SDEpisode24- Summer Solstice & Meditation

In this episode, we dive into the magic, meaning, and history of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and a powerful turning point in nature's cycle. Join us as we explore ancient traditions, ancestral celebrations, and the spiritual significance of this sacred seasonal shift.

We'll talk about honoring the light, celebrating abundance, reflecting on personal growth, and embracing the energy of the sun as we move into a new season. From ancient rituals to modern practices, this conversation invites you to slow down, connect with the rhythms of the Earth, and celebrate the light both around you and within you.

Whether you celebrate the Solstice spiritually, seasonally, or are simply curious about its rich history, this episode offers inspiration, reflection, and a reminder that we are deeply connected to the cycles of nature.

 Take a moment to pause, soak up the sunshine, and join us as we honor the sacred energy of the Summer Solstice.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:03

Hello and welcome back, fellow yogis, to the Soul Deep Yoga and Healing podcast. I'm your host, Kimmy, and next to me I have my co-host, Brittany. This week has just been so amazing. Dude, yes. We have so much to share.

SPEAKER_01 0:18

Um I know. And we're still like fired. We're still on the high. We're still on the high. We're still fired up. By the way, happy summer solstice.

SPEAKER_03 0:28

That will be the theme of our podcast today. We're gonna be talking all about that and the history behind it and what we did to celebrate and all the good intentions that go behind it.

SPEAKER_01 0:39

Um it's actually been a good week, so yeah, it's been great.

SPEAKER_03 0:43

Before we dive into all the summer solstice stuff, um, we have some responses and some feedback. I have some magic moments that I'd love to share. Yeah, well, actually, just go ahead and tell me about your week, Kimmy. Well, it's just been a good week. Um, we've been prepping for summer solstice, obviously. Um you did your summer puddin. I sure did. I made my summer pudding and it was so good. Didn't have any leftovers because Matt hooked us up, took a little bit that was left. I was like, please dive in. Um, but yeah, it was really, really good. Um, classes were great and the weather was good um until yeah, until yesterday.

SPEAKER_01 1:25

But we'll we'll talk about summer solstice alone in just a second because there's so much to talk about there because yeah, just not just just like our personal experiences, but like also like the other side of it too.

SPEAKER_03 1:37

So yeah, that was yeah, it's been yeah, great week. So uh for my government job, like my nine to five that I do, um, I do teach little take ten yoga classes um for them. And a lot of the times, I I don't really have time to like prep for those really, like while I'm working, so I'll just reuse some of the stuff that I'm already doing at the studio because none of those people have been to the studio, so you know they're not they don't know what I have or have not taught recently, but um I felt really inspired for I was subbing a mindfulness class and I did um our meditation about the ripple effect, and I led them through that and I I know that like the typical mindfulness teacher that's there has a very different style than I do. Um, and so I was like kind of I don't know, I was curious to see if like anybody, you know, would like like it or like what they thought. Um and like no one said anything to me in like the group chat, and so I was like, okay, you know, like have a good day, everybody, you know. Um, but then on the side, I had someone message me, and I thought this is so sweet. So I took a I took a screenshot and I want to share it.

unknown 2:43

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 2:43

She said, I just finished the mindfulness that you led. I needed it so much. I did not know it is what I needed, but I did. Thank heavens I work from home because I have tears streaming down my face. Thank you for filling in today, and thank you for giving me what I needed. I really appreciate you.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

Stop.

SPEAKER_03 3:00

It made me want to cry. It was so sweet.

SPEAKER_01 3:01

I was like, thank you. Yes. Like somebody you don't know.

SPEAKER_03 3:06

Literally have no idea who she is. I'll probably never see her ever. But I'm so glad that I had that moment to just share with her, and I'm glad that it was something that she, you know, needed to be to hear exactly. So that was pretty cool. Um, I also Thursday morning had a student after class um stay back, and she was just talking about because she started coming to the studio maybe six months to about a year ago in that time frame, and uh she told me how things have just opened up since starting to come to the studio. Like the things that she has been wanting for her life this whole time is like finally happening, like the community that she wanted. She's like, I've met so many wonderful people here, like the community, the love that I'm experiencing, the experiences I'm getting to have. Like she was just talking about. She's like, I really she's like, I've been reflecting, and I think it's it really all started when I started coming to the studio, and it's like all these experiences are starting to happen for me since like knowing you guys and like coming here and practicing. And so that was just really also just heartwarming. Made me feel really good.

