SUMMER GROWTH

A Reminder That We’re Nature Too 

I’ve been thinking a lot about the Summer Solstice — the way the sun hangs a little longer in the sky like it’s giving us permission to listen, enjoy life, and soak it in. 

Summer isn’t just about vacations, fruit bowls, and sweat-glazed skin. It’s the season that whispers: 

“You don’t owe the world proof that you’re becoming something.”

And maybe it’s just me, but I’ve been craving that kind of growth — for what feels like a lifetime. Not the kind of growth people applaud or post about — the kind that feels like something just clicked. Like your body, mind, and spirit finally sat down at the same table and agreed on something. 

What Summer Actually Does to Us

This is the time of year when everything wakes up. The earth is warm, generous, loud with bees and color. 

And beneath all that beauty? Work. Quiet, living, easy to take for granted, cellular-level work. 

The soil holds heat. Our bodies hold energy. And our nervous systems — after all that spring rushing — finally start to settle. 

Summer isn’t passive. It’s viscerally alive. And when we sync with it, believe it or not, we feel more ourselves. Clearer. More grounded. Freer

Mind, Body, Spirit — Let’s Talk Alignment. 

There’s a difference between “wellness” and wholeness.

More often than not, wellness gets the credit that wholeness always deserved. 

Wholeness is when your thoughts, your needs, your rituals, your rest — all feel like they’re speaking the same language; the language of you.

Here’s how I’ve been gently trying to align with the season: 

Body

Eat like the earth — fresh, juicy, unbothered. Move because it feels good. Sweat on purpose. Be 

naked more often.

Plants I’m loving for the body right now:

Cucumber 

Crisp, cooling, and hydrating down to the cellular level. Cucumber supports digestion, flushes excess heat, and soothes inflamed skin from the inside out. Easy to grow, easy to love — this is water in plant form, dressed in green. Rich in: silica, potassium, water, antioxidants 

Benefits: hydration, gentle detox, skin health, puffiness reduction 

Sow: Directly in warm soil after the last frost — late spring to early summer. 

Grow: Needs full sun, moist soil, and room to vine or climb. Water consistently. 

Mint 

Bright, bold, and refreshing in every sense. Mint cools the body, calms the belly, clears the mind — and yes, you can throw it in everything. From teas to salads. My personal favorite for the last few summers is feta chunks wrapped generously in mint leaves. I 

think of mint as the herb that always shows up and never overstays. 

Herbal actions: carminative, antispasmodic, nervine 

Benefits: digestion, nausea relief, mental clarity, heat relief 

Sow: Start in spring from seeds or cuttings. 

Grow: Thrives in partial sun or light shade. Keep it in a container unless you want it to take over your garden (she’s that girl).

Calendula 

Sunshine petals with healing power. Calendula is a skin-repairing superstar, known for reducing inflammation, supporting lymph flow, and encouraging gentle detox. Beautiful both topically and internally, it works like a golden salve for skin, gut, and spirit. 

Herbal actions: vulnerary, lymphatic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal 

Uses: skin conditions, wounds, slow digestion, swollen lymph, gentle detox 

Sow: Directly in the ground once the soil is warm — late spring to midsummer. 

Grow: Needs full sun and well-drained soil. Deadhead often to keep her blooming. 

Tulsi (Holy Basil) 

A sacred adaptogen with a calm, clarifying presence. Tulsi is known to balance stress hormones, support heart health, and fortify the body’s response to emotional and physical tension. It centers you when life pulls in too many directions. 

Herbal actions: adaptogen, nervine, anti-inflammatory, carminative 

Uses: stress resilience, hormone balance, adrenal fatigue, respiratory support, spiritual 

grounding 

Sow: Start indoors in early spring or direct sow in warm soil after last frost. 

Grow: Loves full sun, regular watering, and being gently harvested to keep growing

Mind

Less screen time. More sky. Limit multitasking. Say no faster. Give your brain some room to 

wander without shame.

Plants for clarity and calm:

Lavender

A gentle, time-tested nervine that calms the central nervous system, eases mental 

restlessness, and invites the body into a state of grounded peace. 

Sow: Start indoors in late winter or sow outdoors in spring in warm climates. 

