Happy Summer Solstice

Welcoming in new changes with trust

Photo of me at Rockaway Beach by Zoe Adlersberg

Hello everyone. Today is the Summer Solstice, the official astronomical beginning of the summer season, and the longest day of the year. The solstice will occur at approximately 4:50pm ET for the Northern Hemisphere. Cultures throughout history have observed this moment in all different celebratory ways, lighting bonfires, sharing feast, music, and dance with others. It’s the return of light, honoring the powerful energy of the sun and the way it enhances our days and gives life to us all.

How are you feeling today? Are you feeling celebratory? Personally, I’m feeling particularly lethargic, struggling with the oppressive intensity of the heat. Going back and forth between the hot and the frigid AC is always a lot for my body, and I find myself waking up feeling sleepier than any other time throughout the year, sometimes with a scratchy sore throat from all the temperature shifts, the dryness or humidity, the pollen and air quality, etc.

These are certainly not ranked anywhere near the top of the list for the worst problems to be navigating, but it is just to say that it can sometimes feel a little difficult to be energetic, productive, positive, or celebratory during this season of heat. We often associate Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) with winter, but as a friend pointed out recently, it can also be applied to summer weather. Loss of appetite, disrupted sleep schedule, issues around body self consciousness, anxiety, irritability, financial stress. The heat simply changing our routines, like seeing friends or exercising, going on daily walks, having early mornings or early evenings, etc. There’s so many reasons why we might struggle a bit to adjust, and these factors can pile up and really shift our whole system.

It’s all to say that we don’t have to feel pressure to feel celebratory and happy all the time just because it’s summertime now, and if we find ourselves feeling a bit yucky or depressed, it’s a natural experience that we can share with each other.

A week from today, June 27, will be my 37th birthday. I’m not sure what I want to do, where I want to be. I feel at the moment the mounting stresses of responsibilities - work to do and decisions to make, and my priority now is to make as much progress before my birthday. Alleviating some of the mounting stress seems like one of the most kind and welcomed gifts we could give ourselves. So at the moment, that’s my only plan.

I really love the magical feeling of my birthday, of all birthdays really. My birthday feels different each year, sometimes joyful and free, sometimes contemplative and personal, sometimes heavy and intense. Always magic. It’s a time for reflection and starting a new cycle, and I welcome this fully.

**Summer Solstice Exercise**

I invite you to share in a Summer Solstice observance together, as a chance to start a new cycle no matter where we are in our lives or what that might look like. Whether you’re feeling celebratory and joyful, or a bit overwhelmed by anxiety or stress. Whether you are cruising nicely in a good place or craving major changes, whether you are needing time alone or time with others. Let’s take some time today to check out where we are in our lives, how we are feeling in all systems: Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, environmentally, and socially. You can take some time in meditation, you can write in a journal, talk out loud to yourself, record a voice memo, anything that feels good. After reflecting on everything, you can express it further through more creativity if you wish, drawing, painting, making a mandala, playing music, writing a song. Anything that feels good as a way to mark this moment, and to ease into a new cycle with open and welcoming arms.

When I feel a little lost or anxious, out of touch with myself, playing piano and writing are the two main things that help me. Improvising piano, the rawness of the energy rises to the surface as a way to see exactly where I’m at. Writing as I did here, helps to put words to that energy, to process the feelings, to release them, to move forward into the next thing. Here is my moment of daily piano this morning just before writing this Substack. Improvising piano also quiets my mind, bypasses the chitter chatter, calms my nervous system, comforts me, and helps me to reconnect to myself in order to reflect further. Please feel free to listen as you reflect on your own summer solstice, as you journal, draw, etc.

As always, please share any thoughts, reflections, questions, or ideas in the comments. And if you observe the Solstice today at 4:50pm ET or tonight, please share about your rituals and celebrations. Share about any memories, facts, anything at all. All thoughts are always welcomed here. :)

Happy Summer Solstice, everyone. <3