Imagine a large crackling bonfire whose flames reach high up towards the sky as if it’s hoping to reach the heavens itself. Amidst these flames, you see the image of a phoenix and can hear it’s squall. If you look just beyond the bonfire, towards the towering Oaks nearby, you can spot tiny lights dancing and moving. You know that these aren’t lightning bugs like nonmagickal people would shrug them off to be. Oh no, you know these are the Fairies that abound on this night and almost as if an affirmation of this thought, you start to hear the faintest, sweetest, and most melodic music you could’ve ever imaged. However, you know not to follow as you may never return. Instead you turn your attention back to the reveler as people begin leaping the bonfire, either individually or together with their sweethearts, in hopes of purification, health, fertility, and protection. The energy is heightened by the gaiety of the revelers as they start dancing and singing, feasting and toasting. Children are nearby playing with sparklers while an adult supervises. This is the Summer Solstice, Litha, a Celebration of Life and the Sun in all it’s glory!
Litha, as I prefer to call it, is the celebration of the Sun God at His height of power as reflected in this being the longest day of the year. It’s a time of great joy, feasting, excitement, and yet, even in the midst of this gaiety, there is a sense of sadness for we know that after today the God will start losing His power as the days grow shorter. Despite that, we still allow ourselves to enjoy ourselves and have fun because we know this moment isn’t going to last. We know to savor this day. This is a sabbat which honors the light, life, the God, and nature. Nature is alive, fertile, and abundant at this time.
The Summer Solstice occurs between the 21st and 23rd of June or whenever the sun is in 1 degree of Cancer. This year Litha occurs on the 20th of June, 2020. You may hear this sabbat referred to as Midsummer except this may be an entirely different celebration. Other names for this sabbat are Alban Hefin, Vestalia, St. John’s Day, among many others. This is a classic time for magick and it is said that fairies abound on this night. The planetary ruler, since the sun is in the sign of cancer, is the moon which was surprising for me but when you consider that you need both the warmth of the sun and the life-giving waters in order to live…well…it just makes sense. So, while the focal point is the Divine Masculine, there is still a deep connection to the Divine Feminine.
The God at this time is the Father God and the Goddess is either pregnant already or becomes pregnant with the Divine Child who’ll be born at Yule as well as the harvest. If you follow the Oak and Holly King, this is once again when they go to battle but unlike Yule, the Holly King comes out victorious. The Holly King rules the dark half of the year. In addition to Solar Deities, Father Gods, Mother Goddesses, it is equally appropriate to work with Thunder, Love, Earth, and Water Deities as well as any that are associated with Fairies.
The Love Deities may seem odd but this was the traditional time for Handfastings and June still is popular for weddings which considering it’s sacred to Juno and Hera, the Goddesses that preside over Marriage, this makes sense.
Symbols for this holy day are:
Balefires/Bonfires
Traditionally these were leapt to promote and encourage fertility,
protection, health, purification, and love.
Animals, such as cattle, were driven through the embers for health and
protection
Fairies
As this is the night that Fairies and Elves are known to abound, it only makes
sense that they have become a symbol of the sabbat as well.
It was believed they may try to lure young women away on this night to have as
brides. (Another reference to marriage.)
You may catch a glimpse of them but be wary to never 1) enter a fairy ring as
you may not come out and 2) accept any food or drink from a fairy. Also
be careful not to be led astray as there are some who like to get people
lost, like the Will-o'-the Wisps.
Mistletoe
Representative of the Holly King who rules the dark half of the year and wins
the battle at this time
Associated with the Sun and is Masculine
Oak Trees
The Oak is at its majesty during this time
Representative of the Oak King who rules the light half of the year and loses at
Litha
The Summer Solstice takes place during the Celtic Tree Month of Oak
Associated with the Sun and the element of Fire
the Sun
This one kind of goes without need for explanation but anything that can
represent the sun is also included, such as: spirals, wheels, disks, and even
fire.
Sunwheels
Burning wheels were once rolled down hills on the Summer Solstice (I’m not
sure why) but it’s interesting that they were rolled into water and if they
made it all the way down without extinguishing beforehand then it was
considered Good Luck.
This is interesting when you consider the sun on this day goes into Cancer so
the sun is going into a water sign.
Please do not do this!
Other Correspondences for this sabbat are:
Colors: Blue, Gold, Green, Orange, Red, and Yellow
Herbs/Plants/Trees: Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clove, Copal, Daisy, Elder, Foxglove,
Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Marigold, Mint, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Myrrh, Oak,
Orange, Peppermint, Rose, Saffron, Sandalwood, St. John’s Wort, Sunflowers,
Vervain, and Yarrow
Crystals: Amber, Bloodstone, Blue Calcite, Carnelian, Citrine, Emerald, Garnet, Green
Aventurine, Green Moss Agate, Honey Calcite, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Orange Calcite,
Peridot, Ruby, Sodalite, Sunstone, and Tiger’s Eye
Incense: Cinnamon, Copal, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Mint, Myrrh, Orange, Rose,
and Sandalwood
The Incense Blend I use I got from CharmingPixieFlora which can be found here as
well as in her book, The Simple Sabbat by M. Flora Peterson.
Tarot Card: The Empress, The Emperor, and the Sun
Activities for Litha:
Watch the Sunrise and Set
Infuse Water with Fruit
Bake Citrusy Foods
Make Sun Tea
Hold your Ritual at either Dawn or Noon
Spend time outside
Go for a Walk (if you can)
Have a Picnic (if you can)
Have a Bonfire
Incorporate Water into your Ritual
Bless Fathers
Give Offerings to Fairies
Perform some type of Divination
Create Dream Pillows
Craft Spells for Protection
Create a Witch’s Jar
Harvest Herbs
Communicate with the Fae
I wish y’all the brightest of Litha Blessings and hope your celebration is full of light, warmth, and joy.
Blessed Litha!
-Britany | The Heart-Centered Hexe
Note: Please note that any list of correspondences is not comprehensive as I wanted to allow room for your own research.
Resources:
Books:
Midsummer: Magickal Celebrations of the Summer Solstice by Anna Franklin
Midsummer: Rituals, Recipes, & Lore for Litha by Debra Blake
Celebrate the Earth: a Year of Holidays in the Pagan Tradition by Laurie Cabot with Jean Mills
Hedge Witch, Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magickal Year by Mandy Mitchell
Sabbat by Edain McCoy
Solitary Witch, the Ultimate Book of Shadows by Silver Ravenwolf
The Simple Sabbat: A Family Friendly Approach to the Eight Pagan Holidays by M. Flora Peterson
To Ride a Silver Broomstick by Silver Ravenwolf
Wicca by Scott Cunningham
Wicca: The Complete Craft by D.J. Conway
Videos:
The Witches Zodiac~Litha by Laura Daligan and Zoe Hind
Attuning to the Magic of the Summer Solstice by Tess Whitehurst
Litha~The Summer Solstice~What to Know & How to Celebrate by Magickians
Summer Solstice Ideas by CharmingPixieFlora
Summer Solstice Incense and Oil by CharmingPixieFlora
Summer Solstice Affirmations by Tess Whitehurst
Celebrating Your Light and Healing Deeply at the Summer Solstice by Tess Whitehurst
No 34 Celebrating Litha, the Summer Solstice by Tylluan Penry
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