Summer Solstice is here!
Hello dear family and friends, colleagues, fellow travelers… All of us are welcome on this journey, currently so very wild, exciting, pivotal, critical, scary, yet full of potential….
If you’re inclined to skip the notes below about Summer Solstice or Alignment, feel free to jump to the video at the end, a short TED talk in Vancouver in April by Angus Harvey of Fix the News. It’s called Of Monsters and Miracles.
Celebrating the Summer Solstice
We have come once again to the summer solstice, the turning of light, the longest day, the official start of summer. Since time immemorial it has been a special day, celebrated, honored, feted, and feasted. Although the days will begin to shorten, we have months more of early, dewy, dreamy dawns and extended, divine, dazzling, or delicious dusks. I love being able to go outside without needing to add layers! Here’s a link with intriguing astronomical info about this important event. You might also like to revel in the early Celtic traditions around this key date. And I like this observation about summer: “…it’s a time of fruitfulness, when blossoms give way to sweet abundance of berries and peaches, delicate lettuces, and gorgeous tomatoes.” Yippee, yummy, and yeah!
A Fitting Passage for the Season
I would like to offer what seems like a fitting passage for the craziness of this season—or any season, for that matter. It’s about alignment. It really spoke to me right now, as so much is changing, breaking down, or is being broken… and so much is being asked of us. Eckhart Tolle wrote a book called A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose. Here is the excerpt that jumped out at me: “To be in alignment with what is means to be in a relationship of inner nonresistance with what happens. It means not to label it mentally as good or bad, but to let it be.”
Inner Nonresistance and Acceptance
It has been my deep intention, over decades now, to shift from negativity and judgment to nonresistance, as Tolle suggests. In other words, I would like to accept what is, not constantly judge it or wish it were different. I’m moving in that direction but am definitely not there yet! And Tolle’s notion that this is about alignment seems very helpful. The word suggests a turning to me: when I align with acceptance, I turn toward what is, rather than pushing it away. This “turning toward” makes a huge difference in so many ways.
Taking Empowered Action from Alignment
And there’s more. Tolle adds, “Does this mean you can no longer take action to bring about change in your life? On the contrary. When the basis for your actions is in alignment with the present moment, your actions become empowered but the intelligence of life itself.”
Acceptance Is Not Passive
This is so vital: acceptance does not mean condoning. Acceptance is not passive. We can accept what is and align ourselves with where we want to go; choose to align with the upward shifts happening all around the planet. Opportunities arise—in these times of breakdown, destruction, reorientation, and possible rebirth—to step up and do our part to bring about positive changes that move us toward new ways of being: away from polarization, anger, blaming, and hatred and toward interconnectedness, kindness, care, and generosity. And remember: Life is unfolding. We are not in charge, yet we are a key partner in this exquisite, mysterious dance.
TED Talk Recommendation: Of Monsters and Miracles
In closing, and absolutely relevant to our topic, is a TED that talk was given in Vancouver in April by Angus Harvey of Fix the News. It’s called Of Monsters and Miracles. It’s very much about alignment and empowerment. If you’re interested in the fascinating back story, you can read it here.
A Quote for the Season
Finally, a quotation I love, attributed to Teddy Roosevelt (or Bill Widener), which can be our guide going forward:
“Do what you can,
in the place where you are,
with what you’ve been given,
in the time that you have.”
Wishing You a Joyous Solstice and Summer
Wishing you all the best for this solstice. Have a delicious, healthy, happy, fruitful, and joyous summer. In the face of all that is, let’s align with what moves us forward together. Here’s to focusing on the good, the uplifting, the possible, and the opportunities; sending appreciation for all you do; and thanks to those who share their insights and inspirations with me!
Recent blog posts, or ones that may be of interest in this context:
• Beauty Is All Around Us—Outside and In: For weeks now the universe has been sending me signs and messages of beauty: to pay attention to its inner and outer manifestations.
• We’re Made To Dance: Let’s Do it! Take a break from the computer, the routine, the sitting… and dance! Or juggle, or walk, run or sing! Taking a break can make our day! How does this grab you? I’d love to hear, We’re in this together.
• Mindset Matters: What Is Yours? Our thoughts can, very literally, determine our emotions, our experience… and therefore our life, our functioning, our well-being, and our awakening. It’s that simple and that clear. And worth revisiting again and again.
• Holding the Vision. Negativity, not only in my view, serves practically no useful purpose and has countless deleterious effects. I suggest we change the movie! I offer a few choices that have been helpful to me in holding the vision.
