The ModernZen Collective Podcast
Are you ready to elevate your mind, body, and spirit? Join Lizzy Sutton and Nikki Sucevic on The ModernZen Collective Podcast, where conscious women come together to explore the art of living with purpose, balance, and spiritual grounding. Whether you're a single professional navigating the pressures of urban life or a stay-at-home seeker yearning for deeper connections, this podcast is your sanctuary for holistic practices and personal growth.
Tune in as Lizzy and Nikki delve into ancient wellness secrets, expand your consciousness, and help you discover your true life purpose. We tackle the challenges of work-life stress, the quest for inner peace, and the journey of rediscovering who you truly are, to be able to live in alignment. Here, we embrace the unconventional, celebrate community, and empower you to step beyond societal norms to find balance, joy, and holistic living.
The ModernZen Collective Podcast is here to guide, educate, and connect women ready to transform their lives. Discover a world where balance, joy, and holistic living are within reach. Connect, grow, and thrive with The ModernZen Collective—your space for holistic wellness in the modern world.
The ModernZen Collective Podcast
Living the Light: Embodying Summer Solstice Energy in Everyday Life
The summer solstice isn't just the longest day of the year—it's a powerful energy portal that ancient wisdom traditions have celebrated for millennia. As the sun reaches its zenith, we too are called to step into our fullest expression and harness the transformative energies of illumination, expansion, and empowerment.
What would it feel like to truly own your light? To shed the protective layers we've accumulated—like removing sunglasses that shield our eyes or heavy coats that hide our true form—and allow ourselves to be fully seen? This episode explores how summer's abundant sunlight offers more than vitamin D; it provides cosmic support for authenticity, visibility, and purpose-driven action.
We share personal stories of transformation, from Lizzy's deeply moving weekend at her family's Texas ranch to Nikki's adventures seeking beauty in unexpected places like Nebraska. These moments of connection with nature remind us that when we align with seasonal rhythms, magic unfolds. You'll discover how incorporating simple practices like morning sun exposure, five-minute sun salutations, or candle gazing can help you embody solstice energy without overwhelming your schedule.
The ancient wisdom of Ayurveda offers another layer of understanding through its daily clock—showing us how to harmonize our activities with optimal energy times throughout the day. We'll guide you through living more intentionally with these natural cycles, especially during this high-vibe summer season where those intuitive "pings" (your soul's breadcrumbs toward purpose) become louder and more frequent.
Whether you're navigating major life transitions or simply seeking more joy and alignment, the summer solstice offers powerful support. Join us in exploring how to balance outward expression with necessary boundaries, how to follow intuitive guidance toward your purpose, and how to embrace the beauty of both growing and grounding during this magnificent season of light.
Episode Links:
- MZCP Ep. 5: Discovering Ayurveda: A Journey to Authentic Living and Holistic Well-being
- MZCP Ep. 9: Discovering Your Dharma: A Journey to Align with Your Soul's Mission
- 5-minute Sun Salutations on YouTube, Yoga with Kassandra
- MZCP Ep. 39: Yes or No? A Somatic Practice to Hear Your Intuition Loud & Clear
Thanks for listening to The ModernZen Collective Podcast.
✨ Want more support between episodes? Download the ModernZen Co App for guided meditations, energy updates, and soulful tools—available on iOS and Android for just $3.99/month. Click the link above or search “ModernZen Collective” in your app store.
💫 Looking for deeper guidance on your path? Explore our vetted, curated Collective of holistic practitioners—perfect if you're ready to deepen your practice or fast-track your transformation with expert support.
🌿 Follow us on Instagram @modernzenco & personally at @lizzysutton.co & @nikki.sucevic
Hi, I'm Lizzie and I'm Nikki. Have you ever felt that your life was missing purpose, joy or deep connection? Welcome to the Modern Zen Collective podcast, where we embrace holistic living for a joyful, purpose-driven life.
Speaker 2:In this podcast, we'll explore holistic practices, consciousness expansion and spiritual alignment. We will dive into personal development practices that connect mind, body, spirit and share secrets that ancient cultures have known for centuries. Together, we aim to guide, educate and connect individuals eager to transform their lives.
Speaker 1:Join us weekly on the Modern Zen Collective podcast and elevate your mind, body and spirit. And now on to today's episode.
Speaker 3:Hello friends, welcome to another episode of the Modern Zen Collective Podcast. Lizzie here with my wonderful co-host.
Speaker 2:Hi everyone. It's Nikki, so happy to have you all here.
Speaker 3:We're so excited to talk to you guys today about the summer solstice. It is here, it is upon us, and we cannot wait to celebrate with you, with each other, outside, everywhere, all over, all over the world. And we just wanted to share a little bit about the summer solstice energy and how to embody that in your everyday life as we step into this wonderful season where everyone just seems to be happier and spends more time outside and just feels more grounded. I mean, what do you think, nikki? I feel like summer's like the best time of year, and I don't know if that's because we're trained like that as a kid, because we're not in school, but I feel like I've always loved the summer the most.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've always loved summer the most too, but I like personally, I love warmth and I love, like the desert climate, everything like that. So when I go on vacation I like to go places like that it really feeds my soul. But having the outdoor activities and the sunshine now, living in Chicago, and we really thrive in the summer as a city, because it's just, you know, very dark and cloudy and rainy and snowy. It's even been cold the last you know, until last week or so it's still been chilly here into May. I know it was like I wore a puffy coat last week a few days to go on my walk. So it's definitely still much different than Texas, where you are, but I feel the same as you.
