Stepping into summer
A seasonal check-in, plus what's coming up at The Wild Academy
Today, 1st June, heralds the start of meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere - and in three weeks’ time, on the 21st, we’ll arrive at the Summer Solstice: the longest day and solar peak of the year. From a Wheel of the Year perspective, the spark of the summer season was technically ignited at Beltane (1st May), but it’s now that we really start to bask in its glow.
The coming months can be more complicated than we might expect. At a societal level, the summer narrative proclaims that this is the phase to live our best lives: to soak up the sun, savour the extended daylight hours, and harness the surge of rising energy to fuel our plans and projects. The idea of thriving so fully is alluring, of course - and in many ways this season does help us to flourish - but every fire comes with the risk of burnout and summer is no exception.
For those who struggle with sensory overload, the intensity of this time of year can be hyper-stimulating. The heat, the brightness, the scents and sounds, the expectations and invitations, the stretched-out days and the pressure to ‘make the most’ of their fleeting presence - it can all seem like it’s asking for more than we have to give. If you’re anything like me (Maddy), you might find that sunshine comes with a side order of guilt; a conflicted desire to be outside when you’re in, and inside when you’re out. The niggling list of ‘shoulds’ can be loud and pushy, adding to the noise and exacerbating the overwhelm.
Feeling anxious yet? Yeah, me too. And yet… summer also brings warm morning air that hums with life and possibility before the world wakes up. Dusky evenings laced with the flicker of moth wings and the scent of honeysuckle. Wildflower meadows. Sea swims and river dips. Oak trees in full leaf. Ripe strawberries and juicy peaches eaten messily and joyfully over the sink.
There are plenty of golden glimmers to be found when you know where to look - they might just be softer and slower than the Big Summer Energy we’re taught to chase.
How do you experience summer? What do you want and need from the coming months?
Summer resonances
Months: May, June, July
Wheel of the Year festivals: Beltane - Summer Solstice - Lammas
Guiding words: ignite, flourish, nurture
Element: fire
Seasonal archetype: Mother
Monthly archetypes: Creatrix, Sovereign, Guardian
Direction: south
Soulscape: meadow
Time of day: 9am - 3pm
Lunar cycles: Flower, Mead, Hay
Trees: Hawthorn, Oak, Holly
Explore these symbols with The Rewilding Yearbook.
Summer reflections
What in you life is being ignited or coming into bloom?
What does ‘solar energy’ mean to you, and how could you embrace it?
How can you take care of yourself and your wellbeing this season?
Summer at the Wild Academy
Summer Solstice ceremony
Our next Soulful Seasons ceremony to honour the heart of summer will be taking place on Tuesday 16th June, from 6:30-8pm (UK time) on Zoom. Through reflection and discussion, we’ll explore the customs, traditions and seasonal symbolism of this abundant time of year, and take a guided soul journey to connect with its energy.
Paid subscribers will automatically receive a joining link, and free subscribers can upgrade via the button below to attend - either before the 16th to gather with us live, or any time afterwards to watch the replay. We look forward to celebrating with you!
Elements Series: The Wisdom of Fire
Back in the spring we started a new quarterly series for paid subscribers focused on the wisdom of the elements. Comprised of two posts, each seasonal exploration offers a written guide, an audio recording, and a reflective worksheet. The first edition was dedicated to the element of air and its themes of freedom, flow and fuel:
For summer, we’ll be turning our attention to FIRE. This season’s two posts will be published just after the Solstice on 23rd and 25th June, and we’ll share more about what you can expect from them soon.
To receive access to the Elements Series, become a paid subscriber for just £7/month and you’ll also receive invitations to our seasonal ceremonies, weekly journal prompts to accompany the podcast (on pause until late summer), and a monthly cycle oracle.
Wildheart podcast: summer break
The podcast is on pause for the summer, but there are over 100 back-episodes to explore in the archive. You might like to start with one of these…
We’ll be back in a few months with a brand new season - subscribe for free below (if you haven’t already) to get each episode delivered straight to your inbox, or search ‘Wildheart’ wherever you get your podcasts.