Good morning and happy Summer Solstice.
In the early hours of this morning, at approximately 5:24 a.m. Central Time, the Summer Solstice arrived, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. For thousands of years, people have honored this seasonal turning point as a celebration of light, abundance, growth, and gratitude. It is a moment to pause and notice what is flourishing, both in the garden and within ourselves.
I love the solstice because it reminds me to slow down and pay attention. The garden is growing, the days are long, and life feels full. Yet the solstice is also a threshold. Beginning today, the days slowly start to shorten, reminding us that every season carries both fullness and change. Nature teaches us to celebrate what is blooming while remaining open to what is still unfolding.
As I reflect on this solstice, I find myself returning to a journey I made six months ago.
On the New Moon near the Winter Solstice, I stood among the ancient stones of the Cromlech of Almendres in Portugal. Nestled in the rolling hills of the Alentejo, this sacred circle of nearly one hundred granite stones has stood for more than 7,000 years, long before the Celts, long before the Romans, and long before history was ever written down. No one knows exactly who built it. No one knows all of its secrets. What remains are the stones themselves, quietly holding their place between Earth and sky. Archaeologists believe the site was aligned with the movements of the sun and used to mark important seasonal transitions, including the Summer Solstice.
The local folklore is filled with stories of enchanted stones, earth energies, ancient goddesses, and the mysterious Mouras, magical women said to guard treasures hidden beneath the land. Standing there at sunrise, it was easy to understand how such stories came to be. The entire place seemed to hum with a living presence.
What I felt was not grand or dramatic. It was warm. Sweet. Fertile. Creative. It felt like standing inside possibility itself.
There, among those ancient stones, I surrendered an identity I had been carrying for far too long. I did not know what would come next. I only knew something was asking to be released so that something else could emerge.
Now, six months later, on this Summer Solstice, I can see the arc of that journey. The seeds planted in the darkness of winter have been quietly growing beneath the surface. The woman who stood among those stones is not the same woman writing these words today. And the Juicie Community is part of that transformation. Six months ago, many of you did not yet exist in my daily life. This community was simply an idea, a possibility, a dream taking shape in my heart. Today, that dream has come into fruition. What once existed only in my imagination is now a living, breathing circle of connection, conversation, nourishment, and shared growth. All of you are part of this new life.
This solstice feels like a moment of recognition. A moment to honor what has taken root. A moment to celebrate not only what I am dreaming for, but also who I have become.
Perhaps that is the true gift of the solstice. The light reveals what has been growing all along.
And that reflection naturally leads me to dreaming.
This year, I'm using the solstice as an invitation to deepen my conscious dreaming practice. While the day is filled with sunlight, the night offers another kind of illumination, the wisdom that comes through our dreams. Tonight, before bed, I'll be writing down a question or intention and placing it beside my bed, inviting my dreaming mind to continue the conversation while I sleep. Tomorrow morning, before reaching for my phone or beginning the day, I'll spend a few quiet moments recording any dreams, images, feelings, or insights that arise.
I'd love for you to join me.
Over the coming week, pay attention to both your nighttime dreams and your waking dreams.
What is your dreaming mind showing you?
What wisdom is emerging from within?
And equally important, what are you dreaming into being for your life right now? What is calling for your attention, your energy, and your care?
When we gather for our live Juicie Kitchen on Tuesday, June 30th (a week earlier than usual, as I'll be traveling during our regular first Tuesday gathering), I'd love to hear what surfaced for you. Come prepared to share your solstice dreams, both the dreams that visited you in the night and the dreams you are nurturing for your future.
And because every celebration feels more complete around a table, we're honoring the solstice with pancakes.
A Pancake for Every Table
Pancakes have nourished people for thousands of years, from simple mixtures of ground grains and water cooked on hot stones to the many variations we enjoy today. Their golden, sun-like shape makes them a fitting way to celebrate the Summer Solstice and welcome a season of abundance.
I've gathered a few favorite recipes to accommodate a variety of tastes and dietary needs. Whether you're craving a classic stack, a savory breakfast, extra protein, a gluten-free option, or a plant-based version, you'll find something to enjoy.
