Magical Ways to Welcome the Summer Solstice 2021.
The numbers of lightning bugs will peak as the temperature warms up
with the peak of the season happening around the Summer Solstice of June 21.
“Warm, moist nights are what they like best,” she said. If you want to catch a firefly, she said you can put one in a jar with some grass and maybe a slice of fruit such as an apple. They like moisture. She said the insects should then be released where you find them so they can continue their journey looking for a mate.
When you see a flashing insect in your backyard, do you call it a firefly
or a lightning bug? And have you ever wondered if those names refer to two different insects?
Despite their unique names, lightning bugs and fireflies are actually
the exact same thing: a family of flying beetles that communicate through bioluminescent flashes. However, there is a reason for the differing terms—
and it all comes down to where you live.
Are fireflies different from lightning bugs?
Again, lightning bugs and fireflies are the exact same insect.
Adding another layer of confusion, they aren’t even flies at all—as members of the Lampyridae family, the bugs are technically winged beetles.
There are about 170 species of lightning bugs living in North America, according to Firefly Research and Conservation (FRC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the insects. Each species has unique color and
flash patterns, explains Akito Y. Kawahara, Ph.D., associate professor and curator at the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida, with purposes ranging from mating to carnivorous feeding (more on that later).
Why do they have two different names?
The terms “firefly” and “lightning bug” are the result of distinct regional dialects—and the one you use might actually tell you more about yourself
than the insects.
Researchers from the University of Cambridge asked 10,000 Americans
from around the country this question: “What do you call the insect that flies around in the summer and has a rear section that glows in the dark?” The results showed pretty clear differences in certain parts of the United States.
Roughly 40% of respondents used both terms interchangeably, 30% said “firefly,” and the remaining 30% said “lightning bug.” “Firefly” was most popular in the western half of the country, while “lightning bug” dominated parts of the Midwest, the South, and the Mid-Atlantic. The terms were largely interchangeable around that region, including on the East Coast and in Texas. (Two people said they use the term “peenie wallie”—we can’t explain that one, either.)
Another researcher later found that using “lightning bug” is more common in parts of the country where lightning strikes are more frequent. So although there’s no difference in the bugs themselves, there is a difference between the way we talk in certain places.
Why do these bugs light up?
Looking out at a field of these glowing insects, it’s easy enough to think of
their flashes as just a pretty show—but the true purpose is far more complex. “What’s actually going on is quite amazing,” Kawahara explains. Their bioluminescence comes from a chemical reaction inside their bodies,
and the insects flash for two main reasons: mating and feeding.
Male and female fireflies both flash, but the guys are typically the more active ones. “The males are calling the females using their light flashes,” Kawahara says, trying to woo available ladies with the right pattern and intensity.
On the other end of the spectrum, lightning bug flashes can also be a bit grim. “Predatory females attract males of another species so they can eat them,” Kawahara notes, by tricking them into thinking that a female of their own species is interested in them. “The males don’t know that, and they try to
mate with the female, but they get eaten.”
Do yoga outside.
Start doing your Sun Salutations in the park during the morning hours. Welcome the positive vibes as you stretch and breathe out the energy from last season. An hour before sunset, start a sun ritual.
Dance under the sun with friends or solo. Offer the sun some love. Let the sun know that you feel alive and powerful in its presence.
Have a community cook off or donate food to a charitable organization in
your neighborhood. Connecting with your neighbors and community will set a positive tone for the next few months. Also, giving to those in need will help unify you with others.
Allow yourself to laugh. Summer is a light season that’s associated with fun. Embracing your inner child will allow you to feel as though you’re living your best life. Forget all your worries today and smile.
Read: Psychic Powers & Types of Psychic Abilities
The best way to embrace the Solstice is to honor the sun. After all, it’s responsible for giving life and power to every living being on Earth.
While lighting bonfires is ideal, it’s not the most eco-conscious way to have fun during the Solstice. However, if you have ways to safely light a mini bonfire, then it’s ideal to sit in front of one with friends and family while embracing the sunny vibes with jovial cheer and libations. Discuss what you want to manifest and let go of in the upcoming days. Remember, this is a chance to start anew. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you’re bringing in your truth.
