Happy Summer Solstice/ Litha To You!!
Today, June 21st, 2019 at 8:54 AM PST begins Summer Solstice for the Northern Hemisphere. I swear it feels like we just had summer... and it's back again!!
Here in California, we have had a sneak peek of the Summer weather to come... we recently had a few days in the 105 degree range!! Yikes!
The true sign that Summer is upon us!
The Longest Day of The Year...
Summer Solstice AKA Litha is the true start to Summer. Today will be the longest day of the year. So, why does this happen??
Well it's due to the tilt of the Earth's axis, today it will be the most aligned with the Sun. The timing of Solsitce all depends on when the Sun reaches the Northernmost point from the equator.
The word Solstice is from the Latin word solstitium.
To break it down:
sol (Sun) stitium (To Stop)
basically saying that the Sun seems to stop at this time, and in fact, this will happen again at Winter Solstice. When the Sun reaches it's Northernmost position as we see it from Earth...at that very moment it's zenith does not move North or South like it does during normal days of the year, instead.... it stands still at the Tropic of Cancer. It will then reverse it's direction towards the North.
Today is a good day to take a few minutes to think about the things you'd like to accomplish... dreams, wishes, goals...by bringing them to light it will help you better accomplish them.
As this is a time of the first harvest, it's a great time to gather family and friends to celebrate! It's the time to celebrate all that life has given us and to welcome the new vibrant energy of the Sun during this Summer Solstice. It's the best time to enjoy the warm Sun rays... to allow us to recharge and be ready to manifest abundance in our life as we carry on through the year.
WHAT WE CAN DO TO CELEBRATE!!
1. Watch the Sun Rise: Wake up bright and early (5:37 am PST) and welcome the Sun on this Summer Solstice. I have a feeling you will feel the warmth and it will give you that spark of energy to get your day going in the right direction.
2. Bonfire: Bonfire is a symbol of the Sun, the warmth and brightness is just like the Sun. Gather family and friends around the Bonfire and enjoy some music and dance. Another cool thing to do is gather some of your harvest of herbs, anything that calls to you... Lavender, Basil, Rosemary and toss them into the Fire with your most treasured wishes.
3. Decorate Your Alter: Take some time to update your alter by adding some lovely bright summer flowers (Sunflowers) , light a few orange candles (orange candle magic will allow energy,enthusiasm, power and luck as we move onward in the Summer Solstice).
4. Make a Flower Grid of Gratitude: Purchase some lovely yellow and or orange flowers that calls to you. Take some time to find a spot to meditate and thank Gaia for this beautiful Summer Solstice. Take the flowers and make a Flower Grid, arrange it in a circular fashion and offer this to Gaia showing Gratitude to her for allowing us to inhabit her mightiness. As you do this, take time to say thanks and also focus on picturing peace coming over our lovely planet Earth.
*In Sweden people celebrate Summer Solstice by eating the 1st Strawberries of the season.
*Litha: means midsummer
*In Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England) people come by the thousands to gather and watch the sun rise.
*Mars also has a Summer Solstice which occurs a few days after Earth's.
*Venus & Jupiter barely have a Solstice due to the positions of their poles.
*On Uranus Summer Solstices lasts 42 years.
Wishing you all the best as the year continues onward and we celebrate these bright Summer Days ahead!!
Sending You...
Light, Loves & Lunar Hugs,
Bridget M. Shoup, CMP
"The Crystal Healing Gypsy"
(909) 851-4305