The Sacred Meaning of Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice is nearly upon us, reminding us to celebrate the victory of light.
The Summer Solstice of 2022 is set to take place on June 21 at 05:14 EDT.
It’s the longest day of the year.

Some astrologers call it the Cancer Solstice, as it marks the start of Cancer season.
Also to honour the fact that it’s the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hampshire.

This is a special time of the year indeed.
The gardens are blooming, the crops are growing in the fields, the nature is so colourful and vibrant.

Now is our chance to spend as much time outdoors as we possibly can so we can enjoy extra hours of daylight.

Summer Solstice has many names in different traditions, the most famous are Litha and Midsummer.

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate this special day.

The veil between the spirit world and earthly realm is lifting, making it the perfect time to set your intentions and ask for guidance from the Universe. 

Try to spend the Solstice eve and meet the sunrise in nature to connect with the healing power of Mother Earth.
This year it is especially potent since the North Node of Destiny is in fixed earth sign of Taurus.

Welcoming the Sun on its most potent day of the year in nature is a strong activation of its manifesting powers.

Bask in the sunrise and visualise your deepest desire you wish to manifest by the end of this year.

There is a great chance it will be granted by the time of the Winter Solstice in December. 

What is Summer Solstice?

The term solstice derives from the Latin words “sol” (the sun) and “stitium” (still).

The Summer Solstice occurs when the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer. 

For those living above the Tropic of Cancer (in the Northern Hemisphere), it is the longest day of the year.

For those who live in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the shortest day of the year and marks the Winter Solstice.

History of Summer Solstice

According to history.com some ancient Greek calendars, the summer solstice marked the start of the New Year. The summer solstice also marked the one-month countdown to the opening of the Olympic Games.

Kronia, a festival celebrating Cronus, the god of agriculture, was also held around this time.

The Greeks’ strict social code was temporarily turned on its head during Kronia, with slaves participating in the merriment as equals or even being served by their masters.

In the days leading up to the summer solstice, the ancient Romans celebrated Vestalia, a religious festival in honor of Vesta, goddess of the hearth.

During Vestalia, married women could enter the temple of Vesta and leave offerings to the goddess in exchange for blessings for their families.

In ancient China, the summer solstice was associated with “yin,” the feminine force. Festivities celebrated Earth, femininity, and the “yin” force.

Before Christianity, ancient Northern and Central European pagans (including Germanic, Celtic and Slavic groups) welcomed Midsummer with bonfires.  

It was thought that bonfires would boost the sun’s energy for the rest of the growing season and guarantee a good harvest for the fall.

Bonfires also were associated with magic. It was believed that bonfires could help banish demons and evil spirits and lead maidens to their future husbands. Magic was thought to be strongest during the summer solstice.

Midsummer was a crucial time of year for the Vikings, who would meet to discuss legal matters and resolve disputes around the summer solstice.

Many Native American tribes took part in solstice rituals, some of which are still practiced today. The Sioux, for instance, performed a ceremonial sun dance around a tree while wearing symbolic colors.

Some scholars believe that Wyoming’s Bighorn Medicine Wheel, an arrangement of stones built several hundred years ago by Plains Indians that aligns with the summer solstice sunrise and sunset, was the site of that culture’s annual sun dance.

Source: history.com

Summer Solstice Celebrations

The Summer Solstice is celebrated at the sunrise in some parts of the world to this date.
One of the most famous spots to engage in the ceremony of welcoming the Sun on its most powerful day of the year is Stonehenge in the UK.

According to Heritage England, the stones near Amesbury in Wiltshire were set up in about 2500 BC and designed to align with the movements of the sun.

Standing in the centre of the monument at Summer Solstice, the sun rises just to the left of a large standing stone outside the stone circle, known as the Heel Stone, seen through a gap in the outer Sarsen circle.

Litha 

Litha is a pagan holiday, celebrated by modern Pagan and Wiccan groups on the Summer Solstice.

Traditions of celebrating Litha (also known as Midsummer) appear to be inspired by many cultures.

It is believed that the Celts celebrated Litha with bonfires and dancing. People would jump over or through the bonfires for good luck.

Water and fire are traditional elements used to celebrate the longest day of the year throughout many cultures.

Other European tribes used to set large wooden wheels on fire, and rolling them down a hill into a body of water. 

The Cosmic Weather Report 

Cancer season kicks off on the Summer Solstice, June 21, when the Sun enters sensitive, nurturing Cancer.

This Cancer season promises to be particularly dynamic as it starts off with a planetary stellium in the cardinal fire sign of Aries.

Celestial bodies involved in this Aries stellium include the Moon, Jupiter, Chiron, Mars, and dwarf planet Eris.

This powerhouse alignment is activating strong leadership energy.
We are being asked to step into our power and take control of our actions.

Venus ingresses into Gemini on June 22, which is excellent for socialising, going places and meeting new faces.
These light-hearted social vibes are supported by the planet of communication, Mercury, also in Gemini.

Mercury sextiles Jupiter, which prompts us to think big.
This energy is excellent for setting up new ambitious goals for the rest of the year.

However you choose to work with the energy of the Cancer Solstice, make sure to allow yourself to dream big despite any current challenges you might be facing at the moment.

It’s been a tough year so far.
We are right in the middle of it.

The good news is there are still plenty of opportunities to turn things around before this year draws to a close.

Use this powerful energy as a reset button.

Trust and believe there will be plenty to celebrate by the time we reach next Solstice in December.

Solstice blessings to you & yours!