Speaker 2:I feel it's very grounding and it's that vitamin D that we all need that's essential for our body, our health, our wellness, our energetic flow, everything that helps us grow and evolve and be healthy in our body. We receive that during these months and we receive it even more during the summer because we have on less clothing, so our largest organ, the skin, can absorb the vitamin D as it needs to for us to function. But I feel the same way that summer just brings on this new sense of energy and, like you said, grounding, and we receive the energy of the sun to support us on the way too. So we get to be in that rhythm of the sun and that rhythm, you know, of how we do our day. It's going to be much different than the seasons that we're in in the winter, when it's dark and cold and darker earlier.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I think it's great because I feel the same about summer really is about living in rhythm with the light. It really is about, you know, rising and setting with the sun and expansion, clarity, everything that comes with this energy of the summertime. So that's what we're going to talk about today on the episode and we really want to get into the key energetic themes of the solstice first, and those are illumination, expansion and empowerment. So, nikki, could you share a little bit more about your experience with these three things and what it might feel like to you internally and externally and what it might look or feel like to somebody else?
Speaker 2:Yeah for sure.
Speaker 2:So illumination, expansion, empowerment I would say all of them really intertwine with each other.
Speaker 2:For illumination, for me it's having seeing things more clearly, like almost that there's a light shining on different areas of my life or of my surroundings and I'm able to have more of an awareness of those areas surroundings and I'm able to have more of an awareness of those areas, whether that be from the you know extra energy that I'm getting from the sun, or just having more energy in general with the flow of the seasons and everything that goes with our internal clock and our circadian rhythm.
Speaker 2:So that's something that is really nice for me from the expansion side, or the illumination side. And then from the expansion side, it's really using that energy of the sun, that energy of forward movement, that energy of empowerment, for expansion Also. That's how they're all intertwined with each other. So for expansion, I feel, you know, being able to step into the visibility, especially as a human design manifester. I've talked about this before and I've written blogs about it. It's just something that, as a manifester, just deep shadows about being seen, and the big thing about being a manifester in human design is about being seen. So I feel that the summer solstice energy gives me that ability to be visible.
Speaker 3:That's so interesting that you say that about being a manifester, because I'm a manifesting generator and I'm a Leo. My sun sign is a Leo. So I feel like I've always kind of wanted to be seen or like wanted to be in the spotlight, wanted to be seen or like wanted to be in the spotlight. But I have had a hard time navigating how to do that or like be in the spotlight in a way that I chose to be in the spotlight instead of like gossip or you know, in my youth I'm not saying right now, yeah- no, I get it Bad decisions, Lots of bad decisions, you know, for our growth obviously.
Speaker 3:Bad decisions, lots of bad decisions, you know, for our growth, obviously. But having it's really for me, been about figuring out how to be in the light, visible in the way that I want to be, Like, how do I be my true self in front of everyone? Because that's kind of what I want you know, yeah, want you know, you know, why else would I do a podcast with you, you know, or something like that. But it's like I get to choose that this is how I share instead of you know in another way. So I think that's really interesting that we kind of have we have the similarity between, like, the manifesting generator and the manifester, but then how it plays out in relation to, like the other aspects of who we are can look totally different. And I feel like I love your thought about how we get more sun because we're also wearing less clothes.
Speaker 3:And for me it almost feels like being more visible too. It's almost like this is who I am. We're shedding all of the outer bulky layers, that kind of hide who we are underneath everything, and it's just like this is who I am in this lifetime. This is the body that I was given, you know, to walk this earth. You know, on this timeline, and I'm going to treat it as best as I can Majority of the time. You know I like to eat burgers and fries or whatever. You know what I mean Brownies. I love a good brownie, but I think that's interesting that you say about that too, because that brought that to mind as well like being more visible, even with what we wear outside.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, absolutely. Because I find myself feeling really a lot of comfort in the wintertime when I have like my cozy sweaters or sweatshirts that I wear with my baggy jeans and I'm just relaxed, and my sneakers and my puffy coat and I just feel like, ah, comfy, like cozy, et cetera. And then summer I start to have this, you know, very, very, very high school thought of I don't have any clothes in my closet, I don't have anything for the summer, like everything I have is either yoga clothes or like parkas. So I have that, that whole thought process going on as we're starting to shed and be more seen Like absolutely. That whole thought process going on as we're starting to shed and be more seen like absolutely. And I've actually, you know, after doing a lot of studies and inner work and all of the you know things it's always a journey but learned a lot for health about not wearing sunglasses especially in the beginning of the morning, you know, because it we need the sun in our eyes to help with our circadian rhythm.
Speaker 2:and I was such a sunglass person constantly as soon as I went outside anywhere, I was driving anywhere, I was walking all the time. And even that little shedding of not wearing sunglasses and feeling more seen without those on and stepping into that, it seems so small, but that's something else too for the being seen part, and then to accept and, you know, enjoy the energy that we're receiving during the solstice time.
Speaker 3:That is so crazy that you say that, because I have been practicing not wearing sunglasses too for a few years now. I've been learned about it when I was pregnant with Jackson and also like bringing him out into the light and letting him like open his eyes outside wherever my husband's like why are you laying him down in the grass looking up at the sun? I'm like he's not looking directly at the sun. He will close his eyes. It's okay, you know, but it's funny.
Speaker 3:I've been practicing that and I do notice when I meet new people too, or like we're out and about, it's almost kind of like a comfort thing to have your eyes hidden behind the sunglasses. And also like when you meet someone with sunglasses on and then they finally take them off, they're like a different person. You're like oh my gosh, is that what you look like? You know it's so. It's so interesting. How, yeah, with the, the sunglasses, not only about like what you're what we're talking about, living in rhythm with the sunglasses, not only about like what we're talking about living in rhythm with the light, with the circadian rhythm and all that which is so much. I feel like more fun to do in the summertime because it's warmer outside in the morning and the evening, so it's almost easier to like get out for the sunrise or be out for the sunset or, you know, share that time. It's interesting that the sunglass thing goes with that and also with being seen almost and like stepping out and like that's really interesting, like owning your own light.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like the empowerment piece, Exactly Like owning your own light and being comfortable in who you are, living out loud, being your authentic self, like you said, because we could have all these different layers of whatever it might be people-pleasing, et cetera and shining the light internally on who we truly are, at our core and at our soul, is something that could take practice.
