Each June, our family takes time to welcome the Summer Solstice. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year. Around the world, this turning point is known by many names like Midsummer, Litha, or St. John’s Day. For us, it is a gentle reminder to slow down, notice the season we are in, and connect with nature in ways that feel joyful and grounding.
Since leaving Mormonism, these earth-centered celebrations have become a vital part of my healing. In our secular Pagan home, we do not follow a rigid institution. Instead, we find our own meaning in the tilt of the earth and the heat of the sun. As a mixed heritage family, we also use this time to think about how our ancestors in Mexico and Europe marked the power of the sun.
You do not have to follow any specific tradition to celebrate. You just need a little intention, a spark of wonder, and maybe some sunshine. For centuries, people have honored this time as sacred. They marked it with bonfires, feasts, music, and rituals of renewal. It is a powerful moment to witness the height of light and warmth before the slow return to longer nights.
Ways We Celebrate (and You Can Too)
Here are a few simple, meaningful ways to welcome the Solstice—year after year:
Greet the sun at dawn or sunset. Step outside, breathe deeply, and soak in the light. Say an affirmation, pray, sing a song, or just listen.
Make a flower crown using whatever’s blooming nearby.
Light a fire (a candle works too!) to symbolize the warmth and energy of the sun.
Have a seasonal feast. Think fresh berries, grilled veggies, lemonade, homemade bread. Keep it simple and delicious.
Dance or play music outside. Even a backyard playlist or a silly family dance party can become tradition.
Make something together. Press flowers, gather herbs, collect sunlight in jars, or craft a keepsake for the season.
Stay up late. Watch the stars. Talk about what summer means to you.
One of the things I love about the Summer Solstice is how it invites us to come back to the same moment in different ways. You do not have to do it all or get it right. Just notice and show up. As our family grows and changes, our celebrations shift too. Some years we gather with friends, while other years it is just a quiet walk and a candle. No matter what, we mark the day and that feels like enough.
To help our family stay connected to these rhythms, I created a resource that we use to track the turning of the seasons. Having a visual way to see where we are in the year helps us stay grounded in our new traditions.
Click HERE to download my free Wheel of the Year printable. It is a beautiful way to mark the solstices, equinoxes, and the days in between. We love using it during our morning time to see how the light is changing and to prepare for the next turn of the wheel.
Whether you call it Solstice, Midsummer, Litha, or just the start of real summer, this day is a chance to reconnect with the earth, with each other, and with whatever grounds you. Here is to longer light, slower evenings, barefoot mornings, and all the sweet rituals that remind us we belong to something beautiful and old. May this Solstice and every one that follows bring warmth, joy, and just the right amount of magic.