Abundance, Transformation, & the Fire of Becoming
There’s something unmistakably powerful about the weeks around the Summer Solstice. Light is at its brightest, the evenings stretch out, and even the hedgerows are louder and more alive, as if the whole world is reminding us that growth is meant to be seen.
Traditionally, the Summer Solstice, June 21st, (often called Litha) marks the longest day of the year, and it’s a threshold moment, a peak of solar energy, where nature is visibly in the business of ripening, blooming, and offering up her abundance. Spiritually, it’s also a moment of transformation, because from this point the days begin to shorten again, and that subtle shift is a reminder that everything is cyclical, everything changes, and even the brightest, most expansive moment contains the seed of what comes next.
That’s why this is a perfect time of year to bring two themes together: abundance and transformation.
Abundance isn’t only about money or success, it’s the feeling of being resourced, supported, and nourished, and it can be as simple as having enough time to be present, having enough kindness around you to feel supported, or holding enough steadiness in your own heart to keep going.
Transformation isn’t always dramatic either, because sometimes it’s the slow, steady shedding of what no longer fits, and sometimes it’s the brave decision to stop carrying something you’ve outgrown, even if part of you is still attached to the old story.
For this Solstice reading, I asked three questions. Three powerful cards came out:
- What is ready for transformation? Death
- Where is abundance blooming? The Hierophant
- What is my next step? The Emperor
If you’re reading this close to the Solstice, take a breath, come into the moment, and if you can, imagine the warmth of the sun on your skin, even if the weather is doing its own thing. Let this be a moment of reflection, not pressure. You only need to be willing to listen.
Card 1: What is ready for transformation? Death
The Death card is one of the most misunderstood cards in the tarot, but it’s actually one of the most liberating. Death is symbolic, and it speaks of endings, release, and the clearing that makes space for new life. In the context of the Summer Solstice, Death feels like the moment the bonfire catches, when the smoke rises as something burns away. It can be both cathartic and a little scary.
This card often appears when something has already reached its natural conclusion, even if you’re still trying to keep it going out of habit, fear, or loyalty. It might be a relationship dynamic, a role you’ve been playing, a belief about who you’re allowed to be, or a version of you that once kept you safe but now keeps you small.
At Solstice, nature shows us that transformation is a process. The seasons turn because they must. Spring seeds grew into seedlings, seedlings into plants, plants into food. We watched the landscape bloom after the starkness of winter, and marvel at how it now bursts with colour and growth. As the wheel turns, we’ll see the harvests coming in, the light thinning, the land quieting. So, as the season moves in eternal balance, I’ll ask you: what might be ready to end for you? Consider if it’s any of the following:
- A pattern of over-giving that leaves you depleted
- A habit of shrinking your needs to keep the peace
- A commitment that no longer aligns with who you’re becoming
- A fear-based identity: “I’m not ready yet”, “I’m not good enough”, “it’s too late”.
Death invites you to stop negotiating with what your soul already knows. That can be confronting, yes, but it can also be wildly relieving, because it means you don’t have to keep dragging something behind you that’s already finished. So Death is quite an empowering card, as it shows you can choose to release with intention rather than waiting for life to force your hand.
A Solstice reflection for Death
Ask yourself:
- What am I clinging to because it’s familiar?
- What would I feel if I allowed this chapter to close?
- What space would open up in my life if I let this go?
Death isn’t always dramatic, so you don’t have to burn everything down. Sometimes transformation is the quiet setting of a boundary, a gentle goodbye, or a decision made in private that changes everything.
Affirmation for Death
“I release what has ended, and I welcome the transformation that sets me free.”
Card 2: Where is abundance blooming? The Hierophant
The Hierophant is a beautiful and surprisingly earthy card when we read it through the lens of abundance, because although it can look formal at first glance, what it’s really offering is steadiness.
The Hierophant speaks to tradition, institutions, teachings, spiritual guidance, and shared values, but beneath that it points to a very real kind of abundance: the abundance of support, wisdom, and belonging, which is often what we’re truly craving when we say we want ‘more’.
In a Solstice reading, The Hierophant shows where you’re being held by something solid. That might be your spiritual practice, your routines, your mentors, your community, or the values that guide your choices when life gets messy. It can also point to the abundance that grows when you commit to learning something properly, rather than trying to do everything alone and calling it independence.
This card asks: what are you already connected to that nourishes you?
- A circle of people who truly get you
- A practice that grounds you (meditation, journalling, walking, prayer)
- A teacher, therapist, guide, or elder who helps you see clearly
- A lineage of wisdom, whether spiritual, cultural, or ancestral
The Hierophant also reminds us that abundance isn’t a show. It’s often quiet, like a steady income stream, a reliable friend, a body that keeps carrying you through each day, a home that shelters you, or a practice that brings you back to yourself when life pulls you in all directions.