Speaker 2:Our core and at our soul is something that could take practice and while we're doing that or evolving, we could put all the layers on to stay in that practice, to stay hidden while we're trying to be seen.
Speaker 2:But I'm a big advocate of no sunglasses, especially first thing in the morning If you go on a walk. It's just so much, so many benefits for your health with that, especially during these beautiful summer months with the solstice that we have and everything, all the support. You know I've mentioned it a few times, but we have so much support behind us from an energetic standpoint to help push us forward or draw us forward to be able to do our goals and what we wanna do and things we might've been putting on the back burner. And there's no shame in that, because the seasons of winter and spring, like there's a lot of difference in each season for a reason. You're planting, you're hibernating, you're relaxing, and then you're setting up for this new time when we're, you know, stepping off into being seen and into all of this energy for this next few months.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know, we spent all that time, like you're saying, like taking stock, seeing what we want to do, planning our next steps, like looking at all the options, having plan A, b, c, d, e. I know that my husband and I have been doing that a lot. We've been in our house for 10 years now. We have two kids, one that's two and a half and one's that six months. We also have four Labradors, which I know it sounds insane. We've had four Labradors for like eight years, so no, 11. Moose is 11. So we have a lot going on over here and we've just kind of like it's kind of outgrowing the house. So do we put more money into it? Do we look for? What do we do? And so I know in my life that's kind of what has been going on since the new year, since before the new year, especially with my husband's business being, you know, all over the United States and stuff like that at this point and in the spring, kind of making some moves, planting some seeds, talking to some experts here and there, talking to our financial planner, talking to our parents on both sides, talking to real estate agents, talking to different, kind of like seeing what's out there, looking on all the websites, what's available for land for homes, for condos, talking to different kind of like seeing what's out there, looking on all the websites, what's available for land for homes, for condos, for waterfront whatever, and now in the summertime, like we're talking about, we're at this point now, this like breaking point, this tipping point, where it's like it's time to shit or get off the pot, like it's the perfect time, the culmination of everything that we've been doing and also what I've been hearing because I'm not an expert in this, but also with, like, the astrological energies and the cosmic energies that have been shifting since, like April, all of this stuff has been building up.
Speaker 3:This tension has been building up. All of these decisions and things that you've been doing have been building and building and building All these seeds you've been planting, and at this point it's like it's the tipping point. It's time for something to happen, a change to happen, a big change to happen, and that is what I've been hearing from the experts and that is actually what I've also been experiencing in my life, which I love to see how, like, my life also aligns with the cosmic flow of energy. But it is this tension of like feeling. It is a big feeling of overwhelm at different points and feeling drained constantly, or like almost this feeling of I better if I'm just sitting here right now. I'm not using my time the way I need to be using it because there's so much to get done, because it's like mom life, what's happening in my life, but it's definitely follows these themes of the seasons and this summertime.
Speaker 3:Like stuff is happening this month, like things are moving. We're hitting the summer solstice right here towards the end of June and like my house will probably be on the market and hopefully be sold within like by the beginning of July and then I'm going to be living in a camper for the next year or two. I mean surprise, but it's going to be great. But anyways, that's a story for another day. But it's really crazy because I have found what I have needed to be okay in this point of like overwhelming tension, but like so ready for this next step and this ability to expand into this new chapter part of my life. I have had to like really step back into like my little cocoon here at the house and just like get done what I feel like I need to get done to feel good. Like if I have things scheduled with people and they fall through, I am not upset about it, I'm like good, I'm going to get some stuff done at the house.
Speaker 3:I'm going to run some errands really quick. I'm going to do this, I'm going to do that. It's like there aren't any wasted moments, realistically, because I'm not allowing myself to even like leave and do too much right now. And it's kind of like sad because I'm missing my friends, my mom friends, and I'm missing like some things. But it's like it's only a few months, it's okay, I'm going to be back. And it's like what do you need to do to be okay with all the stuff that is swirling around you and inside you and all your responsibilities and all your responsibilities? And at this tipping point, like how are you going to be okay with the buildup until we get to the other side and we feel this ability to like take these huge deep breaths and like do all this stuff? I don't know that's just that's for me how I am now, like that's what's going on with me in relation to these energy shifts, this solstice shift and these cosmic shifts, and like that's how I'm dealing with it. I don't know. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's like when you were saying that you know how do we get to where we're going and also like how do we enjoy the ups and downs and the uncertainty and all of the things, which is a reminder for myself a lot, because I mean, as humans, we always are thinking that's just how we're conditioned, that there's an end prize, an end goal, whatever it is like that's what we want to do, what we want to get to, but being humans really all about. You know the path to get there and a lot of our you know memories that we look back on or things that are imprinted inside of us were during the journey. And right now, during this like summer solstice time, you're going through so much with ripping the bandaid off and doing things and juggling it, et cetera. But I also see you taking time to like enjoy and have fun and not get stressed, like, just have a good time and enjoy packing up the house and living in chaos. You know, for this finite moment, everything is small, like nothing's forever. So you know this is a small time and how beautiful will it be when the kids are older and you can talk about how they helped you pack and all this stuff. Just so many memories come from the spaces in between where we are now and where we want to be, and it's like during this time we have so much energy from the sun to help us push forward. But it's a good practice especially from you know, mindfulness and awareness to have that ability to have that mindful connection during all of this energy. Like Lizzie was saying, the cosmos are behind you too. They're on your sides of the seeds you planted. If you start taking actionable steps, things are moving, moving, moving, moving quick.
Speaker 2:And how can you still feel that gratitude and that mindfulness and not lose sight of the beauty that's all around you, especially in the summer, when we have all of the colors flourishing and we have the blue, blue sky and the green, green grass and everything all around you is just awe and wonder and just so amazing to be around in the summer.
