21 Fun Summer Solstice Rituals & Summer Solstice Yoga to Celebrate International Yoga Day

Welcome to the sacred and transformative time of the year—the Summer Solstice! After the spring equinox, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. Celebrate the abundant energy and radiant light that blesses your life during this time. The Summer Solstice holds immense significance in many cultures and traditions. Summer Solstice rituals celebrate and remind ourselves of the interconnectedness between nature and ourselves.

In this article, you’ll find 21 Summer Solstice Rituals, including Summer Solstice Meditation and Sun Gazing, allow you to honor this celestial event and harness the transformative power of summer. These rituals, rooted in mindfulness, creativity and yoga, will guide you on a journey of self-discovery, connection, and personal growth. Let’s explore the ways in which we can celebrate the Summer Solstice and embrace the abundant blessings that this season offers.

Understanding the Summer Solstice: When is it? Why is the Summer Solstice important?

The Summer Solstice typically falls on June 20th or 21st in the northern hemisphere and December 20th or 21st in the southern hemisphere. This marks the longest day of the year. Here are the dates for Summer Solstice (2023-2028) in the Northern & Southern hemisphere:

• 2023: June 21 ; December 22
• 2024: June 20 ; December 21
• 2025: June 20 ; December 22
• 2026: June 21 ; December 22
• 2027: June 21 ; December 22
• 2028: June 20 ; December 21

The Summer Solstice is also the time when the sun reaches its zenith – the highest point in the sky, infusing the world with warmth and radiance. This auspicious day symbolizes the peak of vitality, growth, and abundance in nature.

Summer Solstice Rituals & Harnessing The Fire Element & your Inner Champion

In Chinese medicine philosophy, the Summer Solstice is the pivotal point where we welcome the Fire Element ?

Within the Creative Cycle, the Fire Element is associated with Showing up authentically and fully in the world, being confident and having self-love, and connecting with your inner champion. 

When the fire element is out of balance, this could surface as anxiety / overexcitement / mania, insecurity, excessive social comparison, or playing small.

Summer solstice rituals are powerful ways to harness and balance the power of the Fire Element to cultivate self-love and self-confidence. Seasonally, this is a powerful point when externally the world is saturated with the Fire element energetically. And thus this marks an opportunity for us to harness this external energy to bolster our inner champion and cultivate much-needed expression self-love and authenticity.

Summer Solstice Rituals & Significance of International Yoga Day:

International Yoga Day, celebrated annually on June 21st, was set to coincide with the Summer Solstice in India, which is in the northern hemisphere and celebrate Aditya, the sun god.

This global celebration raises awareness about the transformative power of yoga and its benefits for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. By combining the energy of the Summer Solstice with the essence of Yoga, you amplify your practice and deepen your connection with yourself and the world around you.

Why practice Summer Solstice Rituals? Benefits of Summer Solstice Rituals 

Summer solstice rituals have been revered for centuries, with profound benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. By engaging in summer solstice rituals, you connect with the natural rhythms of the Earth and honor the transformative power of the sun’s energy.

Summer Solstice rituals provide an opportunity to reflect on your personal growth and set intentions for the future. These rituals cultivate gratitude for the abundance of the season and invite joy, vitality, and creativity into your life. Furthermore, by aligning yourself with the energy of the summer solstice, you feel connected with nature and can tap into a wellspring of inspiration and renewal.

5 Summer Solstice Rituals across the globe:

Curious about how the summer solstice is celebrated worldwide? Here’s how summer solstice rituals are practiced across the globe, from Sweden to Poland:

1. Sweden’s Midsommar: In Sweden, Midsommar is a cherished celebration of the summer solstice. People gather around a maypole adorned with flowers and dance in a traditional ring formation, singing and wearing floral crowns. This joyful ritual is accompanied by feasting, drinking, and revelry, symbolizing the abundance and fertility of the season.
2. Stonehenge’s Druid Rituals: At the historic Stonehenge monument in England, modern-day Druids and pagans gather to witness the sunrise on the summer solstice. They engage in spiritual ceremonies, chant ancient incantations, and honor the solstice as a sacred time of balance and renewal.
3. Native American Sun Dance: Among Native American tribes, the Sun Dance is a significant summer solstice ritual. Participants fast, purify themselves through sweat lodges, and dance for several days around a sacred pole. This ceremony symbolizes unity, spiritual connection, and renewal of the land and its people.
4. Inti Raymi in Peru: In the Inca tradition, Inti Raymi is a grand festival held in Cusco, Peru, to celebrate the sun god Inti during the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Elaborate ceremonies involve processions, music, dance, and offerings to honor the sun and seek its blessings for a prosperous year ahead.
5. Poland’s Wianki Festival: In Poland, the Wianki Festival takes place on the summer solstice, where wreaths made of flowers and herbs are released into rivers and lakes. Wianki originates from a pagan fertility festival honouring the Slavic goddess of love Kupala. This act is believed to bring good luck and purify the soul. The festival also includes live music, dancing, and fireworks, creating a vibrant atmosphere of celebration and community.

