Happy Summer Solstice!

Hello Summer!

Summer Solstice 2019, the longest day of the year, actually occurs at a certain moment, on June 21 at 11:54 a.m. EST. That’s the exact moment when the Earth is at a certain tilt, giving us this longest of days.

But, what we really notice are longer, warmer, often more relaxed days … the lazy, hazy days of Summer. Thank goodness, I say!

What Are You Doing This Summer?

I appreciate each Summer more than the last. The warmth enters my bones, the heat of the sun nourishes all of me, the extended daylight makes me feel like I have all the time in the world. I feel like I can breathe again.

It’s in Summer that I feel I’m most part of nature, not separate from it. I draw strength from the earth and dreams from the heavens. As life moves constantly forward, so do I … sometimes willingly, sometimes not so willingly. But, it’s my favorite time of year, when I feel most myself, so I plan to enjoy it. How about you?

Don't Let Another Summer Get Away From You

I know Summer can be a difficult time for some – Moms who need to find daycare, jobs that get busy in during the Summer months, heat and humidity that take their toll.

Whichever it is, welcome or unwelcome, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to be mindful, so I’d like to suggest that you use this Solstice to create an intention for this Summer. When we were kids, Summers stretched out forever, but as adults, we know how fast time can speed by. 

What do you want this Summer to be? Can you give it a name? The Summer of Rest. The Summer of Inspiration. The Summer of Leaving Work at 5. The Summer of Finding Your Thing. The Summer of Naps. The Summer of Reading Instead of Watching TV. The Summer of Hikes. The Summer of Daily Walks. The Summer of Getting Outside. You get the idea. Create something that nourishes you.

What do you want this Summer to be? Create an intention.

How About Creating Some Rituals?

Do you want to meditate when the sun comes up and when it goes down this Summer? Do you want to do morning yoga outside? Do you want more green in your life – in your belly and as far as you can see? Do you want a week of nothing at all?

If you’ve been procrastinating on finalizing your vacation, can you honor yourself and your need for a break and commit to booking it? Can you take some long weekends? Is this the year when you really spend time in your garden? Do you need to be near water? 

What do you dream of doing this Summer? Can you plan ahead to ensure you do what you want and get what you need?

Use Your Body as a Compass

If you have too many things on your list, if you’re feeling overwhelmed do this:

  • Close your eyes.
  • Breathe deeply and put your attention on your feet
  • Breathe into your feet (just try it … you can’t do it wrong)
  • Send your energy through the soles of your feet and into the Earth. Feel the dirt, the soil, go from cool to warm as you go deeper. Feel the nourishment of Mother Earth or Great Mother. Bring this grounded, loving, healing energy back up to your feet and let the energy flow into your soles.
  • Bring the energy up your body, up through your ankles, your shins, your knees, your thighs, into your hips, up through your pelvic floor, into your lower belly. 
  • Take a lower belly breath, and then bring the energy around to your tail bone and up your spine, into your lower back and then into your abdomen, noticing what you feel in your gut. Breathe.
  • Bring your energy up into your diaphragm, into your ribs. Another deep breath. Feel your heart. 
  • Bring your energy up to your neck, circle back and feel the bones of your upper back and then send your energy down both arms, noticing your shoulders, your biceps/triceps, your elbows, your forearms, your wrists, the fine bones of your hands. Bring the energy back up your arms.
  • Notice your throat and your breath in your throat, in your mouth, in your nasal passage.
  • Notice your ears, your eyes, feel your brain in your head.
  • Send the energy out through the top of your head, towards the heavens, knowing that you are made of stars.
  • Come back with your energy resting where it feels comfortable and open your eyes.

Choose From This Place of Peace

If you have a long list of things you “should” do, or are just habit, go into your body thinking about each one. Does doing it feel good – do you feel peace or a flutter of excitement. Or does it feel bad – do you get a pit in your belly, do you tense up?

What if you chose the good things? What would that look like? What habit would fall away? What new rituals could be created?

Is there something you “have” to do  that feels icky? Can you better it somehow? Can you shorten it’s duration, listen to a podcast or music doing it, wear something that makes you feel good?

Create Your Summer

It’s the first day of Summer. Beginning’s are awesome because the future is wide open. Dream up your Summer, then make it come true as best you can. Where else do you want to feel like this in your life?

Summer Book Club!

I’m gathering like-minded women to get inspired, get dreaming, and get going on our own dreams, using Sheri’s book as  “the roadmap to transformation”, which is what Elizabeth Gilbert called it.More information here!

Happy Summer Solstice!