Solstice Practice and Learnings

I shared this on Instagram and the platform, but I thought I would share part of it here too.

"We had a beautiful ritual for the solstice on Friday. A time to honor the height of summer and all that's being illuminated in our lives. It was not all bright, strong, or cheerful. It was honest and powerful to share and receive from each other. As is symbolized in this moment, there is dark in the light just as there is always light in the darkness.

During the gathering, I asked each person to name what they were ready to release. I promised to carry their intentions forward—to write them down, bless them, and take them to the sea.

If you couldn't be there, know I included you too. I added a quiet intention on behalf of anyone in our circle who needed release—whether spoken or not.

Most of what was shared, including my own intentions, was about fear:

• Fear around health.

• Fear around money.

• Fear of being seen.

• Fear of stepping forward.

• Old patterns and blocks.

• Blocks to connection, to freedom, to the trail we want to take.

I placed each of these with care—wrapped in cloth with my altar offerings, lit a candle, blessed the bundle, and took them to the sea."

Reflections

I have been thinking about this experience since last night. My learning is that I need to include the dark. When we celebrated the Winter Solstice in December, the focus was on the light returning. For this Summer Solstice, I also was focusing on illumination and light. But what came out were some of the dark things—fears, limiting beliefs, as I just said. When I went to the sea—although unplanned—it was at night and all was dark. The water was black. I still need to wrangle with the feeling and this insight, but it felt significant. I was moved to think of all of us facing our challenges and fears (our dark waters) with bravery and community.

Like the Taijitu, or Yin Yang symbol—dark and light—nature is made up of opposing but complementary forces and energy.

This Solstice reminded me that light doesn't erase the dark—it illuminates it. And when we gather in circle, when we name our fears and let them be witnessed, we don't banish the shadows—we integrate them. That, I think, is real courage. To walk this path not only with hope, but with honesty. Not only in celebration, but in solidarity. I am honored to walk it with all of you.