SPEAKER_01 4:13

So it makes you feel like you're doing like like the whole purpose of why we opened, right? Exactly. But it's just so reaffirming. I'm like it is reaffirming because like our regular students, there's they're open to it, like they're on the journey with us because they've earned it. Most of them are OGs. We are getting new students, but like we still have some OGs. Shout out, Jamie. I know, Steph Swanson. Yeah, um, but like, yeah, no. I totally that is very. I'm glad that you got to have that experience because it is hard when you don't hear anything for so long, and then like finally you get a compliment.

SPEAKER_03 4:57

Yeah, because you know, sometimes, especially as yoga teachers, and if you're a yoga teacher listening to this, you can relate, but sometimes you're wondering, like, Am I even doing a good job? Yeah, like am I doing a good job? Like, I hope people like didn't think that was dumb, or you know, like, you know, like self-doubt is a thing in everybody. Like, we're not perfect. Like, I get self-doubt all the time. So it's just always very nice when we get that reassurance. Speaking of, you got some reassurance.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

I did get some reassurance, yeah. So we um had a student reach out, he's getting ready to move. His last day in Preston is on Wednesday, and um he asked me to do a clean, like a move out clean on his apartment. So I was like, yeah, absolutely. And so um I heped out a letter, he donated some money to the studio, and he bought us, he's done this quite a few times actually, with different various things. He bought us a uh orange-yellow, it almost looks like honey onics, actually, sphere, and it's just like round like the world. Crystal sphere. Yeah, crystal sphere, and it's very beautiful. And I'm gonna read this letter because um it it just will explain everything. So, dear Britney and Kimmy, as I prepare to leave Preston, I found myself thinking about the people who made this place feel like home. Your names are at the very top of that list. When I arrived here two years ago, I was the new guy in town and completely unaware of the fallout that I was about to experience. I didn't know many people, and like anyone starting over somewhere unfamiliar, I was trying to find my place. What I will never forget is how quickly the two of you reached out and invited me in. You didn't have to, but from the very beginning you made me feel welcome. You created a space where I wasn't just another person walking through the door. I felt seen, included, encouraged, and valued. That gift is far rarer than most people realize. Over the last two years, your friendship, kindness, and support have meant more to me than I can properly put into words. There were days when your smiles, your encouragement, and simply being around the positive energy of the studio made a difficult week feel lighter. You may never know fully how much that mattered. This orb is a small token of my appreciation. Yellow has always reminded me of warmth, light, hope, and joy. It seemed fitting because when I think about my time in Preston, the two of you stand out as one of the brightest parts of it. When I look back years from now, I probably won't remember every errand I ran, every meeting I attended, or every routine day that passed by. What I will remember are the people who made an impact on my life, the people who opened their doors and made a stranger feel like he belonged. I'll remember you. Leaving Preston is bittersweet. I'm excited for what's ahead, but there's genuine sadness in saying goodbye to people who have become so important to me. The hardest part of moving is in a place, it's leaving the people who helped shape your experience there. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for your kindness, thank you for creating a community that welcomes people exactly as they are. And thank you for being such a bright spot in my life during a chapter I'll always cherish. Though miles may separate us, please know you'll carry a permanent and in Oh boy. Permanent what's that word? And deniable place in my heart, and I'll be rooting for both you and the soul deep yoga from wherever life takes me next. I'll be listening to the pod. Thank you so much for those words. Um yeah, I ended up leaving steel wool at his house when I was cleaning, and I forgot to go pick it up. So I should probably text him. Sorry, dude.

SPEAKER_03 9:00

Um, yeah, so we have the best students. I am just like so grateful, so feel so loved, and just so so happy that we have this community, and this is just the perfect segue into kind of our theme for the day. Um, I feel an abundance of gratitude today. I feel an abundance of love, and that's kind of what the summer solstice is about.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

Happiness. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 9:28

So I would still smile for like the last 12 hours. Guys, we're cheesing so hard over here. Uh, we've just had the best time.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

Um, I'm giggling. Did you hear me?

SPEAKER_03 9:39

Because I'm like thinking of Yes, I did hear you.

SPEAKER_01 9:43

Uh it was a great, great experience. Okay, well, do we just want to like go right into summer solstice? Yeah, let's talk about it. Let's talk about it. Let's talk about what we did, how we did it, how we set up, what food, what stood out. Yes. Okay. So we actually got an early, we set it up early because we were determined that Kimmy was gonna attend a wedding on Saturday.

SPEAKER_03 10:12

I normally dedicate my entire Saturday to just setting up for whatever event that we're doing. But yeah, I had a wedding that I wanted to go to, and so we wanted to make sure that we set up early, and we did. We did it. It was great. Everything was set up at like three o'clock. We're just sitting, chilling, hanging out. Yep. And the property that we're we hosted at, there's no service up there. And so at like 12 o'clock, I checked the weather app and there was a 15% chance of rain at like seven o'clock.