Speak about your dreams. Let them be known to ensure they come true.
Summer Solstice occurs sometime between June 20th – 21st in the northern hemisphere. Solstice means the sun stands still and this is because as the sun reaches its highest point in the sky for the few days on and around Solstice the sun appears to stand still in the heavens. It is the longest day of the year, where the night is short and the light reigns. Just imagine how magical this must have been to ancient peoples who worshiped the sun as their God.
The Sun represents the divine masculine and is the giver of life.
Another name for the Summer Solstice is The Cusp of Magic because all the land is bathed in warmth and light and the earth is lush and full of worldly delights. Everyone loves the summertime. It’s a time to play and enjoy the warm season. We also get to enjoy seasonal fruits such as berries, fruit and other delicious treats from the earth. All these things are possible because of the sun and the other elements that generously give to us year after year.
The days are long, the sun is hot, the garden full, and nature buzzes with constant activity. It’s the Summer Solstice – symbolizing fulfillment, abundance, life, energy, and blessings. Often celebrated as Litha, or Midsummer, the Summer Solstice is one of the eight sabbaths on the pagan Wheel of the Year.
Why is Litha called the day of the longest light?
Though Litha marks the zenith of the Sun and the day of the longest light,
it is a day of sadness. From this day forward the Oak King/Sun King will begin to falter and weaken, for with birth comes death, the birth of the Holy King brings the death of the light half of the year and we begin to spiral into the darkness.
Litha marks the longest day of the year, where the sun is at its strongest, and nature fully alive and active. The promise of Imbolc (February 2nd) is finally fulfilled as we bask in long days, warmth, and plenty.
The themes to reflect on during Litha are:
Fulfillment
It’s a good time of year to check in with what makes us feel fulfilled.
Is your hard work paying off? Do you feel fulfilled? Are you enjoying the journey?
Summertime beckons for us to be present and enjoy life, so if something is preventing you from feeling fulfilled and joyful, it’s time to do a gut check
and make some course corrections.
Gratitude
We often associate gratitude – or thanksgiving – with the late summer and
autumn sabbats of Lughnasadh and Mabon.
However, the Summer Solstice is the perfect time to sit back and take in all of the lush beauty of summer – the flowers, the fragrant herbs growing in your garden, the sunlight glinting on the water – take it all in and be thankful for everything you have – no matter how small or insignificant it might be.
Another theme of Litha is joy and happiness.
Summer is often a joyful time, and while current events in the world,
or your present life circumstances might make it difficult to be joyful,
it is possible to find bits of joy and peace if you embrace the present moment.
What truly makes you happy? What brings you joy?
What are the most important things in your life?
Write these down and take time to truly appreciate them.
Better yet, give yourself permission to spend more time doing things you enjoy, and work toward balance between work and play.
Nurturing Our Dreams
Winter is a time for planning and intentions setting,
and we start putting things in motion during the spring.
The summer is a time to tend to and nurture what we want to grow in our lives.
It’s time to balance self-care and rejuvenating play time with the hard work and dedication that it takes to continue the work of fulfilling what we want to manifest in our lives.
Just as the farmer or gardener waters, prunes, and protects their crops,
so too must we protect, grow, and nurture our self-growth and positive, forward direction.
How to Embrace the Upcoming Solstice for a Successful Rest of 2021
BY KELSEY MALONEY
The next solstice is around the corner and for many, it serves as a reminder to realign purposes and offers a fresh start to the back half of 2021. The desire to harness this new wave of energy and channel it towards something productive is common amongst revelers and calls for festivities all over the world.
Although this time of year is widely known for being a powerful astronomical occasion, you don’t have to be an astrologist to honor the change of season and all it has to offer. In fact, this is a great time for everyone to either check in on existing intentions or welcome new ones to help manifest a successful rest of the year.
“The solstice is a culmination of our yearly cycle demarcating a time for
us to celebrate and release the last 6 months so that a new phase can begin,” says Rebecca Gordon, professional astrologer, author of Your Body and The Stars: The Zodiac As Your Wellness Guide, and founder of the 15-year-running My Path Astrology School.
