SUMMER SOLSTICE SALE Details 2025

The Alchemy of Sunlight: Solar Elixirs + Summer Solstice Rituals

On the longest day of the year, something ancient stirs in our bones.

The Summer Solstice, when the Sun appears to pause at its zenith, has been honored across cultures and centuries as a moment of deep reflection and radiant celebration. It is a cosmic exhale, a solar crescendo, a time when we are invited to step fully into our vitality and align with rhythms that predate modern calendars. Beyond its symbolic power, this day carries an energetic potency that inspired both monumental sacred architecture and the enduring practice of crafting solar elixirs: infusions of herbs, flowers, and sunlight created for spiritual renewal, physical healing, and emotional uplift.

So why did the solstices hold significance for ancient civilizations? Our ancestors didn’t use calendars. Before the invention of mechanized timekeeping, humanity tracked the passage of seasons through careful observation of the heavens. Monumental architecture around the globe reflects a desire to capture solstice light with sublime precision. In England, Stonehenge is perhaps the most famous solstice monument, framing the summer sunrise through its sarsen trilithons, an alignment achieved with remarkable accuracy over more than four millennia. In China, Daoist texts describe the solstice as the height of yang energy, a pivot point when practitioners would perform rituals to balance inner and outer harmony.

Across Scandinavia, Midsommar celebrations involve dancing around flower-topped poles and lighting maypoles at dawn to welcome the height of the solar year. In Spain, the Feast of San Juan is marked by bonfire ceremonies on the beaches of Valencia, where participants run through flames or jump over fires to purify their spirits. At Newgrange in Ireland, sunlight floods the passage tomb at dawn on the winter solstice, its demonstrated solar alignment.

In Mexico’s Chichén Itzá, the famous serpent‑shadow effect on El Castillo occurs at the equinoxes, though nearby structures such as El Caracol observatory do mark solstitial points. In Peru, the Inca built Machu Picchu’s Intihuatana stone so that, at the equinoxes (and also observed on the winter solstice), the Sun casts a minimal shadow, an event believed to tether the celestial and terrestrial spheres. In Egypt, the vast columns and obelisks at Karnak echo the daily path of Ra, reinforcing the pharaoh’s divine role. However, their orientation follows the Nile’s seasonal flood rather than a precise solstitial axis. These structures were not mere calendars but lived expressions of spiritual devotion. The Sun was the source of all life, the great cosmic clock, and a direct conduit to the divine. Each of these solstice celebrations and architectural marvels affirmed the intimate bond between humanity and the sky.

Sun Gods + Solar Mythology

Sun deities embody the life force that nourishes all living things. The Inca worshiped Inti, celebrating Inti Raymi at Cusco each solstice with music, dance, and offerings of maize and chicha. The Intihuatana stone at Machu Picchu, its name meaning “where the sun is kept,” was central to rituals conducted by the Sapa Inca himself. In Maya lands, K’inich Ajaw was depicted in glyphs and temple carvings as a radiant being whose journeys across the sky dictated the rhythms of agriculture and human destiny. At dawn, priests would greet the rising Sun with incense and hymns, believing the first light carried blessings for the community.

In Egypt, Ra and Amun‑Ra reigned over every aspect of existence. Throughout the year, Karnak hosted major festivals (like Opet) celebrating Amun‑Ra and reinforcing the pharaoh’s divine role, reinforcing cosmic order. In the Hindu tradition, Surya is honored each morning with sun salutations. While devotees have greeted Surya since ancient times, the 12-pose sequence known today as Surya Namaskar was systematized in the early 20th century. Even in Norse myth, Sol, the personification of the Sun, traverses the sky in a chariot drawn by fiery horses, her presence warding off darkness. These mythologies reveal a shared recognition of the sun’s power to sustain, illuminate, and transform us. They tell a riveting story of human devotion that continues with our modern practice of solar elixirs.

Sunlight as Medicine: The Science Behind Solar Vitality

The ancient sages intuitively understood that sunlight has a profound impact on human physiology. Modern research now confirms that exposure to natural light entering the retina triggers a cascade in the brain’s raphe nuclei, stimulating the synthesis of serotonin. This neurotransmitter enhances mood and strengthens emotional resilience. Studies of seasonal affective disorder have shown that just thirty minutes of morning sun exposure can significantly raise serotonin levels, thereby lifting energy and focus.