Across the globe, the summer solstice is celebrate in fun, interesting and sometimes strange ways. These rituals highlight the diversity and richness of cultural practices associated with the summer solstice. Each of these offerings is a unique expression of gratitude, connection, and renewal in harmony with the natural world.

21 Summer Solstice Rituals to Celebrate and Harness the Power of Summer:

Wondering what summer solstice rituals you might try this year to harness the radiance of summer? From creating floral crowns to fire release rituals, here are my favorite 21 Summer solstice rituals to try: 

Mindful Summer Solstice Rituals:

1. Easy Summer Solstice rituals: Guided Sunrise Meditation

Of all summer solstice rituals, this is probably the simplest yet the most powerful. Sunrise meditation is a great way to kick start each day with positive energy. Try this Sunrise meditation for Joy & Ease or this Summer Solstice-themed Chakra meditation to embrace your inner light

Prefer to explore this on your own? Wake up early and find a serene spot outdoors to sit comfortably. Close your eyes, focus on your breath, and allow the gentle rays of the rising sun to envelop you. This connects you with the energy of each new day and helps you set intentions for the coming day and summer season ahead.

2. Practice 108 Sun Salutations outdoors + join our Summer Solstice Moving meditation & Yoga Nidra online 

Summer marks the time to be in community, to express, connect and commune. Connect and flow in community by joining our Summer Solstice Moving meditation and Yoga Nidra on 18th June online to celebrate International Yoga Day. 

Prefer to do this in-person? Take your yoga mat outdoors, call some pals and practice your favorite yoga sequences surrounded by nature. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, listen to the sounds of birdsong, and let the breeze inspire your movements. Welcome the sun’s energy with 108 Sun Salutations, and take your pick between Sun salutations A, B and C:

• A guide to Sun Salutation A
• A guide to Sun Salutation B
• A guide to Sun Salutation C

You might be wondering, why are 108 sun salutations typically practiced as summer solstice rituals? In Yoga, the special number 108 is synonymous with spiritual completion. It is a special gesture often practiced during seasonal transitions that shows the practitioner’s commitment and willpower. 

If you’re short on time, try 21 Sun Salutations instead – As a fourth of 84, 21 is considered the number of perfection. It is also the number of the Holy Scriptures and the number of times the Mantra Om is chanted during Aumkara, the ancient Hindu practice. This not only honors the sun but also energizes your entire being. It deepens your connection with the elements and allows you to experience the harmony between your body, mind, and the natural world.

3. Try an outdoor Walking Meditation or Standing Meditation

Summer is all about being outdoors and connecting with the world. Take your mindfulness practice outside, try a standing Qigong meditation or engage in a walking meditation following this guided audio or following the video below. Feel the earth or ground beneath your feet, listen to the sounds of birds and rustling leaves, and be fully present in each step. 

In the heat, excitement and activity of summer and the Fire element, this mindful activity encourages you to slow down. This provides a much needed balance at this time of transition. This summer solstice ritual allows you to ground yourself, connect with the creative cycle and the five elements. 

4. Try Summer Gratitude Journaling

Sit in a peaceful corner of your home or outside in nature with a journal and pen. Take a few moments to reflect on the blessings and joys that summer has already brought into your life. For more ideas, 53 Summer journal prompts for fun and creativity. And below are my 3 favourite summer season and fire element journal prompts.

1. What makes me feel joyful, confident and fully alive? Write down at least five things you are grateful for and allow the feelings of appreciation to fill your heart.
2. When do I feel most expressive and authentic? When did I last feel most connected to myself?
3. How can I harness my power, and cultivate confidence and self-love moving forward? Who, or what needs to be in my life?

This solstice ritual cultivates a positive mindset and helps you recognize the abundance around you.

5. Balance your energy with a Full Moon meditation or Beachside Yoga Nidra

Compared to the warmth of the sun, the moon is cool. Conversely, within the moon cycle, the Full Moon is synonymous with Summer Season. Balance the heat of the Fire Element from summer with the introspective, intuitive qualities of the Water Element.

Try a Full Moon Water Element Yoga Nidra or Ocean Full Moon meditation to manifest healing and abundance.

