This week we celebrate the longest day and shortest night as the sun radiates its light on the northern hemisphere of the earth. All over the world, communities, citizens, and beings of all walks of life gather to honor the natural turning point of the seasons. As a collective, we unite online, in-person, heart-to-heart, mind-to-mind, and breath-to-breath to celebrate the Summer Solstice.
From ancient times, observers noticed that on the Solstice, the sun appeared to stand still in the sky — and then reverse course after a day or two. We now know that this occurs because of the universal math working all around us. The earth is tilted on its axis by 23.44 degrees. This tilt, in part, is what allows life to grow on earth, keeping the planet neither too cold nor too warm. As the earth rotates around the sun and revolves around its axis, the tilt makes the sun appear to move in the sky, and, twice a year, pause.
Of course, the sun doesn't move – we do. And at the solstice, attuning to the natural rhythms of the earth, we are invited to pause and bathe in the healing rays of the sun.
It is only fitting to take a pause, as life seems to be unfolding at an ever-increasing pace. Our calendars are full, our hats are many, and the demands of our lives are on an all-time high. Everyone we speak to, talk to, and listen to (including ourselves) seems to be experiencing stress and change in some shape or form. We are all trying to keep up, find space, and follow through with the commitments we’ve made. The opportunities are many and although the answers seem to lie in saying “yes”, this auspicious time is inviting us to come back into balance, to breathe, and to be still – for our communities, our causes, our culture, our core whole selves.
We are asked by nature itself to slow down, take stock and be still. We are asked to shine a light on what’s going well, what’s working and what is deep within our hearts longing to be made manifest. We are called to look right at what is now and bring our full presence and wakefulness to the beauty that abounds within and the beauty that surrounds us.
As we enter a new cycle of growth we invite you to come into stillness with yourself and engage with the reflections that follow:
- What is working for you?
- What beautiful, bold, unique aspects of yourself can you acknowledge more deeply today?
- What is showing up in your life that is beckoning your attention?
- What is emerging inside of you and around you?
- Where do you naturally lean towards, expand, and open?
Wherever this finds you, we send our care during this tender time of growth.
To bring this level of intentional reflection into your organization, leadership, family, and life, we invite you to join our October session of Lantern, our acclaimed three-day leadership retreat.
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