Speaker 2:I mean it really. It sounds cheesy, but it really makes me so happy to be on earth, especially like this, like last week. I was in Nebraska for a vacation, which I know sounds amazing and crazy. Everyone here is very much asking me why Nebraska? But I am checking off all 50 states and immersing myself in each state as I can, but when I was there and going on these hikes and just seeing like the wonders in each state and just really I was just astounded by the beauty that's everywhere and how beautiful it is when we get to be outside and have the sun on our face and just enjoy what's around us. I mean, sure you feel that way from coming from Parks and Rec, from what you did for school and everything too, that these different seasons really help us to enjoy and immerse ourselves.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's really interesting that you bring that up, because we were just at the ranch this past weekend. It's my husband's family's ranch and it's in West Texas and they have some acres that we get to run around on. It's really nice to be able to spend that time together as a family, and it was my husband's stepdad Joe, who it's his like, his safe place. He loves this place. He goes out there on Thursdays and comes back Sundays or Mondays, you know, I mean sometimes only Wednesdays.
Speaker 3:He's like he loves working on the land and just being out there, which is really cool. You know he's a true farmer and rancher these days and we are falling in line. My son, jackson, loves being out there so much. He has all the big equipment that he gets to play on. He loves to mow the lawn. We were out there trimming trees this weekend. We've gotten a lot of rain in Texas this year so it's still green and I love it when it's green here. It's so beautiful and the wildflowers are still kind of out. A lot of them are gone but they're still out there and we were out there on the land, you know, most of the weekend, spent most of the days outside, you know, mowing and trimming trees, and they did a really cool trees and they did a really cool fish like stock pond thing on Friday where they did like fish management, wildlife management, where they shocked the fish so they can like catch them and measure them and see what kind of fish you have in your pond so you can manage it properly, so you can put the right kind of fish in there to help feed them, and different things. It's really interesting. I'm learning all these new things.
Speaker 3:Anyways, I'm Texan now I'm Texan, but we were out there and we were out there on the land and the kids are like sleeping on the grass or we would be riding around the side by side. We would do all these things and I was literally like tearing up like multiple times this weekend. I'm kind of getting choked up thinking about it right now, because it was so beautiful outside, the weather was so perfect. It was like the most beautiful time with my family. I'm getting totally choked up right now With my husband and my two kids and with his dad and like seeing his dad interact with our kids and just how much he loves them and like takes the time to like be patient or like teach Jackson.
Speaker 3:I mean, jackson grabbed some corn off the ground and we were like, oh, do you want to plant it?
Speaker 3:And he's like, yeah, and so we go back to the shop and Joe gets all these tools and water and we drive over to the field, all these tools and water, and we drive over to the field and he shows Jackson how to like make the little spot and plant all the things and put the water in it and it was just like, it was just so beautiful and I just I guess like I never pictured that this is what my life was going to look like when I was growing up. And now here I am with this beautiful family and having the opportunity to spend this weekend together outside on property alone. I don't know, it was so beautiful. It sounds so cheesy, like you're saying, but I was just so overwhelmed with gratitude and thankfulness and the beauty of nature around us and everything. It was just man, it was just so perfect, and I just didn't really expect to be, even right now, filled with so much feelings and emotions about it.
Speaker 3:It was just another weekend at the ranch, just a regular weekend. We were like, okay, they're doing this thing at the ranch, you know, just a regular weekend. We were like, okay, we're gonna, they're doing this thing at the pond on Friday. So let's go out for the whole weekend and just not have a plan and spend some time. And and it was just. It was like one of those memories that I'll always have that I didn't realize was going to be one. And it's like in the midst, like you're saying, in the midst of all this stuff that's happening, deciding to go like take the weekend away, together, away from everything. Like, yes, we should be here doing some things to get the house ready, but it's like, no, it's important to be together.
Speaker 2:So it was yeah, yeah, things will always find a way of working out. If you need to get the house ready, that'll figure itself out. And doing all of the other things that fill our soul and create this beautiful emotional connection, just having that gratitude and having that connection, this family that you have and the support you have and the love you have, and just you know that time in nature, that time in nature for children and being able to, you know, get dirty, be grounded and have someone like Joe and you both, like you and your husband, take their time to show Jackson when he wants to plant the corn. You're planting the corn, not put it off until three or four months or next season or whatever. It is Like you're actually showing him and teaching him about, about it all in that moment and it's just.
Speaker 2:I mean, it's so beautiful and we can have these, you know beautiful nature connections all year round and you know there's so much beauty in every single season and some areas of you know North America have different seasons and more potent seasons than others and it's just during the summer solstice season. I truly believe it really wakes up our soul with the sun. We've had all this hibernation time. We've had the time to plant the seeds, and now we have this cellular activation to really give us the time and the moderation and actually getting out and enjoying and being, you know, one out there with nature, with what's out there. It's absolutely beautiful and we're so, so supported throughout it and we can create, you know, our own routines with the summer solstice. We can create our own routines with how this, like all, comes together.
Speaker 3:Hey, love. We'll get right back to the episode in just a moment. But if you've been craving more grounding, guidance or just a moment of peace in your day, you're going to love the Modern Zen Collective app. It's your personal sanctuary in your pocket. For just $3.99 a month, you'll get access to our exclusive guided meditation rituals, energy updates and soulful workshops, all curated to support your spiritual journey in real time. You'll even get timely push notifications with astrological insights and intuitive reminders to help you stay connected to your highest self. So if you're ready for a little more intention and magic in your everyday life, just pause for a second head to the App Store or Google Play and search Modern Zen Collective. All right, let's get back to it.