Grow: Needs full sun, well-drained soil, and a dry climate. Harvest the blooms before 

they fully open. 

Lemon Balm

A bright, uplifting nervine that gently eases anxiety, supports cognitive focus, and calms a restless mind without sedation. Lemon balm is like sunshine in herb form — light, 

sweet, and stabilizing. 

Sow: Start indoors or direct sow in early spring or early summer. 

Grow: Prefers partial sun and moist, fertile soil. Grows quickly and responds well to regular harvesting.

Rosemary 

A pungent, aromatic circulatory stimulant and cognitive tonic. Rosemary supports memory, clears brain fog, and strengthens focus. It also encourages healthy circulation 

to both the scalp and brain — making it a longtime favorite for mental sharpness and resilience. 

Sow: Start indoors in late winter or plant cuttings in spring. 

Grow: Needs full sun and well-draining soil. It thrives with minimal fuss once established. 

Sage 

A clarifying herb with deep historical roots. Beyond its role in smoke cleansing, sage supports cognitive health, helps regulate hormonal shifts (especially in menopause), and 

dries dampness — whether it's night sweats or emotional heaviness. 

Sow: Direct sow in spring after frost, or start indoors earlier. 

Grow: Full sun, dry soil. Don’t overwater. Prune gently to keep it thriving and tidy.

Spirit

This is where I feel the Solstice the most — the “What am I really here for?” part. It’s a good time to ask better questions. To believe you’re allowed to have a season where joy leads the way. Put your feet in the dirt and move your body toward the sky.

Spiritual plant allies:

Sunflower 

A solar symbol of joy, vitality, and resilience. Sunflowers instinctively turn toward the light — and (hopefully) remind us to do the same. Energetic signature: solar plexus activation, joy, radiance 

Sow: Directly into the ground in late spring to early summer, once soil is warm. 

Grow: Needs full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Give them space — they grow tall and wide with grace. 

Yarrow 

A warrior herb wrapped in softness. Yarrow strengthens boundaries — physical, emotional, and energetic — while supporting circulation and healing. 

Herbal actions: vulnerary, astringent, anti-inflammatory, energetic protector 

Sow: Direct sow in spring or fall. 

Grow: Prefers full sun and poor to average soil. Drought-tolerant and low maintenance — a true protector.

Mugwort 

Mystic and moon-soaked, mugwort connects us to the dream world, enhances intuition, 

and invites shadow integration. 

Herbal actions: nervine, emmenagogue, bitter, dream enhancer 

Sow: Sow indoors in early spring or directly outdoors in late spring. 

Grow: Needs full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Let it grow wild — she likes her freedom. 

Blue Lotus 

Sacred, sensual, and high-vibrational. Blue Lotus opens the third eye and heart, enhancing meditation, erotic energy, and dreamwork. Energetic properties: aphrodisiac, heart opener, spiritual activator 

Sow: Grown from bulbs or seeds in warm water — ideal for containers or shallow 

ponds. 

Grow: Needs hot, sunny conditions. Water must stay warm. Treat her like the aquatic queen she is. 

 The Real Seeds to Sow

Yes, you can plant tomatoes and basil. And you should. 

But also consider planting this:

A boundary you’ve been afraid to hold 

A version of you that feels more honest and loyal to you 

A morning routine that doesn’t spike your cortisol

A decision rooted in genuine joy, not guilt 

A truth you don’t need to explain 

Remember to also sow seeds of patience. Not everything blooms by August. Some things grow slow and deep and quiet. That counts too.

A Little Ritual for the Solstice (or Anytime)

1. Go outside. Feet on grass, sun on skin.

2. Ask yourself: What do I need more of to feel like myself again? 

3. Mark the moment with something sensory — your breath, your voice, your hands in the soil. 

4. Say aloud what’s unfolding in you — not for proof, but for presence.

Final Thought

If you’ve been feeling like your soul is ready to stretch a little — but your schedule, your fears, or your self-doubt keep you small — take a breath. 

You’re not behind. 

You’re not broken. 

You’re just syncing back up with yourself. And truthfully, that takes time. 

The Summer Solstice is here to remind you: 

You don’t have to force the bloom. 

You just have to trust the seed.