If you have access to a beach or waterfront, take a mindful walk along the shore. As you feel the sand between your toes and listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves, let go of any stress or worries. Once you find a comfortable spot, sit down and make yourself comfortable and begin your meditation. This summer solstice ritual allows you to connect with the vastness of nature and experience a sense of peace and tranquility.

Sensory Summer Solstice Rituals:

6. Enjoy a Sacred Summer Solstice Bath

Summer Solstice and the energy of the Fire Element can be harnessed by connecting with joy and pleasure. Create a pleasurable and sacred space in your bathroom by lighting candles, dimming the lights, and playing soothing music. Fill your bathtub with warm water and add your favorite essential oils, a handful of fragrant flower petals, or a sprinkle of purifying sea salt. 

 As you immerse yourself in the bath, visualize the water enveloping your body, cleansing away any negativity or stagnant energy. With each breath, release tension and allow yourself to sink deeper into a state of relaxation and surrender. Visualize emerging from the bath as a refreshed and revitalized version of yourself, ready to embrace the transformative energy of the summer solstice.

7. Try a Mindful Picnic and Forest Bathing in the Woods

Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku (森林浴), emerged in Japan during the 1980s as a practice that combines elements of fitness and mindfulness. It was developed as a way to counter the effects of burnout from the technological advancements of that era and to encourage people to reestablish a connection with nature while fostering a sense of environmental stewardship. This term, which translates to “taking in the forest atmosphere,” encapsulates the essence of the practice and its two main objectives: providing an antidote to burnout and promoting the appreciation and preservation of forests in the country.

Join a forest bathing retreat in your local woods, or follow these 3 steps for a DIY forest bathing retreat alongside a mindful picnic on your own.

1. Pack a basket with your favorite summer treats and find a picturesque spot in a nearby park.
2. Settle down on a blanket, savor the flavors of the food, and take in the beauty of your surroundings. Immerse yourself in the healing energy of the forest.
3. After your picnic, take a slow, mindful walk, breathing in the fresh air and allowing the sounds and sights of nature to nourish your soul.

This ritual allows you to connect with nature, indulge in delicious nourishment, and appreciate the simple pleasures of summer.

8. Enjoy a Summer Solstice Sun Tea Ritual

Iced teas are a wonderful way to cool from the summer heat, and one of the most fun summer solstice rituals to do at home is to use the power of the sun to make sun tea. Try these three delicious sun tea recipes or create your own. 

Sit in a quiet space and savor each sip mindfully, paying attention to the flavors and sensations. Take this opportunity to reflect on the healing properties of the herbs and set intentions for your well-being during the summer season. This summer solstice ritual nourishes your body and soul, promoting relaxation and inner balance.

9. Prepare a Summer Solstice Feast, or Bake a Summer Solstice Bake!

Gather friends and loved ones for a delicious and nourishing summer solstice feast. Prepare vibrant, seasonal dishes using fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Share stories, laughter, and gratitude for the bountiful gifts of summer. This summer solstice ritual brings people together in celebration and fosters a sense of community and connection. 

Need some recipe ideas? Check out this blog post on 20 Simple Summer Solstice recipes or try baking a Summer Solstice cake by following along the video below:

10. Dance in Nature along to your Summer Solstice Playlist:

Find a beautiful outdoor location, whether it’s a park, garden, or forest, and put on some uplifting music. Allow your body to move freely, expressing itself through dance. Feel the energy of the earth beneath your feet and let the joy of summer flow through your movements. 

Need some inspiration? Try this summer solstice playlist:

11. Try a 5 Step Sun Cleansing Ritual: 

The summer solstice is the day the sun shines the longest and brightest, so what better time to try a sun cleansing ritual than the day itself?  Here are five steps for connecting with the Sun’s energy and expressing gratitude:

Summer Solstice Rituals: 5 Step Sun Cleansing Ritual

1. Find a comfortable spot outside where you can either stand or sit and have a clear view of the sunlight, whether in direct sunlight or a shaded area.
2. Take a moment to observe the way the Sun illuminates different objects and creates shadows around you. Notice the interplay of light and shadow in the environment.
3. Close your eyes and feel the warmth of the Sun and the gentle touch of the air on your skin. Reflect on the Sun’s role in sustaining life on Earth and its ability to provide knowledge to every cell in your body, allowing them to function effectively.
4. Imagine yourself bathed in the sunlight, embracing its warmth and energy. Visualize gathering sunlight into your hands and bringing it towards your forehead, allowing it to warm, cleanse, and energize this center of knowledge and insight.
5. Repeat the process of gathering sunlight into your hands and bringing it towards your heart, feeling the warmth, cleansing, and energizing effect on this center of inner wisdom and love. Lastly, bring the sunlight towards your belly, imagining it warming, cleansing, and energizing this center of intuition and trust.

