Summer Solstice 2020: The Light Bringer
Dear Friends:
The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere arrives on Saturday, June 20 at 2:44 PM PDT. At the solstice (literally sun stands still) we pause, illumination at its peak. There is much to take in.
My last newsletter spoke of the challenges of the coronavirus and how we might cope with the stresses of what evolved into a pandemic, and find more ground under our feet. And many of us were already speaking to the parallel between COVID and climate change - pointing to our interdependence, the need to be present to what is, and for cooperation to address global challenges.
And then, not one month ago, George Floyd.
One man, one police officer, and an eternal 8 minutes and 46 seconds that blew the lid off the complicity around systemic racism in a way that I could not have imagined in my lifetime. “I can’t breathe” has become a rallying cry reverberating around the world. We feel it in our bodies, in our souls.
Clearly, pressure has been building. Each of these complex and multi-faceted issues – climate change, the coronavirus pandemic, and the upheaval around systemic racism – is a crisis that requires our full attention. But they are also wayshowers inviting our attention during this time of illumination.
There is much to see here if we only will.
To borrow language from physicist and ecologist Fritjof Capra about the coronavirus (“a biological response of Gaia to the ecological and social emergency that humanity has brought upon itself”) all three are emergencies that humanity has brought upon itself.
Denial is a powerful elixir, as are ignorance and apathy. The truth is more powerful still.
This moment invites us to bring all of ourselves to the task of witnessing what is with clarity and compassion. If we are committed to showing up in our lives and in the world, this is the moment to do so.
And this just happens to be aligned with the energies of the cosmos.
Along with the summer solstice we have a new moon and a solar eclipse: Earth will be in perfect alignment with her moon and her sun at the time of maximum light in northern realms. These cosmic events will occur in the sign of Cancer, an emotional and compassionate placement in astrological terms.
Cancer calls us to be with this unsettling moment with open hearts and compassion. We have an opportunity to restore our humanity – to see and stand up for what is right. There is no other, better moment; we have only now, our present, evolutionary moment.
All of this plus a presidential election in the U.S. and increasingly polarized strife around the world; there is no question that 2020 will continue to be a wild ride. These times require not only open hearts, but clear minds and grounded embodiment. We don’t want to miss this, my friends, for it is our future that we are co-creating.
So in this pause, as our sun stands still and in alignment with Earth and her reflecting moon how can we presence what is? How can we hold all of this with an unwavering gaze, without overwhelm, able to sense into what is ours to do?
I offer a few questions for reflection:
What is my capacity for witnessing what is underway, and is there some capacity I need to strengthen?
Do I suspect any blind spots that need my loving attention; do I have the humility and openness to set aside my habitual viewpoint to consider others’ perspectives?
Am I practicing the kind of self-care that I need during this time of stressful disruption?
Am I allowing enough time for reflection and contemplation to enable me to sense what is mine to do?
Am I able to ground myself so that when I speak and act I feel aligned with clarity and presence?
While I feel energized and hopeful around some of the world events we are witnessing I sometimes also feel fearful, anxious, and exhausted. Rumi’s words are grounding:
The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you,
Don't go back to sleep!
You must ask for what you really want,
Don't go back to sleep!
People are going back and forth across the doorsill where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open,
Don't go back to sleep!
As we seek to stay awake, grounded, and in balance during this time of great flux and uncertainty, here again is the link to the calming alternate-nostril breathing practice included in my last newsletter, from the Chopra Center: Nadi Shodhana.
And last but definitely not least, about Black Lives Matter. As a white-skinned person in the United States I found Angie Thomas’ book The Hate U Give (2017, HarperCollins) to be both a revelation and an engaging heart-opening story. When I finished reading I got an “Oh, it’s like that”; I felt like I was invited to experience this version of cultural racism from the inside. So if you aren’t Black, want to understand more, and haven’t read this, I’d highly recommend checking it out.
Peace and blessings to all. As always, I welcome any thoughts and questions you wish to share.
With love and hope,
Nota