Do you ever ask yourself why you are here on this planet and alive with desires lighting up your heart? Who and what we are in this moment is never who and what we are in the next breath that we take. The cycle of birth, growth, decay and death is infinite, and so we know that when we reach a peak of any kind, a decline is what comes next.

The Summer Solstice marks the peak of light. It is the longest day and the shortest night. At this time we are reminded of the fleeting beauty of summer and the finite strength of light. Our ancestors celebrated this cosmic moment with great fires and rituals of celebration that illuminated life with a depth of meaning that contemporary life often feels void of.

We can fill this void by adapting the ancient Summer Solstice ritual to our modern lives. We can begin by remembering the theme of this day: Transformation. From the Winter Solstice onwards we have experience a steady growth in the length of light we receive in the Northern Hemisphere. This time has now come to an end.

The way we can apply this to a ritual for our modern lives, that works both in a city home and the countryside, is to begin by lighting a fire. This can be a candle or a bonfire or anything in between. Fire is an element of rebirth and transformation. The fire transforms whatever it touches and turns it to ash, which in turn fuels the growth of the next cycle. The decline of light marks the growth of darkness.

Remember: Life needs darkness to grow.

In that same sense we can consider what in our lives we are ready to transform. Once we have our fire, we can hold in our hands paper or other material that burns, such as sacred woods or resins, and imbue it with whatever we are ready to transform in our lives. Then we throw it into the fire and watch it transform into ash, knowing the ash of what we let go will nourish the growth of something new.

Nothing is ever lost, it only changes form.

Here is a step by step guide for a simple, modern-day Summer Solstice ritual:

What you need: A candle or place to light a fire, such as a fire bowl. Items that burn, such as paper, resins and wood.

Step 1: Be still for a moment and come into presence with what you are about to do. This is a ritual of transformation. You are about to allow parts of your life to burn and change shape so that it may become the ash that nourishes what needs to grow in your life.

Step 2: Light your fire with intention. Acknowledge that your fire, whether a candle or roaring bonfire, is a fire of transformation.

Step 3: If you are working with a candle, paper can be easiest for the next step. You may even write what you are transforming upon the paper. If you are working with fire within a container, you can choose woods, resins, or other natural flammable material to work with.

Hold what you will throw into the fire in your hands. With intention, presence and all your heart, imagine that which you are planning to transform going into the item in your hands. When you are ready, place it in the fire.

Step 4: Watch the item burn and feel what you put into it transform.

Step 5: Repeat Step 3 and 4 as many times as you feel is necessary.

Step 6: Thank the fire and enjoy the rest of your day or night.

Here are some examples of what you can place in the fire:

• Beliefs about yourself
• Beliefs about the world, life, etc.
• Habits and addictions
• Grievances you hold on to
• Fears
• A job you are ready to leave
• A relationship you are ready to leave
• Whatever intuitively arises within you that feels right in the moment to place in the fire

If you cannot light a fire of your own and you would prefer a guided ritual, you can watch our special Summer Solstice Ritual on YouTube (airing June 20. 2025).

To learn more about rituals and how you can work with them for the transformation and benefit of your life, join the Magic is Key membership today.

Happy Summer Solstice!