An Invitation to Thrive

At my July wedding a few years ago, my husband and I concluded the ceremony by playing a remix of Bob Marley’s “Sun is Shining” and invited the assembled island visitors to dance. IYKYK. And we did. That’s what summer is to me, a time to gather with friends and family (of birth and chosen). It’s a time to share food, and a time to watch the earth flourish, and to do so ourselves in whatever way we choose.

The Summer Solstice is a time to take the projects you have been nurturing and let them bloom. Let them bloom in rhythm with the season: vibrant, confident, and optimistic. Thriving is the realization that you are not separate from the natural world—you are a part of it. When we look out at the Minnesota landscape, we see our home at its absolute capacity. Flowers open in abundant color, food crops are reaching toward the light, and the world feels saturated with life. Solar energy is an invitation for us, as humans, to align our inner rhythms with the world around us.

Since we are on the doorstep of the longest days of the year, this is the perfect time to align your personal rhythm with the peak of the earth’s abundance.

• Practice “Grounding” to Reconnect: Take a walk in a park, or on a trail. As the earth is at its most productive stage, grounding is a powerful way to absorb that “flourishing” energy. You can even take off your shoes and “touch grass” (as the kids say). Visit Crosby Farm Regional Park, Hidden Falls, or Dodge Nature Center. These spots offer deep, lush greenery and proximity to the Mississippi River (another powerful symbol of life). 

• Engage with Collective Flourishing (Music & Art): Flourishing isn’t just about individual growth; it’s also about the inspiration and hope we get from community and music. Check out the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in Mears Park, or the Stone Arch Bridge Festival or Como Park Zoo’s Groovin’ in the Garden (Wednesdays). And there’s nothing stopping you from inviting friends to your patio (or similar space) to listen to an album you’re still totally obsessed with.  

• Visit a local farmers’ market. The act of selecting fresh, locally grown food is a way to honor the natural world’s bounty. Prepare a meal using ingredients that are peaking in June (like strawberries, snap peas, or rhubarb). The act of cooking and sharing can be a form of “recovery” from the stresses of the work week. 

This time of year invites us to pause and honor the sun’s incredible energy. Ancient civilizations built monuments aligned with the solstice to harness unseen energy, reflecting its profound impact on human spirituality and our connection to nature. The extra daylight hours awaken vitality, encouraging us to step into fullness, and shine brightly. The Seasons teach us that flourishing is not a marathon; it is a cycle; and now is the time to seek renewal, inspiration, community, or simply find a moment to breathe deeply in nature’s abundance.

Join the Seasonal Celebrations Team on Friday, June 19, at 6:30 pm to celebrate the longest (almost) day of the year. Dinner Tickets will be on sale online beginning Friday, May 29. In person ticket sales will take place before and after assembly on Sundays, May 31, June 7 and June 14.