Summer Solstice 21st June 2026

Summer Solstice is the longest day and shortest night of the year. It is the peak point of the wheel of the year and known as the “tipping point” – from here on the days get shorter and the nights get longer on the way down to the harvest season and then to the Winter Solstice.

This day marks the beginning of Summer. The word summer is made up of the word “sum” meaning total, and “mer” which is the Latin word for light, giving the meaning of total light. It is often called Midsummer’s day because the farmers have completed their planting and it is the beginning of the warmest time of the year.

The word solstice is made up of “Sol” meaning Sun and “sistere” to stand – sun standing still.  This is because, as the summer solstice approaches, the noonday sun rises higher and higher in the sky on each successive day. On the day of the solstice, it rises an imperceptible amount, compared to the day before. In this sense, it "stands still." 

We honour the Sun at this time as it is at its peak, and light fires to reflect the power of the Sun and increase its power in the coming months to ripen the crops. Fires were also lit to drive out evil, prevent disease and misfortune, for purification and to burn through Midsummer Eve and light the festivities.

For many of us this is holiday time, and a very large proportion of us go to the coast, and lie by the sea and sunbathe. It is a time of rest, recuperation and recharging our batteries. We may not realise it, but we are living the pattern of our agricultural ancestors. Midsummer was a time between the work of Spring: planting, sowing and animal births, and the work of Autumn: harvesting, storing and preparing for winter.

The element of Fire is all about power and success, passion and will and we revel in the pleasure that summer brings, but it must be tempered – too much fire burns and destroys. To balance this energy, water is also an important element at this time of the year. The crops are growing fast and will be ripening soon, but they still need water to grow, too much of either will result in a spoilt harvest It is the same for us too; we need to find a balance in our lives, and this “between time” is a good time to take stock of how much we have achieved of our plans for the year, we can revisit our new year’s resolutions, business plans etc and see how close we are to our hopes and plans, and what we need to do in the future to accomplish our aims. 

We can also look at our spiritual life, see where we need to clear out any negative influences and habits and look at how we can achieve a better balance within ourselves.

This is a time of celebration so light fires, spend time with friends and family, enjoy the beauty of nature and give thanks for all that we have, and the harvest to come.