The Summer Solstice in the land of the midnight sun.

written by Dr. Janice Brown, Spiritual Warrior and Intellectual Lateral Thinker.

I grew up in the Yukon, a beautiful place in Canada’s north often called the “Land of the Midnight Sun”. My summer memories of childhood always included tinfoil on all the bedroom windows. This is how we managed the problem of too much daylight in the 70’s (even though it breaks all the Feng Shui recommendations for windows). Now, there are prettier and more fashionable window coverings to manage the ‘nuisance’ of light at night, but for the time it was a very practical solution and not unique to our household.

The Longest Day

For me this time of year was magical, we called the summer solstice, the longest day. In our town, we didn’t do Canada Day fireworks we saved such activities for cold winter nights; there just isn’t much sparkle in a fireworks display during daylight and our days in the north were bright well past midnight. To me, summer solstice will always be the longest day, but to our friends in the southern hemisphere it is just the opposite, it is the longest night. You see, it’s all a matter of perspective, you will see different things depending on where you are.

Lately, as I’ve been doing some work on SoleHealing, I’ve been thinking a lot about expansion and contraction in the context of the SolePath body of work. It is both deeply personal and fascinating to me. What I’ve been pondering is reflective of this very special time of year.

Today, in the northern hemisphere we are coming upon the most yang point of the year, summer solstice. It does not mean only yang, it is the longest day the most expansive aspect where yang energy reaches the hinge point; the pivot to begin contraction of yang, up until the winter solstice. Where at the winter solstice, it transforms into the longest night or point of most yin, the point of most yang contraction (not collapse) where there is a pause and the energy pivots again.

This is the natural rhythm of yin and yang in expansion. Think of natural rhythm like stretching and relaxing. An aspect of movement with a natural resting place. This rhythm generates our seasons which so lovingly lead us through our lives embraced by the movement patterns, rotation and tilt of our lovely planet as she travels around the sun.

How the Sun moves through the Sky

I recently read an interesting article written by Ethan Siegel a Ph.D. Astrophysicist in Forbes magazine that was written a few years ago. In the article, “This is how the sun moves through the sky throughout the year”, he shares some great insights.

I love how he describes the sun’s motion through the sky, ‘its unique cosmic pirouette’ is due to our planet’s one-of-a-kind motion through space.

Though Earth may be the only planet in our solar system that moves with this pattern, if you’ve studied under Dr. Debra and her beautiful teachings on the Tao, you are probably starting to glimpse however, that this motion is intrinsic to all that we know about the rhythm of nature. Our practice in studying the Tao is about being a gentle participant in life and learning to recognise and honour these rhythms. This is something we can only do through experience. Learning to do this with grace and ease is a high purpose for all of us.

The Rhythm of the Tao

Dr. Debra reminds us in her book, Daily Pulse, Rhythm of the Tao, about these natural rhythms and understandings. In section 2.9, she discusses Tai Chi energy.

“When light and expanding, Tai Chi energy is balanced, allowing and non-resistant. When dark and collapsed, Tai Chi energy is unbalanced.”

Isn’t nature amazing? Such a powerful demonstration of rhythm and flow for us. I encourage you to enjoy the beauty of this unique day and see where you can drop into your natural rhythm of expansion and contraction during this very special time of the year.

Ask yourself:

• How can you embrace and not resist your natural movement and need?
• What perspective are you looking at the world from?
• Are you allowing the natural pause of your personal energy?

And remember, it’s a great time to start living on purpose.

Now…go enjoy this beautiful day!

Citations

Siegel, E. (2019, January 1). This is how the sun moves through the sky. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/01/01/this-is-how-the-sun-moves-in-the-sky-throughout-the-year/?sh=2b236ff57303

Author: Janice M Brown, SCM, Rev.

Dean of Academics, SolePath certified master mentor, Academy of Inner Wisdom Faculty, SolePath Instructor through the SolePath Institute

Janice’s SolePath is Spiritual Warrior and Intellectual Lateral Thinker. Her core values are her passion for life and her amazing problem solving gifts. Janice is a Wellness Visionary who is deeply fulfilled by helping people see the true brilliance of who they are and discovering the many aspects of the self that contribute to a person’s well-being.

Janice is an avid writer and explorer of life, who teaches people understandings of metaphysical concepts and mastery of self through the SolePath Institute. She is an Ordained Metaphysical Minister and SolePath Certified master mentor. Janice has a 4 year Doctor of Chinese medicine diploma and has been involved in the health field since the 90’s. She uses the wisdom of the body and the mind in her wellness consulting and she is the author of the SoleHealing protocols. 

Contact: DrJanice@SolePath.org