Honouring the Summer Solstice

The word Solstice is a marriage of the Latin words Sol (Sun) and Sistere (to stand still). The Sun appears to pause in the sky. To reflect and take stock.

Look back to the first half of the year. What can you celebrate so far? Initiating the season of Summer, this is a great time to enjoy the fruits of your work. Express gratitude for you wins this year - no matter how small. Use this seasonal transition to review what you have or haven't done, who you want to be, and what you want to make of the next half of the year. Where can you begin to take action?

We step into a new astrological season with the Solstice too.

The sign of Cancer guides us to inner reflection, and at this time you may be drawn to dive deep in order to experience healing and renewal. Cancer also represents the Mother, associated with feminine (being) energy, the home, family, and feeling safe.

Release expectations of grand acts of ritual to celebrate the Solstice if you don't have capacity. Make the mundane magic - clean your space to tidy your energy. Take a mini-life audit to determine what you want, and if that feels too difficult, think about what you definitely don't want and see if you can streamline your habits.

However, if you'd like to greet this point in time with ceremony, you could do any or all of the following:

• Get in touch with nature by watching the sunrise (it starts to rise at 3.42am tomorrow!) or the sunset

•  Light candles or a bonfire to carry on the traditional practice of boosting the Sun's strength to support a bountiful harvest

• Leave offerings of flowers and fruit for the Fae, or make your own flower crowns

• Practice Yoga (of course!) - working with poses associated with the Solar Plexus such as Boat, Plank and other core activators. You could also practice Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations). It is traditional to practice 108 Sun Salutations at the Solstice, though moving through one flow of each pose with mindful intention is just as effective (and much nicer in our current climate!)

  Last year I left strawberries in the garden at the Solstice, and I now have wild strawberries growing round my pond. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, I hope its peaceful and restorative.

Solstice Blessings,

Kat xoxo