flowers for earth, and tea for water.
Then I make my tea (see herbal remedy suggestions below)
While I take the first few sips of my tea, I ground and set the intention for presence and awareness throughout the ritual. I ask the universe and my heart to show me what I need to know, learn, realise and understand from this ritual.
Next - yoga therapy and journaling — you can choose the order of this for you, sometimes I want to journal right away, then utilise my yoga therapy tools, sometimes vice versa. (see detailed guidance for each below).
Express gratitude to the sun, the earth, and yourself for showing up. Promise to yourself that you will act in alignment with what this ritual revealed to you.
Close your ritual - bow your head, hands on your heart, and say “this ritual is now complete, thank you.” Blow out the candles.
Put your alter, or some sacred aspect from your ritual (a rock from outside you collected during the ritual, a crystal you had as part of the ritual, a piece of paper with your journal responses) somewhere where you can see it throughout the summer season. Turn to it throughout the summer to remind you of your intentions.
-- journal prompts --
what seeds have you been watering that are ready to take bloom now? what in your life needs your devotion and attention? what in your life does not need your focus?
how are you feeling? how vital and alive and nourished and grounded are you feeling? what in your life is bringing you this vibrancy? what in your life is depleting you?
if there was one thing you could make happen this summer what would it be? what can you do to lean into and prioritise that in your life? whether it's an action, a mindset shift... find a way to do something small in that direction everyday.
what is my intention for this summer season? one word or phrase I can lean on, turn to and use as a guide.
--- herbal companions ---
mugwort - this herb has long been associated with the summer solstice. One reason people believe this is is because it helps you tap into your dreams - both waking dreams and sleeping dreams. It helps you gain clarity by revealing to you what your dreams are. It helps you tune in to your intuition by connecting you to the deep wisdom that you have inside of you. It balances you, both promoting internal balance, emotional balance, and energetic balance. It supports steady energy and calms nerves.
chamomile - this is known as the herb of the sun. It promotes a mindset of wonder, awe and joy. Chamomile will bring out the light within and all around you. It is also balances out the fire energy due to it’s soothing and calming nature. It helps you stay present and grounded and quiets racing thoughts.
st. johns wort - another herb associated with the sun, it brings out your energy and vitality. It is the most potent plant when it comes to aiding your mental health, allowing you to hear and trust your intuition. St Johns Wort soothes your nervous system, boosts your confidence, and uplifts your spirit.
I also love these three herbs because they go really well together in a tea or tincture and are easily accessible.
yoga therapy tools
grounding - go outside, put your bare feet on the earth and your face towards the sun - close your eyes and notice every aspect of nature you are interacting with right now - what you feel on your skin, what your hear, smell... etc. Feel the sun seeping into your heart, as if it is pouring into you and charging your battery, lighting you up from the inside out. Express your gratitude. When you open your eyes, find something in nature that you feel drawn to and add it to your alter.
breath-work - inhale for a count of two as you raise your arms over head. Hold for a count of two. Exhale for a count of four as you bring your hands back down to your side. The exact count is not important, find a count that works for you, but you want to extend your exhale to twice as long as your inhale to help regulate your nervous system. Repeat at least three times.
meditation - no strict rules, guidelines or structure here, the goal is simple silence and stillness. You can find a guided meditation but I highly urge you to sit with yourself for at least three minutes and see what arises. You can watch your breath, you can repeat a mantra, you can let your thoughts run wild and be annoyed the whole time - just practice simply being.
I hope that this ritual serves you, grounds you into this season of your life and brings you so much magic.
If you are looking for a foundational tool to ritualise intentional living and living intuitively wild, RITUALISM, your personalised manual for intentional living based on your human design, is out now.
If you would like to go even deeper and gain personalised support and guidance on your path, find out if the intuitively wild mentorship is for you.
If you would like a personalised herbal remedy to enrich your rituals, head over to the apothecary.
