Solar Energy

RITUAL: Sun Bathing | SEASON: Summer | MONTHS: June-July-August

We’ve entered the brightest and hottest season of the year. The long, hot days of midsummer are full of light, extending later into the evening hours. And in the far North, the midnight sun never sets or dips below the horizon.

The most yang months of the year require us to be intentional about balancing our energy. There’s more daylight, so you can slow down and take your time. The sun is brighter, so you’ll need to be mindful of what time of day and how much exposure you’re getting. And the temperatures are hotter, so staying cool and hydrated is important.

Being Irish and Scottish, I’m very fair skinned and burn easily. Also, I have very sensitive skin and many of the sunscreens I’ve tried make my face sweat. So, the way I protect myself is to apply a SPF facial oil, use non-toxic sunscreens sparingly and wear protective clothing.

Sun Protection

In addition to wearing sunscreen, there’s are lots of ways to protect yourself from sunburns and the resulting sun damage and premature aging. While too much sun, especially in the middle of the afternoon can be harmful, too little sun can result in a vitamin D deficiency. Short intervals of ultraviolet light have been shown to help ease the symptoms and facilitate the healing of certain skin conditions. So, get small doses of sunlight in the morning and protect yourself from the full sun during the day.

Early Morning Sunlight

Exposing your eyes and skin to early morning light for up to 30 minutes can help your body better acclimate to the intense rays of sunlight in the summer. The best way to get early morning sunlight is to go for a short walk without sunscreen or sunglasses before 10 am. Or, go sit outside in the direct sunlight to drink your coffee or tea, read or eat breakfast.

Cover Ups

Cover ups aren’t just for modesty at the beach or poolside when you’re wearing a swimsuit. If you’re out in the sun during the day, cover up between 10am and 4pm. Wear a broad brimmed hat to cover your head and shade your face. Or, wear a scarf on your head to protect your ears and scalp from burning. Wear a lightweight cotton or linen long sleeved shirt to cover your arms, neck and chest.

Sunscreen

Most people wear sunscreen everyday, especially on their face, neck and chest. I always put some on my forearms as well. It’s important to find a broad exposure sunscreen that’s effective but doesn’t have any toxic chemicals.

Many sunscreens have hormone disrupting chemicals, like parabens and phthalates and cancer-causing carcinogens, like benzene and benzophenone. Educate yourself about the differences between chemical and mineral based sunscreens. Avoid chemical sunscreens that have the following active ingredients: octinoxate, oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. Also avoid skin care products that have the following endocrine disrupting inactive ingredients: synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates and preservatives like phenoxyethanol.

You can find non-toxic sunscreens on the EWG’s Skin Deep database. Read labels. Look for a sunscreen that has: coconut, avocado or jojoba oil, vitamin E, macadamia oil, shea butter, chamomile flower extract and calendula.

Or, you can experiment with making your own sunscreen with beeswax and shea butter, coconut and vitamin E oil, a blend of therapeutic grade essential oils and non-nano zinc oxide powder. If you add some beeswax it will make your sunscreen waterproof. Make sure to wear a mask to avoid breathing in the zinc oxide powder.

I recommend making a facial oil with sun protection that you can apply before your makeup or to add to your tinted moisturizer. Oils that have natural occurring SPF are: raspberry seed oil (28-50 SPF), carrot seed oil (38-40 SPF), hazelnut oil (15 SPF), avocado oil (4-15 SPF), jojoba oil (4 SPF), hemp seed and macadamia nut oils (6 SPF), coconut oil (2-8 SPF), olive oil (2-8 SPF), almond oil (5 SPF), sea buckthorn oil (2-4 SPF) and shea butter (3-6 SPF). Consider adding some pomegranate seed oil, as studies show it can improve the effectiveness of sunscreen formulations by up to 20%. Essential oils that provide some mild SPF protection are helichrysum, tulsi, peppermint, lavender and Roman chamomile. Avoid citrus oils since they are phytotoxic and can increase sun sensitivity.

