Spiritual Wellbeing - Celebrate Summer Solstice aka Litha like a Witch

aka Litha or Midsummer's Eve

June

Bonjour Witches, tis soon to be upon us this longest day and shortest night, Summer Solstice! A time for outside, not inside! I hope you're feeling alive with solar energy.

Modern Wiccan’s coined the name “Litha” for this sabbat, which is the old Anglo-Saxon name for June. However, many still call it “Midsummer” or “Summer Solstice”.

Solstice Astrology

This sabbat's celebrations, occurs anytime from the 20th to the 22nd June. For us here in Britain, twill actually be the 21st June 3.33pm GMT for 2023 and it's in Cancer 🦀.

NB. The Solstice also occurs at differing local times, so depending on where you live, it may fall the day before or after the date listed on any given calendar. And, to remind us of the literal meaning of solstice, it originates from the Latin word 'solstitium', sun stands still.

Cancer is ruled by the Moon, is the Divine Maternal Feminine and represent Home. The Moon is having an upgrade at the same time on this Solstice, reclaiming her power as a spiritual gateway.

Solstices and Equinoxes are an alignment of ley lines or energy lines within the Earth. We know that sacred sites are aligned to the stars but it is little known that this alignment is also taking place within the Earth simultaneously, creating powerful stellar gateways.

Solstice Crystals

This year is particularly powerful and I urge you to either go to a sacred site that calls to you and create a rose quartz crystal grid, which means laying out your crystals in a shape that holds meaning for you, and standing in the centre at 3.33pm for a power up.

No rose quartz, use actual roses, this is to represent the Divine Feminine, which is the theme of this Solstice. And, if you can’t get to a sacred site, find a space that makes you feel powerful.

Fertile Goddess

For us Pagans and Witchy folk, the festival is about sun worship and appreciation of his role in the fecundity of Mother Nature, aka the Goddess. Evidence of her resplendent bounty can be seen all around us, the earth is positively zinging with ripened flora and fauna.

The Sun is Male

Only made possible by the Sun God, who is now at his zenith, the height of his virility. Generally, the sun is regarded as a male entity, historically in the line up we have the Egyptian God Ra, the Greek God Helios and the Roman God Apollo.

Reign of the Oak King

On the ground, the God is the Oak King, which is evident in its glorious abundance.

Defeat by the Holly King

But, from this point onwards he surrenders his reign to his twin brother, the Holly King as we move back towards Yule.

The Mighty Oak

The Oak King, ruler of the waxing of the year, represents strength, courage and endurance. The Celtic name for Oak is 'Duir,' which means 'doorway’, and we are crossing the doorway into the second waning part of the year.

Celebration of Achievements

This sabbat is for celebrating our fulfillments and achievements, tis no coincidence the school exams finish at this time and the holidays start shortly afterwards.

Traditions

Traditionally, people stayed up all night on Midsummer's Eve, this first harvest festival, to welcome and watch the sunrise.

They lit huge bonfires on hill tops and other sacred places, made from oak to represent the Oak King, and other aromatic herbs, in acknowledgement of the sun’s peak.

The Summer Tree

Upon which they would burn the symbolic Summer Tree, much like the Yule Tree, usually a young oak decorated with flowers and coloured eggs to promote fertility of the crops and animals.

Animal Blessing

Blazing torches from these fires, were then carried clockwise for protection, around homes and fields. Ashes and coal from the fires were used to bless the animals and fields.

Wheels on Fire

And, in some European cultures, set large wheels on fire and ran them into water, to represent and maintain the balance between the elements of fire and water....I'm definitely up for a bit of that!

Potent Medicinal Plants

For those, like myself, Midsummer is also the best time to gather medicinal and magical herbs, their potency at its best. In Wales, Litha is known as Gathering Day.

Honey Moon

During the party, people drank the mead made from the Midsummer full moon, known as the 'Honey Moon'. Mead is regarded as the divine solar drink, with magical and life-restoring properties, and part of hand-fasting’s performed at the Summer Solstice.

A Month of Mead

This is where the term “Honeymoon” came from, the bride’s father had to supply the groom with enough mead to last him a full month! Mead is thus the ideal drink to have at Litha, use it in your offerings to the God and Goddess too toast the life-giving abundance of the Sun.

However, if you don’t like mead, make yourself some Elderflower Champagne.

Midsummer's Night's Dream

Magically, and all very Midsummer Night’s dream, this is the time where the doorway to the Otherworld and the realm of the faeries can be found. People, because faeries are actually quite mischievous and not always in an amusing way, put gifts and trinkets out to honour and appease them.

Glow Worms

Given that this is the time for fireflies’ aka glow worms, which look like faeries with their flickering lights, it’s not hard to imagine how this belief came into being. Of course, nowadays with all the pollutants we’ve been using for decades leading to significant damage to the insect population, you’d be hard pressed to find them on these Isles.

Next Steps

If you like this content, read the rest of my blogs on Witchcraft and the Wheel of the Year's sacred festivals.

In support of your spiritual nourishment and holistic wellbeing, I have created a Bespoke Guide to take you through all that I can offer you as a Celtic Witch, Medical Intuitive, Aromatherapist and Medical Astrologist.

For guidance on which essential oils to use for spiritual practice, I refer you to my blog on Oils for Spiritual Protection.

Happy Summer Solstice!

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