SPEAKER_01 10:38

Before I came when before I went up.

SPEAKER_03 10:40

I was like, okay, 15% chance at 7 o'clock. Like, we got it. Like, that's totally doable, you know? I know. And then like 4 30, 5 o'clock hit, and it was downpour rain, hail, thunder, lightning, like everything.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

It was like, and the hail was like big pebbles, like for your like putting in like style.

SPEAKER_03 11:02

Some of them were small, some of them were like a nickel or a quarter.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Yeah. They were big. Um, one of our other yoga students, she posted a picture on social media, and it was like the size of a baseball.

SPEAKER_03 11:13

That is so.

SPEAKER_01 11:14

And I was like, oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_03 11:15

Yeah, so we had a good uh summer solstice shower to start us off. So it was kind of like a chaotic moment for a second. Yeah, we had a good summer cleanse. I was I was clean.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

We were fine.

SPEAKER_03 11:28

But all of our stuff also got cleansed. So we were like running, putting putting the bolsters in the shed, the yoga mats were soaked, everything just got cleaned. And so we had this moment where this was like T minus one hour to the event, and it's just downpouring. We're like, well, we can cancel, we can try and move everything down to the studio where we But we determined there was no time for that. There's no time or room for that many people because we had 20 people there. And um, yeah, so we just decided we're like, you know what, we're just gonna, we're gonna weather it out, we're gonna do it. And then luckily it really it stopped raining at like 5:30. So we had like half an hour to put everything back out, wipe off the tables, change some of the tablecloth, all the things. Um, but yeah, and it ended up being great. And the coolest part about it all, because like I figured I was like, all these locals that are just weathered this exact same storm are not gonna come, you know? Right, yeah. Every single person showed up, and everyone was fine with the rain.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Yeah, and it was great. They showed up in appropriate clothes and brought things to accommodate, but it didn't rain much. Well, it kind of rained during the flow, but it was spring, it was right at the end of the craft a little bit. Oh, yeah. Okay, it kind of drizzled there for a second, but like by the time we sat down and did our drum circle, it was perfect. It was perfect weather. Yeah. Uh Farmer John got the fire going.

SPEAKER_03 12:54

Yes. Shout out to Farmer John because we, yeah, all of our wood that we had prepped got soaked, and he had some dry firewood in his car. And I'm like, what are the chances that you have dry firewood in your car right now? Like, thank you for being here. Thank you for your presence. Thanks for being prepared.

SPEAKER_01 13:11

So great. You know, like thank you. Dude, Farmer John is the best. He is the best. Um, yeah, so that's how it started.

SPEAKER_03 13:21

That's how it started, and then it chilled out, and we we started off with our yoga flow. We did a full hour of of a yoga practice and we ended with lion's breath. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:33

Wait, we should have done that today in yoga.

SPEAKER_03 13:35

That's okay. That's fine. We'll do it next time. But yeah, we practiced some lion's breath, which was super fun and empowering, and got all the giggles out, and then from there we go. That was way fun. Yeah, then we went straight into our craft, which you prepped the craft, Bret.

SPEAKER_01 13:51

So well, I prepped everything while you were at that wedding because that's all that was left, and then and then it right. Yeah. And then we had to pull everything.

SPEAKER_03 14:00

But the the craft that we did was uh we did some pressed flower jars.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

Yeah, we took a matte modge, painted our mason jars, and put the flowers on it, and then painted over it once it's set for a minute.

SPEAKER_03 14:13

And then we put a little tea light in there, and they're these cute little flower lanterns. They're adorable.

SPEAKER_01 14:18

They're cute, they actually turned out way cute. I almost want to make some for my house and hang them like on my front porch because of how cute they were. Do it. And I really like the um knot that you did. So like you essentially created like a sling knot. Like a yeah, yeah, and so they could carry it as like an actual lantern.

SPEAKER_03 14:37

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 14:39

Cute and functional. Yeah. After craft, we did dinner and dinner dinner was chef's kiss, dude. Yeah, chef's kiss to you, because you did a lot of the dinner. Well, you made your summer pudding.

SPEAKER_03 14:54

Yeah, I made the summer pudding and I did the uh chicken salad sandwiches, which were pretty good. Yes, everybody. I like them.

SPEAKER_01 15:03

Give me a recipe.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

I'm biased, but I like it. Um, and then you made your mocktails.

SPEAKER_01 15:09

Oh, I did do those were a smash that I already had, so like almost all three of those. I had a gallon and a half up there. And boom, gone.

SPEAKER_03 15:18

Like there was just like a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of black raspberry lemonade with mint.