Read on to learn more about the solstices,
plus tips on how you can welcome the new season in your own way.
What is the solstice?
There are two solstices that happen each year, one on June 20 or 21 and the other on December 21 or 22, marking the change in seasons. The upcoming solstice for the Northern hemisphere is the longest day of the year and the day the earth is closest to the sun, making the rise and setting of the sun appear to stop and reverse direction creating the longest day of sunlight.
This is known as the summer solstice. For the Southern hemisphere, where it’s the shortest day of the year, is known as the winter solstice.
Sounds exciting, right? Our ancestors agreed. Deriving from the Latin word, sol, meaning sun and stare, meaning to stand or stop, the solstice has long been a time of sacred celebration with an abundant history varying across cultures all over the world. The Greeks used the occurrence to mark the start of the new year, many Native American tribes commemorated the extra sunlight with sun dances, and the Mayans and Aztecs used the day to build so that the structures would perfectly align with the shadows of the two solstices, summer and winter, to name a few.
In modern culture, the rituals performed across the world on this day can simply serve as a symbol to reflect on our successes from the first half of the year, a reminder to put your health and wellness at the forefront, and a day
to recognize the fullness of life.
How you can celebrate the solstice
If you’ve never celebrated a solstice before, no fear! Whether it’s winter or summer where you are right now, there are plenty of easy ways to make the most of the day. From spending time in nature (if weather permits), to doing
a quick meditation, or setting new intentions and/or checking in on existing ones, are all great places to start.
Set intentions. Setting intentions is a form of self-care that is actinal, such as working meditation into your daily routine, moving your body for 20 minutes a day, or limiting screen time. By setting intentions you’re holding yourself accountable and taking action steps towards growing into your best self on your own terms. Whether your intention is fitness, mindfulness, or nutrition focused, Fitbit Premium can help by revealing patterns in your health metrics, offering hundreds of workouts and meditations, and more.
If you’d like to set intentions, Gordon advises that because “the solstice will occur 10 days after a solar eclipse, our lives will be in flux more than usual.
If you would like to begin anew and set intentions, first you must release what has been to create space in your life.”
Ways you can do this is by cleaning your home,
clearing your mind, and creating the room for realities to manifest.
Put your intentions on display. Write down your intentions then display them in a place you’ll see them every day. You can even set daily reminders on your phone to have them pop up at a certain time of day. This will remind you to stop and take a moment to say your intentions either out loud or in your head.
Meditate. Meditation is a great tool to use to reset focus, address stress levels, and keep your mind present. For the upcoming solstice, Gordon recommends the inner sun meditation, where you envision the sun in your solar plexus (center of chest) and see it’s light radiating in all directions surrounding you. “Remain in this radiance for 11 minutes and only focus on the breath and light emanating from your center,” she says. “This will help you to realign your light with the sun’s power and warmth.”
You can also use your Fitbit Sense to check your stress levels with the 2-minute EDA scan feature or use the Fitbit app to access a variety of mindfulness sessions!
Spend time in nature. Whether you’re in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, Gordon mentions that it’s best practice to commune with the sun even if it’s cloudy outside. “Go outside and witness the sun at its sacred pivot point,” she says. “Allow it to reflect back to you how you are also now pivoting in your own life. Know that this day is a point of transition and give gratitude.”
Kelsey Maloney,
Author at Sunset Magazine
A New Jersey native that is an Associate Editor at Fitbit currently living out her California dream in San Francisco. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism, she backpacked for a year to several countries around the world, including to her favorite city – Cape Town, South Africa. She then made the leap to the West Coast to pursue her writing and editing career, formerly at Sunset Magazine. Kelsey is a travel and hot yoga enthusiast with an adoration for live music, and snowboarding, Annie’s macaroni and cheese –
and a good IPA.
“Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks.
Listen to your heart, it knows…”
Listen to: “Up to the mountain” Patty Griffin & “You Love Me Anyway” Lyrics
2 of my favorites.
31 Surprising Signs You’ll Live to 100 (msn.com)