I like the Solar Day Cream from The Body Deli, but it only has a 15 SPF. doTERRA has line of mineral sun care products, including a stick, spray, lotion and daily facial moisturizer. My daughter likes the Squalene + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen from Biossance, which is currently being reformulated.

Foods

There are foods you can eat during the summer months that provide some sun protection as well. An inflammatory diet that includes healthy saturated fats, omega-3s and antioxidants, can help your body fight the inflammatory effects of sun exposure that won’t wash off in the ocean or the pool. Avoid processed foods and anything made with vegetable and seed oils. Reduce your consumption of sugar and include foods that contain lycopene, carotenoids and vitamin E. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, especially cooked tomatoes, purple or sweet potatoes and red fruit like berries, pomegranates, watermelon and grapefruit. Chili powder is rich in lycopene and high in vitamin E. Other foods to eat are broccoli and leafy greens, cold-water fish, flaxseed and dark chocolate, coconut oil and almonds. Drink black and white, green or matcha teas for their UV protecting flavonoids. Supplement a healthy diet with vitamin C, vitamin D3, fermented cod liver oil or essential fatty acids and astaxanthin.

Sweat

It’s common for people to want to wear antiperspirants to keep dry, especially during the hot summer months. But sweating is one of the most vital ways the body has to detox and regulate the body’s temperature. You need to sweat to stay cool and release toxins through the sweat ducts in the skin. Otherwise toxins can collect in the lymph glands under the arms.

Look for a deodorant that is not an antiperspirant. Make sure it doesn’t have any metals like aluminum or chemicals like parabens, phthalates and synthetic fragrances. Herbal Alchemy offers an enzyme-based deodorant that breaks down odor-causing bacteria, while supporting your body’s lymphatic and natural detoxification process! Get $10 OFF your first order with this Herbal Alchemy link.

You can reduce excessive sweating with herbal and nutrient dense supplements. Ginger root, cranberry seed and green tea extract have been shown to help. Ashwagandha is an herbal adaptogen that helps your body adapt to the changing climate and temperatures. An oral supplement of sage, ginger and garlic work synergistically together for an anti-inflammatory effect. B complex vitamins and vitamin D, as well as, a calcium and magnesium supplement can help as excessive sweating is sometimes a vitamin or mineral deficiency.

Hydration

Our bodies are comprised mostly of water. But we’re not fresh water mammals. Every cell of our body has a mineral-rich salty water solution. And as we breathe and sweat, we need to replenish those fluids with water enhanced with the nutrients the body can easily absorb and utilize. To do that, add a pinch of Celtic salt to your water, citrus juice, chlorophyll or electrolytes from Redmond’s or LMNT. Drink some coconut water or try Herbal Alchemy’s Arise AM Booster, the world's first truly clean energy drink.

While a flavorful beverage over ice sounds good in the summertime, the body has to work a lot harder to bring cold drinks up to body temperature. It’s better to drink room temperature or cool, but not ice cold, purified water. Avoid sugary sodas, artificial sweeteners, caffeinated energy drinks and alcoholic beverages. Instead make some cold brew coffee or sun teas.

In the comments below share your favorite ways to keep cool and hydrated during Summer!

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Dara Eden is the author of HER Rituals for the Divine Feminine, a periodical guide created in December of 2021. The 8 Elements, her life’s work, provides guidance about how to honor the essential needs and highest values of your personal feng shui element. Inspired by an Internet challenge designed for men, she created 365WISE, a daily self-care practice that supports women in honoring their needs and listening to their inner wisdom.

In HER Rituals, she offers insights, ideas and intuitive guidance about ways to honor your needs, values and unique expression of the divine feminine.

HER Rituals is a Womb Wisdom KeepHER’s guide to cyclical rituals for sovereign women. It provides insightful information, inspirational ideas and intuitive guidance on daily and seasonal rituals you can practice as a form of self-care. Read about ancient wisdom and philosophical principles, holistic approaches and traditional skills, slow work and intentional living, embodiment practices and immersive experiences.