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On June 20th, we all get to experience the official beginning of the summer season with the Summer Solstice. The summer solstice is the longest day of sunlight for the entire year. Get ready to enjoy warmer weather, and lots of fun in the sun while also experiencing a radical shift as the days of sunshine reach their peak and begin the trek towards shorter days and colder temperatures which peaks with the Winter Solstice. The summer solstice is an excellent time to consider where we are in our lives and whether or not we are moving forward in the manner that we desire or if changes are needed for us to take full advantage of the new beginnings offered at the Spring Equinox in March.
What is the Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice officially begins at the beginning of what is referred to as “astronomical summer,” and while it is the longest day of the year, it does occur on different days depending on the year and the hemisphere. In the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice is usually around June 20th or 21st while in the southern hemisphere it occurs around December 21st or 22nd. At the summer solstice, the sun is situated at its highest point in the sky in the northern hemisphere whereas in the southern hemisphere it is located at the lowest point in the sky which marks the beginning of winter for our southern hemisphere counterparts. Likewise, the sun is found overhead at the Tropic of Cancer during the summer solstice whereas during the winter solstice it is found overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn. Astrologically, this coincides with the sun transiting the sign of Cancer which coincides with the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere.
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There are a number of fun facts about the summer solstice. Did you know that during the summer our shadow appears at its shortest due to the sun being positioned at its highest point in the sky? Also, in the northern hemisphere, the summer solstice correlates to warmer weather due to the rays of the sun hitting the earth directly. Cultures all around the world celebrate the summer solstice with a variety of different rituals, ceremonies, and festivals to honor the change in seasons and the shift in energy.
The Peak Before Going Inward
One of the distinguishing factors of the summer solstice is that it is what is referred to as peak season. Given that the summer solstice represents the point when the sun is at its highest location in the sky, this resonates with the fact that this is also the longest day of the year. After the summer solstice, the amount of sunlight experienced decreases, shortening the days as we head into the cooler fall and winter months. Thus, the summer solstice represents the high point of extroverted, outer-directed energy as we prepare for the more inner-directed, introverted energy of the fall and winter seasons. Astrologically speaking, this resonates with the energy of Cancer which coincides with the summer solstice. In general, Cancer has the ability to be both outer and inner-directed. Cancer’s main focus is inward on itself, its home, and its family. So, while we may be out and about enjoying the peak of the summer season, we are simultaneously preparing ourselves for the upcoming fall and winter seasons.
Given that the summer solstice is peak energy, it is important to consider what has peaked in our lives at this moment. Let’s consider the newness that was introduced into our lives at the spring equinox. What has peaked in our lives since the spring equinox? Take some time to consider what has come to fruition since the beginning of spring in March. Are we where we want to be? Have we done the things that we desire to do? Are we really getting the most out of our experiences? Since we are at the climax of our experience at the summer solstice, if we choose to be conscious of how we are living, this is a good time to consider whether or not we are on a path that is aligned with the newness that the spring equinox ushered into our lives. In many ways, we can consider the summer solstice as a climactic point of our own personal stories. As we head towards the changing energy of the fall equinox and the climax of the winter solstice, we will get an opportunity to make the necessary changes in order to align ourselves with the newness that was introduced into our lives at the spring equinox.
The Summer Solstice & Change
In order to align ourselves with the energy of the summer solstice, making adjustments for change is important…particularly if we want to make the most of our experience. All of the seasons are intricately aligned. The equinoxes provide us with the beginnings and endings and the solstices offer us the energy of change. Aligning with the energy of change at the summer solstice requires us to think about our peak experiences since the spring equinox. For this reason, it’s very important to pull back and consider whether or not we have been moving along a path that actually allows us to make the most of the new beginnings that occurred during the spring equinox. In the northern hemisphere, as we are indulging in the height of the warm weather, it’s important to consider what changes we can make in our lives at this time so that we can make the new beginnings and new endeavors that we have started.
Some things to consider during the summer solstice include:
– Is the current path that we are on aligned with the new beginnings that came into our lives during the Spring Equinox?
-Is it necessary to make adjustments and changes to our current path so that we are able to reap the benefits of the beginnings offered during the Spring equinox?
-How are we honoring the “peak” of our experience? Are there certain things in our lives that have come to fruition that we would like to acknowledge and/or celebrate? (For many, the summer solstice represents reaching a climax such as graduations and weddings).
Ultimately, the summer solstice is an exceptional time to consider how we are currently navigating our lives in order to take the necessary actions to make the changes needed to gain the most from our experiences
