Summer Solstice!

Today, 21 June 2025 marks the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere, when the sun is at its furthest point from the equator, bringing the longest day and the shortest night of the year.

For many centuries, and within many cultures, rituals are practiced which honour the power of the sun and people express their gratitude for an abundant harvest to come. They also gathered to celebrate fertility and the fullness of life in nature. They celebrated by lighting bonfires atop hills, to honour the sun and to ask God for blessings upon the land and harvests.  They gave feasts and danced, created flower crowns, and held ceremonies for protection, as well as giving thanks for their harvest. There was a deep connection with the land, the harvest, the light and abundance of summer and a respect for the changing seasons. Places like Stonehenge still hold gatherings to honour the rising sun.

Summer still represents a time of growth, not just for our flowers and crops but also for our personal growth and development.  When we reflect on the Summer Solstice, we can see that it is also a time to pause for a moment and align our rhythm to the power of the sun and rhythm of nature.

Of course, today we don't really advocate burning bonfires at the top of the hill, but we can do other things such as waking up a little earlier to watch the rising sun, or meditating at sunrise. Spend time outdoors, walking barefoot on the soft grass, connecting with nature and maybe practising a mindful meditation at the same time. Perhaps collecting flowers for our home, making daisy chains, or even using herbs for cooking. Maybe ending the day in meditation where we can use a picture of a candle and practice trataka. Maybe even beginning a journal or writing down our affirmations or dreams and intentions for the future and what you would like to achieve for your own personal growth, whether physical. emotional, or spiritual.

In our yoga practice, we can tune in to our inner wisdom and bring in the energy of the Summer Solstice by practising our cooling breath with Sheetali Pranayama to cool the body, relax the mind, and alleviate stress, leaving us feeling calm and refreshed.

We can practice our sun salutations, (or even a yoga mala - 108 salutations in a row!).  Our sequences can include grounding postures such as Adho Mukha Savasana (downward dog) for grounding through our feet and hands, and allowing our spine to elongate to bring in that upward movement of energy when we are standing. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose) to stimulate our internal organs and digestive system as well as connecting to the earth with the solar plexus and sacral chakras. Reaching up through the sternum and crown chakra, as if we are drawing in the energy of the sun, whilst grounding through our hips and benefiting from the support of the earth beneath us. Tadasana (Mountain Pose) where again, we ground through our feet, yet have the strength of the earth to awaken our energetic body and stimulate all of our lower and upper chakras, marking the beginning of our personal and perhaps spiritual growth. The upward movement of our arms, reaching for the sun and experience the power of the sun through our body.   Janu Sirsasana (Head-of-the-Knee Pose). Seated forward bends tend to be cooling and calming overall and Janu Sirsasana is one of my favourite asanas for this. By relaxing our shoulders, neck and elongating the back and hamstrings, we teach our mind to become calm and our body to relax. Connecting to the earth through the backs of our legs and the sit-bones, helps keep us grounded to the earth.  And of course, Savasana (Corpse Pose).  Often thought of at the most relaxing part of the yoga session, Savasana gives us time to draw our senses inwards, absorb the benefits of our practice and also a good time for the body to rest and let our breath settle.

Reflect on what brings you joy, not just on your yoga mat, but also in your daily life.  Think about the summer light how this reminds us of our own inner light. How can you bring light and joy into your life and into the lives of others?  Maybe take some time to give yourself gratitude for your abundance and blessings.