The season of summer solstice.

Join me for July’s podcast. I have recorded the meditation towards the end that accompanies the solstice podcast. The meditation is just 10 minutes long, making it easy to use in the morning, in the evening, or during any quiet pause in your day to reset and refocus on the present moment.

A reminder not to listen to the meditation while driving or operating machinery, and if you can to be in a space that you feel safe and comfortable within   

I do hope you enjoy it. Your feedback is always welcome, and I would love to hear how you find the practice. Please feel free to share any suggestions for future topics, particularly those connected to the therapeutic world.

Do remember to subscribe so you can stay updated whenever a new episode is released.

You can find more information at www.mindfulmomentstherapies.co.uk. I am also on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Pinterest under the name Mindful Moments Therapies.

You can read more on my blog 

https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/8004319244158596631

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Wishing you a wonderful month ahead,

Phiona

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A Gentle Reminder
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Sometimes, the most important step is simply giving yourself space to pause… and notice.

Until Next Time…
Take things at your own pace.
And allow yourself to reconnect in whatever way feels right for you.
 

Take care.

Phiona 

Transcript

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Hello and welcome to the Mindful Moments Therapies podcast. And thank you for joining me again on my journey. Today's episode is focusing on summer solstice. And I probably reckon there's a fair few of you out there going, but that was June. This is July. And you're right. The summer solstice, whilst it is the longest day and the shortest night, connecting us into that moment of the turning point of the cycles and seasons in the year. Summer solstice is also a season. It moves between the fire festivals of Beltane and also the turning cycle season, the Vale of Harvest in August. Sitting squarely in that cross quarter point, dividing the year into those quarters between the equinoxes and the solstices. It's heralded on one day. But actually, it is a season that lasts beyond its reach of all summer's eve, of the solstice day, the celebrations at dawn, at ancient sites. It's a season to be lived with, honoured with, embraced with. And it's such an incredible element of our life and journey. If we embrace that, really helping to find your own season and where you're sitting within that season. So wherever you're listening from to today, perhaps out walking in nature, sitting in your garden, relaxing at home or taking a few moments for yourself between the demands of everyday life, I invite you to slow down and arrive fully into this moment. As I sit here recording this podcast, I'm sat out in my garden under the willow, the sun beaming down through the whispering leaves, sound of water, and distant noises. People, dogs barking, traffic moving, reminder of everything we can't control. But today we're going to explore one of the most powerful turning points within the natural year, the summer solstice, the longest day and shortest night, and how that ignites a whole season of celebration. A celebration of light, abundance, growth and vitality. Yet beneath the beauty of midsummer lies something much deeper. For thousands of years people have honored this moment not simply as an astronomical event, but as a sacred pause, a threshold, a time to reflect on what has grown, what has flourished, and what still requires care and attention. In many ways the summer solstice offers us something that modern life often forgets to provide. It gives us permission to stop, permission to acknowledge ourselves, permission to recognize our growth, and permission to ask what comes next. Today I'm going to take you on a journey of folklore and mythology of the summer solstice, the symbolism of plants and archetypes, and what this season can teach us about transformation and healing, how I weave those themes into my therapeutic work with clients. At the end of the episode, as always, I'll guide you through a summer solstice meditation and visualization to help you connect with your own inner wisdom and reflect on the first half of your year. So take a gentle breath, allow yourself to settle, and just let us gently begin. The summer solstice occurs when the Earth's northern hemisphere is tilted most directly