Morning light also plays a pivotal role in regulating the diurnal rhythm of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. Cortisol follows a daily curve, peaking shortly after dawn to mobilize energy and dipping in the evening to prepare for rest. When we immerse ourselves in sunrise light, we reinforce this cortisol awakening response, fostering balanced stress management and healthy sleep cycles. Beyond neurotransmitters and hormones, ultraviolet B wavelengths catalyze the conversion of 7‑dehydrocholesterol in the skin into vitamin D3. This prohormone undergoes further hydroxylation in the liver and kidneys to become calcitriol, the active form that supports immune function, calcium absorption, and bone density. Health experts recommend as little as ten to fifteen minutes of midday sun several times a week to maintain optimal vitamin D levels, depending on skin tone and latitude.

Even at the cellular level, sunlight interacts with our ancient energy factories. Photobiomodulation research reveals that red and near‑infrared light penetrate tissues and are absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondrial membranes. This interaction enhances adenosine triphosphate production, improves reactive oxygen species signaling, and supports cellular repair. In effect, our mitochondria—descendants of sun‑harnessing bacteria—continue to respond to solar input, reminding us that sunlight remains integral to our vitality.

The art of capturing sunlight in a bottle stretches back to the earliest alchemists and herbal practitioners. In sixteenth‑century Europe, Paracelsus wrote in his texts about an “elixir vitae” distilled under sunlight, claiming that herbs steeped in sunlit glass would carry the star’s essence. Arab alchemists of the medieval era employed alembics beneath heated glass structures to simulate solar power when the Sun itself could not be relied upon, creating fragrant oils and waters charged with warmth and light.

Across various herbal traditions, certain plants have become synonymous with solar medicine. Calendula, with its bright golden petals, is beloved for its cooling and soothing properties in summer (and year-round). Medieval herbals praised its anti‑inflammatory effects and recommended sun‑infused calendula oil for skin healing. St. John’s Wort, gathered on Midsummer’s Eve, was believed to harness solar energy through its hypericin constituents, thereby alleviating nervous tension and supporting emotional well-being. Chamomile, ruled by the Sun, was steeped to ease digestive discomfort and soothe the solar plexus. Rose and Lemon Balm were honored for their heart‑opening and clarifying effects, their aromatic compounds enhanced by sun charging.

From a traditional herbalism perspective, sunlight has the potential to activate the medicinal properties of herbs, deepen their healing potential, and infuse them with a unique “solar signature.” We refer to these as solar elixirs, which are preparations made by infusing water, oil, or alcohol with botanicals and exposing them to sunlight, often during powerful astrological events such as the solstice. These infusions are created not only with medicinal plants but also to absorb and hold solar energy. Many holistic practitioners believe this enhances their ability to uplift, cleanse, and restore. 

The Summer Solstice is the moment of the year when the Sun’s energy is at its peak, offering a unique opportunity to create herbal formulations that are deeply infused with solar vitality. In Ayurvedic practice, water stored in copper vessels during the sun’s ascent was known as Surya jal, a preparation believed to ignite digestive agni, balance the doshas, and revitalize prana. Indigenous Australian desert communities collected salt‑enriched water from sun‑heated rock pools, believing it carried the life‑giving power of the harsh outback sun. In West Africa, women traditionally left shea oil under the sun to blend fatty acids with local botanicals, creating sacred salves for skin health and spiritual protection.

In Indigenous Latin American traditions, solar-charged rose water and herbal infusions are used in spiritual cleansing rituals known as limpias to restore emotional balance and call in love or peace. In recent years, solar elixirs have reemerged in the form of sun teas, flower essences, solar-infused body oils, and crystal-charged waters. These preparations are used in everything from intention-setting rituals to mindfulness routines, offering a gentle yet powerful way to connect with both plant medicine and the Earth's cycles. While varied in technique, they share a common principle: the intention to capture the chemical benefits of botanicals and the dynamic energy of the Sun itself. Solar elixirs bridge herbal pharmacology with energetic rituals.

