85 Comments

At 5 eastern, my bestie and I were drumming and singing to the goddesses, Gaia, and howling like coyotes. My neighbor said we were making a racket. What do they know? We had a lot of fun and I think we made some magic.

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Love this, me too.

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Listening to your piano playing this morning Jesse is a tonic. Your beautiful words as always bring a sense of well being and calm . Times are very tough for me just now so your positivity is very much appreciated. I am a little late in wishing you a Happy Summer Solstice but I wish you every happiness and joy for you birthday on 27th June ! I will listen again to your playing and think happy thoughts! Thank you Jesse ! 🌻❤️

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With the summer solstice on the cusp of this month’s strawberry moon , I am welcoming the greatest gift of love to myself and others in my life~ presence. Being aware of the present moment, and an active intention to be more aware in each moment I will see, hear, smell, touch, engage … better. This in itself, will help daily life become the gift it always is…to this one precious life.

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I can relate to the feeling of summer sometimes being a bit oppressive (when it's hot and very dry or very humid).

All the solstice and equinox days usually remind me a lot of a place (with a community that celebrated those days and often with a bonfire too) that I and my sister used to spend a lot of time at and that has a lot of meaning for my sister - but it is one of those places that sadly does not exist in that form anymore. But it is good memories so I'm glad to remember it then always.

Love the piano playing. Very calming and mediative. Thank you for sharing it. I do play the piano but only very little - came to it quite late and then moved abroad from Germany and had to leave my piano behind... it has been in my sister's flat for ages now (it is a tiny bit like the song "Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin").

Not been creative much recently... I love experimenting with colour, and photography. But I need a lot of rest time between working days and often don't manage a lot of things I love to do even on those days off work. I think I'm one of those people that feel the pressure too much (self made pressure a lot of the time!!)

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Lovely post Jesse. It’s been a happy/ sad week for me this week. My daughter’s 41st birthday was the happy, sadly I lost my aunt who was in her 90’s, her name was Jessie. Then we had news of a family friend who has an inoperable brain tumour and in the same day my husband’s best friend of over 50 years was diagnosed with a brain tumour as well! To early to tell what will happen as far as treatment. It was all too much and I just shut down….. until I listened to your beautiful piano… then I cried like a baby. Everything I was holding came out. I can’t thank you enough. My husband is going through his own struggles having radiation treatments for cancer and he was doing really well, I don’t know how the news of his beloved friend will affect him. I need to stay positive and I usually can, but the cumulative effects of all that’s happened just got to me. But now I see that music is my way through and I will endeavour to listen to all my favourites today while I’m alone at work. I clean our community hall as a volunteer. It has a stage with a big hall surrounded with mirrors, I will sing and dance my way through the pain and end up laughing my head off. I’m sure I will have an audience even if I can’t see them. Maybe I’ll belt out a few of your Mothers songs, they always help.

Have a lovely lead up to your Birthday. I totally get your need to be near water, I’m the same. And thank you again for guiding me to my salvation 🥲🎶

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Sing loud and free…

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Hahaha, thank you Susan ! Dancing barefoot was apparently enjoyed by the walls!

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Here in the north east of France, the weather is more stormy than sunny. We have a lot of rain, the air is moist an d smells of linden in bloom. Today is the "fête de la musique" here in France. Bands, musicians, DJs will be performing in bars, in the streets... My daughter is four weeks old today, so I'm celebrating that§ and the fact she's having a very good day and smiling a lot.

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J(PS): Do you record ukulele meditations? That would be special and perhaps soothing to play along with.

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Hello Jesse, the solstice and the moon and the piano in a kind of sleepy dream. I woke to find myself lit by the full moon through the window. So fortunate to have a lunar bedmate. I appreciatte your honest encouragement to engage and celebrate and to make our work our love of life. Happy Solstice, the dream is real.

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What a beautiful meditation on the summer solstice and your upcoming birthday, Jesse. Thank you for sharing your piano playing with us too. I love the idea of playing the piano as a kind of journaling; I’m a word person and don’t know how to make music as creative energy and expression. You are one of those who can do both. It was lovely to listen to your playing and as I did, I could imagine all the feelings you wrote about having.

Happy early birthday to you, Jesse, and to others here with June birthdays. Wishing you a happy traipse around the city and the waterfront. I’m imagining you in a painting, in the white dress you’re wearing in the beautiful photo that accompanies this post, the water glistening with sunlight and dotted with boats.

Happy summer solstice to everyone.

As ever,

Robin

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Happy Summer Solstice, Jesse ☀️

It’s 5:40am and I’m currently out at the park with strong winds and bending trees. It’s the only time when the air feels pleasant. I live in Arizona where the temperatures are in the triple digits. Since moving to my new location three months ago I haven’t had working AC because my apartment complex is retaliating against me for exercising my rights. The heat triggers muscle spasms. I’ve shifted my waking times to nighttime when it’s much cooler. Unfortunately the heat will build up and the nights will be in the 100s. I am also bothered by the drastic temperature changes. I don’t like AC very cold. It’s get to my bones. One supermarket people wear boots and coats because the AC is freezing.

