Summer time is often a season of playfulness, long daylight hours, rest and relaxation, and outdoor activity. For many, vacation and family reunions take place. Where the summer solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere, the sun shines for the longest stretch of time, allowing people to linger outdoors, play in lakes, pools, and oceans, catch fireflies, camp, connect with nature. Some feel summer is a time of rejuvenation and renewal, while others harness the sun's energy and complete projects that have been put off. However you view summer, the longer daylight hours symbolically also shine light on darkness, from a healing perspective.
Whatever your take on the symbolism of summer, I encourage you to connect with its meaning as it applies to your life. If we are to harmonize with the seasons, summer can be a time of illumination, whereby the sunshine casts laser beams of bright light upon personal goals, areas of growth and discernment, additional studies needed for personal or professional endeavors, or perhaps a return to the child-like playfulness that summer is often associated with.
Some ideas for further exploration:
*meditation practice
*find a new hiking trail
*research classes (whether online or in person) to enrich your knowledge base of your profession or personal growth
*read a book purely for fun
*watch a movie for an escape
*luxuriate at a beach, mountain meadow, desert panorama and take in nature's bounty
*move your body in a new way, whether by trying out yoga, hiking, swimming, dancing, etc
*enjoy seasonal foods and recipes (strawberries, sweet corn, watermelons, etc)
*fine tune plans and strategies for professional endeavors and take action-- one action (no matter how small, per day)
*clear the clutter to open space for the new (throw out, recycle, sell items no longer needed)
*get a musical instrument and take lessons or play music that inspires and energizes or relaxes
*be ok with resting on a hammock and taking in the peace of the sun's rays
*celebrate friendship with authentic friends
*build a sandcastle at the beach or make a fort in the forest with your children or friends
*create a painting, collage, sculpture symbolizing the summer season
*rest, restore, rejuvenate and play hooky from work for a pampering self-care kind of day
By Andrea Schneider, MSW, LCSW
Whatever your take on the symbolism of summer, I encourage you to connect with its meaning as it applies to your life. If we are to harmonize with the seasons, summer can be a time of illumination, whereby the sunshine casts laser beams of bright light upon personal goals, areas of growth and discernment, additional studies needed for personal or professional endeavors, or perhaps a return to the child-like playfulness that summer is often associated with.
Some ideas for further exploration:
*meditation practice
*find a new hiking trail
*research classes (whether online or in person) to enrich your knowledge base of your profession or personal growth
*read a book purely for fun
*watch a movie for an escape
*luxuriate at a beach, mountain meadow, desert panorama and take in nature's bounty
*move your body in a new way, whether by trying out yoga, hiking, swimming, dancing, etc
*enjoy seasonal foods and recipes (strawberries, sweet corn, watermelons, etc)
*fine tune plans and strategies for professional endeavors and take action-- one action (no matter how small, per day)
*clear the clutter to open space for the new (throw out, recycle, sell items no longer needed)
*get a musical instrument and take lessons or play music that inspires and energizes or relaxes
*be ok with resting on a hammock and taking in the peace of the sun's rays
*celebrate friendship with authentic friends
*build a sandcastle at the beach or make a fort in the forest with your children or friends
*create a painting, collage, sculpture symbolizing the summer season
*rest, restore, rejuvenate and play hooky from work for a pampering self-care kind of day
By Andrea Schneider, MSW, LCSW
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