SPEAKER_01 15:25

Mint and um seltter water or soda water, whatever you want to call it. Um we also so we had your chicken salad sandwiches. We did pulled pork. Oh my gosh. I had the pulled pork. And then I took some of my I made like a green apple slaw, which I wish I would have made more, but I didn't realize. Like one of our students was like, that was really, really good. And she just ate it off to the side. She didn't even add it to any salad. And I was like, oh. I was like, I just thought it tasted really good on the pulled pork sandwich. So um we did we did a coleslaw for the uh for the pulled pork, and then me and my husband made um pico de gallo, and then we made a strawberry summer turmeric salad. I had to say that like slow because it was a lot. And then, oh yeah, and then um we made a chickpea avocado green goddess salad, and all of it was vegan.

SPEAKER_03 16:34

Yep, yeah, because we have a couple of vegan students that come and we always like the meal is very our favorite part of the events that we do, so we always accommodate to whatever food needs are around. So we also did your barbecued fried tofu. Oh, yeah, thank you. That was our first food line. And that was our first time doing tofu at an event. So that was cool. First time ever. Yeah. Me and my husband were standing over the griddle, and I was like, I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 17:00

I don't know what are we doing here. Like you always done.

SPEAKER_01 17:03

Yes, that's that's exactly what happened.

SPEAKER_03 17:06

We were like, how do like what do we I've totally had that that exact experience, my first time cooking tofu? Because I was like, How do you know it's done? And it's like it's you know, you just get it warm. Like you learn, you know. But the first time you're like, wait, I'm so confused. Did you try some of it? I didn't, no, but I should have. Um Jamie said it was great. Well, it got eaten up. There was like over. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:27

Because like, I guess we only had a couple of vegans. Well, one's a vegan, one was a vegetarian. But um, yeah, like I just it sometimes it just surprises me, you know, like oh, more people eat tofu. Okay, like if that's the case, I'll make more next time. Yes, absolutely. Um we made the sauce um from scratch for that sauce um for that tofu because like I was we were, you know, we wanted to make sure that it was legit vegan. Yeah. So because I know if sometimes like if Jamie even eats like um like a vegan food, but it has like a like palm oil or staff seed oil, like it irritates her gut so bad. Yeah. And so yeah, we don't do seed oils. We like to be mindful of what we do. We do avocado or olive oil, depending on like what we're doing.

SPEAKER_03 18:20

So um I think that's one of my favorite parts of the event is because it's like the nourishing food and just eating food outside and community. I don't know, it's just fun.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

And I just think this last time we nailed it on like really catering to like there was hardly the only dairy I think we had there was the whip topping and your cheese. Well, my chicken salad is very good. Okay, and I did have mayo, but like whatever, you know. But that but yeah, but like other than that, yeah. Um, and I uh uh yeah, actually my I don't think my mayo is medium, but it's like it's that um olive oil on it's no I get it from Costco, it's from perennial kitchen it's got a green lid, but it's super good. You gotta add salt though. But I'm like super um proud of this in the food department lately. Me too. You know that I'm very intentional. I try to be very intentional with my ingredients. I kind of mentioned earlier that I really want to kick the soda habit. That's the only bad thing that you eat is your soda.

SPEAKER_03 19:32

Like, that's the only unhealthy thing I've ever seen you digest. Except for this morning at tattles. Also, we went to breakfast this morning. Brittany orders the French toast platter and a waffle. Ate it all, ate the whole thing. I was like, Your dad was so funny. He's like, I'm gonna be really impressed if you eat that all. And she's like, Oh bet.

SPEAKER_01 19:55

So good. Oh yeah. Oh, but they make oh, that was a good breakfast. Thanks, Tattles.

SPEAKER_03 20:02

But yeah, at the at the end of our dinner, we ended with our drum circle led by Karine and Katie. And that was so good.

SPEAKER_01 20:11

Highly recommend this ties. She did bring the guitar. I think next time um I'm gonna make Matt bring his and you should bring yours. Or we should just all bring guitars. I just, yeah, like even Matt was like, he was like bringing the guitar. Loved it. And I was like, wasn't that so cool? And the oh my gosh, I am obsessed with the song. I have a little bit of a recording of her at the beginning, but you have to be in a quiet area to listen to it because like you could hear a little bit of the rain, you could hear the river flowing in the background, and the birds and the drumming. So she started us off and then we had to come up with like our own lyrics.