If you’ve been craving ‘more’, The Hierophant asks you to notice what’s already here, and to honour it. Gratitude offers you the opportunity to recognise what’s real and what truly matters, so take a moment each day for a couple of weeks to write five things you’re grateful for; a delicious cup of coffee, a laugh with a friend, morning birdsong, a good book. The more you observe and acknowledge, the more you’ll recognise your wealth.
A Solstice reflection for The Hierophant
Ask yourself:
- Where am I already supported, even if I forget to acknowledge it?
- What practice or structure helps me thrive?
- What would it look like to receive guidance instead of pushing through alone?
Affirmation for The Hierophant
“I’m supported by wisdom, community, and steady practices that help my abundance grow.”
Card 3: What is my next step? The Emperor
The Emperor is such a powerful next step card, especially at the Solstice when the sun is at its peak, because he carries that solar energy of clarity, confidence, and grounded authority.
The Emperor is the archetype of structure, leadership, boundaries, and personal responsibility, and his purpose is to create a solid foundation for your life. The Emperor is the part of you that says: I’m going to build something that lasts, and I’m going to do it in a way that supports me, not drains me.
After Death clears the space, and The Hierophant shows where abundance is already blooming, The Emperor arrives with a practical question: So, what are you going to do with what you know now?
This card can be an invitation to:
- Make a clear plan
- Set a boundary you’ve been avoiding
- Commit to a routine that supports your well-being
- Take yourself seriously (especially your gifts, your work, your healing)
- Step into leadership in your own life
If you’ve been feeling scattered, The Emperor brings you back to centre, and asks you to decide what your priorities are. He then encourages you to organise your time, energy, and resources around them, not in a rigid way, but in a way that gives you more space to breathe. This is where transformation becomes real.
A Solstice reflection for The Emperor
Ask yourself:
- Where do I need stronger boundaries to protect my energy?
- What structure would make my life feel more spacious, not more rigid?
- What is one decision I can make this week that future me will thank me for?
Affirmation for The Emperor
“I lead my life with clarity and courage. I create structures that support my growth.”
Two simple Solstice rituals
You don’t need elaborate tools to honour the Solstice, you only need intention, presence, and a willingness to participate in your own becoming. Here are two easy rituals to connect with Solstice energy.
Ritual 1: Abundance blessing (for ripening and receiving)
You will need:
- A small bowl of seasonal food (berries, herbs, bread, honey, or even a cup of tea)
- A candle (optional)
- A notebook
Steps:
- Sit somewhere you can be undisturbed for five minutes.
- Place your food or drink in front of you, and let it represent the abundance that’s already present.
- Take three slow breaths and soften your shoulders.
- Write down three ways abundance is blooming in your life right now. Keep it honest and simple.
- Then write one way you’d like to receive more support this season.
- Hold your hands around the bowl or cup and say: “May what nourishes me multiply. May I notice what’s already here. May I be open to receiving.”
- Eat or drink slowly, as a blessing.
This ritual aligns beautifully with The Hierophant because it’s about recognising what sustains you, and letting yourself be supported.
Ritual 2: Fire release (for transformation and brave endings)
You will need:
- A small piece of paper
- A pen
- A fireproof bowl, or a safe outdoor space
- Water nearby for safety
Steps:
- On the paper, write one thing you’re ready to release, and be specific. (For example: “I release the need to prove myself to people who don’t see me.”)
- Read it back to yourself, and notice what you feel in your body.
- Say: “I honour what this has taught me. I release it now. I choose what comes next.”
- Safely burn the paper and watch it turn to ash.
- Place a hand on your heart and ask: What does my life need from me now?
- When you’re finished, make sure the ashes are fully cooled, and dispose of them safely and mindfully, always respecting your space and the land.
This ritual is Death in its most sacred form: intentional release, clearing, and rebirth.
Carry the Solstice with you
The Summer Solstice is a peak, but it’s also a pivot, one which invites you to celebrate what’s flourishing while also being honest about what’s ready to change.
With Death, you’re asked to release what has ended. With The Hierophant, you’re reminded that abundance often grows through support and practice. With The Emperor, you’re encouraged to take the next grounded step, to lead your life with clarity, and to build a structure that can hold what you’re growing into.
Remember, you’re allowed to change. You’re allowed to receive, and you’re allowed to choose a life that feels like yours.
May this Solstice bring you warmth, courage, and a steady kind of magic.
Deck: Golden Art Nouveau Tarot
Deck: Golden Art Nouveau Tarot
Image by Julie Embleton
About the Author: Julie Embleton