I was feeling blue then R.E.M. recently reunited and I feel invigorated and I’m able to walk without my cane. I’ve even been playing guitar. Yesterday I found my tuner! Hopefully soon I’ll find my Yamaha concert piano with weighted keys power cord. My move was rushed and I had help packing but things were thrown together last minute. I only had three days to move with less than 24 hours notice. I’m still recovering from the corporate sting. They value money over human lives. I have faith that People Have the Power to bring justice to this world.

I waited to comment because every time I come here my day turns magical. After listening to your piano piece/peace, I found my guitar tuner! I could listen to

your tune all day long. It’s so very soothing and clams my bouncy mind. Also we had heavy rains with full sun. I believe that was a solstice cleansing. And last night a tribe member said I am blessed. Something I needed to hear at that moment.

My birthday gift for you is healing my betta fish Dino Martino. He’s in a hospital tank recovering from swim bladder. Your gift is keeping him company. I’ll post some photos to my notes or a post because I sometimes can’t upload to notes.

I like the idea of regular long walks. I used to love walking NYC at 4am and watching the city wake up.

I wish to live in Seattle. I’ve been thinking about it for many years. I feel like I’ve lived there in a past life.

As always thank you so very much for your holistic exercises you provide here. 🌀

May you have a most glorious day. 🦋

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REM! Wow a lit blast from past…heard them in 80s, Albany. Fun days, times. Wonderful, music so soothes our souls, dancing in our hearts…

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Jun 21Liked by Jesse Paris Smith

We went out to the Virginia State Arboretum for the Summer Solstice and watched the moon come up and then watched the fireflies in the meadow. It's strange, this being the longest day of the year, which means we begin the process of settling down, slowing down as the days grow shorter. The summer months are always filled with activity and action. Maybe we're not quite in sync with the earth. Last night watching the world around me I was thinking I could be quite content to live in a more natural setting and just watch the seasons change, but then who would I play banjo with?

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Yesss you're so right - 'maybe we're not quite in sync with the earth.' I always think about that in winter when things go into hibernation mode and we continue our active rat race - and it also applies to summer, too. I like the idea of you playing banjo with the crickets and frogs and creatures of the meadow!

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I am a Capricorn like your Mama and not sure why I am feeling so disassembled , I read her post from London last night and sent well wishes because she too seems “out of sorts” as we Brits say ! I sympathise with you being in a similar state being our opposite sign of Cancer , one of my sons has been going through a bad time in his work life ,he is a head teacher & loves kids , he and I are direct opposites birth chart wise but very close, a Cancer like you.

We are living in very dark times and must seek the light when & wherever we can . I wish you a very happy birthday when it arrives but best go out to greet the day with my daughter Freya and our two dogs . Take care of your self dear Jesse, it’s always nice to have your Mama on the same island but you must miss her. I won’t get to see her perform this year but have many special memories from times I have , the last one was at the Cambridge Folk Festival with my youngest daughter Holly , magical evening . Bit rambling but on we go ❤️✌️☘️🖖

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Love how you said “seeking light” whenever we can, seems impossible to find at times, this full moon seems to be seeking all of us, so bright and persistent…

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Hiiiii <3 How did you feel last night with the big full moon? Cancer season is emotional, deeper, and heavy on everyone for sure. Sending so much warm and cozy support to you.

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Right back to you lovely 💚I am knocked out by prescription meds this past few days , caught a bug from my 2 yr old granddaughter babysitting her & her little sis last Sunday . It’s called something weird like head, foot & mouth disease which I thought only affected cows 🐮 omg 😱 Had a quiet Solstice reading aloud to myself but too tired for much else . Hope you have a fab birthday next week and take care of yourself xx ❤️👍☘️🖖

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Feel better soon, that’s a yucky thing to have, good you found help. 💐

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Jun 21Liked by Jesse Paris Smith

Happy Summer Solstice, Jesse.

Thank you for this insightful post. I can relate to both the sense of joy and ambivalence about the summer - the extreme heat, severe storms and humidity can leave me restless.

You always have good centering strategies - I often need to take time to refocus and collect myself. It can be a challenge. But this post and the wonderful piano piece certainly help. Thank you for that.

I hope that this is a grand summer for you and hope that your birthday is rich with magic.

🌻🦋✨

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Thank you so much for your kind words :) Sending lots of good and grounding energy to you :)))

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Jun 21Liked by Jesse Paris Smith

Happy Summer Solstice Jesse!!!! Lucky you being a summer baby!!!!! Cheers!!!

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Ahhh, when is your birthday?

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December 28th - close to your Moms - I went to her show at Brooklyn Steel 12/29/23 with my 2 sons to celebrate our Capricorn birthdays!!! Lenny's too!!!! That was my knucklehead son yelling out "I love you Lenny" lol but we all do!!!!! We had a great time!!!!!

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Jun 21Liked by Jesse Paris Smith

Your posts are always so constructive and honest and pleasant, and I appreciate them. I know so many people who are caught in doom loops, and so for example, since your last post I’ve been getting them to talk about birds, and now after this maybe the seasons and birthday wishes. I hope yours come true!

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Ohh this makes me so happy, thank you so much for sharing this!! Thank you thank you!

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