SPEAKER_03 20:55

Yeah, so she had this cute little song, and it would, it would, it was so I just love her and her thought process that went into it because like talking, we're there to celebrate the summer solstice, and she's like, This is the time to invite in the things that you know you want to bring into fruition. And so she would go around and ask what people wanted to bring in. So it was like like love and light was one of them, and it was just like I embraced love and light, um personal growth, personal growth, yeah. I did personal growth, and then like everyone would sing in and we'd also I embrace the personal growth. Oh, it was so cute, yeah. It was tender, it made me want to cry.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

It was great, and then we got really into it. We we got really into it, yeah, and then it changed beats, and then her and Corinne, Corinne, sorry Corinne, sorry, Corinne. Um, they they got up and they were like beating the drum, and we were beating with them, and she was like, Okay, now nothing is more empowering than someone else leading the circle. So who wants to lead? I mean, can we just look at it? Other we talk with our eyes and we get up with our instruments. I had the frog.

SPEAKER_03 22:05

Yeah, the frog, yeah. And then we rapped. Well, you started the rap. We're all beaten, and Brittany just starts freestyling. I'm like, just like your turn came in. I'm like, okay. So I your verse was better than mine. I wasn't it. But yeah, it was so fun. And then my favorite part, we like switched, like who was leading a couple times. My dad came to the summer solstice and he volunteered. Him and Farmer John volunteered to go up there, and they were having a we got a video of it. They are so cute. It was my I think it was my favorite part of the event. I loved seeing my dad up there doing that.

SPEAKER_01 22:41

Yeah. It was so fun. Yep. And Cody got a video of it, so we are definitely gonna be posting that to social media. So keep look, guys. Like, look at on our like social media. Look how cute it is. Yeah, because it is like it really truly was like empowering, like empowerful. I was up there and I could just feel the fire just getting loud inside, and I was like, the energy I want to be free. Like, I'm still like my fire is still like at 100 right now, and I'm trying really hard to bring her on down. Sometimes she's hard. Like once you, but I mean, it is the brightest day of the year, yeah. Or the longest day. Yep. Alright, yeah. Um, but yeah, that was at like I also have to mention your dad. Every time I looked at him, dude, he just smiled the whole entire time. He just like would look at you and smile, and I'm like, oh I'm like, this is this is cute.

SPEAKER_03 23:47

He's so tender. That was the first event that he's come to. He's taken like one or two of my yoga classes before, but this is the first event, and I think he was He was so proud of you, and you could just see it all over his eyes, all over his face.

SPEAKER_01 23:59

Like, he oh 100%. And your sisters did the same thing. Like when he got up into the circle, like all of you just you're just like, oh my god. Oh yeah, well, thank you. Yeah, Kimisha is cool. He is, he's the sweetest little person. And he's speaking Japanese this morning.

SPEAKER_03 24:18

Yeah, dude, he's so cool. He is cool. What a guy.

SPEAKER_01 24:22

He's so sweet.

SPEAKER_03 24:24

And then lastly, to end the night after the drum circle, we just ended the night with a burning ritual. So we had people write what they wanted to let go of, like whether that's you know, self-limiting belief, self-doubt, if it's old stories or labels that you put on yourself. We had them throw it in the fire, let it burn, and then I also invited people at the end. I said, if there's anything you'd like to welcome in and welcome or invite into the community, um, and we burned those as well. So, like love, light, peace, all the things, and we burned that and we ended the night. It was beautiful, it was great. It was a little wet, but other than that, like it really was it was great, you know. With with what weather we had, I think we made we made do. We made do.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

I felt though that this summer solstice was way, and I don't maybe it was the weather that had a role in it, but like I felt it like it was way different from the ones that we've done in the past. Like, I don't know if it was the weather, the group, the vibes. Like, I I don't know. Like, I can't put my finger on it, but I just told Matt a couple of times. I was like, there's just something different about this one. Also, we might be investing in an event tent. We've learned some lessons.

SPEAKER_03 25:35

Yeah, lesson learned. We'll probably be getting like a full long event tent with the walls and stuff, just in case we ever have a another rainy solstice day. Because we still want to celebrate. Yeah. Live and learn, you guys.

SPEAKER_01 25:49

We can adapt, we can accommodate to the weather.

unknown 25:53

All right.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

What a great summer solstice with you, Kimmy. It was great. Another one, another one down for the books. Was that our third or fourth? That might have been our fourth. I think it was our fourth. I think it was our fourth. Yeah. Wow. That's exciting. And I've known you like almost two years since before all of that.

SPEAKER_03 26:12

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 26:13

So cool. Dude, wild. Time goes by fast.

SPEAKER_03 26:18

Yes, it sure does.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

All right, let's talk about it.