Speaker 2:We've talked about it before and we'll link it in the show notes. Ayurveda has an Ayurvedic clock and that's a big part of where our circadian rhythm. You know, just to get to know your circadian rhythm and how you align with the energies of the sun and the night and the moon and some routines that really help me is from 6 am to 10 am we have the kapha time. Is from 6 am to 10 am we have the kapha time and that's really preparing for the day, bringing your energy together, just eating lightly, having some stretching, being one with nature. You know, like we talked about before, having that sun on your body without sunglasses, taking a walk, you know, drinking water, all of those things. And then it goes into that really magnetic supercharged time of 10 am to 2 pm where it's pitta, where it's go, do, take action. This is your heaviest meal, these are your go, go, go things. So we'll link the information about the Ayurvedic clock that we've talked about in our past podcast. But you really you even get more energy behind you with these, the way that the clock is designed and the way that we're supposed to go from that and have our biggest meal middle of the day and then we go into Vata time from 2 pm to 6 pm and that's really, you know, socializing, communication, seeing friends, et cetera.
Speaker 2:That's why I love, you know, european culture and having drinks. Or I love you know European culture and having drinks or dinner outside. You know, not having this go, go, go American corporate culture where you have to work till 7 pm Like they can, you know, peace out and go enjoy drinks or even water and sit outside at 3 or 4 pm. And you know it's something we all can do. We can create these times for ourselves and then start to wind down again, you know, back to the kapha time and then go to sleep before 10, because at 10 pm you start again with that pitta time. So if you stay up past 10, you'll get what you know they call it the second wind, and that's when you get that second wind, and it's why it's hard to fall asleep between 10 and 2 am because you have all this energy, your body thinks it's time to go, go, go again, and people will eat.
Speaker 3:Like often, if you're still awake after 10 pm, you're going to experience. You know pitta is the time for digestion. So that's why you eat your heaviest meal between 10 am and 2 pm at lunchtime, because Pitta time, pitta rules your digestion, and so that's when it's firing, that's when you want to eat your heaviest meal, and then you experience again from 10 pm to 2 am. So it's the opposite 10 am to 2 pm, 10 pm to 2 am.
Speaker 3:So kind of easy to remember that way and at night, pitta that fire is meant for digestion. It is meant to help eliminate all the buildup of toxins and excess in your body. So if you are eating again, your body's pitta is going to be used on digesting the food you just ate instead of digesting the toxins that have built up in the body. So this is where we find ourselves waking up very sluggish and not clear-headed and feeling like we didn't get much sleep is if, day after day, we are eating a late heavy meal for dinner. That is what is kind of messing you up.
Speaker 3:So if you can start to try and eat a lighter dinner, heavier lunch, eat a little bit earlier and make sure you're asleep before 10 pm. You're going to start to wake up with a much clearer head, clearer mind and feeling like you're actually rested and ready to like take on any sort of cognitive task. I know sometimes I have. I used to have brain fog. I think that's how you like a little fog, a little haze. It takes a while to wake up. Oh, I need my coffee. Whereas if you start to practice earlier, lighter dinners and being in bed before 10, you're actually going to feel like you had your coffee when you wake up. It's the wildest thing. I don't know if you've experienced that before.
Speaker 2:No, yeah, I've absolutely have experienced that, and I've experienced how different I feel when I do go to sleep before 10 and just having that time for myself, not feeling like I'm missing out on anything but going to bed. And once I started going to sleep a little earlier, my body naturally starts to wind down and get tired around nine, nine, 30. And I feel that I have my circadian rhythm, my internal clock, kind of on lock now, because I, I, my body automatically wakes up before my alarm and I, I start to fall asleep at that certain time. Um, and something else that really helped me with my circadian rhythm, uh, which is not an Ayurveda thing, but it's something that Lizzie and I talked about like three years ago taking cold showers.
Speaker 2:We were on this cold shower phase for a really long time. We started our morning, we talked about it and it worked. When I would wake up and I would either take a cold shower or finish my shower with cold ice, cold water, I really felt the inflammation in my body go away and then I really felt that I was sleeping better, that I was a morning person, like if you for any reason, feel like you're sluggish or you have this brain frog or you feel bloated or whatever. I mean, lizzie and I were like I don't know about this. We're going to give it a try. She's in Texas and I'm up here. We would talk about that. We were doing cold showers, but for me it really, really helped me become more of a morning person, especially during the summer season, and get up earlier when the sun's shining.
Speaker 3:Okay, I'm back on it. I'm back on it, nikki. No, I don't have a huge belly anymore and I actually I get up at freaking 6am now all the time. So I think I can do a cold shower now to start the morning, and I'm not. I'm not going to do a whole shower, I'll just probably turn it on, hop in, you know like get the whole body, get the back of the neck, everything. I don't think I'm going to do the hair, I'll probably just wear a shower cap. I'm not into the head, I'm not quite. No, thanks, not right now.
Speaker 2:It's a whole endeavor. It's a whole other thing.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I don't have the time for that. I don't have time for wet hair in the morning, not with the two kids. No, not at all. I'll stay. I'll get back on it. Feel free to start it with us, let us know how it goes. But we will 100% link our episode. It was one of the first ones that we did when we released our podcast. It's episode number five and it's called Discovering Ayurveda A Journey to Authentic Living and Holistic Wellbeing and we'll link it in the show notes and that talks all about, like Ayurveda, what it is. It's the oldest, like over 5,000-year-old form of medical history and wisdom and, like all other medicine practices are really from Ayurveda and we'll link that in there so you guys can find out more about that if you're interested in really aligning your energy with the energy of the day, the circadian rhythm of the day. So we'll make sure that we link that for you guys.
Speaker 2:Yeah absolutely so, with aligning the solstice energy and daily living. We talked about routines and rhythms. What else do you do, lizzie, that helps you to kind of align with this solstice energy, now that we have it moving into June 21st and everything in the summer?
Speaker 3:Well, I think one of the things that I kind of already talked about is, like, with this big step out and like doing all of these things, making all of these changes, where do you have to like step back?
