There’s a meme about how old you are when you realized things. I just realized that the astrological summer season starts on the longest daylight hour day of the year, which means summer days are all about fading daylight hours. Before this I always equated summer with long daylight hours, when in fact spring has just as many long daylight hour days!
It’s fascinating to me the different perceptions of when summer starts in the northern hemisphere. For many in the US it is the Memorial Day holiday; for others it is the last day of school, even if no kids in the household are going to school anymore! Some say it is June 1; others go with astrological summer start of the Summer Solstice around June 21. In Florida, summer weather can begin in April and by mid-June the heat can be too oppressive to enjoy the outdoors mid-day. Ahh, but those long late spring/early summer evenings are gorgeous!
This Summer Solstice I did a Tarot Card reading, using my new understanding of tarot from the course I took (link to blog here). And I did a “summer review” against my retirement lifestyle vision to create a summer Possibilities List. The summer solstice felt like a good time to do some contemplation!
My Solstice Tarot Reading Insights – The cards indicated I have a need to ground & protect myself/my energy, to stand up for what I believe, and to believe in myself. Acting in alignment with my heart, I need to take a pause and change my perspective about the situation I am in. I need to let go of my need to control – the burdens of responsibility are not mine! The cards indicated to surround myself with positive energy and express gratitude for the abundance and happiness in my life.
My Summer Review Insights – Reviewing my retirement lifestyle vision framework (Active Body, Connected Heart, Creative Spirit, Contemplative Mind), resulted in me creating a 30-item summer Possibilities List. It’s a more “living in Florida” list with some “tourist in own town” fun events to plan. It feels doable – from dinners out with friends to afternoons at museums and a definite desire for a couple of summer projects.
I felt very energized with this Solstice Tarot reading, especially as I’m struggling with a situation in one of the clubs I belong to. In combination with my lifestyle vision review, I recognized I am definitely coming back into planning mode, although I am still highly sensitive to triggers. I’m looking forward to some small summer adventures.
Do you do anything for the Summer Solstice?
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Good to read your update Pat, and I’m often confused about summer starts in the northern hemisphere. I know when it starts in Australia ! This year I’m going to have 2 summer solstices ad I’ve just been in England in June and then I’ll be home in Australia for December :). Makes me happy!
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Hi, Pat – Thank you for joining us at #What’s Been On Your Calendar. I am always perplexed about the start of summer. I want it to June 1 but we often experience Junuarys. This year are hot summer weather begun right on the Summer Solstice. How cool is that?!
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I read your comment about new moons being new beginnings & astrologically each one falls in a different part of your chart, meaning a new beginning in that part of life – or a time to set intentions in that part of life. Your cards will help you there too re what you need to be aware of. Great post.
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Happy Summer Pat! I too always think of summer as the season of longer days, even though I know that summer solstice is the longest day of the year. I generally think of Memorial Day weekend as the beginning of summer…again, even though I know that’s not technically true. I haven’t ever formally celebrated the solstice, but I think I’m going to start. I love a good reason to celebrate and to touch bases with my inner self.
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Christie, I was chatting with a friend about how much I enjoyed my Solstice Tarot read (now that I understand more about tarot) and she suggested doing one (a simple read) at each new moon. New moons being a beginning. I’m going to try that and see how it goes. I too love a good reason to touch base with my inner self!
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We don’t generally do anything in particular for Summer Solstice but this year on a whim we decided to hit a bar, sit outside, and have a few adult beverages. I liked the relaxed feeling of doing that enough that it might become our tradition! 🍸 + 🥃
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Ally, I did that a few years ago – for both summer and winter solstice. Another time of life, another set of friends. A great tradition to have!
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I know that the days get shorter, but I live in perpetual denial until about mid-September and then must face reality. But I adore June – it’s still twilight as I write this at 12:15. It gets darkish around 1:15 but by 2:15 it’s already light again.
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Bernie – OMG. I’ve never experienced long days like that. How cool. I’m happy when the sun is setting at 8:30 PM. Those wider swings are much more noticeable!
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And next year on the solstice we are going to be in the “land of the midnight sun”. Yukon was deferred in 2020 so going in 2024!
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Such a positive actionable note! I’m motivated by it too. Good luck with your summer Pat! It is invigorating!
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Thanks Judi. I’m quite eager these days to do some of the things planned… a definite shift from a couple of months ago. Although I am spending midd-days indoors quite a bit…getting that crazy summer heat already. Still something for me to get used to here in Florida.
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The summer solstice is kind of depressing for me because I know the daylight hours each day will begin to decrease. I know it takes a while to become apparent but it still is sad. I love leading up to it, enjoying the late summer nights.
I have heard the meteorological first day of summer is June 1, which makes more sense to me. It aligns more with our seasons here.
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I’m leaning towards thinking June 1 myself as, like you, it aligns more to the seasons. That means that I’m 1/3 of the way through summer though…time to start doing some of the things I said I’d do!
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I celebrate the winter solstice & the coming of the light. I’ve never celebrated the summer solstice but relish the long daylight hours. I try not to focus on the waning daylight hours that the summer solstice brings & just enjoy. There has been some unseasonably hot, dry weather here this spring & I have to remind myself that summer is just beginning. It’s been 50 yrs since high school graduation but still think of the beginning of summer as the end of the school year. Once the spring rush is over I can settle into porch setting, puttering in the garden, music festivals, day trips, bbqs, etc.
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Mona, You’ve given me a couple new ideas to think about this summer! Day trips and bbq! As I thought more about it, I’m leaning towards June 1 – technically the meteorological date – as the start of summer here for me. It’s when the temps began not dropping into cooler nights! I am enjoying the long daylight hours, although they are not as extensive as when I lived in Ohio even! 1000 miles closer to the equator, here.
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