SPEAKER_03 26:22

Let's talk about why we celebrated it from the get-go. Um, so with the solstice, well, really, our ancestors have been celebrating this for hundreds of thousands of years. It's only been like the last couple hundred years that we've really kind of like fallen away from it. And I um, you know, in cultures today, like the pagans will celebrate the summer solstice. It's also so traditionally, summer solstice is always on June 20th or 21st. Today uh this year it's the 21st for our hemisphere.

SPEAKER_01 26:51

And Father's Day.

SPEAKER_03 26:52

And it's on Father's Day, which is yeah, yeah, cool. Um, but um the summer solstice is known as a couple of things you'll in pagan traditions you'll hear it called litha or midsummer as well. And like you'll hear of like the midsummer festivals and all things. That's all just another way to celebrate the summer solstice. Um, the themes associated with this season is gonna be the fertility and the abundance, like we've been talking about. Um, I like to think of like the cycles of nature that we're in and like the I always relate it to like the agricultural aspect of like what the farmers are doing because the farmers are the only ones really nowadays that are like modernly like living with you know nature cycles. So I'm like, what are the farmers doing right now? Right now, the farmers are cutting their first crop, like they're finally like they're reaping that benefit, that reward of the work that they put in in the spring. And so it's just like this is the time of celebration. It's like, oh finally, we got we we're getting all this abundance and we're finally getting getting all the things um to come together. Um, it's also a time to um gather in community. Um, it's the time to like share that light. So it really is just a celebration of light, um, where it is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. And from here on forward, we're just gonna start to lose a little bit of light every day until we come back to balance with the fall equinox. So we're still in that like high energy time of the year, but just from here on out, it's okay to start to slow down. Like it's okay to start to prioritizing rest from here on out, um, bringing back in that balance in the fall.

SPEAKER_01 28:34

That's why we go camping, right?

SPEAKER_03 28:36

Exactly. Um, so um another symbol that's like typically associated with the summer solstice is gonna be like a bonfire. Of course, it's like that flame, that return of light, anything symbolizing a flame. Um, but usually people will celebrate lighting a bonfire, doing something of that sort. That's also why we did like a burning ritual last night at our event. Um, but usually, like historically, people would just gather, dance, sing, and they'd share food around the fires, just come together in community to celebrate. Um, and they would mark that so that they can know what to do, like what plants to crop coming, coming up into the fall and all the things. So community has always been a part of these celebrations. Um, they people usually didn't just celebrate alone, like they wanted to gather in community and to share what they had with the people that matter, because we're living in that abundant light, you know, that abundant crop, and we need to share that with with the people. So sharing the light. Um, you have some interesting facts and history. Yeah, let's share some of those. Like I said, this has been practiced for thousands and thousands of years.

SPEAKER_01 29:49

Like, thousands of years. Okay, so a couple of fun facts. Ancient monuments were built to honor the solstice, so the stone hedge is one of them. Um, it's the most famous one, and the stones are precisely aligned, so the sun rises directly over the heel stone on the summer solstice.

SPEAKER_03 30:12

And hundreds of people gather for that every year. Yes. To see the sun perfectly aligned, and that's how people would track, that's how they would know back in the day. That's how they would track time.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

Yeah, so and they use it to like celebrate the sun and the seasonal change. Okay. Um, so Europeans, you just touched up on this, would celebrate with giant bombfires. Um, so ancient Europe, especially among Celtic and German peoples, um, would host huge fires lit on hilltops. And the people believed that these fires fun, strengthen the sun, protect crops from storms, um, drove away evil spirits, increased fertility for both land and people. I love that. Yeah. And some communities even drove cattle between two fires for blessings and protection. That's very cool. The Celts, the Celtics, they would celebrate a festival known as Lithia, which is another way to say summer solstice. Um, modern pagans and many contemporary spiritual traditions celebrated the summer solstice as lithia. Although historians debate exactly how ancient Celtic people observed it, midsummer was considered a sacred time when the veil between worlds was believed to be thin. So there's this belief within our equinoxes and solstice that the veil is thin. Um, nature, spirits, and fairies were especially active. So if you're a believer in that fantasy world, um, there's that herbs gathered on this day were thought to possess extra healing power. So they would go pick on the summer solstice. Um, I have to come back to the veil part because sometimes I feel like that's real. Um, so like with Oliver, I know I've kind of like mentioned this before, but every time we get ready for like a new event, whether it be solstice or an equinox, he progressively gets his sleep gets worse, and it's the worst the week of the solstices. The solstice or the equinoxes, and so sometimes I feel like the veil must be truly thinning, like something is obviously disturbing. Like, I know it's common within most autistic people, but like there's got more of a reason than medically, too, as yeah. Um Egyptians connected the solstice with the flooding of the Nile, so um, the ancient people of Egypt, the summer solstice closely coincided with the annual rising of the star Sirius. The appearance of Sirius signaled the life-giving flooding of the Nile River, which made agriculture possible. And I could be botching that star name, so sorry if I offend anybody, not intended. Indigenous people of the North America actually still honor the solstice as a solstice. Um, many indigenous indigenous indigenous nations have long recognized the solstice as a sacred turning point tied to agricultural ceremony and community. The big horn medicine wheel built by indigenous people centuries ago aligns with astronomical events, including the summer solstice. And across Europe, people believe that on midsummer's eve, which I think is fun, because yeah, um, dreams were uh profit profited. Wells and springs held healing powers, plants collected at dawn were especially potent, and spirits, ancestors, and fairies roamed freely. And many of these beliefs later inspired the story in folklore, including a midsummer's night dream. Cute. Yeah. I thought those were fun. That is cool.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