Speaker 3:Because we have a finite amount of energy that we can give in the day and, you know, when we start pouring out more than we're getting in, then we get depleted and we burn out and then we're like down for the count for weeks or months or we have some terrible health illness or we get hurt, seriously injured or something that forces us to not do anything, and so I think that's one of the things is like, if I'm going to be doing all of these things around the house, around the job, around the podcast, around my children, what do I need to let go and where do I need to step back? And for me, stepping back was coming home, being home more than being out and about every day. Instead of scheduling something for us out every single day, including play dates, it's like take advantage of our backyard while we have it Be home, have him play here. So for me, it's like, while I'm doing all these major things, like with Junior League, it's like very big time. With junior league, I'm transitioning to a new position. It's taking a lot of time and I have to meet with her every single week for two hours every week just to stay on top of things, and I want to do it and it feeds me. I love being a part of that organization and what it does. So while I am putting all this energy into that, I need to do less of like my leadership forward or less of something else. So, or like now I have been going to the gym and then I will meet my co-chair at Whole Foods, which is right next to my gym, like 15 minutes after my workout ends, so I can go get a workout in, walk next door, put my computer down, work for two hours go home. So I think it's like how do I stack things or how do I do things so I can get those things done, but I'm able to do all the things I said.
Speaker 3:So I think that's a big thing is, while we're putting so much energy out, where do we have to like kind of step back for a moment? And I think a lot of people do this subconsciously, like in the summertime I don't know if you've noticed, but you don't see your friends as much. People vacation a lot in the summertime. They're kind of out and about doing other things with their family. So I think we do kind of do it on like a societal level, like it's almost like we don't plan as much in the summer in terms of events or other things, because we know people aren't going to show up because they're going to be somewhere else. You know, I don't know if you experience that as well, but I feel like that. I kind of like see that as a thing, but there's almost more like you need to be more intentional about it if you're having like major things go on, or even if you just want to feel more peaceful throughout this process.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, we get to reset our own nervous system and create those boundaries, and it might not even be releasing something that you don't have space for. It might just be putting it to the side for a little bit. And time's moving so fast right now. Right now it's the end of June when you listen to this and before you know it it's going to be Labor Day, which is insane, right. So time is moving so fast. So, just putting something on the side and just a pause so that you can focus on yourself and your nervous system and your well-being and create that own routine, and only you know, only you know what makes sense and you don't have to explain it to anyone. If you put something on pause and someone challenges you on it, it's no one else's responsibility or business, but you of what you're deciding that works and doesn't work for you.
Speaker 2:And that's another part of stepping into who you are and your inner fire and your inner light and who you are at a soul level, your authenticity, where you can just be so detached if someone questions what you're releasing or what you're just you know, putting on pause for a bit what we could do to align with the solstice energy in our daily life during this season is to step into our purpose and our inner power.
Speaker 2:Like how can we channel this energy of the solstice into our purpose-led action, into either starting the breadcrumbs to find your purpose or stepping more into your purpose? Like, is there a place in your life where you're ready to take up more space, where you know you can push yourself a little more to be seen or to step into your purpose or to do that thing you keep procrastinating on? That, you know, is part of what you feel? Is that inner fire inside of you, man, do you have the power behind you of the sun right now to help you with that? And I think a big part of this energy is to align, really feel and have your intuition lead you to what your purpose is.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I definitely agree. I think at this time of year there's almost even more momentum to be made and to be had when you continue to make those little action steps on that thing that excites you. What are you really curious about? And just like you could spend hours talking about or looking up on your phone or listening to podcasts to or watching YouTubes about, like however you digest information listening to books, like, reading books, whatever what is that thing that you're so curious about right now and excited about steps, like any little things you could do. It doesn't have to be major. Maybe it's like reading 10 pages, or maybe it's finding a new person to listen to, or maybe it's finding a local meetup to go to around that thing, or whatever it is. Start to take some steps on that. I think you'd be really surprised at what opportunities open up for you and where that can take you. Just by taking those little steps and like Nikki keeps saying, like the sun is supporting you right now, Like that fire, that energy, that pit to power is like let's do some stuff, let's have some things happen, let's get some shit done and see where things take us. And so just do that like try something and see one little thing and see what happens.
Speaker 3:And I think you know, if you listen to our podcast with Angelica Grace on Sacred Cacao, where it was kind of like a little introduction to cacao and her medicine, she shares a little bit about her story and how she decided to follow her things from being a hairstylist to like now she's a shamanic, you know priestess and doing all these wonderful things with the cow and rituals and all these great things in this beautiful soul, Like. She talks about her story, about how she started to take these little action steps and now she's got a husband and this whole life because of these actions. So she would not have met him if she didn't decide to do these things, and so it's really, really interesting. So I would say, definitely check out. You know we talk a lot about purpose and our Dharma and our power, because I'm a life purpose coach. So purpose is like huge for me and for Nikki, because we wouldn't be here right now if we didn't start to figure out our purpose and follow it.
Speaker 3:And so we have an early episode, episode nine, on discovering your Dharma, a journey to align with your soul's mission. We will link that if you're interested more in purpose stuff. And then I'm also just going to link the cacao one. Well, I'm not even going to link it, you guys can see it because it's like two episodes ago or something. But go look at the beginning of June. Look for the cacao secret cacao episode with Angelica Grace If you're interested in hearing her story how she became the wonderful soul woman she is today sharing all this wisdom with us and I highly recommend listening to those. So check those out because Nikki's right Like, use this sun action. Like, do some more purpose, some more power, some more things some more things.
Speaker 2:And Angelica's episode is so powerful because she talks about like the little pings she was getting, the intuitive hits she was getting had she ignored them and thought they were silly or crazy. Because usually our pings are very illogical, Like you might get the ping that you know. You get the ping that you're supposed to join a meetup group. That's like talking about astronomy and it's four cities away and you just have this ping that you're supposed to do it and you keep putting it off and putting it off because no, like there's no way. That is ridiculous, it's so far away. I don't even like astronomy, I don't want to talk to people like whatever.
