Summer Solstice: Cultivating Ritual and Balance
Summer Solstice is symbolic of transitioning from the short days of winter to the bright, long days of summer. So here in the Northern Hemisphere, we enjoy the longest day of the year and the beginning of the summer season. We welcome this time as an opportunity to expand into the light as we approach the halfway point on our journey around the sun. It is a natural time for reflection on the abundant joy that comes with living in rhythm.
As we witness the rhythm and harmony of nature, we tune into our own remembrance of the deeply connected relationship we have with the Universe, allowing our own patterns and cycles to be illuminated, released and transformed. Set intention for this sacred cycle at this auspicious time and continue to arrive in the present moment with each breath.
Here are three rituals to cultivate balance and harmony on your journey:
1. Salute the Sun
Surya Namaskar, or Sun Salutation, is a practice that is traditionally done in the morning with the torso facing the sun.
As you practice, feel the qualities of the solar energy resonating within your being and lightening your spirit. Absorb the sun’s warmth, strength and power as you bow in reverence to the creative energy of life.
2. Pause and Set Intention
The word solstice comes from the Latin roots ‘sol’, meaning sun, and ‘stitium’, meaning to stop or be still. This is the perfect time to pause and reflect on where you are at this midpoint and time of transition. Welcome this cosmic pause with full attention and take note of all the challenges and insights you have encountered on your journey. Offer gratitude for the lessons learned and blessings received. Invite in this directional shift with intention. A Sankalpa, or sacred intention from the heart, brings clarity and alignment as you prepare to move into this next cycle.
3. Release and Alchemize
Use fire to purify, cleanse and release what is no longer serving you. Burn away obstacles so that you can move forward into this new space of growth and expansion.
“I celebrate the living energy of Fire to generate energy, expansion and growth. It is the active power of response and release. Fire gets things moving and is a catalyst for change and transformation. Fire is associated with will power and conscious choice. Fire inspires me to take risks, to act on the strength of my convictions and to tap into my courage and inner strength. It lies in the spark of inspiration, the spark of the imagination, the inner spark of my love and passion and my desire for happiness. These are generated from within me and inspire my actions in the world.
As an alchemist, I seek Secret Fire, Hidden Fire or Sacred Fire, the Fire that lives within me and helps me to be in touch with what is truly important for my spiritual journey. I aim to unite my inner Fire with my outer Fire, so that everything I do in my everyday life, and in the world, is a reflection of this union.
By uniting the two I create a doorway, an interface where my inner and outer Fire can fuse together. Their union releases spontaneity and trust in myself, a clarity of inner strength and true integrity. I picture the opening this united Fire energy brings and jump right in. A new part of my journey has begun.“
The Alchemist’s Journey by Glennie Kindred