towards the sun. The word solstice itself comes from the Latin words of sol meaning sun and cister meaning to stand still, and for a brief moment it appears as though the sun pauses in the sky. It's a beautiful moment the sun standing still, nature pausing, the world taking a breath, and perhaps that image alone offers us something meaningful. Because how often do we allow ourselves to pause? How often do we stop long enough to notice how far we've travelled? Many of us moving through life consistently, looking towards the next responsibility, the next challenge or the next goal. Yet nature teaches us that growth is simply not about moving forward. Growth also requires reflection. The solstice reminds us to stop and witness that journey itself, not only on the longest day, but the weeks that also follow. One of the reasons the summer solstice feels so significant psychologically is because it arrives close to the middle of the year. January often arrives with hope, intentions and plans and dreams. We make promises to ourselves, we imagine what the year ahead may bring. Then life begins unfolding. Some things happen exactly as we hoped, others do not. Unexpected opportunities emerge, unexpected losses occur, challenges appear, relationships change, circumstances shift, and by the time June arrives, many people find themselves carrying feelings they didn't anticipate. Perhaps you feel proud of how far you've come. Perhaps you feel disappointed by goals that remain unfinished. Perhaps you feel exhausted or relieved or even uncertain. Perhaps you simply feel tired. The summer solstice offers us an opportunity to step away from judgment and move towards curiosity. Instead of asking why am I not further ahead? The solstice asks, What have I learned? Instead of asking what have I failed to achieve? The solstice asks, How have I grown? And instead of focusing only on what remains unfinished, unachieved, it invites us to acknowledge what we have survived, what we have overcome, and what we have become. It's not about toxic positivity. It's not about pretending everything is perfect. It's about recognizing that growth often happens quietly. Much like the roots of the tree, some of the most important changes occur beneath the surface long before they become visible. For our ancestors, the summer solstice was a deeply sacred time. Across Britain and Europe, people gathered around great bonfires that illuminated the shortest night of the year. Fire was seen as both protective and transformative. People believed it purified, renewed, and blessed. Communities celebrated fertility, abundance, and life-giving power in the sun. Sacred wells were visited, blessings were offered, songs were sung and stories were shared. And one particular fascinating piece of folklore that has survived the time is the story of the Oak King and the Holly King. In Celtic mythology, these two figures represent the internal cycle of light and darkness. The Oak King ruling the winter solstice to the summer solstice, bringing the increasing light and the growth. The Holly King rules from the summer until the winter solstice, guiding the gradual return of darkness and introspection. And at midsummer the Oak King symbolically surrenders his crown. This is not a defeat. It's simply a part of the cycle. One season ends so another can begin. There is profound wisdom in this. Our culture today often teaches that growth should be constant, targeted, measured, goals achieved, that happiness should be permanent, that success should always increase. Yet nature teaches something very different. Everything moves in cycles, everything changes, everything transforms. And even though we're past that pivotal point of the solstice day itself, things are already changing. Another powerful symbol associated with Miss Summer is the green man, often found carved into churches, ancient buildings and folklore throughout Britain. The green man represents nature's vitality, renewal and life force, leaves emerging from his face, branches intertwining around him. He reminds us that we belong to the natural world. The green man speaks to the wild and instinctive parts of ourselves, the part that knows how to heal, the part that understands rhythm, the part that longs for connection. Many of us spend so much time meeting external expectations that we lose touch with this deeper wisdom. Yet the green man reminds us to return to ourselves, to listen, to reconnect, to remember. Midsummer has also long been associated with the healing plants and herbs, and many believe that herbs gathered at this time carried the greatest potency.

