Happy Midsummer Solstice

Tradition rules this time of year here in Sweden. If the weather holds, and that is usually a big IF and gives way to many-a-jokes about the Swedish summer weather, most people will gather around a long late lunch meal, that goes on (and on) until the morning hours. Since it is the longest day of the year, it doesn’t get dark at all right now, in the nordics. That in itself is a peculiar experience :). The gathering is almost like a last fulfillment of social events before taking the summer off completely.

I’ve struggled to find a place for me to settle and find mindfulness, but now I HAVE and am obsessed with it. The space I love for peace of mind (and dips) is right here. some of the pics above are from a trip to Norway, where every little summer house has a bath house at the waterfront. It’s a very old and sweet tradition, where people used ot meet around a swim rather than anywhere else. The rest of the year, and during the cold months, there was much less socializing. Then there is the Stockholm archipelago from the sky. 30 000 islands of various sizes and shapes. Just drizzled into the Baltic Sea.

Being in nature sets the stage for a successful Swedish midsummer celebration. Even though as I said, everyone braces for intermittent rain in the middle of eating herring and drinking Swedish herb shots, dancing, hugging trees, playing games and enjoying the light is part of the festivities. I wish you a great celebration and fun times!

Live Loud!