Sun Stands Still.
Throughout history, humans have honored the relationship between the earth and the sun in many ways. For thousands of years, our ancestors built ceremonial monuments to honor this alignment. From the ancestral Puebloans to Stonehenge to Ayurveda there is evidence of a deep connection with the natural elements.
Our western culture seems to lack the rituals and practices that invite us to consciously slow down time and be present.
Many of us take vacations and slow our lives down to honor the ritual of aligning with nature. Growing up this was always a time for camping and simple times being with family, whether it was a barbecue or a day at the pool.
Maybe you’ve found yourself drawn to the ocean, the woods, the rivers or mountains there is a pull to align and slow down. Take it as a sign to slow down.
There is no need to hurry.
Take some time to watch the fruiting and ripening that is inside and all around you.
To me the solstice feels like a natural time to pause and take a breath. It’s the space between the inhalation and exhalation that is an access point. It’s the power in the spaces between the breaths.
The sun stands still.
“The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, the seasonal movement of the Sun’s path (as seen from Earth) comes to a stop before reversing direction.”
Here are some ideas for that space in time:
Watch the sunrise.
Watch the sunset.
Play outside until the sun goes down.
Write down the stories that no longer serve you.
Light a fire.
Throw the old stories into the fire. Into the light.
Write down your desires and longings.
This is a time to pause, to stand still or sit still or while you dance cultivate an inner stillness.
Listen deeply and plant the seeds of your future.
“After all this time,
the Earth never says to the Sun,
“You owe me.”
Look what happens with a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.”
-Hafiz
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Rachel Peters is a yoga teacher, yoga health coach, lifestyle and habits expert, easeful living advocate, and lover of wild places. She leads others towards Embodying Ease through a yearlong wellness & lifestyle journey to dissolve perfectionism, embody daily habits that promote mental clarity, overall ease, and deeper connection to life on this wild ride of modern living. Learn MORE today!