Summer has arrived and we are soaking up as much sunshine we can. With the season, beyond warm weather and longer days, comes the summer solstice, as well. The summer solstice, occurring on June 21st, marks the first day of summer, and the beginning of Cancer season. Our spiritual contributor, Shawn Engle of Witchy Wisdoms, breaks down everything there is to know about the summer solstice. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the summer solstice + how to prepare for it this year.
What the Summer Solstice Is
Also known as the fire festival, Litha in ancient pagan traditions, the summer solstice celebrates the longest day and shortest night of the year, before the sunshine begins to shrink back down all the way to winter. Its symbolism is fertility, the accumulation of sunlight, and fire.
How You Can Prepare for It
Because of the spiritual weight that the summer solstice carries, it’s an opportune time to do a release ritual. A release ritual is a method of getting rid of pain, grudges, and regret in order to focus on what is important to our individual selves.
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What You’ll Need for The Ritual
- A smoke clearing tool {such as sage or palo santo}.
- A candle {preferably yellow}.
- A carving tool.
- A lighter.
- A pen.
- Two pieces of paper.
- A fire safe bowl full of water.
How to Perform The Ritual
- First, take your sage or palo santo and clear the area with smoke by lighting your tool until it smolders and waving it around the area in which you’ll be performing your ritual.
- Take your candle and your carving tool, like a dowel, and carve a sun into it. Light the candle while clearing your mind.
- Take your first piece of paper and write down everything you’ve accomplished since the sun began to grow in light. Think back all the way to the winter solstice of 2018, on December 21st. What are all of the things you’ve conquered on a spiritual and physical level? Write it all down on your piece of paper.
- When you are finished, take your paper, and light it on fire with the candle, then toss it into your fire safe bowl.
- Next, take your second piece of paper, and write down everything you wish to release until the next winter solstice coming in December of this year. What behaviors and actions no longer serve you? What can you transform so you can hit your next set of goals?
- When you are finished, take your paper, and while you imagine the release and rejuvenation, light your paper on fire with the candle, and toss it in your fire safe bowl.
- Take a moment to sit with the energy, and when you are ready, close your ritual.
- Make sure to toss the water from your bowl outside of your home.
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Use this new found energy to propel your motivation through the rest of summer. Be grateful for all that you’ve achieved so far and acknowledge all of the room you have to grow. Blessed Litha!
How are you preparing for the Summer Solstice this year? Let us know in the comments!
