Today was (is) the Summer Solstice (aka Midsummer or Litha), which is a holiday for me. Many consider the Summer Solstice as the “first day of summer”. You hear it on the news all day long, it’s written on a copious number of calendars that way, etc. For me, this is completely inaccurate.

The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. That means it is the absolute peak in the sun’s energy all year, and thus the peak of summer (as opposed to the beginning). After today, the days will again get shorter, the nights will become longer. This means that that bounty of energy will be waning. Thus…. Midsummer. Not the beginning of summer.

(Can you tell the whole “beginning of summer” thing is a pet peeve yet?)

The Summer Solstice is the pinnacle of growth and a time to celebrate the abundances in your life, whether they be intentions from the spring that have developed into fruition, the anticipated gifts of summer with ripe fruits and blooming flowers, or the unexpected blessings of surprise bounties.

Gratitude and celebration for these things is a key part of the Summer Solstice celebration, as is making a last bid for intentions you want to carry forward through the rest of the year. After today, as the days begin to wan into a shorter and shorter span, so too will the energies of the earth that nurture new life and buds as the time for harvesting comes in the wake of summer’s vigorous time of growth.

It is this spirit of gratitude and intention that I’ve carried with me as I moved through the day today.  I have so much to be grateful for… and you are at the top of the list, man.

I love you.