12. Practice a Sun Gazing Meditation

Sun gazing is a method of meditation that involves looking at the sun during off-peak times to harness the healing power of the sun. Listen to this eye doctor explain the benefits and precautions of sun gazing: 

Summer Solstice Rituals: 3 Step Sun Gazing ritual:

1. To try sun gazing find a safe spot where you can gaze at the setting sun.
2. Connect with the ground and allow the rays of the sun to enter your eyes gently. Be sure to practice for short periods of time (5-15 minutes) and rest your eyes sufficiently. 
3. As you practice sun gazing, feel a sense of reverence and connection to the sun’s energy and the natural world.

Creative & Crafty Summer Solstice Rituals:

13. Create a Summer Solstice Altar

Set up a dedicated space in your home or garden where you can create a summer altar. Take inspiration from your Spring Equinox Ostara Altar, and arrange items that symbolize the essence of the season, such as flowers, seashells, and brightly colored fabrics. Follow along the video below:

This summer solstice ritual serves as a visual reminder of the abundance and beauty that summer brings, and it can be a focal point for reflection and intention-setting.

14. Make a Midsummer Flower Crown: 

One of my favourite summer solstice rituals is gathering flowers on summer solstice to create a flower crown. Legend has it that the herbs, flowers and fruits picked on the summer solstice have healing and magical properties.

Need some inspiration? Check out the tutorial below, or follow along the 3 step instructions to make your own summer solstice flower crown. 

 3 Step Summer Solstice Ritual to make your flower crown:

1. Gather an assortment of fresh flowers, leaves, and twine, picking only flowers, leaves and things from nature that resonate with you. 
2. Sit in a calm space and craft a beautiful flower crown, allowing your creativity to flow. As you weave the flowers together, feel a connection to nature’s beauty and the abundance of summer.
3. Wear the crown as a symbol of your connection with the earth and celebrate your inner radiance.

15. Create your Summer Solstice Flower Print Cyanotype:

One of the best summer solstice rituals for you if you like arts and crafts is making a flower print cyanotype. This is a beautiful and creative way to commemorate the longest day of the year. To do this, gather an assortment of flowers and leaves, place them on a light-sensitive cyanotype paper, and secure them with a piece of glass. Expose the arrangement to sunlight for a few minutes, then rinse the paper with water to reveal a stunning blue and white print of the botanicals. You can also follow along this video if you wish:

This summer solstice ritual captures the essence of the summer season and allows you to create unique, nature-inspired artwork to cherish and keep across all seasons.

16. Create Sunflower Affirmations: 

As a favourite summer flower, the sunflower has many meanings across the world from admiration and loyalty, to positivity and strength. Creating Sunflower-inspired affirmations is a fun summer solstice activity that’s great for kids and adults alike!

Find a sunflower field or bring sunflowers into your home. Sit or stand in front of the sunflowers and take a moment to observe their vibrant colors and towering presence. Repeat positive affirmations related to growth, abundance, and joy. Visualize yourself embodying these qualities, just as the sunflower turns towards the sun.

This ritual helps to cultivate a positive mindset and harness the energy of summer.

Classic Summer Solstice Rituals:

17. Plan a Summer Solstice Bonfire Celebration: 

In mountainous regions such as Tyrol in Austria, the ancient tradition of lighting summer solstice bonfires in the mountains goes back to the middle ages. Gather friends and loved ones for an evening bonfire to celebrate the Summer Solstice and the International Day of Yoga together. As the sun sets, sit around the fire, share stories, and engage in meaningful conversations. Reflect on the abundance and growth that the summer season brings and express gratitude for the experiences and connections in your life. 

This summer solstice ritual fosters a sense of community, warmth, and appreciation for the transformative power of the summer solstice. Connect with the transformative qualities of community and connection associated with the Fire Element. 

18. Prepare a Fire Release Ritual: 

One of the most transformative summer solstice rituals that is easily accessible is the fire release ritual, a ritual performed as a way of releasing something that no longer serves you. Here’s how to do it in 3 easy steps: 

1. Write down any negative or limiting beliefs, emotions, or experiences that you wish to release and let go of.
2. Build a small bonfire or a candle / fire in a pot or bowl in a safe and designated area.
3. One by one, throw the pieces of paper into the fire, watching them burn and transform. 

