This solstice practice is guided by Goat's Beard,
Or Tragopogon pretensis,
Which is a relative of Salsify.
Goat's Beard is one of the many dandelion-like yellow flowers that decorate the fields in the summer,
But it's easy to overlook.
The flowers open at daybreak,
But close again by midday,
Hence its folk name,
Jack Go to Bed at Noon.
The long sepals close around the flower,
Leaving it near invisible in the grass.
As the seeds are forming,
The head stays closed,
But once they are ready,
It opens into this massive dandelion clock,
Which stays open to let the breeze pick up the seeds and transport them to a new space.
The message from the plant is deep listening and gentle awareness.
There is a sense of receptivity and inner perception.
As we cross the solstice,
We are moving into fire energy,
Where passions are elevated.
When fire energy is misdirected,
It can create harm,
But when it is focused with gentle awareness and soul connection,
It brings life.
Fire is not fast,
It is deep.
It is not reactive,
It is responsive.
If you'd like to,
Get comfortable and close your eyes.
Place your hands upon your belly and breathe into the space beneath your hands and feel it expand.
As it expands,
Follow your energy down into your toes and then down on into the earth.
Keep flowing down through all the layers and streams of energy,
Until you come to the fire in the centre of the earth.
This fire that is the soul of the earth.
The sole purpose and passion that streams into all life.
That burns away distractions so that you can return to your soul truth.
Draw this up through the earth to your energy anchor.
Just below you in the earth.
Keep it going,
Flowing up through your toes and feet,
Through your legs and into your centre.
You can feel the fire in your belly.
Begin to flow this fire into your sacral and solar plexus to connect your soul truth to your sense of identity and your creative expression.
Feel the energy ready to expand,
Flowing down to your root,
Flowing up to your heart,
Your throat,
Your third eye and your crown.
Your whole being flowing with the fire of your soul.
Listen to the fire.
Breathe it through your body.
Breathe it out into your field.
The whole of you bathed in the fire of your belly.
A new identity and sense of self is born.
Listen to the cues.
What is coming into being through you?
Breathe yourself into expansion to hold this energy.
Focusing wherever you feel you need it with gentle breathing and attention.
Releasing,
Recalibrating,
Becoming.
Flowing with your fire.
Breathing into expansion.
Move your body however you feel called.
Take a really deep breath and open your eyes.
