Welcoming the Summer Solstice and Working with the Sun
Sunset from Bessie Butte
As I write this, we approach the Summer Solstice—that sacred moment when the sun reaches its peak power and the earth is bathed in the longest light of the year. In the natural world, everything is in full bloom, visible and vibrant, holding nothing back. The solstice energy asks us to step into this same fullness, to allow ourselves to be completely seen in all our complexity and beauty.
Yet I find myself holding this invitation alongside the weight of what's happening in our world right now. As families are being torn apart by ICE raids, as people are being detained and arrested, as communities live in fear, as our public lands are threatened and we seem to be on the brink of war—it feels almost dissonant to speak of celebration and being fully seen when so many are forced into hiding, into invisibility, into survival mode.
But perhaps this is exactly when the solstice wisdom becomes most essential. The light we're called to embody isn't just our personal radiance—it's the light of justice, of compassion, of fierce protection for those who are vulnerable. Being fully seen in this moment might mean showing up as witnesses, as allies, as people who refuse to look away when others are suffering.
Children playing in water sprayed from open fire hydrant, Upper West Side, New York,
Weegee, ca 1945
Looking at this 1945 photograph by Weegee, I see a perfect embodiment of what the Summer Solstice asks of us—the courage to step fully into the light and celebrate our authentic selves without reservation. These children, playing joyfully in the spray of an opened fire hydrant on a hot New York summer day, represent the kind of unbridled freedom and diversity that the solstice celebrates. They've gathered from different backgrounds, yet they're united in this moment of pure, unguarded play. There's no hiding, no holding back—just the beautiful chaos of being fully present and alive.
The water streaming from the hydrant catches the light like liquid diamonds, creating its own illumination that mirrors the peak solar energy of the solstice. In that spray, differences dissolve—everyone gets equally soaked, equally cooled, equally blessed by this impromptu fountain of relief. These children have claimed public space as their own sanctuary of joy, turning a simple fire hydrant into a portal of possibility.
Celebrating the Light in Our Own Lives
The Summer Solstice, also known as Litha, occurs between June 20th-June 24th, with these four days referred to as Midsommer. It marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. We celebrate the Sun and with it, the attributes of warmth, generosity, and strength. I think of the Sun as a trusted encourager, wanting us to stand tall in our own power and to take up space in a loving way to spread our own rays of sunshine into the world.
The sun doesn't discriminate in its illumination. It shines on everyone, regardless of documentation status, country of origin, or any of the arbitrary lines we draw between "us" and "them." When we align with solstice energy, we're called to embody this same unconditional light—to see the full humanity in every person, to celebrate the inherent worth that exists in all beings.
This doesn't mean bypassing the very real pain and fear that permeate our communities right now. Instead, it means holding space for both grief and hope, for outrage and love, for the shadow and the light. It means asking ourselves how our growth, our gifts, our most authentic selves can be of service during these times.
Working with Solar Energy Throughout the Day
One of the most direct ways to honor this moment is to work with the Sun itself throughout the solstice day. Different times hold different energy. We can look to the power of the Sun to help fortify our intentions or things that we are striving for.
Watching the Sunrise on the morning of the Summer Solstice, is a simple tradition that can ground us as we welcome in the darker half of the year.
Sunrise 🌅 - The power of possibility
As the Sun begins to appear, it holds the energy of reflection, expansion, curiosity, and welcoming newness. This is a perfect time for setting intentions.
Sunrise Affirmation: "I welcome this new day, and am open to all of the possibilities that I may experience. I am open to receiving blessings from the universe in matters around _________ and I thank you Sun for helping me to grow."
Mid-day ☀️ - Peak power and strength
As the Sun reaches its zenith, it's optimal for working with intentions around increasing strength. The Sun acts as an amplifier, supporting you in claiming your full power.
Mid-day Affirmation: "I am strong and I am resilient. May the power of the Sun nourish every part of me so that I may illuminate and shine in the area of _________. Thank you for supporting me as I continue to grow."
Sunset 🌇 - Release and reflection
As evening settles in, this energy supports releasing, letting go, and allowing something to rest.
Sunset Affirmation: "Thank you for this day and all I have learned. I am ready to release _________ as it is for my highest good. I make room for something new and continue to grow in alignment with who I am becoming. Thank you Sun for helping me let go."
Of course each of us has our own unique way of working with these different times of day. These affirmations are simply suggestions that you may recite or journal on.
Creating Sun Water: Capturing Light for Ongoing Support
Another beautiful (and my favorite) way to work with solar energy is by making Sun water—capturing and storing this "living" energy for times when you need support:
What you'll need:
A clear glass jar with lid (a mason jar or any glass container is best as plastic can break down in the heat)
Fresh water
A sunny spot outside or by a window
The process:
Fill your jar with water and cover with lid
Place in direct sunlight for a few hours (between 10 am- 2 pm is ideal as the Sun is at its strongest)
Bring inside when ready and use however you feel is right for you
( Note - I know some people also like to place crystals and herbs inside their jars when making Sun water. If you feel called to do this, always make sure they are safe if you intend to drink your water)
Congrats! You created your first solstice Sun water!
You can use it in a few ways whenever you feel you could benefit from an energetic boost.
How to use Sun Water
🔥 Use a few drops in any rituals that you are currently working with, that calls for a fiery and strong energy
🛁 You can add some to your bath water and float in its warm and loving embrace, allowing it to charge your battery
☕ You can drink it! Pour a bit into your morning tea or coffee or just drink it on its own. Imagine the strength of the Sun wash over you and run through your body as you sip it.
Integration and Service
This is what the Summer Solstice asks of us: to find ways to celebrate our full humanity even when the world around us feels constraining. To step into the light not just as individuals, but as communities that refuse to let external circumstances dim our capacity for wonder and connection. Like the solstice sun at its peak power, those children in Weegee's photograph remind us that our light is most beautiful when it's shared, when it creates space for everyone to simply be human together under the vast summer sky.
The practice of making and using Sun water connects us to the truth that we are part of the natural world's cycles. Just as the Sun reaches its peak power during the solstice, we too can learn to harness our inner fire. Whether setting intentions at sunrise, amplifying strength at midday, or releasing at sunset, we participate in an ancient rhythm that connects us to both earth and heavens.
Your light—however it manifests—is needed now more than ever.
In times of collective darkness, individual illumination becomes an act of resistance, of hope, of love made visible. As we celebrate this peak moment of solar power, remember that the light we're honoring isn't just external—it's the same radiant energy that lives within you, waiting to be acknowledged, celebrated, and shared with the world.
Wishing you a tender hearted and fiery Summer Solstice ☀️