Hi sweet friends! I’m coming at you one day ahead of schedule in celebration of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, where I find myself. I spent this past weekend on Hornby island at a women’s retreat. We were staying right on the golden bluffs above the sea, with the sun nearing its peak height overhead. I went for a cold dip in the water with a stranger turned new friend, and the energy in the environment was just buzzing. The solar power this week has been building and building and today it is at an all time high. You can see it in the vibrancy and brightness of the plants, smell it in their sweet fragrance, and hear it in the bird song. Summer is here. And with it comes the descent back into darkness. The slow and gentle dance that will take us into Fall and right to the start of Winter, where the cycle will continue. With that energy we will turn inwards, but for now the sun is high, the days are bright and outward expression and exploration is calling. It’s time to play!
The longest day of the year actually falls anytime between June 20th-22nd, but this year we celebrate it on the 21st. This is a time of year with rich history in rituals and festivities, spanning all cultures. So we can all find ways to get rooted in our own heritage by acknowledging this special day. Call it solstice, Midsommer (Scandinavian), Litha (Pagan), Tirgan (Persian), Niman Kachina (Hopi), Klidonas (Greek), Alban Hefin in Druid tradition, the list goes on and on. Here in Canada, June 21st is also marked by National Indigenous Peoples Day, as traditionally the different indigenous groups would be having celebrations around solstice.
Solstice, or Midsummer is believed to be a liminal time of year, where the veil between worlds is thin. This is especially true for the world of the Fae. In Celtic traditions this time of year had strong ties to the faerie world (take Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night's Dream for example), where the faeries would play tricks on people during Solstice night. The goddess Áine is called in during this holy time, where celebrations revolve around fertility, love, and the elements of fire and water. This had a lot to do with farming and the fertility of the land. Prayers for rain and sun (represented by fire) to ensure a successful crop were paramount. In ancient Egypt the day was marked by the rising of the Nile River, which was celebrated as a sign of abundance and prosperity. Ancient monuments that mark the time of Solstice can be found around the world in places like Mexico, Peru, the UK, and Malta, just to name a few. For our ancestors this really was one of the most important days of the year. Bonfires would be lit on hilltops on Midsummer eve to honour the sun. The shift into Cancer season also takes place during this transition, which brings in an element of water and fertility. Symbolism abound. The plants that are harvested in the window of the solstice are thought to be in their most potent stage. The strength of the sun gives the plants energy to be at their fullest, most vibrant and enchanted selves. I like to think it does the same for us.
Our lives don’t look quite the same as they did for our ancestors. Most of us aren’t farmers, and for the majority of us, lighting a bonfire is a no-go due to fire bans. We must adapt to create traditions that meet us where we’re at. This can look like lighting a candle the night before solstice. Or taking in the sunrise and sunset. Just feeling the warm hug the sun provides and basking in it can be a celebration in its own right. Having a picnic with friends, or going for an ocean dip completely honour these traditions. Something I love to do is make a solar infusion. You can do this with any fresh or dried herbs of your choosing! Don’t have any herbs? Go for a walk and grab some lavender, rose petals, lemon balm, rosemary, you name it. Put them in a vessel with water and leave it in the sun for at least a couple of hours. Let the water soak up the sun’s energy. And then, voila, you have yourself a perfect summer tea. Get that Ra energy in ya :)
Like I said, any herbs will do. But one herb that is strongly tied to the summer solstice is St John’s Wort. When Christianity swept the land, the traditional solstice holidays were replaced by St John’s Day, which is what gave Hypericum perforatum its name of St John’s Wort, as the plant’s bright yellow flowers bloom right around this time of year. St John’s Wort has long been used as a nerve tonic, and has more recently been gaining fame for its actions on depression. It is a mild sedative, with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic abilities. St John’s is helpful in cases of anxiety, insomnia, depression and neurological pain. It is also a bitter astringent, which means it can be a great aid for any digestion complaints. A common ritual to do on solstice is to make an infused oil with the plant, which results in a deep red oil once the infusion is done. This oil is a must have for a herbal first aid kit for any wounds, bruises, burns, and nerve damage.
I feel like I’ve been in a serious relationship with the sun for the past year. I started trying to watch the sun rise nearly every morning last fall and have continued to at the very least get out in the sun’s rays in the early morning ever since. The effects this simple practice have had on me are profound. We really don’t give the sun enough credit for its ability to heal. Getting out in the morning light is healing on so many levels. The crucial light we get at sunrise (and sunset) is the red light and the infrared light. This physically helps our bodies regulate their circadian rhythm, reduce inflammation, calm the nervous system, and prepares our skin for the more intense UV rays that peak around midday by creating what is called a sun callous. The rays from the sun give our body cues to help us physically adjust to our environment, like how watching the sunset tells your body that it’s time to produce melatonin for sleep. We spend so much of our lives inside, under artificial lighting, that it is crucial to learn and practice good sun hygiene for the sake of your health. And now is the perfect time to get out and worship the sun!
On that note, let’s end this here so you can avert your eyes from the blue light of your screen and get some sun. I persuaded my LP, Louis, aka the playlist master, to collab on a special summer solstice soundtrack with me to share in this newsletter. So here’s a treat for you all for engaging with my words. I’ll let you in on a little secret about me: I love reggae. My ultimate celebrity crush is Bob Marley, hands down. Hehe. So there might be a little bit of that spice in the mix. Ok, I hope you all have a beautiful first day of summer!
If you liked this special solstice edition please share it with a friend to pass on the ~good solstice vibes~.
With love,
Anika
Love this 🙌🏼☀️