Litha 2020 (Midsummer/ Summer Solstice)
Summer Solstice, also known as Litha and Midsummer, is the longest day of the year. As the Sun God reaches the height of his power (it starts to decrease after this night) we celebrate the light at its magickal apex. Now is a time of abundance and joy. It is also a fantastic time to set new goals. Traditionally, this is a when the Oak King does battle with the Holly King for control. The Oak King, who represents daylight, rules from the winter solstice (Yule) to Litha. During this time, the days get steadily longer. However, during Litha, the Holly King wins this battle, and the days start getting steadily darker until Yule.
While in Canada Summer Solstice may not feel like “Midsummer” , it is clearly a period of change. You can feel it in the air. When I think of the Summer Solstice I think of long breezy summer days of wild carefree childlike abandonment. Growing up on Price Edward Island my summrier days were filled with being in the ocean a majority of the time. As my grandmother often told me, I was a mermaid. I will forever be grateful for my summers on the Island. When I wasn’t in the ocean you could find me riding my bike on red clay roads, picking up rocks and shells, enjoying nightly bonfires with cousins and going on many country side adventures with my grandparents to visit relatives and cemeteries (It is not as morbid as it sounds). My grandparents loved telling me about my heritage. I have now taken up finding everything I can about my ancestors, both blood and spiritual.
Throughout history, Summer Solstice has been observed by every culture in the world. Summer Solstice is almost always celebrated as a fire festival, as such bonfires were very common for rituals and usually kept going till the next morning. The Summer Solstice is also a celebration of nature; crops growing in the fields, house gardens full of vegetables and herbs. This time is focused on fertility, abundance, prosperity, success and good fortune.
In the Celtic traditions, June was the month of the Oak Tree, an important symbol for the Celts. It represents strength and vitality. They would also gather sacred herbs on this day. Picking some plants/herbs on the eve of the Summer Solstice to use in your magickal rituals, or food preparations is a wonderful way to honour this day.
Summer Solstice or Midsummer was also considered a most special time to commune with the Fae or faerie folk, as during this time it was easier in the “between” time from one season to the next to make contact with them. The fearie folk love sweet smelling flowers, honey & nectar which are abundant at this time. If you like Shakespeare you might remember he used this as his basis for A Midsummer’s Night dream to cause confusion and chaos.
A lovely ritual for this night might be to make an offering of flowers and cake to the faeries and then to meditate on a flame of a candle and envisioning yourself meeting friendly pixies and inviting them into your life. However, I would caution you before working with faeries to set boundaries, as faeries can sometimes be full of mischief. Take a bite of the cake you might have made or bought and sip some local wine or tea. Blow out the candle leaving the offering. Blessed Be.
Helpful Tips
Colors: Blue, Green, Gold, Pale Yellow & White
Crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, Emerald & Jade
Herbs and Plants: Chamomile, Lemon, Lavender, Mugwort, Verbena, Thyme, Rose, Lilies, Wisteria & Oak
Also please enjoy the follow Litha Blessing:
Tomorrow, begins our journey
Into extended night,
But today I celebrate gratefully
The day of longest light.
I celebrate the sun,
His strength has grown stronger,
I lovingly cherish the moon,
As her embrace will be growing longer.
God and Goddess above
Are dancing fertile and free
As is nature below
Its energy flowing through me.
I gratefully enjoy,
The gifts that summer brings,
Herbs, and crops and days of warmth,
And the song that summer’s bird sings.
I lovingly bask in the Sun
Every moment a delight,
Mindful of the gift,
As I‘m purified by the light.