Summer Solstice, a time for ritual and thanks.

Celestially, June is a BIG month in 2020. There is so much going on energetically as we approach the Solar Eclipse of the Summer Solstice on Saturday 20 June 2020 at 21:43 GMT. On the 21st June the rising of the sun at 4.43am G.M.T marks the arrival of the Solstice.

The planets of Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto are also going Retrograde, simply put, this means they are all spinning backwards and stirring things up. We need to slow down, listen to our intuitive senses and pay attention to having a greater awareness of the feelings of others and respond in a way that helps, as well as nourishing yourself.

The Solstice is a time to cultivate our connection to the The Earth and to celebrate the Sun and the divine energies surrounding of this moment. You can do this in one of the rituals outlined below. 

The word “Solstice” originates from the Latin words Sol+systere,  translating to “Sun”+ “standing still.”  The Summer Solstice is the longest day and the shortest night of the year, after the Solstice, the days become shorter and the nights longer as we move towards the Winter Solstice of Yule.

To celebrate the Pagan Litha or the Summer Solstice, is to celebrate the power of the sun and to be thankful for all that it will bring. The Solstice, signifies when The Earth is overflowing with fertility, abundance and strength as a great provider and giver of life. The Sun is shining, the soil is warm and the crops are growing, nurtured by the suns’ rays and we are reminded that the Earth in tandem with the Sun provides us with everything we need.

What are the Spiritual benefits?

Spiritually its is a time to reflect on your personal growth. Collectively we are entering a phase of expansion, where we nurture the seeds of our personal dreams, visions and goals to guide them into becoming our reality.

If you have new projects you want to develop, the Solstice is the time to get fired up and plant those ideas into the soil of your fertile imagination and bring them to life.  If you have already begun that process then it is a time to give thanks for what you have  achieved so far.

Many cultures and traditions throughout the world have celebrated the Sun for thousands of years, honouring, and invoking the energies of Sun gods and deities, to sew seeds of abundance and gratitude.  In North America, many Native American tribes held ritual dances to honour the sun. The Sioux were known to hold one of the most spectacular rituals— The Sun Dance.

In western civilisations, the first day of Summer on the 24th June is celebrated after the Solstice and is known as Midsummer or St Johns Day. I have included some recipes you may want to make on Midsummers Day in another post here

The Solstice is celebrated with the energy of fire, representing the power of the Sun, here we shed our own shadows and step into the light using the energy of the fire for transformation. Just like our own energy centres, our chakras,  the Sun and its planets are the celestial chakras of universe its’  spiritual energy centres overflowing with divine energies. The Sun is the the brightest star and is at the centre for transformation. Its warm rays transform seeds into plants, without which there would be no life. 

We can connect to this potent energy through our Solar Plexus Chakra, which resonates with the Sun, the element of fire, personal power and transformation. We can harness our creative inner potential to transform and transcend our own limitations, it is about our potential as Individuals; the power to give, as well as the power to receive.

So how you can celebrate the Summer Solstice?

1. Perform a Fire Ritual to give thanks

Fire rituals are traditionally held outside by building a bonfire or setting a fire pit. Alternatively you can do the following indoors.

Open your sacred space by making a ‘fire’ by lighting a circle of candles and calling in any deities, gods or guides that you wish to join you in your work. As you light each candle you may want to perform the call Native American tradition of calling in The Directions in the invocation below.

Once you have done this, sit in front of the fire and write a list of all that you are grateful for, making a note of how you have been nourished and nurtured. You may want to start with “I am grateful for “ and then write  your list. Once you have completed the list repeat it in your mind or out load. Finally  give thanks to the Sun and the Earth for nurturing your existence. Blow out your candles and give thanks to the element of fire for helping you in your work to end the ritual and close your sacred space. 

