Yes, in just two days we will see in this year’s Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and shortest night, before we move into the cooler, shorter days of Autumn and Winter.
But let’s not go there yet, let’s stay in this beautiful warmth and celebrate the wonderful energies of the sun. Plus the weather forecast is looking good!
So how can we mark this glorious day?
Well, in yogic and energetic realms this is most closely related to our Agni (inner fire element) which manifests in our Manipura chakra (aka the solar plexus, located just above the navel) and represents our willpower, confidence and the ability to make decisions and take action. It’s yang, masculine energy, heating and providing light. This is a time to shine in the light, to shed our shadows and bask in the abundance that the sun brings to Mother Earth. It’s also a time for transformation and change, the sun provides the energy we need to follow through with what we wish to achieve.
The ideal yoga postures are all the Virabhadrasanas (aka Warriors) to generate both inner and outer strength), Goddess Pose, Tree Pose, backbends of choice and, of course, saluting the sun in gratitude with as many rounds of Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutations) as can muster, finishing off with some cooling forward bends and a good helping of Savasana.
Pranayama practices can include Shitali breath (sucking in air through curled tongue or doughnut mouth, exhaling out through nostrils) and left nostril breathing (to cool) or right nostril breathing (to heat).
It’s also a great time to explore passions, creativity and anything else you wish to bring more of into your life during this time of growth and transformation. Likewise you may wish to ‘burn’ away any obstacles hindering your progress or no longer serving you by writing letters or lists containing that which you’d like to release, burning them in the flames to return to the Universe. Or practice this through visual meditation if easier/safer!
However you wish to mark the Summer Solstice this year, I wish you lots of healing sun energy and lots of love and happiness for the summer months ahead.
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