Why celebrate the solstice?

I always love to take time out at the equinoxes and solstices to be out in nature and feel the special energies that come at those times.
I wrote about why I feel it’s important to honor those times here, in a previous post.

In this post I share my top 4 reasons for celebrating Summer Solstice.

1. It’s fun to celebrate

I take any chance that I can to have a celebration and the fact that it’s the longest day is good enough for me and anyone (you don’t have to be tuned into nature to appreciate the long days).
It’s a great reason to have a party with friends or even to have a quiet time to appreciate the awesome beauty and bounty of the natural world.
You can have an elaborate ceremony, a big dance party or just simply light a candle or take a few moments to quiet your mind and tune into nature.

2. It’s a great time to get outdoors

The long days and, hopefully, warmer weather are a great enticement to spend more time outdoors, whether you garden or not.
I have been enjoying walking barefoot in the grass again and it’s lovely to feel the earth beneath my toes.
Knowing it’s solstice day is a great reason to give myself more time to go out and play outdoors in the garden and just appreciate it more.

3. There’s a special energy

Whether we’re aware of it or not, there is a special energy at the exact moment of the solstice.
By being aware of it we allow ourselves to deepen our connection with nature, to be more involved with and an active part of the natural cycle of the planet.
It doesn’t matter if you actively sense the energy or not, it comes in regardless of whether we recognise it, but in our active awareness we’re much more easily able to tune into it and appreciate it.

4. It’s a respectful nod to nature

I feel very strongly that by consciously recognising the solstice moment*, through our focus and intention we add our human energy to the experience and to nature.  That moment will be at 5.39pm in Ireland and the UK later on today. For local timings click here.

Nature is so amazingly bountiful, helpful and awesome that it think it only polite to recognise these times and it’s great fun to celebrate them in partnership with nature.

*This is the moment when the sun reaches it’s most northerly point, over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere.
A solstice happens when the sun’s zenith is at its furthest point from the equator. On the June solstice it reaches its northernmost point and the Earth’s North Pole tilts directly towards the sun, at about 23.5 degrees. (Credit to Time and Date for that technical information).

How do you celebrate the solstice?

Do you have a big party or do you quietly sit, light a candle and enjoy being part of the moment like I do?

Let me know in the comments section below and be sure to celebrate well, however you choose to do so.