If you need some inspiration read my last blogpost here; https://www.soulstarstories.com/2020/05/20/why-gratitude-is-more-important-than-ever/

Invocation
“To the winds of the South Great Serpent Wrap your coils of light around us Teach us to shed the past the way you shed your skin To walk softly on the Earth Teach us the Beauty Way

To the winds of the West, Mother Jaguar Protect our medicine space, Teach us the way of peace, to live impeccably, Show us the way beyond death

To the winds of the North , Hummingbird, Grandmothers and Grandfathers Ancient Ones, Come and warm your hands by our fires, Whisper to us in the wind, We honour you who have come before us And you who will come after us, our childrens children

To the winds of the East, Great Eagle, CondorCome to us from the place of the rising Sun, Keep us under your wing, Show us the mountains we only dare to dream of, Teach us to fly wing to wing with the Great Spirit

Mother earth,Weve gathered for the honouring of all of your children, The Stone People, the Plant PeopleThe four-legged, the two-legged, the creepy crawlers, The finned, the furred, and the winged ones All our relations

Father Sun, Grandmother Moon, to the Star NationsGreat Spirit, you who are known by a thousand names And you who are the unnamable One, Thank you for bringing us together And allowing us to sing the Song of Life”

2. Journal

The Solstice is also a time of letting go. Once the Solstice sun arrives at its peak, a cycle has been completed and we begin the process of release and letting go as the days grow shorter and the year slowly draws to a close. In alignment with this ask,  What cycles have come to completion in your life? What do you now see that no longer serves you, that you need to release? Who no longer serves you that you need to let go of?? What changes will letting go of these situations or people bring? How will that and make room for growth?

Hold a fire ceremony for one. Light a candle or small fire if you have a fire pit. One a piece of paper write down of who or what you want to let go of. Hold the piece of paper in your hands and say the following

I gratefully acknowledge the lessons I have learnt and release the contents of my hand to the fire of transformation. I release all soul contracts and negative belief systems that no longer serve me. I welcome the fire of transformation deep within my soul and give thanks for light it brings. Blessed be and so it is.” 

Repeat as many times as you feel comfortable and throw the paper into the fire. If using a candle you can visualise the burning of the paper, or burn it safely in a bowl and dowse with water after. Give thanks to the element of fire for helping you to release and transform what you needed to. 

3. Mediatate

If you have a Tarot  deck, meditate upon The Sun or The Empress Card. Create a warm nest to lie in, with the sun on your face either outside or indoors.  Place your chosen card on your intuitive  energy centre, the Solar Plexus chakra, (in between your belly button and your rib cage) and allow yourself to drift into meditation repeating the following. You may want to place The Empress card on your Sacral Chakra, do whichever feels best.

The Sun

I honour you,  the Sun, in all your beauty and abundant fertility.  I invite you with gratitude and an open heart to reveal to me your wisdom and guidance and receive my eternal gratitude for all that I have. Thank you, thank you thank you. And so it is.”

Repeat as many times as you feel comfortable doing so.

The Empress

“I honour the Empress within and give thanks for all that I am, I ask that you reveal to me now the seeds of transformation I must plant, to guide and nurture my soul in the coming months ahead. Blessed be and so it is. “

Write down what what came to you in your meditation and take action on the guidance you received. You may want to enhance your meditation by holding any of the following in your hands. Pyrite , Citrine or Clear Quartz

You can also give yourself a reading and use these great spreads by Worts and Cunning Apothecary  and Biddy Tarot.

Online celebrations

English Heritage – Facebook event

https://www.facebook.com/events/581183132524229/

Wonderland Summer Solstice 2020

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wonderland-summer-solstice-at-stonehenge-free-online-festival-tickets-108965717394?aff=erelexpmlt

Live Stream the Solar Eclipse from the link below.

https://www.timeanddate.com/live/eclipse-solar-2020-june-21

Reading Resources

The Divine Blueprint Of The Gods – Freddy Silva 

Witch –  Lisa lister

Go to the Library to buy these books and more.

Photo Credit Kit Ko from unsplash