It’s time to party! 😄
What is a solstice?
A solstice is an astronomical event that occurs when the sun reaches its northernmost or southernmost position relative to the earth’s equator.
In other words, the summer solstice corresponds to the moment when :
- Day is longest.
- Night is shortest.
- The sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
There are 2 solstices a year:
- The summer solstice, around June 21.
- The winter solstice, around December 21.
These dates are reversed in the southern hemisphere.
History
Humanity has been celebrating this significant astronomical phenomenon around the world for millennia.
For example:
- Stonehenge (UK): this famous stone monument was designed to mark the sunrise on this particular day.
- St. John’s Day: inherited from the great pagan festival of the summer solstice, Litha, and reclaimed by the Christian church. The bonfire is the emblematic element of this age-old celebration.
- Inti Raymi (Peru): the most important ceremony of the year for the Incas, dedicated to the sun god Inti.
Natural cycles
The solstices are key moments in the annual cycle of the seasons.
They punctuate the year for all living creatures, especially plants and animals.
For example, for some migratory birds, the summer solstice marks the start of the breeding season.
As human beings are intimately connected to the cycles of nature, the solstice is also important, although its effects are not visible.
Spiritual meaning
The solstice is a day like no other.
Sun
Midsummer announces the sunniest season of the year.
The sun is the symbol of life. From time immemorial, people have recognized its importance and honored it.
I’m invited to connect with the sun, and thank it for what it unconditionally offers.
Light
It’s also a festival of light, because it’s the day of the year when I receive the most light.
By welcoming it, I recognize that I am a being of light, nourished by light.
I receive a lot of energy, and I can take advantage of it.
The abundance of light is traditionally symbolized by a bonfire.
Summer
Summer is the season of :
- Conviviality.
- Warmth.
- Joy.
- Fertility.
- Lightness.
- Love.
The solstice is the opening of this much-appreciated period, when nature is at its peak.
From a spiritual point of view, it’s a time to open up fully, like a flower.
Change
Solstices are energetic and spiritual gateways, allowing to cross thresholds.
The vibrations are naturally higher.
By celebrating a solstice, I honor the passage from one season to another, and open myself to change.
For example, I may decide to undertake new activities, or meet new people.
Summer solstice recommendations
This special day is an opportunity to :
- Thank the sun.
- Dance around the fire.
- Celebrate.
- Sunbathing.
- Meditate (for example, by imagining the sun’s energy flowing through my body).
- Share.
- Undertake rituals of abundance or change.
- Live!
Conclusion
What is the spiritual meaning of the summer solstice?
This festival, celebrated since the dawn of time, is much more than a simple change of season.
It’s an opportunity to shine, and to welcome summer with joy.
The sun, nature, light and my energy are at their peak: it’s a time of expansion.