The word Solstice comes to us from the Latin word which means Sun, standing still.
Around June 21st every year, we celebrate the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere where the Sun reaches the height of its arc along Earth’s sky. It is also the official end of Spring and start of Summer.
I’ve been able to spend some hours during the day this week, simply sitting in the sun, as if breathing it in. No podcasts, no conversations with anyone, no books and in moments, no thoughts.
It’s been my solar practice all week, to simply sit in the sun and breathe it in.
I’ve been breathing in warmth, nourishment, wisdom, illumination, perspective and most importantly the remembrance of Joy.
This isn’t joy as a feeling when something exciting or desirable happens. This is Joy as a frequency, an intelligence that feels forgotten in some ways.
To me, sitting under the Summer Sun is a joyful activity. But that’s not entirely what I’ve been experiencing these last few days.
It feels like constant wave - a light or sound wave - emitting from within me, within my cells and my Being, that has always been there. Like a radiation of Joy from within. And while sitting with no thoughts under the Sun this week, I remembered and felt this.
I understand this as an attunement to innate Joy, as both a frequency and a feeling. We are invited on this day to get to know and remember ourselves intimately as Joy.
This does not require the doing happy things, although we certainly can.
It does require space along with the spirit, desire and commitment to re-discover something long buried.
Most of us experience our thoughts and feelings as a never-ending pit of heaviness, judgement, fear, doubt, limitation, mental chatter and worry.
And so, taking a cue from the Sun today, we can stand, if we choose, in relative stillness and rejoice in what lies within in this moment - regardless of how we may want to judge it.
Maybe while we wait for the bus, or look out our window today we can give ourselves permission to rejoice, simply because we are here. Simple because there are inhales and exhales. Simply because.
This may mean that we don’t reach for our phone with automated reflex the second there is a gap in our thoughts. Maybe that is the moment we claim for ourselves, as our inner Solstice. Our inner standing still and illuminating our consciousness on Joy.
Sometimes, this may require that we give ourselves permission.
This permission is not superficial.
It is profound.
It emanates from the core of our Being.
It will not be felt if we say the words but do not feel it. It will not be felt if we just think it and not surrender to the wave of Joy that boundlessly and constantly travels between the core of the Earth and the core of the Sun, radiating like a ripple into the Universe.
The permission we give ourselves, is to stand still and allow Joy from within to radiate outwards, through our blood, bones, organs and skin and greet the Sun, as the Sun greets us everyday.
The permission here is to rejoice in the Creation that we are today - works in progress, half-baked, trying, seeking, struggling, wandering, meddling, musing.
But in this now moment, we are standing still in the Creation that we already are, just for a few moments, and relax into Joy, revel in it, and rejoice in what is you, right now.
Enlightening, Yes 👍
Retired and nearing 74 now, When I look at the sun every morning as it rises, I find myself immersed in a sense of gratitude from within. Also, in a flash, all or most of the positive & good things in my life, past & present, pass thru my mind 💗 Also passes is a silent prayer for the health & well being of me & my family 🤗