The Simple Pleasure of Summer

Solstice reflections on a rainy June afternoon

Jun 23, 2025

I’m writing this on the afternoon of Summer Solstice—when the days stretch long and the nights slip by quickly—and I find myself feeling nostalgic. Maybe it’s the toddlers who held my hand as we jumped over sprinkler puddles on the way to get ice cream last night. Or the graduation we attended last weekend. Maybe it’s just the way the summer rain has made the whole house feel dark and moody.

Whatever the cause, my mind is wandering today, threading its way through memories of summers when everything slowed down. No school. No work. Just long days in the pool, squabbles over the TV remote with my siblings, and platefuls of my mom’s dill and shrimp pasta salad.

We’re in the middle of a cold spell here in Truckee, and even as I sit bundled in a sweater sipping hot chai, I can almost smell the sun-screened shoulders and taste sour lemonade on my tongue.

When I think of summer, I think of joy, rest, and endless hours of leisure. Which is ironic, really, because summer is actually my busiest season. That’s true for many of us living and working in Tahoe. The tourists arrive, the kids are out of school, and work opportunities double.

Currently I’m teaching beach yoga, running summer camps, and picking up all sorts of seasonal gigs. And yet, even with a calendar full to bursting, that gentle lull of summer still hums in the background.

It shows up in the odd evening walk with Charlie. In taking my lunch outside to listen to the birds while I eat or rolling the windows down as I commute through the beauty of Martis Valley. These quiet, ordinary moments are the ones that stir that familiar summer feeling—not so much a longing for water gun fights and a break from homework, but rather a deep appreciation for joy.

Because that’s what summer really is: a celebration of joy. Life teems around us—lush green trees, children laughing on the beach, neighbors waving from porches. Even when we’re busy, the sky still looks impossibly blue.

Summer reminds us that joy is always available. Sometimes it’s big, like a weekend of camping with friends or a day of boating on the lake. Sometimes it’s small, like a wildflower blooming in a parking lot as you rush to your next meeting.

As you move through the season, I invite you to remember that joy doesn’t have to be grand to be worth noticing. Whether you’re hopping between summer gigs or lounging barefoot in the sand, keep your eyes open for the joy that’s here. Smile at a stranger. Smell the trees. Take the long way home. However it shows up, don’t let joy pass you by.

Make a Honey Pot

I am currently pursuing a new job opportunity and as I wait to see which way things will go, I decided to do a little magic to try and increase the odds of things landing in my favor. One of my favorite abundance spells is a honey pot. It’s simple, intuitive, and totally customizable.

To start, gather a receptacle of your choosing. This could be a jar, a bowl, a pot, a cup, or any other similar item. Then, gather anything and everything that symbolizes abundance to you. Trust your intuition and work with what you have easily available. Some examples may include:

Herbs such as mint, basil, bay leaf, or cinnamon
Beans, rice, or other dried foods that come in abundance
Fruit (dried or fresh)
Honey
Milk
Butter
Money (cash, coins, or symbolic money like Monopoly dollars)
Anything green or gold in color, like ribbons, beads, crystals, or candles
Pyrite
Wine
Any other items that symbolize abundance to you

Now fill your pot with your items! I chose to centralize a candle in mine, but a candle is not necessary. You could fill a jar with milk, honey, and a $10 bill and screw it closed. Or make an offering bowl overflowing with fruit and butter. Again, this is a framework not a recipe, so play and experiment in a way that feels right. It’s all about trusting your intuition and filling your pot with intention.

If you’re trying to call in general money and abundance, this may be enough. If you have a specific opportunity you’re working towards, you may wish to add a written intention or add decoration using runes and sigils (this is what I did). Curate the honey pot to meet your needs and intent, then place it on your altar or place of work and let it work its magic.

Charlie and I drove to Oregon and back for his brother’s college graduation. Seeing his family and camping on the way was a delight, but the true nourishment was the two eight-hour drives. Sure, my legs cramped, and we got blurry eyed by the end, but I’m endlessly grateful for the way Charlie and I can chat, share podcasts, and just enjoy space together. It may sound silly, but driving with him is one of my favorite things.

Local: The current budget bill make its way through Congress is bad in a lot of ways, not the least of which is the impact it would have on our National Forests. Check out this summary of what’s at stake and reach out to your local representatives to share how you feel.

Collective: Not a Tahoe-Truckee local? This bill impacts all of us, and it’s important to let your representatives know you’re not interested. Use Five Calls to find your local reps and contact them to share your concern.

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The Mystic Auntie 🫖🔮

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