Celebrating the Summer Solstice – A Turning Point Toward Autumn

Welcome to Week 3 of Our Autumn Countdown. The Wheel of the Year never stands still and this week brings an important solar event – the Summer Solstice. The longest day and shortest night of the year mark the height of Summer and the strength of the sun, but it’s also a turning point when the light begins to fade.

Here in the Somerset countryside, the fields are turning gold and tractors are out in the fields, harvesting the first crops of the year. These long, warm Midsummer days and balmy evenings are the perfect time to appreciate everything Mother Nature offers: the beauty of the landscape, the nourishment of fruits and vegetables and the soul-soothing calm only found among trees and fields.

📅 Sunday, June 22nd, 2025
Today marks 10 weeks until Autumn!

The Summer Solstice has been celebrated for centuries: from pagan fire festivals to Christian vigils and many more traditions across different cultures and faiths. Herbs gathered on solstice eve were believed to be more powerful and drinking dew collected on solstice morning was thought to enhance beauty and health for the year ahead. Stonehenge and other ancient sites were built in alignment with the solstice sun. People believed that on this day, the veil between worlds grew thin, making it a special moment for reflection and connection.

One of the oldest rituals for the Summer Solstice is to light a candle - either at dusk or dawn - in honour of the sun.

On the Wheel of the Year, the Summer Solstice is also known as Litha: a celebration of the sun at its peak and the abundance and fertility of nature. Yet this day is a turning point of light – from now on, the days begin to shorten and the light slowly fades. The shift will be subtle at first, then more noticeable as we move through July, August and into September.

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After the solstice, we begin to lose around 1.5 to 2 minutes of daylight per day in June, increasing to up to 2.5 minutes per day in July. The change is subtle but steady, signalling that Summer is shifting and Autumn is on its way.

It’s also worth noting that the Summer Solstice has its counterpart: the Winter Solstice, which falls exactly six months later. Also known as Yule, it marks the shortest day and longest night of the year – a reminder from nature that we need both light and dark, action and rest.

No one can live in a heightened, Summer-like state forever – we’d burn out. But neither can we thrive in a constant state of rest with no direction. Balance is essential. A healthy, grounded life depends on learning when to act and when to pause.

This Week’s Gentle Task

This week, I simply ask you to spend some time outdoors and move your body. Celebrate the turning of the wheel and midsummer by being outside early in the morning or in the late evening – perhaps going for a walk in the countryside.

We have only a few weeks of these dreamy, balmy evenings left. By mid-August, the evenings become noticeably cooler, especially after dusk.

I know it might not be possible if you have young children or work early/late, but try to nip out into the back garden or even just sit outside your home in peace for a moment and appreciate how early the sun rises and sets.

Soon, we’ll start to notice the evenings drawing in little by little and the first subtle chill in the air that comes after St Ann's day in July – a whisper of coming change.

Some of you might also be interested to know that on the 21st of June we celebrate International Yoga Day. I’ll be celebrating by simply practising sun salutations, honouring the sun and my own body – and I encourage you to try some gentle movement too. 

A Simple Summer Solstice Ritual Idea at Home

Light a candle, unroll your mat or lay a blanket on the floor and move your body in whatever way feels good: stretch and twist to release tension from body and mind. Here’s the "Spiritual India" music mix I’ve often returned to during my yoga practice over the past nine years.

A little bit of fun: Summerween

I can’t write about the Summer Solstice without mentioning Summerween - a summery version of Halloween, created by those who love spooky vibes so much that they celebrate it twice a year! I’ll be celebrating Summerween by starting a new spooky read.

I recently finished the second book in the Washington Poe series, which I quite enjoyed, although I can’t say I grew to like any of the characters. If you have any spooky book recommendations (either modern or period), please share them in the comments - thank you!

A Few Closing Words

Let the Summer Solstice remind us of the duality of our nature: the need for both action and rest. The height of Summer is certainly a time for doing, so if there are any projects or tasks that need completing before the arrival of Autumn, now is the time to crack on with them. After all, there are only 10 weeks left until September!

See you next Sunday for Week 4 of our countdown,
Adriana x

Simple ideas to celebrate Summer Solstice: time in nature, gentle yoga, light a candle at dusk and dawn, baking using locally milled flour and if you celebrate Summerween - spooky book!