Speaker 2:We fight for our limitations and when you follow those pings you realize that that's your soul, your highest self, guiding you to your purpose. And a lot of times they are just tiny little breadcrumbs, like little things. Because if our soul gave us like the big thing right off the bat, we would 100% say no, because we like our comfort as humans, because we had so much survival instinct inside of us from all of our evolution. So these little tiny things, where it might be, go to that other coffee shop instead of this one. Try this workout class. Instead of that, call this friend, Do this Like, post this on social, whatever it is.
Speaker 2:These little pings you get that really come out of nowhere. Those are the breadcrumbs to your purpose and they really are activated during this time where you can really have more clarity, like we talked about before, like shining a light on things around you and inside of you, and you have that clarity where these pings become more prevalent. So, like, whenever you like what Lizzie said, what's the harm in you know? Start like just starting, just starting seeing what happens. Go to that astronomy club, start studying flowers and birds, whatever it is. Just start doing it, because it's going to lead you into what you're meant to do, which is amazing. It's amazing that we're built this way.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know what's funny? That just popped into my head and I hate to say this because it's totally the man but that Amazon commercial, when that Asian girl is like eating this super bland sandwich for lunch and then she sees the guy on Mr and Mrs Smith making like this whole you know dish. I don't even know what it's called because I'm not worldly when it comes to cuisine. I will admit that Someone can teach me. I'm open to be taught, but I will not just go in and guess like, and she like orders the pot and all of a sudden she's creating, like trying it, all these dishes and it's like that's that's what we're saying.
Speaker 3:Like you see something, you you have this sandwich. You see the show and you're like, damn, that looks good, I should try that. And then she orders a pot and does, and now she's got these amazing lunches that she takes to her office every day. So it's like exactly what we're talking about. And who's to not say that her doing that she takes to her office every day? So it's like that's exactly what we're talking about.
Speaker 2:And who's to not say that her doing that and taking to the office is something that tugs at the heartstrings or creates a memory for someone. That was like, oh, I should really contact my aunt, who, x, y, z? And then they create their you know relationship and their bond comes back together. So it's, we're all interconnected like quantum entanglement. We're all interconnected so like it's almost I don't want to say it's selfish that we don't follow the pings. But when we follow the pings we're not only helping ourselves, we're helping someone else. So if we have this, if we have a ping that is an intuitive hit that says that you're supposed to say happy birthday out loud somewhere and standing in line at a grocery store and your mind's telling you absolutely not like that's ridiculous. Why would I say that I don't want to be judged, whatever? And then you just say, oh, happy birthday, happy birthday, whatever you say it. And then the person behind you starts crying because whatever happened in their life and they were meant to have that. So you followed your ping and because you followed your ping, you helped to inspire them and heal their heart. There's just so much that is intertwined and goes along with it with following your purpose, and it's amazing where we are now with so many people following their purpose, like launching their own businesses, taking a risk, betting on themselves being seen. You know all of the things that come along with everything that we've been talking about on this episode. It's just really powerful to you know, honor what's working for you, put on pause or release what is taking up clutter, step into your energy, be seen and you know, find your rhythm for this time of year, like find your rhythm for what works for you with everything going on and you know, with that rhythm and us talking about the Ayurvedic clock and everything that goes on with it, you know some micro practices that can help you during this time to carve out time.
Speaker 2:You can do five minutes of sun salutations in the morning. If you want to see what those are, you can look them up on YouTube. It's a yogic practice that really helps you to call in the sun. Anytime. I teach yoga and it's cloudy and we do sun salutations, I always make a joke that we are calling in the sun. Sometimes it works. I always make a joke that we are calling in the sun. Sometimes it works, but doing these sun salutations really helps to activate your energy, to move your energy around and to align that energetic connection with the sun. It's something that I really love practicing in addition to stretching and yoga, but sun salutations really uses your entire body and it's something that is a full body like mind-body-spirit experience. What about you, lizzie? What are some like micro practices that you love?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I really. I like the sun salutations too, because you almost get into this flow. It really does feel like flow once you like, keep doing them over and over and over again. So, I do like that. It feels kind of different, I feel like than other yoga things where you don't know what's coming next, like you always know what's coming next in a sun salutation, so you can just kind of go go go in and out like a wave, um, I think.
Speaker 3:Uh, another practice that you could do right now is candle gazing. I love candle gazing. It was probably my favorite way to help me get into meditating. So meditating is one of the hardest, like the most simplest things, but the hardest things to do consistently and like become a habit. I really, truly believe that, and candle gazing is a type of meditation where you take a candle in front of you. You have to be able to see the wick, so a like a brand new candle or a candlestick works really well. You light the candle it's best if your room is dark, as dark as you can get and what you do is you sit in front of the candle you can set a timer for five minutes and you stare at the candle flame as long as possible, with your eyes open, as long as you can, as long as you can Let your eyes water. It's also like an Ayurvedic cleansing practice, like an eye cleansing practice, because your eyes water, but you stare at it as long as you can, and then, when you feel like you need to blink, you close your eyes, you cup your hands and you hold them over your eyes so you make it even darker and then you focus on the photo negative of the flame. So it's kind of like if you ever looked at the sun and you close your eyes and you can still see the sun when your eyes are closed. It's that. So that's what you're staring at. So when you close your eyes, you're staring at that flame that you can see in the dark and then when you lose that flame, when it flickers away, when you can no longer see the flame, you open your eyes and you stare at the flame again. So you go back and forth from eyes staring at the flame no blinking. As soon as you feel like you need to close your eyes, cup your hands, close your eyes, stare at the photo negative. When that disappears, go back to staring at the flame and you just go back and forth for five minutes. Your eyes will water a bunch. It's great. So you know, do it when you're not wearing a bunch of makeup or whatever you want to do. Um, but honestly, it's a really great way for you to have something external from yourself to focus on, to allow all those other thoughts and everything to go away and to become more still and start the ability to like just sit and meditate for 20, even journaling with a candle, like where you intentionally light a candle for your inner fire journal, and then you like say thank you and ask to carry that energy with you and you blow it out. Like you can do things with fire, you know with the sun. So I definitely recommend doing something like that if you're interested. And then you know.
