Now could be excessive midsummer solar
However dwelling time isn’t carried out.
Stop all sorrow, cease all strife,
Come hopeful hearts and a cheerful life.When you thoughts Midsummer Day
Luck and love will come your approach.
Pleasure and gladness, good and true
Come to me and go to you!
from A Midsummer Track, by William G. Grey, Seasonal Occult Rituals
Joyful Solstice to all!
Blessed Litha and Midsummer!
Joyful Litha (Summer season Solstice) to these of us within the Northern Hemisphere, and Joyful Xmas (Winter Solstice) to our associates under the equator!
On this present day (above the equator) at 4:50pm Jap time, the Solar, giver of life, reaches its zenith within the sky. Right this moment, the Shadow is smallest, the brilliant Solar illuminates all. From this present day ahead, Her Mild decreases, the times develop shorter, and the harvest season beckons.
And for our associates under the equator, after this present day, their days lengthen as their 12 months strikes in the direction of Springtime.
The phrase solstice is from the Latin, which means ‘solar standing nonetheless.’
It’s because twice a 12 months, the Solar seems to rise and set in precisely the identical place on the east and west horizon respectively. It pauses there for a few days, after which, its arc begins to maneuver. Thus, the sunlight hours slowly diminish (within the Northern Hemisphere) or develop longer (within the Southern Hemisphere).
All through the world, the ancients had been tuned to this occasion: it’s an unmistakable level from which the remainder of the yearly calendar could also be precisely reckoned.
This date has had non secular significance for 1000’s of years, as people have celebrated the life-giving powers of the Solar.
The Celts celebrated with bonfires, after which the Christians tried to switch Litha with the feast of John the Baptist. It is usually the pageant of Li, the Chinese language Goddess of sunshine. It’s nonetheless a large vacation in Scandinavia, Latvia, and Estonia (the place it’s second solely to Christmas).
Say a prayer for our associates in Ukraine, too, the place for hundreds of years it has been an especially standard time for weddings, magic, and delight.
Solstice rites are related to various cultures and websites the world over, together with Stonehenge in England, Casa Rinconada at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, Carrowkeel cairn in Eire, the Large Horn Medication Wheel in Wyoming, the Caracol Tower in Mexico, and the Temple of Amun at Karnak, in Egypt (pictured right here).
The Summer season Solstice is 1 / 4 sabbat and, apart from being generally known as Litha or Midsummer, it’s referred to as Alban Hefin or Alban Heruin in different Celtic and Druid traditions.
The oldest recognized written reference to the phrase Litha comes from the monk generally known as St. Bede (circa 672-735 C.E.), in his De Temporum Ratione, “The Reckoning of Time.” It may be translated as both “mild” or in reference to this comparatively protected time on the seas, “navigable.”
Birthing the Darkness
Right this moment is the ending of the waxing 12 months and the start of the waning 12 months, in preparation for the harvest to come back. Within the legendary cycle, that is the tip of the reign of the Oak King, and the start of the Holly King’s rule.
From this present day ahead, the times develop shorter, and the daylight hours decline, till Winter Solstice. Then, the hours of sunshine develop as soon as extra, and the dominance of the Oak King, is rekindled.
However for now, we rejoice the height of the daylight. Midsummer is when all that lives radiates with the Solar’s warming rays. It is a fiery celebration of fertility, not just for people, but additionally for crops, animals, and all beings.
Some Witches take into account the Goddess to be heavy now with being pregnant from Her mating at Beltane; others see that She is now in Her nice nurturing and Mothering splendor. In all instances, we honor Her.
The God can also be celebrated, because the Solar is at its peak within the sky and we rejoice Him as the great Father, a giver of sunshine and life – Honor to Him, as effectively!
Litha: A Time of Nice Magical Energy
In addition to Beltane, this is without doubt one of the most energetic occasions for our Faery cousins. Those that are clever within the methods might want to go away them particular choices of cream, honey, or hand-made treats. Not in alternate for favors, thoughts you, however as presents to acknowledge and honor them — pure, easy, and no strings hooked up.
It is usually an previous custom that {couples} who grew to become enchanted with each other at Beltane are given the chance to make a extra everlasting dedication at Litha. They might achieve this by leaping the bonfire or a burning cauldron fireplace into which the 9 blessed herbs have been forged (talked about in yesterday’s submit).
And all types of Solar magic are going to be amplified. Herbs and different pure gadgets utilized in magic are particularly charged with highly effective life-enhancing properties right now.
It is a notably efficient time for love, therapeutic, and prosperity spells. It is usually preferrred for working your most profound and world spells, with the total pressure of Sol carrying you.
Harness this magical vitality to carry out blessings and safety spells in your pets and residential. Hanging boughs of fennel and honeysuckle carry sweetness and safety.
Midsummer’s Day is a standard time to collect herbs from the magical backyard or from the wild (in a conscious, accountable method solely – by no means wild harvest a plant that’s threatened or pressured) to make use of in potions, dream pillows, poppets, and different types of spellcraft.
As you collect your Inexperienced Allies on Midsummer’s Day, please go away an providing, and also you may chant this, thrice earlier than and thrice after:
Herbs of magick, herbs of energy,
Root and bark, leaf and flower,
Work for me when charms are spoken,
Potions brewed and curses damaged!
Could The Sacred Supply of Life Bless Us, Each One
Could our Nice Awakenings now collect irresistible momentum! Could the glory of the Day Star shine forth in full majesty, exposing and cleaning the toxic wounds in our establishments.
Could the previous shadow spells of concern and powerlessness now soften away like mist that dissolves underneath the brilliant beams of the Solstice Solar. Could we vigorously invoke the noble sunshine to guard our physique politic from miasma and vendetta.
Regardless of the foul threats now stealing by means of our world underneath a fog of warfare and lies, fill your being right now with the Solar’s climax of energy. Sure, even when it’s a cloudy day. For it’s there for you now, and may stay inside your coronary heart, in order that it could “be a light-weight for you in darkish locations, when all different lights exit.”
Could all the youngsters of Earth now stand up as one household, and re-dedicate to the pressing therapeutic and empowerment of all who’ve been oppressed, dispossessed, and cravenly handled.
Like the nice and cozy rays of the Solar, might we attain out, coronary heart to coronary heart, in kindness to all that lives, particularly our holy Mom Earth.
Right here is widespread sense to strive,
Do as you’ll be carried out by.
Right here is counsel to meet,
When you hurt none, do what you’ll.
Now be gladsome, mild, and homosexual
On this good Midsummer Day.
from A Midsummer Track, by William G. Grey, Seasonal Occult Rituals
Within the methods of our ancestors, we honor the Turning.
Blessings this present day, to you and to all Beings!
