Celebrating the Summer Solstice: light, abundance & gratitude

Celebrating the Summer Solstice (Litha)

When? 20th - 22nd June
Direction/Element: South and the element of Fire: energy, inspiration and imagination
Themes: abundance, light, vitality, nature in the fullness of summer, gratitude

Very often, for me, The Summer Solstice, know as Litha by some pagans, feels like standing in the energy of the peak of summer. We’re bathed in golden light (in between the rain, this is the UK after all) and nature reaches its fullest expression before the slow turning towards Autumn begins. 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.

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.

Celebrating Solstice: honouring the power of the sun and the turning of the year. Reflections, summer solstice journal prompts and a seasonal playlist

The Solstice marks the height of the sun’s power and the longest day of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it falls around the 21st of June, when daylight stretches to its fullest and night is at its shortest. For thousands of years, cultures around the world have celebrated the Solstice with rituals honouring the life-giving power of the sun. For our ancestors, this was not just an astronomical event but a key marker in the agricultural calendar: a time to pause and give thanks for growth and abundance, to celebrate the labour that had brought them here and to prepare for the gradual return of the dark. Even at the height of light, the turning of the Wheel reminds us that change is constant.

Many modern pagans know this festival as Litha, a name that first appeared in the 8th century writings of the Anglo-Saxon monk Bede, who used it to describe the midsummer months in the old English calendar. The term was later adopted by Wiccan and Pagan communities to describe the Solstice celebrations. I personally prefer to use Summer Solstice, as it connects directly to the celestial event; the moment when the Earth’s tilt brings us closest to the sun’s strength. The Solstice is something we can all witness and feel: the height of light, the fullness of the year’s growth, and the gentle turning that follows.

The foundations of this season and celebration

The Wheel of the Year not only honours the shifting seasons but also the four sacred directions and their elements. This festival sits in the South, the realm of Fire, with themes of personal power, courage and creativity.

Fire teaches us about power and movement, but also about discernment. It burns brightly, yet if it’s untended it can consume. As we stand in the fullness of light, we can reflect on our own inner flame. Where are we directing our energy? Are we nourishing our passions or burning ourselves out?

The Solstice invites a balance between expansion and stillness, joy and reflection, light and shadow. It’s a time to honour what we’ve cultivated so far in the year: the projects, dreams, and seeds that have blossomed through care and persistence. And it’s also a moment to pause, to recognise what sustains us, what we may need to gather and what must be released as the Wheel turns slowly towards the darker half of the year.

As I mentioned above, in Summer, with so much light, it’s easy to forget that rest is sacred too. Kim Krans’ Wild Unknown Alchemy deck captures this beautifully in her depiction of The Sun. She reminds us that the sun itself never truly rises or sets; it is the Earth that turns, tilts,and pivots. Can we notice when we need to pivot inward, to honour stillness and listen for the quieter rhythms beneath the brightness of summer.

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 breath work, 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 find out more about it 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?

• This season 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 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