No, there's a lot of history that goes into it, and you know, especially like when I think about Stonehenge, like those ancient monuments, they remind us that people once lived a lot closer to the cycles and to the rhythms of Earth than we do now. And I I think when people like show up for these events, it's like maybe that's why people like us are like longing for it, you know, like we lost touch with that, but that's what our ancestors and that's what all of the people before us used for survival, and we've just totally let that go.

SPEAKER_01 35:03

And so it's like a forgotten art.

SPEAKER_03 35:06

Yeah, I think a lot, I think there's a lot of people that are longing to reconnect with that that's that cycle of nature um today. So I'm glad that we celebrate these. I feel so more connected to everything in my life when we actually like live um within this wheel of the year, you know, within the cycles of the wheel.

SPEAKER_01 35:25

So it always encourages me to learn more about my ancestors, like what were they like? Where did they come from?

SPEAKER_03 35:33

Yeah, and that's where when you were talking about the veil being thin, I'm like, I feel so connected to my ancestors, like when we celebrate, when we do those events, like there's just something, I don't know, so empowering about it. Yeah. And it's probably just because it's the heightened energy of the solstice, you know. But anywho, um, talking about the themes again for summer solstice, uh, we we've talked about abundance and connection, but I want to talk about that a little bit more. When we talk about abundance, um, a lot of the time you just think about like financial prosperity, you know, like financial abundance. I'm wealthy, I'm all the things. But um when we think about abundance and like how this has been a theme for all of our ancestors, and what was abundance to our ancestors back in the day? It probably wasn't money, it was probably like an abundance of healthy crops, an abundance of flour in my pantry, yeah, an abundance of family around, an abundance of community, of shared meals, of just belonging or safety, you know, like that's that's what they had an abundance of, you know, that's what they felt grateful for. Um, and so that's that's what I like to think of as well. And especially, I mean, we've been talking, we're on a high. I'm like, I have such an abundance of community and love right now. It's it's kind of crazy. Um, but also talking about connection, um, the solstice invites us to remember that we belong to something larger. Um, our light is not a light that's meant to be dimmed, it's a light that's meant to be shared. And through community, we can really make like a big difference um with each other. I think our light is meant to be shared with each other, and community is a little bit of medicine at the same time. So, so yeah, this is just your sign to think about what abundance you have in your life, um, what you're grateful for, to celebrate all of the wins, the successes, the amazing things that have happened to you this year. Um, and then just be mindful going forward. We are gonna start to lose a little bit of light. We're gonna get back to that season of balance. So, especially if you feel like overwhelmed right now and you're like, oh my god, can life just slow down? It will in a few months. Fall equinox, we'll get back to that point of balance. Um, and then it's the season of rest from there. So, but this is the summer solstice, it's also a reminder. It's like this is the point of light, but like the wheel of the year is a wheel for a reason. Our lives are not linear. There's going to be good days, and there's going to be darker days ahead as well. So, this is the time to celebrate, to love, to connect, but also know that if there's darker days ahead, that's okay because there's gonna be lighter days, there's gonna be that light coming back around. So cute. All right, so we have our poll of the day. We do, and then we'll go into our little meditation for y'all.

SPEAKER_01 38:37

So we pulled the honey card, sweetness and joy, which I've been feeling a lot of joy. I've been feeling so much, so much joy. Okay, honey, sweetness, joy. I invite sweetness and happiness into my life. The message like bees are drawn to flowers, let yourself be drawn to moments of delight and gratitude in your day. Honey, the golden nectar of life reminds you to embrace all that sweetness that surrounds you. You may be getting caught up in negativity and the things that are going wrong, but the honey card is here to remind you to find the gold. Joy Joy is your birthright. Allow the sweetness of life to flow through you and share it generously with others. The honey card says you have the power and the magic to invite sweetness and joy into your day through the way you interact with and react to others. At the start of your day, stir a teaspoon of honey into your coffee or tea with the intention of inviting kindness into your day. Your prompt. How can you embrace the energy of honey in your reactions to frustrating situations and people? What are some ways you can invite kindness into your day? So cute. So cute. I love that card. You've been inviting in joy all week. All week. All week. That's great.

