Its the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, Summer Solstice! This is a time of celebrating the growth of all that you dreamed in the dark of winter and planted in the spring. One way to remember this important natural cycle is to notice how the plants, trees and wildlife have changed since winter. Spend time appreciating the flowers and fruits of their labor. Visit the farmer’s market, take a hike in the woods, go explore your backyard and see what has changed.
One of the biggest dysfunctions in modern, western culture is our disconnection from natural rhythms, our insistence on constant productivity and unlimited growth. We push, we overwork, we expect the unreasonable out of our own bodies. And by being disconnected from nature, we are disconnected from our our own selves because we too are a part of nature.
photo by Justin Barton, shared via Flickr
Creating simple rituals where we tune into the cycles of nature can help us reconnect to our own lives and each other. Mystic Mama has a beautiful list of rituals and celebrations you can use to reconnect to earth-wisdom on this beautiful day of sun!
My family enjoys having friends over and sharing food, singing and dancing around the backyard bonfire. I will often make a sun tea (throwing in some strawberries and mint from the garden) and charge up my special stones in the sunlight on the longest day as well.
