All about the Summer Solstice: Rituals, Practices, and More

This Friday, June 20th is the Summer Solstice which means it’s one of our favorite times of the year! So let’s get into what the Summer Solstice is, how it may affect your energy, and ways to use that energy to your advantage! The Summer Solstice is the day with the greatest amount of sun each year. It typically falls around the 20th-22nd of June and marks the beginning of the energetic and meteorological Summer. So why should you care about it if you are interested in astrology, crystals, or self care? Because it is a moment of potent energy that can be used to create magical transformation within your life. 

Whenever we are looking at beginnings and endings that occur naturally, it’s an excellent time for us to take a beat and focus on what we are being shown by nature. The longest day of the year being the end of Spring and beginning of Summer tells us this is a season all about action and what we are able to accomplish in this season of life. This is the time where we take meaningful action towards our goals and begin checking off those big to-do lists. This is a time that you may feel more energetically awake and ready to start big projects, spend time with friends and loved ones, and fill your day with all the activities. Dream big, play, and find time to work with your own creativity to help refill and recharge yourself.

That being said, this is also a time where we can feel overly spent due to saying yes to too many obligations. The self care skills here are finding balance in the action and rest and creating boundaries around what you choose to do. Did you have a long day filled with running around for sports or errands? Consider getting a raincheck for hanging out with family or friends and plan it for a later date, or be sure to build in a rest day tomorrow. Going on a family vacation? Take some time to actually carve out time for rest. There can be a pressure to constantly push yourself farther or to go harder, but feeling empowered to set boundaries around what you want to do and when. This doesn’t mean that you should decline every invitation to hang out so you can sit by yourself and watch TV (though that is sometimes very necessary), but to pick the people and the times you want to engage with others. Summer is a social season and you’ll probably feel better if you honor that. 

So how can you connect with this energy in a ritual or ceremonial way?

• Go to or host a bonfire. The fire connects into the energy of Summer Solstice, and allows you to do rituals like a Burn and Release.

• Make yourself a meal with fresh Summer Veggies. Whether you gather things from a local Farmer’s Market or you find them at the store, creating a meal to nourish you and your loved ones is an amazing way to celebrate the bounty of fresh food that comes with the Summer.

• Create a list of things you want to do this Summer. Think of it as a Summer Bucket List full of activities, excursions, or experiences that you want to bring into your life this Summer. (Not sure what to do? Check out our Summer Self Care Side Quests for Ideas here)

• Watch the Sunrise and Sunset on the Solstice. This may be a little challenging, but opening and closing the day can be so sacred. This would be a great time to meditate, journal, or even do some light stretching or yoga.

• Create a mantra or saying for yourself to help you in supporting your goals throughout the season.

• Pick wildflowers. Create a bouquet of wildflowers to help you celebrate and honor the sun.

• Charge your crystals in the sun. You'll want to check out if any of your crystals are delicate or photosensitive, but recharging them in the Summer Solstice's Sun is a powerful way to keep that energy with you on a daily basis.

• Journal about your growth since the Winter Solstice

  • What have I cultivated since Winter Solstice?

  • What in me is ready to be celebrated?

  • What am I now willing to release as the sun begins its return?';

• Receive a Tarot or Oracle Card Reading. This could be from yourself or someone else, but now is an amazing time to look to your guides for their advice.