As we approach the Summer Solstice, here are a few actions to help embrace the potent celestial energy of the Solstice and harness it for strength in the months to come.
Keep a Fire Burning - Fire gives off powerful energy, it is a healer and teacher. Since we will be experiencing the Solstice this year in a period of darkness, light a fire. It could be a bonfire or even just a candle. Let this fire absorb the powerful energy of the Solstice, and keep it burning for the next 24 hours. Mediate with the flame to take in its strength. Invite the fire into your spirit, feel it grow within you, filling you with light and clarity. You can write down on a piece of paper things that you’re ready to release at this solstice, to renew, recharge. After you’ve written it down, place the paper in the fire. As it burns, feel the fire taking away the weight of these burdens, releasing you from the things that are not serving your best purpose. Alternatively, you could write down the things you’d like to invite into your life and as you place the paper in the fire, feel the fire validating your intentions, feel the energy vibrate inside you, and take in the energy of abundance.
Sun Salutations – Move your body through a few cycles of Sun Salutations. In Sanskrit the words Surya (sun) Namaskar (a greeting with the same base as the word Namaste) translates to ‘salute to the sun’ and the solstice is a perfect day to move through the flow of 11 postures or asanas. It is best to move through this sequence first thing in the morning, preferably at sunrise facing the sun, to honor the first light of the day. Sun Salutations help clear the energy of the body, and the postures connect with all of the 7 chakras. Doing this practice on the morning of the Summer Solstice will allow you to take in the powerful celestial energy of the sun. There are 2 sets of Sun Salutations, for a breakdown of the poses, click here.
Watch the Sunrise/Sunset – Connect with the energy of the sun by watching the sunrise or sunset. In a recent blog we talked about how nature is healing, and spending just 20 minutes in nature watching the sunrise/sunset can help relieve stress, lower cortisol, and increase dopamine and serotonin, feel-good chemicals in the brain. On the solstice, the sun reaches its peak, it is the completion of a cycle. Take a few moments to reflect on the things that you have accomplished and completed. Honor yourself, the things you have done, and the things you are capable of. It’s easy to get hung up on those pesky things that nag in the back of our heads, the constantly growing list of To-Dos. Let all that go and reflect on the completion of your own cycle and let the sun illuminate all that you have achieved.
Sun Bathe – This is all about taking in the fire energy of the sun. Find a spot outside, preferably in nature and solitude. The more skin exposed the better, you can determine your own level of comfort. To protect the skin and avoid damage, only sit in direct sunlight for about 5 minutes on each side of the body. Before you layout, you can do a quick mediation to clear the mind and to open your heart and soul to the sun. As you lay in the sun, close your eyes and feel the light behind your eyelids and let it grow, directing the light inward to your heart and down to your solar plexus chakra. With each breath, pull the heat and fire energy into your body, letting it fill you. Let it feed your inner strength, filling you with confidence and clarity. Make sure you let both sides of the body absorb the light. When you are finished, you will carry the fire of the solstice within you.