June 20, 2025 — The Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year and the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, arrives this Friday with Americans embracing it through sacred rituals, wellness retreats, and a shared awe for the sun’s power and symbolism.
Across the United States, communities are reconnecting with nature’s rhythms and ancient traditions—some rooted in pre-Columbian alignments and others in modern mindfulness.
Sacred Solar Alignments Across the U.S.
From New Mexico to Ohio, heritage sites that were once used to track the solar calendar are drawing solstice seekers.
- Casa Rinconada at Chaco Culture National Historical Park (New Mexico):
A beam of light piercing a sacred niche at sunrise marks one of the most stunning solar alignments in North America. Entry for the dawn ritual is limited to the first 100 visitors at 5:15 AM. - Serpent Mound (Ohio):
The 1,348-foot-long ancient effigy aligns with the setting sun on the solstice. Visitors gather along the hilltop for evening ceremonies and storytelling. - Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona):
At Puerco Pueblo, a spiral petroglyph is precisely struck by sunlight at the solstice moment, turning it into a natural solar clock. It’s one of the Southwest’s most accessible archaeoastronomical wonders. - Santa Barbara Solstice Festival (California):
Running from June 20 to 22, the festival blends indigenous drumming, folk dance, and archaeoastronomy talks with hikes along ancient crater rims.
Solstice-Inspired Wellness Retreats
The solstice is also being embraced as a time for personal renewal. Wellness retreats across the country are offering events designed to align body, mind, and spirit with the energy of the sun.
- Canyon Ranch, Tucson (Arizona):
Hosts a Summer Solstice Discovery Week (June 19–25), featuring sunrise yoga, heart chakra meditations, and floating sound baths in the Sonoran Desert. - We Care Spa, Desert Hot Springs (California):
Offers a Summer Solstice Retreat (June 22–28) with detox therapies, guided meditations, and spiritual readings with psychic medium AJA Daashuur. - Mendocino Grove Yoga Retreat (California):
A glamping experience from June 20–22, where guests enjoy luxury safari tents alongside daily yoga, breathwork, and nature healing under the redwoods.
Honoring the Light, Honoring the Self
In New York City, the solstice will occur at 10:42 PM EDT, ending a day that offers over 15 hours of sunlight—time many are using to reflect, celebrate, or simply slow down.
From ancient petroglyphs illuminated by golden beams to introspective meditations beneath starry skies, Summer Solstice 2025 is a call to pause, connect with nature, and align with your inner light.
Whether you seek cosmic insight or just a moment of stillness, the solstice offers a shared reminder: light returns, and with it, a chance to begin anew.