Today marks the midsummer solstice. On this longest day and shortest night, how can we look to the light to inspire us?
The word 'solstice' comes from the Latin and means 'sun stands still', and at this moment in the year, the sun seems to hang in the sky, bright as a jewel, before eventually setting after more than 16 hours of daylight. When sunset falls after 9 pm, we are reminded of the awesome strength and power of the sun, and many people famously gather at Stonehenge to see the midsummer sunrise penetrate the heart of this ancient stone circle. We do not need, however, to visit an ancient stone circle or a sacred site to enjoy this summertime celebration of luminosity, warmth, and abundance. Nature is all around us, and we are a part of nature, so simply turning inwards for a period of private reflection, looking outside our window, or taking a short walk can help us tune in with the ever-turning year. On a walk earlier today, I took the time to be mindful and to walk slowly, truly noticing what was growing and thriving in the landscape around me. Geese pottered about with their gaggle of growing goslings, ducklings raced, cheeping, across the surface of the water, and the green leaves of the plants and trees were lush and vibrant. Flowers bloomed and I took a moment to stop and smell the roses, fragrant as Turkish Delight - one of my mother's favourite sweet treats - anointing myself with the crystalline droplets of dew cupped in the folds of each tender red petal. I brushed my fingers through swathes of lavender and watched as the fuzzy bees buzzed amongst the flowers. Clouds scudded across the blue sky, birds sang, and my heart brightened with each breath. At this time, the natural world around us is in full bloom. The world lights up and softens beneath the kiss of sunlight. Before I shut my eyes to go to sleep tonight, I will ponder the answers to these questions:
What has been illuminated for me over the past six months?
How have I grown and what have I learned?
What simple pleasures do I desire?
Who, or what, brings sunshine to my life, and what blessings am I truly grateful for?
On the summer solstice, we are invited to consider what feels most abundant to us and what yearns to blossom in our world. The ultimate message of the season is perhaps this: to follow the warmth of our hearts and to give ourselves permission to shine and bloom in our own time, in our own way.
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