SPEAKER_03 40:02

All right. And then you have our note card activity. Do you want to go through that first?

SPEAKER_01 40:06

So yes, so take a moment. You can pause here to grab anything that you need. Um, for today's note card, we're gonna ask ourselves ourselves three questions here. The first one is what light am I celebrating in my life today? What light am I celebrating in my life today? The second question I want you to ask yourself is where am I experiencing abundance? Where am I experiencing abundance? And the last one is, how can I share my gifts, love, and presence with my community? How can I share more of my gifts, love, and presence with my community? Those are great questions.

SPEAKER_03 41:01

Those are take those away as action items, especially that last question. If you have something that you can share with your community, feel free to do it. This is the time to share your light. Absolutely. And to share it with the people that you care about.

SPEAKER_01 41:13

So um, before we move into our sound bath and not our sound bath or sound bath meditation, um, next week we are actually not going to have a recorded episode, but when we come back the following week, we're gonna have a pretty good epic one.

SPEAKER_03 41:31

All right, everybody, we're gonna go ahead and get started on our meditation practice for our episode today. Um, so if you're in the space to lie down and close your eyes, I highly recommend that you do so. Um, otherwise, you can just soften your gaze and listen to the sound of my voice, turn off your phone, uh, or at least silence your notifications so that you don't have any distractions. And when you're ready, we'll go ahead and get settled. Before we get started on that meditation, we're just gonna talk about how summer invites us outward. It calls us into community, into laughter, into shared meals and meaningful conversations. It reminds us that we were never meant to walk this journey alone. And just as nature flourishes in relationship with the sun, rain, earth, and sky, we too thrive through connection and belonging.

SPEAKER_02 42:28

Go ahead and take a deep breath in. In a long exhale out. Again, inhale. Exhale.

SPEAKER_03 42:49

Make your next inhale the deepest and longest breath you've taken all day. Filling your lungs completely full. When you're ready, go ahead and sigh it all out.

SPEAKER_02 43:03

Allow your breath to return to a natural rhythm. Start to feel the support of the ground beneath you.

SPEAKER_03 43:19

And without changing your breath, start to bring your awareness to it. Notice the rhythm of your breath. Like a steady rhythm of the season.

SPEAKER_02 44:00

The warm glow of the summer sun. Its light touches your skin.

SPEAKER_03 44:08

A light that asks nothing of you. A light that shines simply because that is its nature.

SPEAKER_02 44:19

And just as the sun shines, so do you. Let this warmth travel through your body. Filling any dark spaces with that pure loving light. Now I want you to bring to mind someone or something that you're grateful for. It could be a person, a memory, a place, or a simple joy you got to experience. Allow gratitude to fill your heart. Now imagine that all around you are the people who have touched your life. The ones who have encouraged you, the ones who have loved you, taught you, and walked beside you. See how your lives are woven together. Notice that no light shines alone, but rather we illuminate one another.

SPEAKER_03 45:58

And take a moment to recognize that you too have been a source of warmth and hope. Someone has smiled because of you. Someone may have felt seen because of you. Someone's burden may have been made lighter because of your presence.

SPEAKER_02 46:16

And whether you know it or not, your life creates ripples.

SPEAKER_03 46:23

And in this great web of connection, each act of kindness, each word of encouragement, each expression of love becomes part of something much larger than ourselves.

SPEAKER_02 46:42

Feel yourself surrounded by abundance. Abundance of love, of beauty, of hope, of joy to be shared. Not for the abundance that you want to have, but for the abundance that you have here now.

SPEAKER_03 47:19

As the sun reaches its peak on the sacred day, may it remind you that life is meant to be celebrated. May you trust in the seasons of your own life. May you receive the goodness that is here. May you continue to nurture the relationships that sustain you. And may you never forget that the light that you seek has always lived within you.

SPEAKER_02 47:48

Take another deep breath in. And exhale out. Bringing your hands to your heart. You can silently repeat these words or physically say them out loud after me. I celebrate the light within me. I honor the light around me. And with gratitude, I share that light with the world. And when you're ready, you can slowly release your hands.

SPEAKER_03 48:38

Gently open your eyes, coming back into the space that you're in. Take a look around of your space, of all that you have to be grateful for, of the abundance that already lives and resides within you and your space. Thank you all so much for practicing and listening with us today. From our heart to yours, Namaste.