"...This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year's threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go of and becomes the future..."
- Margaret Atwood
Hi, friends! Welcome to the longest day of the year and my first seasonal newsletter.
At the height of the sun’s power, we stand in the fullness of light—radiant, expansive, and alive. The Summer Solstice invites us to honor what’s growing, both around us and within us.
Below you’ll find:
• a simple summer ritual
• a reflective journal prompt
• non-fiction and fiction book recommendations
• and my first official group offer:
Pages for the Soul (A Self-Help Book Club)
Being present: A Simple Summer Ritual
Mindful Eating of fresh, seasonal fruits is a wonderful way to connect to summer's bounty. The elements of mindful eating are as follows:
- Savor: notice the texture, aroma, and flavor.
- Observe: notice your body's responses.
- Be Present: no phone, t.v., etc. Just you and the food.
- Non-judgement: speak compassionately to yourself if this brings up "shoulds" or any food rules that might surface.
- Awareness: tasting the fruit vs. mindless eating
Here in the Pacific Northwest, berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries), stone fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots), melons (watermelon), and grapes are in season. Delicious!
Reflecting on the Season: A Journaling Prompt
This is a season full of socializing, sunshine, and sometimes inflated expectations. When our expectations don’t align with what’s realistically possible, we can end up disappointed or frustrated.
How can you manage your expectations of the summer?
Bookmarking the Season
Here's a small highlight of what I've been reading lately.
Will you or have you read either of these books?
Seasonal Offer: Pages for the Soul (A Self-Help Book Club)
May this Solstice mark not just light, but illumination. May you return to your center, and feel at home there.
In the warmth of the sun,
Responses