00:00:00: Music.
00:00:11: Very welcome back to a new episode of bitch breathe and I am your host ricardia
00:00:16: so summer solstice is here and with that a whole lot of new energy and impulses and ideas come along.
00:00:27: So normally this is one of my
00:00:29: favorite times of the year spring usually is my absolute favorite and then the anticipation of summer is my second this year I want to be very honest with you and level I've found it to be a little bit.
00:00:42: A mixed bag of treats if you will because.
00:00:46: Where I am there is a summer solstice right now if I were in Australia we would be at the winter solstice and my location also means that we're looking towards a change when it comes to the pandemic a lot of people are getting vaccinated I'm getting my first shot tomorrow
00:01:02: and so life has been able to pick up again over here and people have been carefully optimistic about.
00:01:11: Maybe being able to move a little bit forward from this pandemic now I say carefully because that is how I.
00:01:19: Personally I'm feeling I know that the vaccination seems to be helping but the idea that in many many places around the world things still aren't even remotely under control.
00:01:31: Has an effect on me I don't exactly feel safe where I am.
00:01:36: But I would certainly feel even less safe in other places so I do want to acknowledge that when I'm talking about the summer solstice now I'm talking about a very specific location and time and place
00:01:49: with regard to the pandemic so all that said this still does remain one of my favorite times of the year because it allows us to.
00:01:59: Really really go out there and be celebratory in our energy so some of the things I want to talk about today I little tools we can use knowing that we are in a.
00:02:11: Bit of a strange time right now
00:02:13: but that we still do have seasons and that nature still has a way of propelling us forward even when things might not necessarily feel like they are going forward or that they're going forward in a way we would like or that they're going forward fast enough.
00:02:29: So here we are it's June.
00:02:32: 21st and half of the year is up for me this is always a time when I like to look at how far have I come thus far.
00:02:41: Without judging keep in mind because I think that's super.
00:02:44: Super important and then also to know that the peak is still yet to come so even though the days are going to become shorter.
00:02:52: Again we still have the peak.
00:02:55: The fruitfulness of this whole year still ahead of us and I always find that very hopeful because Midsummer as it's also known is a bit of a Bittersweet Symphony for me sometimes because I know now the days will get shorter by the way guys
00:03:09: and gals if you're not familiar with the summer solstice what it basically means is we've just had the longest day and the shortest night
00:03:18: now with the time difference is I can never quite figure it out but the energy of the solstice is from June 20th to June 23rd so if you haven't gotten your rituals on and there are a lot that we can do then don't worry you've still got two days to get this thing right
00:03:33: so
00:03:34: This is a time of very fiery energy this is all about going out firing up like Elijah ass on Fires what I want to say to really get ourselves out
00:03:44: out there and there are so many beautiful rituals and so many things in different countries that are done around this time I know in Sweden for example you probably know this to there's all this dancing and.
00:03:56: I think it's women put their flowers that they've gathered underneath their pillows to attract a mate and it's also a time of abundance and healing
00:04:07: so with all these things in mind I want to come to a few little rituals that I tend to do when this time of the year
00:04:17: comes up so like I said at the beginning the first thing that I do is to take stock a little bit while I say this
00:04:24: I think it's really important to not do this like I was saying at the beginning with judgment Lego I haven't achieved this that or the other because I was just talking to
00:04:34: a friend the other day and a birthday was coming up for him and I realize he wasn't super excited about it so I said hey you don't even sound like you want to do anything or any sort of Celebration and he said
00:04:47: yeah because in a way this is another year you know another revolution around the Sun without my having achieved.
00:04:55: My goals I was going to have
00:04:58: this and this by now I was going to be in this in this place by now and it made me really really sad I thought wow that's a tough way for me.
00:05:08: To take stock because it means you're looking at all the scarcity all the things that haven't happened and especially.
00:05:15: After a year such as this one I think that's really.
00:05:18: Very understandable but also really harsh for oneself so when we take stock let's do it this way.
00:05:25: Let's look at all the things that are now in place that maybe weren't in place for us for where we are and in my case it's Berlin since let's say January.
00:05:35: January was still very daunting to me I thought what the hell kind of a year lies ahead what are we even going to do.
00:05:42: How much are we going to be able to have control over our own lives and as a collective species and now it's June and I feel like.
00:05:51: You know what I think things are getting a little easier and even though that isn't the case for everyone I have to it's my duty as a human who's in this life on this Earth to take stock
00:06:02: of all the things that are working.
