Herbs to Celebrate the Summer Solstice

Posted by Jules Benefico, Certified Clinical Herbalist on Jun 1st 2021

Herbs to Celebrate the Summer Solstice

The summer solstice is the lightest and longest day of the year, as the sun is at its peak and Mother Nature is fully blossomed. This is a time of celebration of the light and also honoring that the darkness is soon returning. The herbs below are  connected to Sun energy and can bring vitality, confidence, success, and happiness as well as help us celebrate this wheel of the year holiday.

Sun Energy & Herbs

Herbs of the sun promote vitality and health and often they resemble the brightness of the sun: calendula, chamomile, and  St. John’s wort are wonderful examples of herbs that flower bright yellow like the sun and are at their peak during the summer solstice! The sun is correlated with the heart, our solar center in medical astrology traditions and some Sun herbs have an affinity for the heart like angelica.

Sun herbs bring equilibrium back into our lives and are tonics for overall health. Energetically, they can bring us confidence and the courage to rise as our most authentic self. They help us shine as our brightest light! Working with them on the summer solstice is a powerful spell of double dipped magic!

St. John’s Wort: This Solstice herb is at its flowering peak during this time! It is often used to dispel negativity and evil spirits, protect the home, and ward off illness. Medicinally, St. John’s wort is widely known for its uplifting and mood supportive quality. It has also been shown to relieve nerve pain, ease irritability and stress, and support proper immune function. St. John’s wort can interact with some medications, however it is safe to use topically as an oil or in homeopathic preparations.

Calendula: This herb is optimistic and full of vitality with her sunny yellow and orange flowers! Calendula attracts success in all matters especially for health. This plant brings light into our lives and often is used to bring comfort after a family member has passed. Medicinally, calendula is a skin superhero topically as well as internally to support an array of skin conditions as well as cuts, burns, and wounds. It can also be useful in many digestive conditions for its soothing inflammation modulating effects.

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Chamomile: Has been worked with in folklore for herbal hand washing to attract money. In Egypt chamomile was a sacred incense for vitality and longevity of life, it is also one of the nine sacred herbs of the Celts. If you put chamomile under your pillow, it was traditionally used to drive nightmares away, especially for children. Medicinally, chamomile can be supportive to sleep, stress, and is wonderful for gently soothing digestive upset and nausea.

Orange Peel: Oranges have been known since ancient times for offering happiness, peace, and a feeling of wellbeing. People utilize orange for attracting positivity and vibrancy. Medicinally, orange has an affinity for oral health and is great addition to an herbal mouth wash. Its carminative properties can ease gas and calm digestion overall.

Juniper: Juniper is a plant of vitality and exuberance! It is a symbol of fertility to the Syrian goddess Asherah and a symbol of angelic protection from the Bible. Medicinally, juniper is a stimulant, diuretic, carminative, and antimicrobial. It is often utilized for urinary system support and can aid digestive upset with its bitter quality.

Rosemary: In folklore this herb was placed in amulets for courage and confidence and the oil was and is still burned or diffused for memory and mental focus. Rosemary brings clarity to the mind and vivaciousness to the spirit! Medicinally, Rosemary is full of volatile oils which give it such a potent scent and make it a great ally against infection. Rosemary is a circulatory and nervine stimulant and moves blood to the brain. It can be helpful in neurological conditions and can fight free radical damage.

Other mentionables: Sunflower, celandine, angelica, frankincense, and mistletoe.

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Sun Potion Recipe: Solstice Herbal Honey Elixir

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup fresh orange peel
  • 1/4 cup dried or wilted fresh calendula
  • 1/4 cup fresh St. John's wort
  • 1/4 cup fresh rosemary
  • 1 quart of water
  • 2 cups of honey
  • Brandy or bourbon

Directions:

  1. Combine rosemary and water in a pot, cover, and let simmer until liquid is reduced to half its original volume.
  2. Add remaining herbs and let steep on low for about 5 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat, and strain out herbs. 
  4. Add honey to warm liquid and stir until fully dissolved. 
  5. Add ¼ cup of brandy/bourbon for each cup of liquid that is left.
  6. Transfer liquid to bottle and use within a year (longer, if refrigerated).

Solstice Intention Ritual:

Meditate on your solar intention, whether it’s for a personal goal, or for one of collaboration. Sit with it and embody the energy of the Sun. Bright, shining, ecstatic, and full of life! Infuse this energy into the elixir for added potency!

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Written by Jules Benefico: Jules is a Clinical Western Herbalist. She studies medical astrology, Western alchemy, and clinical nutrition and infuses this into her herbal practice.illustration-herbs-for-the-summer-solstice

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