Welcoming Summer: What Light Reveals
Photo by Tom Shakir on Unsplash
“Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”
On June 20th, the summer solstice brought us the longest day of the year and a celebration of light. The light brings tremendous growth in the world around us. As I look out into my backyard I see full and lush green plant life. For those of us who set intentions for the year on the winter solstice, the summer solstice brings to light what we have grown. Summer offers us an opportunity to enjoy what we have manifested. This isn’t always the easiest task. While the light might be shining on growth in one area of your life, you may still be fixated on other parts of life that are still challenging. The mind has a way of fixating on what hasn’t been changed or accomplished. But by staying focused on the past or the future, we aren’t noticing the gifts of the present moment. Many of us get addicted to striving. Perhaps the hard thing is to take a break from the struggle.
During an amazing summer solstice workshop with Jen Deraspe at Nurture through Nature, I was invited to balance the fire energy of summer by connecting to the element of water. I laid myself down on a cool moss covered rock in the middle of a mountain creek. I immediately noticed myself tensing my muscles to hold myself up on the rock. Eventually, I let gravity take my body and move with the slope of the rock. I found my head lolling next to the gently moving water and allowed myself to experience flow. It later occurred to me that I had been working so hard to move into my new office in Kennebunk, that I had yet to release the striving still held in my muscles. All of that energy it took to hold me up was being wasted. Instead, by letting go I was able to transition into the next stage of my creative process: enjoyment.
The Preciousness of Beauty
“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
It’s a bittersweet thing that while summer solstice marks the beginning of the summer season, it also marks a shift toward shorter and shorter days. In six months we will be back at the winter solstice celebrating the shortest day of the year and setting our next year’s intentions. This moment is precious. The beauty that the sun is highlighting right now is temporary. Because enjoying summer is a matter of survival here in Maine, especially during a pandemic, many of us load our summers with plans. Have you ever noticed that the quicker you move the faster time flies? And the faster time flies, the more likely we are to miss the tiny precious moments.
A wonderful summer practice is to notice and record three beautiful things a day. Make an intention to see the world with glittering eyes. What do you see? Maybe it’s the way light plays on water. What do you hear? Maybe it’s the laughter of children. When you notice a beautiful moment, take a deep breath in and allow yourself to savor it. At the end of each day, record three beautiful things you noticed from the day. Make this practice a daily celebration of beauty.
Integrating the Shadow
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
It’s a funny thing that the more light fills our life, the more aware we become of shadow. Just as in the darkness of winter, we become more aware of light. In this duality, we have the opportunity to explore the parts of ourselves that are often hidden. Do you find yourself feeling sad in the summer? Do you feel lonely in a crowd of people? Do you feel fear as life starts “returning to normal” during the pandemic? So many of us feel a tremendous pressure to feel happy in the summer and yet we experience a far wider range of emotions.
Instead of approaching our awareness of our shadow with resistance, invite it to the table. In this practice of duality, try holding both of your palms up and in front of you. In one hand, place the shadow emotion, thought, or sensation. In the other hand, place the light emotion, thought, or sensation. Notice the sensations in both hands. Notice how it feels to have them both in front of you. By holding both the light and the shadow within us with compassionate awareness, we are practicing wholeness. When we are whole, we are resilient and our inner light cannot be extinguished. May this summer season be a celebration of all that you are, all that you’ve accomplished, all that you find beautiful, and all that makes you whole.