00:06:05: Of all the people who are doing okay and I know a lot of people even in my own very personal Circle there's a lot of people who aren't doing so great
00:06:12: but to really look at the things that are going well and the plans that you still have there's a whole second half of this year still available.
00:06:22: As six months maybe you have a vaccination maybe there's some more freedom for you here so that you can really when you take stock look forward to the things that are still.
00:06:32: Coming maybe it's your children who are going to go back to school or go to school for the first time maybe you've been able to take a vacation already or you've picked up a wonderful book that you're now reading in the Sun for me I've started to work out a lot more than I used to
00:06:48: because let's face it I hate working out.
00:06:51: But I've actually started to go for a run and those of you who know me know that I do not enjoy jogging very much but I do it every morning now or almost every morning I should say truthfully or yoga in the park whatever freedoms.
00:07:05: Whatever things you are able to do and that you want to put forth in this second half year go for it you've got
00:07:12: all the energy to support you right now because at summer solstice a lot of cultures they burn fires this is for one to burn away the demons and to get rid of negative energy you but it's also about putting yourself out there really really going for it
00:07:27: get that fire under your ass and run with it speaking of this whole energy this is a very external time.
00:07:35: Whereas fall and winter are more about reflection going inward
00:07:41: introspection if you will this is a time to put yourself out there really
00:07:46: get all the impulses and inspiration we're no longer online for all our Zoom calls maybe maybe some of you have vacation I know in Germany now tomorrow all the schools will be breaking up for a vacation for summer holidays
00:08:00: and just really go out there get the inspiration there's so many people that you might not have been able to see that now you can see because outside it's safer
00:08:09: maybe you can go for longer walks after work if you're not on vacation maybe you take a new route to go to work but whatever it is.
00:08:17: This is about externalizing so I'm not saying distracting although actually maybe I am saying distracting ourselves from some other things that are going on
00:08:27: get out there get new impulses the energy is with you
00:08:31: the season is with you and for me personally I went to a birthday party on Friday at a park it was super super busy place was like an anthill.
00:08:42: It had that whole festival Vibe and I just sat there sometimes in quieter moments when I wasn't in conversation and I just thought to myself oh my God thank you thank you that this is possible
00:08:53: that I can sit here with people.
00:08:55: I was still a little nervous but mostly I was just happy to be with my fellow humans it was such a gift to be there.
00:09:03: And I just took it all in being outside being with these people and being in a loving energy
00:09:10: so really I want to inspire you I want you to get out there and really really make the most of this wonderful wonderful outdoor time.
00:09:19: Another theme of Summer Solstice is the healing energy
00:09:24: I think this one is the key energy for me this year for the first time really for obvious reasons possibly because we've been through quite a year a year and a half and a lot of healing has to be done some of us have lost.
00:09:38: People around us or have received some very.
00:09:43: Difficult diagnosis maybe or just in general struggled with what is going on I have friends who don't even want to pick up the phone
00:09:50: anymore who went through depression who only slowly allow emerging from that if they are indeed so really look into the healing properties of this time in fact around this time a lot of people gather.
00:10:03: Herbs
00:10:04: elderflowers one of the typical ones and I think mugwort I'm not an herbalist I don't know too much about it but maybe this is a time to find out about these things what about picking up a book and finding out what kind of natural healing herbs grow in your environment if there are healers around you I've worked with some incredible incredible men and women to do healing work
00:10:28: all sorts of methods some worked more than others but if there are resources as this one and if you are able
00:10:35: to financially put yourself into a place of taking advantage of these then this is a great time to do so burning off negative energy staying in that theme of Fire
00:10:46: and welcoming in
00:10:48: all that nature is giving you right now and that is about to bring when fall comes think about this this planet sustains us
00:10:56: it feeds us it nurse is us it puts sun on our skin puts food on our plate it gives us places to go this is a time to really really honor
00:11:07: Mother Earth
00:11:08: to really say thank you even more so on the fall and we'll get to that when I do an Autumn Equinox special but to really understand that this is the peak the sun is at her Peak
00:11:19: and she gives and continues to give us so much and even though there's a.
00:11:24: A health issue around being exposed to much sun get out there and enjoy and really get the healing helper.
00:11:31: And energy that you might need right now or maybe your children your family.
00:11:35: Whoever needs healing right now is also a great time to send some energy their way and I know that sometimes sounds so abstract I remember one of my yoga students a guy he used to say.
