Welcome to your ✨Monday Moment✨
Take a deep breath in. Hold it. Exhale.
Pick a colour 🔴 🟠 🟡 🟢 🔵 🟣
Find the moment below with that same colour, then go to the closing moment at the end.
🔴 Take a moment to learn the meaning of the word “solstice.” A solstice is an astronomical event that occurs when the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky relative to the equator. The word comes from the Latin solstitium, combining sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because the Sun appears to pause briefly before changing direction.
🟠 Take a moment to appreciate how different cultures celebrate the summer solstice. In Sweden, people dance around maypoles and wear flower crowns; in Latvia, the festival of Jāņi features wreath-making, bonfires, and singing through the night; in Peru, the festival of Inti Raymi honors the Sun with traditional ceremonies; and in England, thousands gather at Stonehenge to watch the solstice sunrise align with the ancient stones.
🟡 Take a moment to learn about some of the foods of the summer solstice. In Sweden, Midsommar tables are filled with strawberries, cream, pickled herring, and new potatoes. In Latvia, families enjoy traditional caraway cheese known as Jāņu siers. In Finland, celebrations often feature grilled fish and fresh seasonal vegetables. In Peru, solstice festivities may include corn, potatoes, and other Andean staples that have sustained communities for centuries. Though the foods differ, many solstice traditions celebrate the abundance of the growing season and the long days of summer.
🟢 Take a moment to ponder how you would spend the longest day of the year if you could do absolutely anything. Who would you spend it with? What would you do? Where would you go?
🔵 Take a moment to appreciate that people have marked the summer solstice for thousands of years. At Nabta Playa in Egypt, ancient stone circles were aligned with the Sun’s position at the solstice, suggesting that even some of the earliest communities paid close attention to the Sun’s journey.
🟣 Take a moment to have a summer solstice breath – yes, even if the solstice was yesterday. Sit (or stand) tall and relax your shoulders. Bring your hands together and form a circle with your fingers. As you inhale, slowly raise your arms overhead and, if comfortable, look up towards your hands. Imagine the sun shining through the circle, filling you with warmth and energy. Pause for a moment and consider what you want to grow, nurture, or bring into the light during the months ahead. Reflect on the positive habits or intentions you’d like to cultivate in the second half of the year. As you exhale, slowly lower your hands, drawing that warmth and energy inward. Repeat as many times as feels right.
A closing moment to take another deep breath together. Hold it, feel it, and gently exhale. The solstice is a reminder that even the Sun appears to pause before changing direction. Let that be a reminder for us to do the same. Before the week gets away from you, take a moment to reflect on what’s flourishing in your life and what you’d like to carry forward into the second half of the year. Now get out there and shine bright, Sunshine! 🌞
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Disclaimer
This post is created for entertainment, happy vibes and informative purposes. It is not to be perceived as professional advice regarding health or finances, or any other field. I am also human and may have the odd misspelling, grammatical error and/or repeats. I will always try my best, but will never promise perfection.
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