The summer solstice represents the time of the year that the Sun is at its highest point in the sky. On the surface of Earth we experience this as the longest day of the year.
Celebration of the turn of the season is not something that requires a large affair and it is certainly something that can be celebrated across many cultures, races, and pantheons. Many ancient cultures made such a large deal about the summer solstice because the turn from summer to spring meant an abundance of life coming to the land, this primarily meant, food, fiber, and fuel.
Some call this day Midsummer. In Wicca it is known as Litha, in ancient China it was known as the celebration of Yin, and in Ancient Kemet ( modern day Egypt) it was celebrated for a whole 2 weeks as the solstice was the precursor to the star Sirius appearing in the sky in July signifying the rise of the water in the Nile. In Christianity, it’s often known to some as St. John’s Day or The Feast of St. John to celebrate Saint John the Baptist. In Germany the celebration of midsummer is actually on the 24th of June in 2019.
It is the sun that warms the soil which produces the life that we see all around us this time of year. You can use this time to work on your self-esteem (using yellow for the solar plexus chakra), your creativity (Orange, for the sacral chakra), or choose to ground yourself (red, for the root chakra) to celebrate the summer solstice. Beyond the colors and shapes that represent the sun; there are also herbs and crystals that correspond specifically with the summer solstice and what it represents:
Gemstones
- Amber
- Red jasper
- Fire agate
- Sunstone
- Citrine
- Amber
- Aqua Aura Quartz ( any color)
- Red Quartz
- Tiger’s eye
- Bumblebee jasper
- Carnelian
- Orange calcite
- Fire Opal
Herbs
- John’s Wort
- Calendula
- Rue
- Honeybush
- Dandelion root
- Chamomile
- Verbenas
- Rose (pink or red)
- Sage
- Mint
- Mugwort
- Lavender
All of these colors, gemstones, and herbs are often use to represent the sun, the warmth, and revitalization that comes with summer season. This makes it an incredible time to revitalize yourself and passion for life. All three of the lower chakras deal with the foundation of utilizing your personal power to manifest your desires so if you’ve been curious about chakra work this is the best time to begin.
So, if you are new to these concepts, you may be asking “how exactly do I celebrate the Summer Solstice?” The answer is, any way that feels right to YOU!
This can be something as simple as digging your toes into the sand, spending some extra time in the garden. It can be as intricate as leaving out honey and wine for the Fae people (fairies, devic kingdom) or creating a full altar outside in reverence to Gaia or your ancient ancestors. You can clean your house, take a cleansing salt bath, or sit on your couch and watch man versus wild. There is no wrong way to celebrate as long as it has meaning to you.
While we recognize this occasion on the 21st of June in America and many English speaking/European influenced countries & cultures, the celebration of the movement from the season of spring to the summer season can land on different dates, for different cultures, and can often be called something entirely different than what we recognize it as. They all, however, aim to celebrate the same thing; that a sunny, warm, season of abundance is upon us once again!
We’ve got a great special going on at Crystal Spirit Spiritual Center today, June 21st, 2019, giving you 15% off of all items in store except consignment items. Make sure to come and visit us today to get the last of your supplies to kick off the celebration of summer 2019.
Happy Summer Solstice to you and yours from everyone here at Crystal Spirit!