Summer Solstice Prep
Consider yin for balance
Season: Spring
Element: Wood
Moon: Quarter
Sense: Sight (Eyes)
External Work: Office / Workout Areas
Internal Work: Anger (Imbalance) & Patience (Balance)
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I will also be hosting a Substack Live on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 1:00pm - 1:30pm EST for a Qi Gong Practice. The 30 minute practice will consist of a relaxing yet energizing set of movements focused on wood to fire. I will also be putting the video up for FREE that evening for those of you who are not able to make it in the afternoon. The video will go into the paid feed the following day, so don’t miss out by becoming a paid subscriber:
Finally, the feng shui workshop I was going to host on June 20th will be moved to the autumn due to schedules. Keep you posted on the upcoming date.
This Sunday, June 21st, will be the first quarter moon and summer solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere. This means we will be transitioning from spring to summer and from wood to fire. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year — meaning it is the day with the longest period of sunlight. This additional sunlight brings more yang energy with it therefore making summer the most yang of all the seasons. The fire element, which is associated with the season of summer, is also the most yang of all the five elements. So summer, with its yang energy and elemental fire, is the season of bright light, heat, and activity (think fun, sun, and sand!). But as you know, if you read this Substack regularly, in feng shui we always need a balance of yin and yang energy. So, with all this intense yang energy it is important to also consider how you will bring more yin into your life to balance.
Yin versus yang attributes are as follows: moon vs. sun, night vs. day, cold vs. hot, still vs. moving, and dark vs. light. During this summer, when it is super sunny, hot, and full of activities, take some time to find ways to incorporate yin into the everyday. To start, try some of these slower activities in or around the summer solstice to connect with both the energies of yin and yang:
Carve out 10-15 minutes each day to sit in darkness and be still. I just bought a MyHalos Sleep Mask to help block out light and immerse myself in darkness to help boost calm and creativity.
Light a candle or build a fire on the night of the solstice to celebrate the transition to the fire element. Although fire is very yang, slowing down to sit and stare at the flame can be very calming and meditative.
Create small terrariums out of mason jars for catching fireflies. Just make sure that you punch breathing holes in the lid or use mesh instead so that that these illuminating creatures survive. I’m a big believer in catch and release for firefly capturing.
Go shopping at a local farmer’s market, farm store, or farm stand. I go to Green Wagon Farm’s farm store every Friday to get some yummy produce. I’m also trying to get out to Deep Roots Produce which I have heard is brilliant with their market, flowers, and petting zoo.
Make some summer excursion plans. Take a trip to a tiny town near you to check out their main street, explore a new nature trail you have never been on, or head to a nearby water source (stream, river, lake, or ocean) to dip your toes in.
Meander through nature in the morning to soak up some of the sun’s early rays without getting too hot and bothered. A leisurely walk in the shade of trees can bring about a balance of yin and yang.
Pick some flowers from a wildflower patch or from your yard. I just picked my peonies that bloomed at the beginning of June and they were stunning.
Make some sun tea, but elevate it with fresh fruit. Here are some interesting combinations: black tea + tropical fruit, rooibos + citrus, or hibiscus + berries. Note: Because sun tea is brewed at a lukewarm temperature, it is best to place your glass container in direct, hot sunlight for just 1 to 3 hours to prevent bacterial growth.
Sit outside with a book to read in the warmth or to listen to the sounds around you. Bird sounds have been shown in studies to alleviate stress — see Tammana Begum’s article How Listening to Birdsong Can Transform Your Mental Health. And use the free Merlin Bird ID app to identify and learn more about the birds you hear.
Take some afternoon naps because, as Tricia Hersey writes in her aptly named book, Rest is Resistance.
Rest Reading
Check out all of the rest reading recommendations in Resources on my Substack page.
Rest Recipe
Summer is the time for grilling but I prefer meats that are lighter during the hot weather. We just had friends over and we made grilled shrimp from a tried and true family recipe. Make sure the shrimp are shell on, because they are so much better to grill and finger-licking-good to peel. So here is the recipe for Grilled Shrimp:
1 pound raw shrimp*, cleaned with shells on
1 cup avocado or olive oil
2 lemons, juiced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 tablespoon dill weed
1 tablespoon tarragon
1 tablespoon basil
1 garlic clove, crushed
Wash and finely chop the parsley. Combine all of the ingredients together and marinade the shrimp covered in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Skewer and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on the grill.
*Shrimp is a low-calorie, high-protein seafood that supports heart health, weight management, and immunity.
Rest Ritual
As I mentioned above, for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice is the longest day of the year because it is the day with the longest period of sunlight. Some of us may be noticing it is a bit more difficult to get to sleep at night with the sun going down later. A bedtime or sleep ritual can sometimes help with these difficulties. Per The New Rules of Aging Well by Frank Lipman, MD and Danielle Claro, “Sleep and wake cycles are critical to wellness as you age. Going to bed at around the same time most nights and waking up around the same time most mornings helps lock in restorative sleep patterns. It’s helpful to have a bedtime ritual for tuning out the day, shaking away tense thoughts, and relaxing the body.” If you need some direction, here are the bedtime ritual recommendations from The New Rules of Aging Well:
Dim the lights an hour or two before you turn in.
Relax your muscles with an Epsom salt soak. Add a couple of drops of soothing lavender oil.
Relax your brain by dumping out whatever is in there: make a to-list or write in a journal. Pour out resentments or anger, and follow that exercise with a gratitude list.
Think about what kind of content you consume at night. Finds what works best for you to bring about sleep.
If you can’t turn off your brain, listen to relaxing music or use a white-noise machine.
I’ve been working on my bedtime or sleep ritual for years now. What works the best for me is to retreat to my bedroom 2 hours before I go to sleep with the lights dimmed and the sound machine on. I make sure that I have taken my nightly vitamins and gummy, slathered a balm on achy muscles, massaged my hands with lotion, and filled my hot water bottle on colder evenings to tuck at my feet. Most of the time I talk to my daughter and read a book until I get tired. My phone is on sleep mode all during this time and away from the bed. By the time I am ready to drift off, my bed is a perfect temperature, my eyes are sleepy, and my head is ready to hit the pillow. Sweet dreams and happy solstice!
Please pass this Substack onto a friend or family member to broaden this amazing CRC community and to give the gift of rest to those who need it. As Tricia Hersey writes in her aptly named book, Rest is Resistance.
If you would like to hold a Rest Curation in your local community, please email me at abby@cascadefengshui.com for the script and music information. Or email me if you would like to organize a private pop-up Rest Curation for friends, family, or colleagues.
And if you are interested in my feng shui and interior design services, please see my website at www.cascadefengshui.com and contact me at abby@cascadefengshui.com.