Summer Solstice and the Fire Element
Photo by Dakota Roos on Unsplash
What is the Summer Solstice?
The Summer Solstice marks the official astronomical start of summer. It’s the day with the longest period of sunlight, and it falls somewhere between the 19th and 21st of June each year in the Northern Hemisphere. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll be experiencing the Winter Solstice at this time. In the Chinese solar calendar, the Summer Solstice is actually the peak of summer, while the beginning of summer was May 6th. The Summer Solstice is also the point in the year when yang energy peaks.
We love pointing out the Solstices and Equinoxes because they’re great times to honor and observe our connection to nature. Thousands of years ago, our ancestors noticed patterns in what was happening in the world around them, and attached celebrations to certain times of year to mark these consistent patterns. Feng shui has a lot to do with noticing and connecting to patterns in nature. You may already have ways that you celebrate the peak of summer that come from your own cultural background or heritage.
Fire qi and water qi
In feng shui, we recognize and work with five elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. The five element system was developed in ancient China, and it helps us understand how different aspects of our world interact and work together. New to the five elements? Learn more here.
Fire is considered the most yang element. Fire is connected to the sun, heat, and the color red. Fire qi peaks during the Summer Solstice, since this is the most yang time of year. Water is the polar opposite of fire: it’s the most yin of the elements, and it’s cool rather than hot. Water also flows downwards, while flames expand and grow upwards. Fire is related to the sun in the sky, while water can be found underground in a well.
When the fire element is especially prevalent, it can be helpful to work with water to balance this energy. Too much fire and heat can be extreme. Think of a hot summer day; nothing is more refreshing than a deep dive into cool water! On the other end of the spectrum, many of our midwinter celebrations have to do with fire to counteract very cold and dark conditions.
Summer solstice feng shui ritual
We wanted to share an everyday magic ritual that is especially supportive during the Summer or Winter Solstice. We recommend doing this as close to the Solstice as possible, but don’t worry if it’s not timed perfectly.
First, fill a cup or glass with the highest quality water you can find. Bring this container of water outside during the most yang hours of the day, 11am-1pm, and let it soak up the yang fire qi from the sun for at least nine minutes. You can also leave it out longer or place it on a windowsill for a while. Then, in the evening, you’ll take a bath. If you tend to stay up late, take a bath between 11pm and 1am, the most yin hours of the day. If you like to go to bed early, you can just take a bath before you go to bed. To your bathwater, add the water that has collected the sun’s qi, and light a candle to bring in yin fire. Then turn off all the lights and sit in your bath as you visualize harmonizing the qi of these two opposite elements, fire and water. This ritual also brings in the energy of the sun and moon to create balance and harmony between warmth and coolness, inner healing and outer healing, and visibility and intuition. Sit with this intention for at least nine minutes, allowing yourself to work with the energies of water and fire together.
We hope this everyday feng shui ritual helps you create more balance in your life and a deeper connection to the cycles of nature.
Happy Solstice!