The Solstice: Marking the turning of the Earth
The solstice is a pause point.
A moment where the Earth comes to a stand still (The longest day or the longest night) before changing direction.
It’s not loud.
We won’t notice it.
It doesn’t demand anything from us.
But if we’re paying attention, it asks to be acknowledged.
Long before calendars and clocks, humans marked this moment by watching the sun, feeling the shift in the air, noticing how the land responded. The solstice has always been a threshold - a reminder that everything moves in cycles, including us.
Wherever you are in the world, the solstice is an invitation to slow down and come into relationship with the season you are standing in.
What the Solstice Teaches Us
The solstice invites us to feel into:
What is at its peak
What is resting
What is quietly preparing to transform
Whether you are in the fullness of light or the depth of dark, this moment reminds us that nothing stays the same - and that there is wisdom in every phase of the cycle.
We don’t need to force meaning onto it.
Simply acknowledging the turning is enough.
Honouring the Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere
Summer Solstice - Light, Expansion, Visibility
In the Southern Hemisphere, the solstice marks the longest day and the height of summer. The land is expressive, abundant, alive.
This is a time to honour:
Growth
Fullness
Being seen
Celebrating what has come into bloom
Some simple ways to mark this moment:
↠ Wake with the sunrise and let the day unfold slowly and spaciously
↠ Build an altar with flowers, herbs, fruit, gold or sun-coloured objects
↠ Acknowledge what has grown, blossomed or come into full expression
↠ Gather with others (or connect with loved ones), share food and storytelling
↠ Spend time in water to cool, cleanse and balance the fire of summer
↠ Watch the sunset & offer gratitude to the earth for its abundance and generosity
↠ Ask: Where am I ready to be seen more fully?
Honouring the Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere
Winter Solstice - Darkness, Rest, Renewal
In the Northern Hemisphere, the solstice marks the longest night and the depth of winter. Life turns inward. Energy gathers below the surface.
This is a time to honour:
Stillness
Rest
Composting
The quiet work of becoming
Some gentle ways to mark this moment:
↠ Honour the darkness by lighting candles at dusk or dawn
↠ Create an altar with stones, seeds, bones, dried leaves or earthy tones
↠ Reflect on what is resting, composting or transforming
↠ Wrap yourself in warmth (blankets, tea, fire, slow breathing)
↠ Write down what you are releasing into the dark to be renewed (burn your words in the fire)
↠ Set gentle intentions for the light that will slowly return
↠ Ask: What is being quietly prepared within me?
An Earth-Rooted Solstice Ritual (Anywhere in the World)
You don’t need anything elaborate. Ritual is about relationship, not performance.
Step outside if you can, or sit near a window.
Place a few natural items together - whatever is available to you.
Take a few slow breaths and feel the earth beneath you.
Acknowledge the turning: the light, the dark, the shift.
Name one thing you are grateful for, and one thing you are ready to release or welcome.
Offer a small gesture back to the earth - water, breath, a spoken thank you.
Let it be simple. Let it be enough.
The Turning Continues
The solstice is not a finish line. It’s a pivot.
From here, the light slowly returns or slowly recedes. The change is subtle, almost imperceptible - yet inevitable.
Just like us.
When we take the time to mark these moments, we remember that we are not separate from the earth’s rhythms. We are shaped by them, held by them, and invited again and again to come back into alignment.
May this solstice meet you exactly where you are.
If you feel called to work more intentionally with the earth through the seasons, The Art of Earth Altars self paced online course is an invitation to deepen that relationship.
This online course is a self-paced journey where you will learn how to create and work with Earth Altars. It’s rooted in ritual, presence and connection rather than perfection or aesthetics. It’s about learning how to listen to the land, work with what’s available, and allow the earth to become an active participant in your inner world.
If the solstice stirred something in you, this may be a beautiful next step.