Sacred Ritual and Routine

How to create a Summer Solstice ritual

June 15, 2020 /

The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of sunlight, and the official beginning of summer. Traditionally, this day is celebrated in many cultures with fire ceremonies, dance, and rituals of fertility and abundance. Personally, I like to use the Summer Solstice as a time to both honor nature, and to turn inward and spend time with myself. For several years I’ve been setting my “New Year’s” intentions on the day of the Winter Solstice, and the Summer Solstice is a good mid-year check-in point to reassess and reconnect. 

From an Ayurvedic perspective, we always want to look at the qualities that we see showing up in nature, and try to balance those qualities in ourselves. Summer brings with it the fiery, hot energy of pitta. As we go about our summer celebrations, holidays and vacations, it’s important to pay attention to pitta showing up in our bodies. I highly recommend bringing in some calming and cooling routines now, to prevent a pitta imbalance later in the summer. 

Try these five practices to welcome the summer season and celebrate the solstice with intention and balance! 

1. Honor the sunrise and the sunset

I’ve heard of some traditions that celebrate the solstice by staying up all night, but I know that would throw my system way out of balance. I need my sleep! A good alternative is to mark the beginning and end of the longest day of the year by watching the sunrise and sunset. Set your alarm a little earlier and go to a place where you can see the sunrise. Then, end your day by watching the sunset. If you happen to live close to the ocean, that’s definitely one of the most magical sunset or sunrise viewing spots!

If you don’t have access to an ideal location or can’t make it outside, honor the moment of sunrise and sunset with a simple meditation. You can easily look up the exact moment of sunrise/sunset for your location. Step onto your patio, open a window, or just sit with your eyes closed and feel that moment of shifting light. Lighting a candle is a nice way to bring the energy of the sun into your space, wherever you are.  

2. Bring in a sense of play

The number one most important tip for balancing pitta is to relax and have fun! It’s no coincidence that vacation from school usually happens during the summer months. If we try to focus and learn too much during the hot weather, the intensity of pitta goes through the roof! Try to take some of that “summer vacation” feeling into your day, even if you’re not actually on vacation. 

What gives you a feeling of pure joy? What was your favorite thing to do when you were a kid? Who are the people that help you get into this state? Take note and try to bring in a playful activity into your solstice celebration, whether it’s a call with a friend who makes you laugh, or breaking out your old set of watercolors. 

3. Get your body in water

If you’re tempted to be outside all day, be careful you don’t overheat! (This is something to keep in mind all throughout the long days of summer.) Think about balancing the sun energy with water and earth – take a walk in a cool forest or sit under a waterfall. Swimming is a beautiful way to celebrate the solstice and be outside while cooling pitta. If you have access to the ocean, a lake, river, or even a pool, make a point to get in. 

If you don’t have a place to swim, a bath is a great option. For an extra luxurious experience, add some fresh or dried rose petals to your bath, along with a few drops of essential oil. Sandalwood, jasmine and lavender are wonderfully calming and soothing for pitta. Take some time to yourself and make this bath part of your evening solstice ceremony. 

4. Brew up a celebratory solstice latte

No ritual would be complete without a good cup of tea! Try this special blend for a sweet, creamy and healing treat. 

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup canned coconut milk 
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon dried hibiscus flower OR 1 teabag of hibiscus tea
  • 1 tablespoon edible dried rose petals OR two drops of rosewater
  • ¼ tsp licorice powder
  • ¼ tsp cardamom powder
  • ¼ teaspoon shatavari (optional – a great adaptogen for balancing hormones in women)
  • ½ teaspoon maple syrup (optional sweetener) 

Pour the water into a small pot with all the herbs. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for five minutes. Add the coconut milk and stir until warm. Pour into a mug with the maple syrup, if using. Now you’re ready to grab your journal and write your solstice reflections!

5. Use these journal questions to help you reflect and refocus  

Set aside at least a half hour in your day to pause and reflect on the year so far. This mid-year point is a good time to assess your daily routines and your projects. Sometimes I find myself going through the day on auto-pilot, or working just to have the satisfaction of getting work done. Whatever you are working on in your life, take some time to reconnect to the why that drives you. 

2020 has been an especially challenging year. We have all been thrown things we did not expect. As you look back on any goals that you may have set for yourself at the beginning of this year, I encourage you to keep an open mind. Give yourself full permission for goals or intentions to change moving forward. 

Journaling is a way to both process emotions and to make your intentions concrete. Light a candle, make your solstice tea, and get comfy. I invite you to use the following prompts in your journaling. Write in response to any that feel relevant:

Past

  • Think back to the beginning of this year. Have your goals, priorities or values shifted since then?
  • How are you different from the person you were six months ago? 
  • What is one unexpected lesson you’ve learned in the past six months?

Present

  • Is there an area of your life where you feel like you’re just “going through the motions”? 
  • Where in your day can you slow down and be more present? 
  • What’s one thing you can do to bring more of a sense of play into your daily life?

Future

  • What are the issues you feel most called to address right now, in your personal life and in your community/country/world? 
  • How can you continue to take care of yourself as you do this work? 
  • Let go of doubts and limitations: what do you want to create/complete in the next six months? See yourself standing in that place you would like to be by the end of this year. How does it feel to be there?

Feel free to pick and choose any of the practices you are drawn to, to create your own personal Summer Solstice ritual. Let me know how you’ll be celebrating!