Summer solstice, also known as Litha, is the longest day of the year, but it’s only the very beginning of the summer months with the hottest weather yet to come.

Litha is one of the eight traditional Pagan holidays when daytime energies are at their strongest, radiating mega-doses of vitality and love.

The Sun, seen from an esoteric level, is all about love and wisdom. It’s the primary ray of energy from which everything else is created. It’s the Heart of creation. The Sun never fails to shine, always “rises” to meet us, and sustains life on Earth.

This year, Litha falls on June 21st – a time when those of us who practice magic speak of drawing down the Sun. This means connecting with prana or life force, both within and without.

To draw down or bring out the Sun means harnessing radiant solar energies in order to have the confidence to let yourself shine and be seen. It’s affirming that you’re strong, vibrant, loving, warm, and filled with light.

Litha is the Sun’s day, and the Sun is the center of our solar system. It brings us all back to our center, to our hearts, and the creative source of everything.

The Sun rules the passionate, creative, and proud sign, Leo. 

Leo is motivated to share and lead from the heart and become the brightest, fullest version of itself. With the Sun at its maximum power, Litha’s the perfect time to recognize all the things, small and large, that you’ve created and shared with others. 

It’s also time to honor the leader within you and how you continue to express more of your most authentic self. 

At the summer solstice, a doorway in time opens, which our ancestors viewed as sacred and holy. Litha is a grand portal of energy, space, and opportunity – a chance to let go of fears, doubts, and insecurities.

After the Sun reaches its maximum power, it begins to decline.

Slowly, the night force will grow stronger until its peak at the winter solstice.

Litha is the last chance in our calendar year to activate sacred intentions before moving into autumn and winter, the natural seasons of harvest and rest. I

t’s a time to step out in faith and imagine what’s entirely possible for yourself.

Dream an expansive vision for your life that will sustain you as the darkness slowly returns with the fall. 

5 Ways to Be Like the Sun 

1. Be the Light

The Sun is a star, and its job is to shine! So is yours, in your unique ways. No matter what happens around you, you always have a choice to see, be, and share the light. What I mean by light is love. Whatever you’re doing and wherever you are, choose that love and give it away freely. There’s no prescription for how this looks, so get creative and just do you – in the truest, sincere, most authentic ways you know.

2. Take the Lead

Solar energy is motivating and naturally attracts attention. Use that power for good and be the best example you can. You may not own a business or directly work with large groups, but people look to you. Notice who they are and think about what they see. Every time your inner sun comes into someone else’s field, it makes an impact. It radiates its energy and infuses people, spaces, and places. Be a leader with your energy and set an example worthy of following.

3. Co-Create

The Sun represents the principle of co-creation and animates the entire zodiac. It doesn’t exist alone and wouldn’t mean anything without the rest of the solar system to interact with. In the tarot, The Sun card is about working with others in ways that inspire you and the world. To be like the Sun is to find people who share your passions and bring all that energy together to make something purposeful. Creatives need each other to stay creative. We’re not meant to do this alone. Find a way to connect and make something exciting happen.

4. Act with Integrity

What do I mean by integrity? I mean acting from wholeness by integrating body, mind, heart, and spirit. Most simply, you act with integrity when you’re true to yourself. It’s so easy to think or feel a certain way but act another, which causes a division within you. Some animals, like horses, are especially sensitive to this inauthenticity. They can feel the conflict and won’t trust someone who’s acting out of alignment with their emotional energy – like pretending to be tough when truly afraid. Integrity takes personal work, practice, and honesty. To act with integrity, you have to be honest about where you’re at and what you’re doing. When you know your ego is reacting, own it. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not or commit to doing something you’re not ready to do. Be honest about your feelings, even if it’s a little uncomfortable. 

In astrology, the Sun is the planet of integration. Your Sun Sign is the energy through which you’re integrating yourself. If you’re a Libra, it all comes together through relationships, balancing extremes, and cooperation. If you’re a Sagittarius, it all comes together through searching to find more meaning and following your true path. We’re all in the process of integrating our higher and lower selves. With awareness and practice, you can align your thoughts and actions with your heart and higher mind.  

5. Balance Your Solar Plexus Chakra

The Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura color is bright yellow, like the Sun. This center is located just above your belly button and is the powerhouse of your energy system. Balancing this chakra helps you confidently stand and act in your power. If your Solar Plexus Chakra is underactive, you might feel powerless or uncertain. If it’s overactive, you might become overpowering and arrogant. Humility is part of this chakra’s medicine. True strength is humility. This chakra is also where you manifest all the things you create. You can think of your Solar Plexus Chakra as the Sun, radiating warmth and light into life. Activate this energy center to rest assured of your capabilities and to make things happen for yourself. Below are some tremendous Solar Plexus herbs, oils, stones, deities, and mantras you can work with.

Solar Plexus Herbs/Oils: Calendula, cumin, helichrysum, lemon, neroli, turmeric   

Solar Plexus Stones: Sunstone, yellow aventurine, pyrite, yellow apatite, citrine, golden healer quartz, tiger’s eye

Solar Plexus Deities: Agni, Athena, Ma’at, Pele, Ra, Sekhmet, Xiuhtecuhtli 

Solar Plexus Mantras: 

“I am strong, capable, and powerful.” 

“I stand in my power.”

“I am the leader of my life.”

In Closing

If you want to delve deeper into how to welcome Solstice and harness that energy, grab your copy of SASS.

However you choose to welcome summer, and long past it, I hope you’ll find ways to grow and feed the light for the benefit of us all.

May you feel on the deepest level how powerful you are – how your energy and the way you run it make an impact. May you use your light to inspire and empower others. May we all choose the wisdom of love. From my heart to yours, happy Litha.