Tomorrow is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year when the Sun stands still at its northernmost point, as seen from the Earth. It represents renewal and rebirth, the start of a new phase of growth and abundance. Unlike winter solstice, which marks a turning inward, now the energy is external and action-oriented. If we harness this energy intentionally, it's a great opportunity to affect change in our lives. But to do this, we must align and place our energy in what matters most, our core values. Core values reflect how we see ourselves or want to see ourselves. Knowing our core values is not enough, though; we must consciously practice them in all areas of life.
The following is a list of possible core values (far from comprehensive): autonomy, balance, broad-mindedness, civility, community, compassion, conscientiousness, consistency, creativity, dedication, deliberateness, devotion, enthusiasm, equanimity, excellence, fairness, fearlessness, freedom, generosity, genuineness, innovation, helpfulness, honesty, humility, integrity, joyfulness, kindness, loyalty, modesty, nurturing, open-mindedness, originality, passion, patience, persistence, positivity, reliability, respectfulness, responsibility, sensitivity, simplicity, sincerity, supportiveness, sustainability, tolerance, truthfulness, understanding, warmth.
Which core values do you naturally orient towards? They may be ones you identify with, aspire to, or admire in other people. Ask yourself, "Which qualities do I most want to embody?" Identifying your core values is essential for them to serve as your guide. For example, if creativity is a core value, what does that look like specifically in your life? When do you experience it? And what do you do to cultivate it?
Write down a half dozen core values from the list above or those not listed. Then, choose two that you can focus on. For each, reflect upon ways you can practice it in all areas of your life. For example, if you identify genuineness as a core value, then how might you reflect that in your personal relationships as well as your work? It's important to focus on real, concrete steps, no matter how small. If you want to go even deeper, focus on one core value for at least one month. Place awareness on this core value, think about ways to manifest it more in your life, and implement it.
"Where do we live symbolically? Nowhere except where we participate in the ritual of life." - C.G. Jung
The summer solstice, accompanied by the powerful energy from the Sun, is a wonderful time to reflect, make decisions, and take meaningful action. By creating practices around our core values, we come to trust that what we are setting in motion will bear fruit. One kind of action that is very helpful in focusing awareness on our values is by creating rituals.
Meaningful rituals are a way to connect us to what we hold most dear. Singing a song becomes a ritual when it connects us to our traditions, as an act of devotion, or in celebration. Cooking a meal becomes a ritual when we hold in our mind the loved ones we are preparing it for, when it is shared with others to make them feel like honored guests, or when we pause in gratitude to the people, plants, and animals that made it possible. Walking is a ritual when undertaken to clear the mind, invite creativity, and be more present in the world.
By practicing rituals, whether those we were raised with or new ones we created or adopted, we enhance the experience of community and connection. Rituals become meaningful when performed repeatedly with earnestness.
Carl Jung believed that the symbols used in our rituals come from a shared collective unconscious. That may be true. Or they tap into the neural wiring we all share that creates the experience of belonging and reverence. However rituals operate, and whatever their origins, they work on our psyches in a way not often accessed in daily life (unless ritual is an integral part of daily experience). Rituals and their symbols, rightly held, break down the too often rigid boundary between our conscious and unconscious minds, between our intellect and embodied intuitive knowledge. And they hold the promise of breaking down the walls between us.
Creating rituals that honor the Earth strengthens our bond to the natural world, which is critical for our well-being and the planet's. We can only positively direct change in a time of climate crisis with a more intimate relationship with the natural world. Rituals enacted on the summer solstice are an excellent way to remind us of that.
Solstice Ritual
This beautiful ritual is from Clare Davey's Substack Cailleach.
What you'll need: a candle or fire and a playful mind.
At Sunrise, go outside, face east, and allow yourself to be lit up by the Sun's energy. Stand with both feet on the Earth, feel the ground beneath you, and feel your head on your shoulders. Close your eyes and place your attention on your third eye. (You'll find it in the middle of your forehead, slightly above the eyebrows ).
Sense a thread of energy running down through the center of you, from this place down through your throat, flowing down through your center and out to the earth.
Imagine you can charge this thread and use it as a chute to let go of anything that is no longer serving you or causing you harm. Allow all this “rubbish” to flow down the chute out of you. Picture how it looks—what color is it, what thickness? It's going to flow down out of you into the Earth to be made into steaming compost, transforming it into life-giving energy. This energy by nature always moves—there is always transformation.
Now imagine the big round golden solstice Sun above your head. It is full of all you need right now, full of all that you want to be (this may come to you as a word, phrase, or feeling). Allow all this bright, high vibrational energy to flow in through the top of your head into your body, lighting and illuminating all your cells, warming your bones, and filling you up.
Bask in this light before gently opening your eyes.
Notice what you notice.
Raise your head and give thanks to the Sun.
At sunset, end your day with a fire celebration, as simple as a small fire in a shell, or a larger bonfire. Eat, drink, and celebrate the light and shifting energy that accompanies it.