Today, 21st June 2022 is the Summer Solstice. It marks the longest day of the year & the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere. It signifies change, new beginning’s, nature & the seasons & has been marked for generations & by cultures all over the world.
Stonehenge an ancient monument was erected around 2500 BCE & some historians believe is was built to establish the date of the summer solstice since the sun rises at a particular point on the horizon on the day of the solstice.
In China the solstice is a time to celebrate femininity & yin forces, complimenting the more masculine yang forces of the winter solstice. According to Chinese tradition the shortest shadow is found on the day of the summer solstice & is demonstrated as such in the Chinese symbol for yang & yin.
The Summer Solstice has been described as the day when the sun seems to stand still. Solstice comes from Latin: sol meaning sun, sistere meaning stand still. On the Summer Solstice the sun reaches its most northern & highest point, hovering & appearing to stand still over the Tropic of Cancer. Then it reverses direction & starts moving south again. The same happens at the Winter Solstice as it reaches its most southerly point directly above the Tropic of Cancer, hovers & appears to be standing still & then reverses direction back to the north.
Interestingly, the Summer Solstice isn’t always on 21st June, occurring at any point between 20-22nd June, although 22nd June solstices are rare. The last one took place in 1975 & there won’t be another until 2203.
Although the Summer Solstice marks the first day of summer, the days start to gradually get shorter at first & then as we approach the winter solstice more rapidly so. But temperatures tend to continue rising with the Summer Solstice often not coinciding with the hottest day because the land masses & oceans take so long to heat up & cool down.
The Summer Solstice also does not mean that the sun is closer to the earth. The sun’s distance to the earth has very little effect over the seasons, which are driven by the Earth’s tilt of 23.4 degrees. Earth is actually furthest away from the sun at this time of year. Earth’s tilt also does not change as it rotates around the sun, what actually changes is the position of the hemispheres in relation to the Sun.
You may also be surprised to read that even though it’s the longest day it’s not the earliest sunrise everywhere, which usually happens a few days before & the latest sunset a few days later. This is due to the imbalances between measuring time using clocks & time measured by sundials.
Within the Arctic circle, there is 24 hour’s daylight on the Summer Solstice & likewise 24 hours of night on the Antartic.
Summer & Winter Solstices have been celebrated around the world for generations. And yoga is no exception. Flowing through sun salutations are a beautiful way to play homage to the Sun & all it does for us providing us with warmth, light, energy. Often you will find people practicing 108 Sun Salutations in a more meditative practice to shift energy & cultivate a sense of surrender.
What is the significance of 108? Well it has appeared in many ancient, sacred texts. In numerology, 108 add up to 9, the number symbolizing universal love, eternity & awakening. In Ayurveda medicine, said to be the oldest medicine on the planet & yoga’s sister science, there are 108 sacred points on the body. In Astronomy the distance between the Sun & the Earth is approx. 108 times the Sun’s diameter. Mala beads have 108 beads & are used to count during meditation.
Tonight I am practicing a Summer Solstice yoga practice in our regular class & then going home to tune into an online event to celebrate this auspicious day. However you choose to honour & celebrate the Summer Solstice may it herald new beginnings to you all.
Alex is based on the edge of the stunning Cotswolds & has been sharing her love for all things yoga & mindfulness for almost a decade, not just in the UK but also around the world. Her mission is to help everyone discover a more mindful way of living & to encourage them to embrace regular self-care practices for a happier & healthier way of being.
If you would like more information on how to practice mindfulness, meditation & yoga message her at alex@alexbannard.com.
For free resources check out her Facebook group: Mindfulness & Yoga for Self-Care, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MindfulnessYoga4Relationships
Alternatively please check out her website: alexbannard.com