00:11:45: Okay idea I love your yoga classes because you don't make me send energy somewhere I'm like what do you mean and he said to me well the other day I was in this yoga class and sky was like alright guys that's all like send energy to Kyoto now and like
00:11:58: he's like well what am I supposed to do with that what am I like sending thoughts to Kyoto that's going to help people there right now
00:12:04: so I know it sounds abstract and if you're not in a Praying tradition or annotation one even just to sort of acknowledge that maybe there's someone in your
00:12:15: vicinity who needs a phone call or a who would love for you to pick them up and go for ice cream that's the kind of thing I mean it doesn't have to be sending these
00:12:24: particularly abstract waves to someone if that's not your jam and speaking about getting out get out into nature and are any of you who know me closely.
00:12:33: I'm going to laugh now because you know I'm such an urbanite I love the city I lived in New York for many years in London and now in Berlin.
00:12:41: So for me going out into Nature's I was like all right I'll go out into nature because it's supposed to be good for me but if you ask me where my gumford zone is it's a coffee shop or a bookstore
00:12:51: or a museum and the bow is always so upset with me because I could spend entire Sundays just reading newspapers and books in the winter that is.
00:13:00: And he always needs to get out so I have
00:13:03: channeled more of my bow energy and gotten out more and even though I still find it hard to connect to Nature the way all the Yogi's do and I'm a yoga teacher I always feel like I'm supposed to know how to do this
00:13:15: I still have noticed that there is a calmness that comes over me so what I do is I grab my coffee
00:13:21: and or my book or a newspaper whatever and I go sit on a park bench I've also gone running in the nature like I just said in the nature that it was such a German way to say it in nature and to do the yoga and really just.
00:13:34: Be in communion with it whatever that means to you if you want to hug a tree if that does something for you go ahead I like to sit under trees.
00:13:43: And try to not get bothered by the creepy crawlies because I'm such a diva but to really.
00:13:49: Get out there and yes stay in the shade because the sun is very very strong right now for those of us who are in.
00:13:56: The summer season but to notice the freedom this is a freedom that we here.
00:14:01: Now have and that we were actually able to maintain throughout the winter is to just get out because that is still there and
00:14:09: nature gives us so many signals.
00:14:12: As to what is up right now like for me yesterday I just noticed even now as life has picked up again the birds are a lot louder.
00:14:20: And they were there must be more of them to because I'm hearing different bird songs from what I used to hear maybe I'm also more attuned to it because.
00:14:28: There was that quietude towards the first half of the pandemic but to really get out there
00:14:34: just look at the signals just look at the leaves whatever it is it doesn't have to be this deeply
00:14:39: spiritual experience but I assure you it can be and lastly what I want to talk about if travel seems daunting for you if
00:14:48: it just doesn't feel like a safe thing right now then maybe explore the places around where you live or in.
00:14:55: The country that you live if you're in a very big country like the US
00:15:00: maybe you can do a road trip maybe that's a safe thing to do because you're vaccinated or you'll be only with your partner or your kids in a camper all that time but if that even seems daunting just explore the city the place you're in and find new ways
00:15:16: because I've started this whole running thing I can't believe I'm actually saying that now because for our 40-something years I have refused
00:15:23: to do the jogging bit even in New York I forced myself sometimes but even now when I do run I look for a new Roots because I get bored really easily
00:15:33: when I run so I like to find new places and I ended up finding this
00:15:37: this is a Berlin thing this semi secret party I don't know what was going on but I was going for a walk actually not a run in this case and I follow the music because it's like the strong beat and I'm a
00:15:48: incredibly passionate dancer so I went around around and there's like this I'm starting to smell this graffiti.
00:15:56: Spray paint and then I'm seeing these really very cool dress people if they had
00:16:01: a lot of clothes on at all because it was 36 degrees or something yesterday so I come to the entrance
00:16:07: and I was like what is going on here so I talked to these people I'm like What's Happening Here and it was like this party and having it every two weeks and there's this crowdfunding around it and you can get on board with it on Facebook I'm sorry I'll have to put the name for you berliners in the show notes because it's escaping me right now something Shanti
00:16:23: puts always means good news to me and I just thought how incredible Berlin is such a resourceful and resilient City like it'll pop back up over and over because it's been through sodium and Gomorrah so many times that I think it's.
00:16:38: Instinct for survival is a Killer Instinct really they just kill the whole depression and blues and whatever every time so just going on two different paths both literally and figuratively.
00:16:51: Find those new impulses those New Paths and with that new thoughts and new aspects of yourself so with that in mind.
00:17:01: Wishing you all a wonderful wonderful Summer Wherever You Are that you managed to find spaces of freedom.
00:17:08: And love and healing and fire and passion wherever that might be sending lots of love.
00:17:16: Music.
