Summer Solstice
On Thursday, June 20, 2024 we celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day and the shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It's been celebrated for millennia as a time of abundance – a symbol of light, alignment, and celebration.
At Plenty, we use the summer solstice as a time to pause, reflect on our intentions, and align with our truest selves. Join us through a guided meditation and enjoy a free download of rituals you can use to celebrate this powerful time of year.
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Download our free Summer Solstice Guide for daily practices, inspiration, ideas, and more.
Celebrate the Summer Solstice
Download Our Free Solstice Guide
Welcome to the summer solstice! This significant turning point invites conscious leaders to slow down and align with the light within to help light the way for others.
What is the Summer Solstice?
The summer solstice marks the northern hemisphere's longest day and shortest night of the year.
Like the winter solstice, the summer solstice has been celebrated by thousands of cultures and communities across the globe since the beginning of time. In ancient times, the summer solstice was often seen as a time of abundance and gratitude, a time of reflecting on the hard work of winter and celebrating the warm, light days to come. And the science behind the summer solstice reminds us that we can always choose to align with the world around us.
It's a wonderful metaphor – as we have more light around us, we are called to illuminate our inner light and share it with the world.
What Does the Solstice Mean?
The word "solstice" means "sun standing," referring to the day when the sun appears to stop moving in the sky. It is on this day that the sun and earth align in stillness. If the sun and earth can slow down and become still, so can we. And we must if we want to bring our dreams to life.
The summer solstice is an extraordinary time to focus on what lights us up in work and life. By reflecting, we can nurture what we want to create, vision, hope, and dream of for a better world.
To this end, we've created a guided meditation, practices for you and your team to download, and a workshop in Utah for you to attend.
Download Our Free Summer Solstice Guide
About the Solstice
Why Does the Solstice Happen?
The earth's axis is tilted rather than straight up and down. This tilt makes the sun move across the sky throughout the year. The summer solstice happens once yearly when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined towards the sun, which causes the sun to appear at its highest point in the sky.
Why Does the Day of the Solstice Change?
The exact date and time of the solstice vary slightly from year to year because our calendar year (365 days) doesn't perfectly align with the solar year (about 365.25 days). That's also why we have a leap day every four years!
How Long Has the Solstice Been Celebrated?
No one knows exactly how long the solstice has been celebrated, but it is at least five thousand years. Ancient structures in diverse places like Stonehenge in England, Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, and Machu Picchu, Peru, are all made to align with the Solstice.
More From Our Blog
The Science Behind the Summer Solstice
Why Slowing Down on the Summer Solstice is Essential for Conscious Business Leaders
Episode 44: Align To Your Light This Summer Solstice
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Check out our free resources section for videos, meditations, podcast episodes, assessments, and more.