Activities For The Summer Solstice

• Rise early on the summer solstice and greet the sun as it begins to brighten the sky.


• Create protective amulets out of rue, rowan and basil. Place these herbs in a clean white or gold cloth, and tie the cloth securely....

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Midsummer Celebrations In Ancient Times

The celebration of Midsummer's Eve was from ancient times linked to the summer solstice. People believed that mid-summer plants had miraculous and healing powers and they therefore picked them on this night. Bonfires were lit to protect against evil spirits which were believed to roam freely when the sun was turning southwards again.

The solstice itself has remained a special moment of the annual cycle of the year since Neolithic times. The concentration of the observance is not on the day as we reckon it, commencing at midnight or at dawn, but the pre-Christian beginning of the day, which falls on the previous eve....

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Summer Solstice Spell

The Summer Solstice is one of the holiest days of the year. At first light, take a tall white or yellow candle and a short black candle outside; light them to symbolize the longest day and shortest night of the year. A flower-scented incense is good to burn while you intone the words below:

Brother Sun and Mother Moon,
Day is longest now.

Energies of the brilliant Sun
Aid all at work or having fun....

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Summer Solstice Love Spell

The Summer Solstice love ritual is strongest done during the June full moon, but the ritual may be done on any full moon. It is best done out of doors, but may be done indoors.

Bathe before doing the ritual. Add flowers to your bath. If you shower, rub you body with a flower scented lotion or oil. Clean the stones with running water....

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Kupalo

In Slavic mythology, Kapalo or Kupalo is the god of the summer solstice. Kupalo is the mature, the aging Yarilo. Yarilo comes into human world (Yav) every spring to bring new life, fertility and rich harvest. In the summer he turns into Kupalo. His life on the world gradually moves to its end....

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A Litha Ritual For Change

If you possibly can, on the day of the Solstice go to the seashore, and at the low tide draw a solar image in the sand. Make it as large and ornate as you can, for this is in honor of the Sun. In the center place three stones or pieces of wood for three things you would like to change in your life. Position yourself where you can watch the incoming tide slowly erasing your image...

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Solstice Wheels of Fortune

In Sweden and Norway at the Solstice, people made wheels of fortune. Some of the wheels were wrapped in straw, set on fire, and rolled down hill. Other wheels were decorated and kept. These were used in two ways: One, the wheel was rolled away from a person to take away misfortunes; two, it was rolled toward a person to bring all kinds of good fortune....

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Kali Meditation For the Solstice

She is mad, Her lover is mad, and I am mad for loving Her!

This world is bewitched by the lovely Goddess.

No one can describe how lovely She is, how glorious,

how perfect Her gestures, how sudden Her moods.

Her lover, poisoned with love for her, calls out Her name

endlessly, singing Kali's name over and over and over.

Life has its currents, cycles, tides which ebb and flow....

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Litha - The Summer Solstice

Litha (pronounced "LITH-ah") is one of the Lesser Wiccan Sabbats and is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd, dependant upon the Earth's rotation around the Sun (check the calendar). According to the old folklore calendar, Summer begins on Beltane (May 1st) and ends on Lughnassadh (August 1st), with the Summer Solstice midway between the two, marking MID-Summer. This makes more logical sense than suggesting that Summer begins on the day when the Sun's power begins to wane and the days grow shorter....

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Correspondences for Litha

Purpose: Rededication to the Lord and Lady, beginning of the harvest, honoring the Sun God, honoring the pregnant Goddess

Dynamics/Meaning: Crowning of the Sun God, death of the Oak King, assumption of the Holly King, end the ordeal of the Green Man

Tools, Symbols and Decorations: The sun, oak, birch & fir branches, sun flowers, lilies, red/maize/yellow or gold flower, love amulets, seashells, summer fruits and flowers...

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Summer Invocation

Fireflies and summer sun

in circles round

we become as one.

Singing songs at magick's hour

we bring the winds

and timeless powers...

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Summer Solstice Ritual Potpourri

• 45 drops lemon or lavender oil
• 1 cup oak moss
• 2 cups dried lavender
• 2 cups dried wisteria...

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Midsummer Ritual Mead

• 2-1/2 gallons water
• 1 cup meadowsweet herb
• 1 cup woodruff sprigs
• 1 cup heather flowers
• 3 cloves
• 1 cup honey...

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Midsummer is here now

Midsummer is here now,

The longest day of the year.

The sun is shining down

And springtime has now flown.

But soon winter will come...

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Heather Lore

Heather is sacred to the Summer Solstice  (Aprox. June 20).

• Latin name: Calluna vulgaris
• Celtic name: Ura (pronounced: Oor' uh)
• Folk or Common names: Common Heather, Ling, Scottish Heather
• Parts Used: herb, flowering shoots.

Magical History and Associations:

Heather is associated with the sun, and with the planet of Venus. Its color is resin colored and its element is water. Heather's bird is the lark, and its animal association is the honey bee....

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The Summer Solstice

People around the world have observed spiritual and religious seasonal days of celebration during the month of June. Most have been religious holy days which are linked in some way to the summer solstice.

On this day, typically June 21, the daytime hours are at a maximum in the Northern hemisphere, and night time is at a minimum. It is officially the first day of summer. It is also referred to as Midsummer because it is roughly the middle of the growing season throughout much of Europe....

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Purple Loosestrife Magickal Uses

Magickal Uses:

This plant was considered most powerful when gathered at Kupalo (The Summer Solstice). One could control demons and troublesome spirits with the root if the following words were chanted over it before a sacred image:

Tear-weed, tear-weed
You have wept long and much but gained little.
May your tears not drown the open field...

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A Summer Solstice Ritual

The Summer Solstice, or Midsummer, celebrates the longest day of the year. It falls around June 22. The Summer Solstice ritual focuses on the god because summer is his time. Celebrate it outdoors if you can, or if indoors, during the day so the sun is a prominent part of your ritual.

Things You'll Need:

• Piece of cloth or cloth pouch
• Midsummer herbs
• Piece of red string or yarn
• Midsummer flowers
• Gold or yellow robe, shirt or dress
• Yellow or gold candle
• Summer fruit

Prepare for the Summer Solstice ritual by...

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