Original Date: Jun 20, 2018

This is an offering to all- use this as a Summer Solstice meditation to guide your practice and inspire your thoughts. From my Summer Solstice Yoga Class, 2018.

Summer Solstice 2018 Meditation

Reflection

Each day we follow the pulse and stride of the sun. Many of us rise from our slumber as the sun appears to rise on the horizon, and we yawn and turn ourselves back into that deep slumber sleep as the sun appears to set. Our own internal rhythms syncopate with each revolution of the earth around the sun. Both the winter and summer solstices mark a time to pause and reflect on the qualities of balance. While the winter solstice marks a time to pause on our internal stillness and inner darkness, the Summer Solstice, the time of greatest light, marks a time of buoyant expression, enthusiasm, fearlessness, and confidence. Cultures throughout the ages have paid homage to this time of great light with festivals, song, dance, and reflection.

In yoga, we seek to cultivate and grow the qualities of light within, and grow the radiant abundant prana- life force. Summer surges with life force energy- prana, and we yogi’s soak it in. We owe our very existence to the light of the sun as it offers us inspiration on our path of evolution. Through our asana, our breath, our lifestyle, and our thoughts, our work in this path of practice is to build and grow our light within.  At this planetary juncture, may we pay homage to that life giving force, Surya, and the Jyoti- the illuminating light that is provided. May we reflect on our life path- What can we do to cultivate more light and illumination? How can we offer reflection of this light into our own lives? How can we live in a light and balanced way?

Meditation

Bring your hands to the Manipura Center, Solar Plexus, right hand on top of left. Visualize the light of Surya within- illuminating all the centers of Self. With each inhale, breath in cleansing light. With exhale, release negativity and doubt.  Draw from the potent Solstice energy of the Sun to grow what you seek to cultivate in your life.  Let the vibrant solar energy inspire your thought and actions.

Sit for 3 minutes.

Pranayama:

Surya Mudra- bring thumb of each hand over ring fingernail. Begin a few rounds of Ujjai breath.

Then begin 30 rounds Kapalabhati- (it is similar to panting like a dog- you learn it with mouth open, then close mouth and breath through the nose).

After 30 rounds, pause, then repeat two more times (total 3 rounds of 30 breaths).

Then 30 seconds of Ujjai.

Now engage Nadi Shodana. You can begin with simple visualization of this breath: Breath in through left nostril, then out through right nostril. Then reverse, in through right nostril, out through left. You can continue with this simple visualization, or you can use the hands to close one nostril at a time: index and middle finger to base of thumb, and use ring and thumb to close of one nostril at a time. Repeat up to 3 minutes.

Then return to Ujjai.

Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri Mantra is one of the oldest Mantras from the Vedas. It is a prayer to the sun, asking it to illuminate our mind and thoughts and to guide us towards awakening.

Gayatri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuvah Svaha

Tat savitur varenyam

Bhargo devasya dheemahi

Dhiyo yo na prachodayat  

Oh Divine Presence, Creator of the Universe, May your supreme light illuminate our intellect and guide us on the path toward enlightenment.

~~~

We meditate on that wondrous spirit of the Divine Solar Light, which shines in every dimension of life. May that Light inspire and guide our inner vision.