Midsummer Magic

Summer Solstice is coming up quickly (it always does!) and I want to share with you some ways that you can honour this festival of nature with your own practices!

This festival is widely celebrated around the globe, I mean, who doesn't worship the sun to give us life? Also known as Litha, Gathering Day, Sun-Blessing Day among many other names... this festival marks the height of summer and the turning point between the mutable sign of Gemini into the cardinal sign of Cancer. It is the height of summer when the sun hits it zenith. This is why we call it summer solstice, the word solstice meaning "sun stands still" as it appears that the sun is barely moving in the sky.

The main themes of this beautiful festival that nature gifts us are easily found and seen in every aspect of the land: abundance, fertility, growth, and lets not forget the healthy masculine energies! The sun is the masculine force in the sky, blessing us with our 24 hour circadian rhythm and ultimately giving us LIFE in every way possible! The intensity of the sun's rays at this point in the year give us the energy of the masculine - taking action, doing more, strength, power and clarity.

With all this energy, it's easy to think of many things we could be doing every day. From gardening to fairs to beach time to weddings... summer often just passes us by!

So, let's be intentional this year.

Gathering

It is believed that the day of summer solstice would have actually been a day of relaxation and enjoyment. Back when our ancestors would have had to tend to the land immensely as soon as the first whispers of spring appeared, taking the day to celebrate the sun hitting its zenith just made sense. I have vivid pictures in my mind of everyone getting together the weeks before and resting into sweet bliss when the day of solstice arrived.

This is great practice to welcome into your life! Take the time to plan something with your people - family, friends, neighbours... whoever you fancy to invite, and then join forced to make it a fun time! When I had a larger space I used to host people all the time for solstice celebrations. I'd have a potluck, a fire, sometimes games, sometimes crafts... whatever resonates with you I'm sure will resonate with your community. Have fun with it!

Crafting with Nature

The masculine energies of action mixed with the creative forces of the heart are a wonderful duo to blend into one. The potential for creativity to merge with nature at this time is massive! There are so many flowers to press, wild herbs to make medicine with and huge amounts of life to create some nature art and sacred circles!

One thing I really love to do is to go out into nature seeing which plants are calling out to me. I'll do this for a couple of days. Then if I feel inspired I will create with them, carefully taking the time to see what the spirits of the plants want to co-create with me. The end result might be surprising to you! 

Here are some ideas of what you can do/create with nature:

• Pressed flowers
• Nature circles / mandalas (pictured below)
• Suncatchers with sticks and seeds
• Sun wheels
• Painting with real flower petals crushed into the paint
• Wildflower cookies or loaves
• A wishing jar
• A sun ornament
• Wildflower bouquets to dry
• Herbal infused oils
• Herbal smoke bundles
• Herbal sun teas (pictured above) or lemonades
• Herbal pestos (pictured below)

Walk of Wisdom

One last recommendation I'll give you is for your own personal practice (because all the above can be done with others!). I highly recommend you let the masculine energies shine through you by taking a walk of wisdom. You begin by asking a question of yourself in the silence of your heart, then walk or hike upon your path with that intention at the front of your mind. Allow your ideas to flow as you walk, letting the things you see in your environment - people, places, things, animals, etc - refresh your mind and your creative juices.

After your walk, see if this question you've asked has more clarity around it, or maybe it has evolved in some way. Your wisdom, just like your thoughts, appreciates the space and the silence of your presence. When we walk, it also takes us out of the thinking mind and more deeply into the body, giving the spirit a chance to make a connection. This is one of my favourite practices to do when I'm overthinking or getting too up in my mind creating too much or going to fast. Slow it down and let your spirit speak.

Whatever it is you choose to do this Solstice (even if its just enjoying the beauty of rest and replenishment!) I trust you fully to choose what feels most right for you. This next week I am attending a wedding, going for a hike, making medicines and teaching others how to make flower essences. My cup is so full and I'm so excited for it all!

Blessings and so much light as we transition fully into summer.

Emily

P.S. If you want to have a deep dive into the Wheel of the Year, then check out my year-long offering - The Celtic Wheel. The course opens every year on Samhain (Halloween) to the waitlist! I'd love to have you if this work speaks to you.