Today is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, aka the Summer Solstice. From a cyclical perspective, if Mother Earth had a menstrual cycle, this day would be the day she ovulates. If the year were a lunar cycle, this day would be the Full Moon. If the year were a work cycle in the framework I created to help me manage my projects in a more cyclical, feminine way, this day would be the peak of the phase called Visibility.

It’s a big day! The energy is very magnetic. Ovulation/Full Moon/Visibility energy is metaphorically the most fertile time. It’s a very good time for cross-pollination of all kinds in your life and business. Think parties, collaboration, social buzz, and swapping ideas.

Every summer on June 21st when I was growing up, we’d have a sleepover Summer Solstice party. We’d often pitch a tent in the backyard, play flashlight tag, and stay up late.

We honored the rhythms of Mother Earth with simple acknowledgment and celebration, rather than super elaborate rituals. In this way the honoring became like breathing, a unity between us and the cosmos. Because we’re all made of stardust anyway.

I have tremendous resistance to rituals that sound complicated, unless someone else is orchestrating them. If it requires meditation, special candles, an altar, prayer, some dancing, incantations, journaling, crystals, and pulling cards, I’m just not going to do it on my own.

I like to keep rituals simple because it increases the likelihood that I’ll actually do them…and I know how much immediate benefit I get from actually doing them.

I don’t think you need a lot of accessories to connect with the “all that there is.” In fact, you can do it in a single breath. Your body is all you ever need to connect with the Divine.

So, if you’re like me and you like to keep your spiritual practice quick and simple, I thought I’d share what I usually like to do at the Summer Solstice to honor the light and the longest day of the year. 

Here are some simple, “Do Less” ideas to celebrate and get the most out of Summer Solstice:

• Acknowledge that it’s the longest day of the year by simply being aware of it.
• Spend as much time outside as possible to let your body take in the light (we really are like plants in so many ways. We may not photosynthesize exactly like plants but our bodies need the light for so many critical biological and vitality producing processes including energy production).
• Take a few minutes to reflect on what’s come to pass in your life since the Winter Solstice on December 21st. What seeds of intention did you plant on the shortest night of the year? What’s sprouting or full on ready to be harvested now?
• Note anything you need to/want to let go of in order to live out the rest of this solar cycle (a.k.a. year) in alignment with what you really want and the truth of who you are.
• Eat summer fruits and veggies that are in season in your area. Here in Miami that means mangoes. They’re so ripe and luscious this time of year and everyone who’s got a mango tree in their yard brings them to every gathering in the latter half of June because they’re so bountiful.
• Put your attention on pleasure and savoring what feels good. Let the juice of summer fruits drip down your chin. Go skinny dipping. Dance outside without your shoes on. Make love.

You can always add more complexity to your ritual with pulling cards, prayer, burning what you want to let go of, crystals, and anything else that’s part of your practice. You do you. What’s most important about ritual is that it’s meaningful to us, so you’ve got carte blanche to make it up and make it feel good!

Ironically, I’m at my friend Sarah Jenks’ farm tonight celebrating Summer Solstice at a party where we were all asked to come dressed as our Venus sign or our Mars sign depending on if we wanted to embody our more feminine or masculine astrological aspects. Sarah is the most extra person I know when it comes to rituals so I’m sure whatever we’re doing will include all the things and I’m so here for it!

Whether you’re going simple this year or full on with your Summer Solstice festivities, happy longest day of the year!

Here’s to the light!

Love,

Kate