Speaker 3:The other thing that Nikki and I were talking about before is like that, aligning with your purpose and saying yes to things that feel really expansive, that feel really good, and saying no to things that that make you feel depleted. Like that's a way also to follow your purpose, like what feels expansive, what feels good to you, what feels like a hell yes to you, and then anything that's like a maybe is a no. So it's either a hell no or if it's a maybe, it's still a no and it might be a not right now. It might be a no comma not right now, but that's still a no. So you can come back to it later, but it's a no right now. And Nikki did this awesome practice because you know we also release practices on here, because we really want you to be able to use this information Like what's the point of having it if you can't do anything?
Speaker 3:An episode on a somatic practice, a yes-no practice that guides you through how to find out in your body what a yes feels like and in your body what a no feels like, and so I highly recommend doing that. It's even good to like do that if you feel like you know how your body says yes or no. Sometimes you might need to check in and update it. Like there might have be like some new feelings in there that are a yes or a no. So we'll link that practice in here as well, and it's a great practice to like check in like what does a yes feel like in my body and what does a no feel like in my body? Because the body will never lie.
Speaker 3:The mind is meant to show you the risk. It's meant to show you the risk and the reward both sides. It's supposed to show you you think this is going to happen. Well, what if this happens? Well, what if this happens? It's always going to show you all the scenarios because it's trying to keep you safe.
Speaker 3:The body is the thing that guides you towards your purpose. That's the thing that will never lie to you. What's right. So drop into the body and if you don't know how, here's a practice to figure out how your body says yes or no. So I really, I really feel like there's some short little things five minutes sun salutations, five minutes of journaling, five minutes of candle gazing, doing this little somatic, yes, no practice, which I'm sure is less than 10 minutes long. You know you don't need this whole hour long ritual to like to use this energy to your benefit. You maybe, maybe, print out the Ayurvedic clock, what it looks like, put it up on your fridge, see if you can start to live a little bit more in time with that kapha, pitta vata, kapha, pitta, vata, that rotation of how it works throughout the day. See if you can just try something small. It doesn't have to be a huge thing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, exactly. It doesn't have to be a huge thing, because huge things shock our nervous system anyway. So slowly integrating, slowly bringing things in is going to be most beneficial. And you know, lizzie and I want to emphasize, you don't need a full ritual to live seasonally Like you, don't need to be doing rituals and to be so dogmatic about it. That's when. That's when the control takes over. We want to be in flow. We want to go with the flow and the ease of the season that you're in, and these practices are here to support you. This awareness of the season you're in is here to support you. But you don't want to have this super, super tight grip and try to control every single thing, because when you start to move the energy, things are going to be thrown at you. Because you're moving the energy, you're not stuck under a rock, so things are going to start happening and then you can adjust and do what you need in that moment to best serve.
Speaker 3:You have your boundaries, honor your energy and everything that supports you on this journey, especially during the summer solstice you to choose one of the energies, one of the main energies, to embody, maybe over the next week, next two weeks. It doesn't have to be forever or something that you can keep top of mind. So either illumination, expansion or empowerment. And what is the one that really kind of when I say it like you get like a ooh feeling illumination, expansion or empowerment. So choose one of those, embody it for the next week, two weeks. See how that feels. Let us know in the comments or send us a DM on our Modern Zen Co Instagram or our personal Instagrams, however you want to. We'd love to hear from you.
Speaker 3:And just a reminder and a little promo last Friday's practice episode that was released on the 20th is some guided reflections and inner practices to really anchor everything that we've been talking about on this podcast episode. So it's titled Summer Solstice Reflections Illuminate, expand, empower. So take a listen to that. It is going to be some different questions, so it would be great to have a journal with you or maybe your phone note app, however you like to take notes for yourself, would be helpful to have with that practice episode. It's not really a meditation, is more of a guided reflecting period with questions to get you thinking about different things. So take a listen. We'll link it below, or just go back an episode and check it out, because we're really here to not just give you information, but also help you integrate it in this modern world that we're in. You know, that's why we're Modern Zen Co, because all of these things, you know, that's why we're. Modern.
Speaker 3:Zen Co. Because all of these things they're wonderful, but if we can't fit them into the lives that we lead, they're no good to us. Because the best practice is the practice that you do. So that is like literally my favorite quote. I don't remember. I think my yoga breathing coach taught me that and I swear the best practice for you is the one that you do.
Speaker 2:So go do it that is profound and amazing on all levels. Yeah, it's really about feeling the energy of you and you're going to be different, especially as women. We're different. We flow 28-day cycle. Things adjust and flow, so go with what works for you. We are so happy that you joined us for this episode and stay till the end. Thank you so much for your interest in what we're creating and the community we are creating and everything that we want to provide for you from things that we've learned and are continuing to learn and grow and want to share with the world.
Speaker 3:Yes, absolutely. Thank you everyone so much for being here and we will see you on the next episode.
Speaker 2:Thanks everyone, Bye.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much for joining us today on the Modern Zen Collective podcast. If this episode resonated with you, we'd love for you to share it with a friend and leave a review. It helps more conscious women like you find our community, and if you're craving a deeper connection to your practice, we've created something just for you the Modern Zen Collective app a sanctuary in your pocket. Inside, you'll find guided meditations, soulful workshops, energy updates and intuitive channeling, all curated to support your spiritual and holistic wellness. Plus, for just $3.99 a month, you'll receive timely push notifications with astrological insights and gentle reminders to realign with your highest self. It's rooted in ritual, made for modern life and always within reach. Just head to the App Store or Google Play and search Modern Zen Collective to download the app and begin your journey with us today. And, as always, any links or resources we mentioned in this episode can be found in the show notes. Until next time, keep trusting your path and honoring your unfolding.