The light-filled solstice is an ideal time to gather plants, set intentions, and prepare solar infusions aligned with themes of clarity, strength, confidence, and joy. It is also a decisive moment to engage in cleansing rituals, spiritual realignment, and celebration of personal growth. As the Sun reaches its apex in the sky, it invites us to do the same in our own lives: to embody our potential, let go of shadows, and radiate our light fiercely from within.

To support your midsummer rituals and celebrations, we’ve curated a special collection of our favorite sun-kissed herbs to help you harness solar energy and uplift your mood. It includes preparations like Agua de la Madre, a sacred floral water for spiritual cleansing; Euphoria Elixir and Euphoria Powder, crafted with mood-brightening mucuna and heirloom cacao; and Golden Sun Milk, a turmeric-vanilla adaptogenic blend that supports clarity and relaxation. 

Our Happiness Herbal “Coffee” and Happiness Tonic are formulated with nervine herbs that align beautifully with solar energy and emotional joy. While you’re browsing, don’t forget to stock up on rose water, superfruit-based collagen boosters, and our bestselling rose-clay face mask. To deepen your ritual practice, we’ve included essential oils like bergamot, rose geranium, helichrysum, and blue chamomile, all associated with light, balance, and healing. 

A few of the most popular items from our Father’s Day Collection are still live—Qi adaptogen blend, Suma, Botánica Bug Spray, and Sacred Trees Essential Oil Kit—but not for long! Catch them tucked into the Solstice sale section only until midnight PST this Sunday, June 22.

How to Make a DIY Solar Elixir

Did you know that recent research into ritual psychology suggests consistent, intentional ceremonies can lower stress markers, enhance mood, and foster a more profound sense of belonging to natural cycles? Making a solar elixir is a beautiful way to connect with the solstice and yourself. The fundamental elements include a clear glass container, fresh or dried herbs, clean water or carrier oil, and a quiet space in the sun. Begin by selecting your botanical allies. Calendula is a popular solar herb associated with warmth and brightness. Rose petals can invite heart-opening energy. Chamomile soothes and balances the solar plexus. Lemon peel brings clarity, and St. John’s Wort uplifts the spirit while aligning beautifully with the sun’s rhythm. 

Place your herbs and liquid into the container and hold it with both hands. Take a moment to set your intention. You might speak a prayer, meditate on an affirmation, or simply tune in to a feeling you want to cultivate. Then place the jar in direct sunlight for several hours. Elixirs infused in water are best used within one or two days unless properly preserved. Solar-infused oils or tinctures can last much longer and may be used for topical applications, baths, or rituals.

While solar waters are best enjoyed fresh, simple measures can extend their shelf life and maintain potency. For aqueous infusions, adding a small amount of vegetable glycerin or a pinch of unrefined sea salt helps inhibit microbial growth. Store in a refrigerator and use within three to five days. For oil infusions, choose stable carrier oils, such as jojoba or fractionated coconut oil, which resist rancidity. Incorporate a few drops of natural vitamin E as an antioxidant. Always use amber or cobalt glass bottles to filter harmful UV rays, and label each jar with the solstice date, botanical list, and intention so you can reflect on your practice each year.

Solar elixirs can be incorporated into many daily or seasonal rituals. Some people add a few drops of a flower essence or solar water to their bath for purification and renewal. Others use them as face mists, altar offerings, or meditation aids. Drinking a solar elixir in the morning can be a way to start the day with clarity and intention. Some herbalists use solar oils in anointing ceremonies or massage, applying the elixir to the solar plexus area to activate courage and vitality. You can also integrate solar elixirs into journaling, breathwork, or sun salutation yoga practices. These elixirs serve as a reminder that Pachamama’s rhythms are always available to support healing, creativity, and transformation.

Honoring the solstice is a practice of returning to Source, both within and around you. It is a way to witness your growth, to celebrate the light you carry, and to consciously invite vitality, warmth, and joy into your life. Solar elixirs serve as reminders that the Earth wants to heal us, that our bodies have inner radiance, that the Sun is our living teacher, and that we are part of a much larger, cyclical rhythm. This midsummer, may you find stillness, radiance, and restoration. Step into your full brightness without hesitation. And, whatever you do, please remember: You are not separate from the light—you are made of it.

To learn more or begin your midsummer ritual, visit our Solstice Collection and join us in celebrating the glorious cyclic return of the Sun.