The Summer Solstice and Litha playlist and journal prompts

Reflections on the Summer Solstice and Litha, with journal prompts and a playlist

Hi, and thank you for stopping by. In this post I’ll be exploring the Summer Solstice and Litha. If you’re new here, my name is Laura, and I work as a ccounsellor, therapist, a nature based practitioner, as well as serving as a Pagan priestess. I meet with clients individually in Birmingham and online, and I also guide group sessions focused on nature connection For several years now, I’ve been creating and sharing playlists inspired by the Celtic Pagan Wheel of the Year. With each seasonal shift, I revisit and refresh last year’s post and playlist. It’s always fascinating to witness the patterns and cycles that reappear in my own journey. If you’d like an introduction to the Wheel of the Year, you can find one here.

Let’s explore the Summer Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, this takes place on the 21st June. This celebration marks the height of the sun’s journey across the sky. At this point the hours of daylight stretch longer than on any other day of the year and the night is at its shortest. For thousands of years, cultures across the world have marked this day as one of celebration, ritual and reverence for the life-giving power of the sun. For our ancestors, this more than an astronomical event, it would have been a vital marker in the agricultural calendar. It signalled that the hard labour of sowing and tending crops in the darker, colder months of winter and early spring had started to yield results. The solstice was a time to pause, to give thanks for abundance and to recognise the strength, perseverance and dedication that had carried them to this point. It was also a reminder that, while the light was at its peak, from here the days start to shorten. The wheel turning ever onward.

As we journey through the Solstice in current times, how can we connect with the archetypal energies of the season. It’s time to ask ourselves: what seeds have I sown in the first half of the year? What projects, intentions, or dreams are now blossoming? What can I honour, celebrate and give gratitude for in my own harvest?

The Solstice can be a time of both celebration and reflection, a chance to acknowledge the effort it has taken to arrive here and to honour the results of our labour. It is a moment to stand in the fullness of light, knowing that the cycles of growth and change will continue to guide us forward.

As we connect with the Summer Solstice, what have you brought into fruition so far this year? What have you been working towards? What is to be celebrated?

While the Solstice is can be a beautiful celebration of midsummer it also holds the quiet reminder of change. From this point onwards, the wheel begins to turn us towards the darker half of the year. The days shorten, long golden evenings begin to recede and the first whispers of autumn are getting ready to emerge. It is a threshold moment. Just as our ancestors might have prepared their stores and thought about what resources they would need to make it through the winter, we can also reflect on what sustains us and what we need to gather for the months ahead.

In previous years I’ve reflected that this is one of my favourite points of the year. I love the light and early sun rises that make the day feel like it has endless possibility. That is still true; I love the joy, expansiveness and freedom that this season brings. I’ve also come to recognise that abundance can sometimes tip into excess. The endless availability of light can tempt me to keep pushing outward, filling my days with more activity and more doing, while ignoring my body’s call to rest, to slow down and to turn inward.

Kim Krans’ Wild Unknown Alchemy deck captures this beautifully in its depiction of the Sun. The card reminds us that the sun never really sets or rises, it’s a constant. It is the Earth that tilts, pivots, and turns. I am trying to be more aware of when I might need to pivot away from the sun, to listen to myself and to go inwards. How can I honour the need for stillness and introspection at the peak of summer? As with all things, Solstice is all about finding the balance that we need internally and the balance between ourselves and external factors.

The Solstice is not only a celebration of fullness but a teaching in balance. It reminds us that life is a dance between expansion and contraction, light and shadow, activity and rest. It asks us to notice where we might be overextending. To celebrate the Solstice is to embrace both: to honour the joy of long days, and also to acknowledge the necessity of retreat.

A breath work playlist focussing on themes of life, the power of the sun and growth!

This hour-long (or so) playlist has been created as a way to explore to the Solstice themes of vitality, the power of the sun and the energy of growth. It offers a container for you to drop into your own practice, whether that’s through focused breathwork, reflective journaling or movement that allows the body to express and release. If you’re curious about breathwork and new to the practice, you can explore some introductory techniques here, along with a shorter beginner-friendly playlist to help you ease in gently. As with any new practice that works directly with the body and breath, it’s always best to check with your doctor before starting, particularly if you’re exploring breath work for the first time.

Breath work, also known as pranayama, originates from ancient traditions in yoga and Hinduism. In the yogic philosopy the breath is a vital life force. Pranayama encompasses a range of breathing techniques that are believed to enhance the flow of prana, the subtle energy that permeates all living beings.

If you’re using this playlist to journal, here are some prompts that you might like to reflect on for the Solstice.

• How does the energy of this time of year resonate with you personally?

• In what areas of your life have you experienced growth and abundance recently? How can you nurture and celebrate these aspects?

• The summer solstice is traditionally seen as a time of celebration and joy. Reflect on the things that bring you joy and ignite your passion.

• Reflect on the concept of light and its significance during the summer solstice. How can you bring more light into your own life and the lives of others?
  In what ways do you dim your light or hide your true self?

• Take a moment to express gratitude for the abundance and blessings in your life. Write a gratitude list specifically focused on the joys and blessings of the summer season.

Solstice Blessings.

Laura x