This Summer Solstice ritual symbolizes the transformative power of the fire element. Release what no longer serves you, and connect with your authentic self. By releasing, you make space for new growth and possibilities.

19. Create a Summer Vision Board and prepare for your MidYear review on 2 Jul 2023!

Vision boards and mind maps for summer planning one of the best summer solstice rituals for connecting you with your vision for the rest of the year. Try these 3 easy steps to manifest your summer solstice vision board, or follow along the video below:

1. To create your own vision board, gather magazines, scissors, glue, and a large sheet of paper or corkboard.
2. Spend time flipping through the magazines and cut out images, words, and phrases that resonate with your desires and aspirations for the summer season.
3. Arrange and glue them onto your vision board, creating a visual representation of your dreams and goals.

Once you have your vision board ready, prepare for your midyear review! Join us live online on 2 July to do your MidYear review and meditation together. Or read this blog post and follow along the guided meditation to do it on your own. Manifest your intentions and stay focused on what you wish to create during this abundant time.

20. Try Fire Element Breathwork to fuel your flame

Explore pranayama techniques, such as Surya Bhedana (Solar Piercing Breath) or Kapalabhati breathing (Skull Shining Breath), to invigorate your energy and connect with the sun’s radiant power. 

• With Surya Bhedana, you’ll inhale deeply through your right nostril, hold the breath momentarily, and exhale through the left nostril. This technique is believed to activate the solar energy within, bringing warmth, vitality, and clarity. 
• Kapalabhati breathing, on the other hand, involves forceful exhalations through the nose while engaging the abdominal muscles. This powerful breathwork technique helps cleanse the mind and energize the body, allowing you to tap into the transformative energy of the summer solstice. Follow along this guided meditation, or try it on your own: 

Incorporate these pranayama techniques into your summer solstice rituals and feel the revitalizing effects as you harmonize with the sun’s radiant power.

21. Try a Sunset Gratitude Meditation: 

As the sun sets, sit quietly and offer gratitude for the day, the summer season, and the blessings in your life. Feel the sense of peace and serenity as you connect with the beauty of the fading light. Try this sleep well Sunset meditation to free stress and overthinking and prepare for a good night’s sleep. 

This summer solstice ritual empowers you to offer heartfelt gratitude for the abundance in your life, the blessings of the summer season, and the moments of growth and connection. 

Special Invitation: Summer Solstice Rituals in Community:

? Join our Summer Solstice Moving meditation & Yoga Nidra  

Want to join us to celebrate the summer solstice together? Join our Summer Solstice Moving meditation and Yoga Nidra on 18th June online to celebrate International Yoga Day. You’ll be guided through a fluid moving meditation and Yogic sleep, Yoga Nidra to connect with your heartfelt intention and inner guidance. Then we’ll open into a candid, playful chat in our circle of practitioners about what sparked you to embark on your Yoga journey and how far you’ve come.

? Join our Mindful MidYear Review & Meditation

Can’t make it? No worries! Join us live online on 1 July to do your MidYear review and meditation together, or read this blog post and follow along the guided meditation to do it on your own.

Can’t make it? Join the mailing list to get a recording.

Conclusion: The transformative Power of Summer Solstice Rituals

As you embrace the Summer Solstice and celebrate International Yoga Day, open yourself to the transformative power of this special time. Through these 21 Summer Solstice rituals and your Summer Solstice Yoga sequence, you weave a tapestry of intentional living and appreciation for the present moment and connect with the radiant energy of the sun, fostering your growth, abundance, and spiritual alignment. 

Let these summer solstice rituals continue to inspire you as you move forward, not only on the day of the Summer Solstice but throughout the entire season. Harness this summer as your time for self-discovery, connection, and renewal as you bask in the warmth of the sun’s loving embrace. Remember, Summer Solstice Yoga and these summer solstice rituals are not just physical practices; they are invitations to celebrate the interconnectedness of all things and cultivate a deep sense of gratitude for life’s abundant blessings. 

Happy Summer Solstice and International Yoga Day! 

May your summer be filled with light, love, and boundless joy.

More Resources on Summer Solstice Rituals and Seasonal rituals

• Read: 6 Powerful MidYear Review Questions & a Simple Meditation to Harvest & Nurture Your Manifestation Garden
• Meditate: Summer Solstice Chakra Meditation: Embrace your Inner Light
• Meditate: Midyear Review Meditation Audio: Nurture Your Manifestation Garden
• Read: How to do a monthly reflection: DIY Quick & Easy Monthly Reflection
• Read: 12 Full Moon rituals to try and 3 things to avoid during this Full Moon

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