Summer Solstice 2021: Freedom!

After a year in lockdown, it’s more important than ever to celebrate the Summer Solstice:  the return of the light and our freedom!

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and  the time to celebrate life in all its aspects.

The time the Sun stands still is technically Sunday, June 20 at 11:31 pm EST. But it’s fine to celebrate the Solstice on Monday June 21 because, when you wake up on that day, Summer has begun.

The Solstice is the time to call in all the positive things you want in your life, give thanks for them and release what no longer serves you.

Solstice means “stand still” and refers to the way the sun appears to rise and set in the same place for a few days.  This is also a good day to just relax, rest and stand still [take a break] from the business of life.

This is an excellent time to do a ritual such as a burning bowl ceremony to release the old and bring in the new.

The power of Fire on the Solstice 

All ancient cultures consider fire one of the most magical and necessary elements for transformation, purification and prayer.

According to Mara Freeman in Kindling the Celtic Spirit, our ancestors “lit bonfires to celebrate the sun at the height of its power and implore it not to withdraw into winter’s darkness.”

The fires were built on hilltops and the Old people would count the distant fires and tell the future from the number they saw and the brightness of the blaze.

In the words of author and shamanic teacher Alberto Villoldo, “Every time you light a match to light a candle, you can turn that into a fire ceremony because you are literally creating fire.”

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with a Burning Bowl ceremony

You will need a large bowl with tall sides, candle, matches and two small pieces of paper.

Set everything up as if you were creating a sacred altar, because you are.

First: a burning bowl ceremony to release the old

Take three slow deep inhales and exhales to center yourself.

Think over the past year: all the things that happened, both good and bad. Even the difficult situations taught you a lesson.

What people, situations, energies didn’t serve you?  Ask, “what would be good for me to let go of in my life?”  Sit with that question.

When you’re ready, write it down on a small piece of paper.  Fold it, light it with the candle flame and drop it into the bowl as you release it, saying, “I release that which no longer serves me.”

Take a deep breath and express your gratitude for those hard lessons learned.

Next: A burning bowl ceremony to call in the new:

Again sitting at your altar, relax, and close your eyes. Take a deep breath and release it three times. Strive to let yourself feel grounded.

Focus on your heart. Think about what would really make your heart happy in the next year. What would you like to experience that would bring you joy?

When you experience joy, it goes out to the rest of the world.

When you follow your passion, you bless the world.

Call in relationships, work, health, lifestyle – anything you’d like to do, be, have or see. Don’t worry right now about the how. That’s not your job. The how is the Creator’s job. Your part is to express what you want.

It’s like placing an order in a five-star restaurant. You don’t go into the kitchen and look over the chef’s shoulder while he or she cooks and give them instructions. You sit at your table and trust that the perfect meal you ordered will be served to you at your table.

Let life work its magic like that!

This ceremony is about placing your order

Again, write what you want to manifest on a piece of paper, light it with the candle flame, and drop it into the bowl. As it burns, the smoke is carrying your request up to the heavens.

Make a note in your journal of what’s on your list and in one year, look at it and see how many have manifested. Put it in a safe place and let the magic begin!

“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking,

where the past lets go of and becomes the future; the place of caught breath.”  Margaret Atwood