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St.

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John's wort blooms around the summer solstice and has become one of the most recognized plants associated with Midsummer. Its golden flowers mirror the sun itself, symbolically representing resilience, hope, and the ability to find light during dark times. Mugwort, traditionally associated with intuition, dreams and inner wisdom, inviting reflection and self-discovery. Yarrow symbolizing protection, strength and healing. Its resilience reminding us of our own capacity to recover from challenge. Lavender often lessens in restoration, calm and self-care. Its fragrance gently reminding us that healing often requires softness rather than force. These plants offer more than folklore. They remind us of the qualities that already exist within us resilience, wisdom, strength, compassion, and restoration. Now throughout history light has symbolized awareness, truth, wisdom and healing. In therapy, healing often begins when something hidden becomes visible, a painful memory, an unmet need, a pattern that no longer serves us, an emotion we've been carrying alone. The summer solstice invites us to ask, what is being illuminated in my life right now? What truth am I being to recognize? What part of myself is asking to be seen? Awareness is often the first step towards transformation. Not because awareness fixes everything, but because we cannot heal what we refuse to acknowledge. Transformation is not always comfortable. When most people think about transformation, they often imagine breakthroughs, moments of clarity, sudden changes. Yet therapeutic transformation rarely happens that way. More often it unfolds slowly, quietly, gradually, much like nature itself. A seed does not become a flower overnight. Roots must develop before growth becomes visible. Periods of rest are necessary. Moments of uncertainty are necessary. Times of discomfort are also necessary. Many clients often arrive believing they should already be healed. They should have known the answers. They should have already moved on. Yet nature teaches us that every single stage has value. There is wisdom in waiting. Because wisdom is also uncertain. Wisdom is becoming, and the time of midsummer and the summer solstice reminds us that growth is not measured solely by outcomes. It's measured by presence, awareness, compassion, and courage. One of the reasons I feel so deeply connected to nature-based approaches is because nature provides such powerful metaphors for healing. Many clients can arrive feeling frustrated with themselves or feeling stuck, overwhelmed, exhausted, disconnected, often believing there is something wrong with them. Yet when we slowly and gently begin exploring their experiences through the lens of nature and seasonal cycles, something shifts. They begin recognizing that they're not broken, that they're human. Because we cannot heal until that moment is met. Just as nature moves through the seasons, so do we. There are periods of growth, periods of rest, times of letting go and times of renewal. Sometimes clients discover they are trying to force themselves into a season that they're not currently in. They're demanding productivity when their body needs rests, seeking certainty when they're moving through change, expecting growth when healing is still taking place beneath the surface. Nature helps remove the shame. It helps us to understand that change is natural, that healing is cyclical, that every season has value. I often encourage clients to spend time outdoors, not because nature fixes everything, but because it offers perspective, slows us down, regulates our nervous system, invites mindfulness, and reminds us that transformation unfolds in its own time. Now as we come towards the end of today's episode, I'd like to invite you to a summer solstice meditation. And as always, only if you're somewhere safe and comfortable, if you're driving or operating machinery or not in a space that you can listen right now, just pause the recording and wait until a time that you're in a private space where you can relax comfortably. For those of you who are ready, you may wish to close your eyes or just soften your gaze, taking a slow breath in and gently breathe out. And again, breathing in, breathing out, and allow your shoulders to soften. Allow your jaw to relax. Allow yourself to be fully supported. Just imagine now that it's dawn on the summer solstice. You're standing upon a gentle hillside. The world is quiet. The air feels fresh and still. And as you look towards the horizon, the first golden light of the sun begins to emerge. Slowly the landscape awakens. The sky fills with soft colours. Bird song begins. The earth glowing beneath the morning light. Just take a moment to absorb this scene. And notice how it feels to stand at the beginning of the longest day and of the solstice season. A day of possibility, a day of reflection, a day of light. And as the sun rises higher, you notice a path before you a winding path leading through a summer meadow filled with wildflowers. You begin walking slowly, comfortably, and with each step you feel more grounded, more present, more connected. Ahead of you stands an ancient oak tree. Strong, wise, rooted, its branches stretch towards the sky, and its roots reach deep into the earth. Slowly approach the tree and take a seat beneath it. Notice the feeling of safety and stability it offers. This tree has witnessed countless seasons, countless beginnings and countless endings. And now it offers you a moment of reflection. Gently ask yourself what has grown within me during the first half of this year. Allow whatever arises to emerge naturally without judgment, without expectation. Just simply notice. Now ask what strengths have carried me through difficult moments? What resilience have I developed? What am I proud of? Just take your time and allow yourself to truly acknowledge your journey. Now imagine a small midsummer fire burning safely nearby. Flames glow warmly, and the fire represents transformation, release and renewal. And consider whether there is something you're ready to let go of, maybe a fear, a limiting belief or a burden, a criticism or even an expectation. And imagine placing it gently into the fire and watch as the flames transform it, not destroying it, but transforming it, creating a space for something new. Now turn your attention towards the second half of the year are harvest months that are still yet to come. Ask yourself what would I like to nurture moving forward? What deserves more of my energy? What qualities would I like to cultivate? What intention feels important to carry forward? Allow your answer to settle deeply into your heart. Take a deep breath. Feel the warmth of the sun above you, the steadiness of the earth beneath you, the wisdom of the oak tree beside you, and the quiet knowing that you are exactly where you need to be. Within the season of the solstice, healing is unfolding. Growth is unfolding. Life is unfolding in its own time, at its own pace, in its own rhythm. Now take another deep breath in and slowly breathe out, just gently bringing awareness back to your surroundings, back into the room or the space that you're in, back into this moment. And when you feel ready, gently open your eyes, just orientating to the space surrounding you, allowing the sensations to somatically balance. Notice what you hear or see, what you can touch or taste. Move your toes and your fingers, stretch your legs and your arms, and ground back into this moment. Thank you for sharing this summer solstice journey with me today. A reminder that solstice isn't just one moment in time, it is a season, a cycle. And as you move through the days ahead, I invite you to carry this simple reminder with you. Like nature, you're allowed to grow. Like nature, you're allowed to rest. Like nature, you are allowed to change. And like nature, you are allowed to begin over again. So until next time, take gentle care of yourself, and may you continue to find those moments of light, connection, healing, and wonder wherever your path may take. Take care.