Midsummer — from caterpillar to butterfly
Hey Witches,
Are you ready for the Summer Solstice?
Despite its name, Midsummer, or Litha, actually marks the beginning of the summer, not the middle.
It’s the moment on the Wheel of the Year when Nature’s energy peaks and has long been celebrated as a powerful time for magick. In Pagan tradition, it is when the God is at his most potent and the Goddess is pregnant, standing at the threshold between maiden and mother Goddess.
The world feels alive and full of possibility. There’s excitement in the air as the long, balmy days of summer stretch out before us like a path through a field of corn. All around us, Nature is thrilling with the energy of a symphony orchestra. And as we honour the Solstice, we are reminded that we, too, are here to make sweet music with our lives.
The Solstice comes with a double whammy of intensity this year, as it arrives hot on the heels of the eclipse portal and is followed by the Full Moon in Capricorn on the 24th. So in this week’s ritual suggestions, you will find both Sun magick and Moon magick.
Midsummer myth and legend
Surprisingly, little is known about how our ancient ancestors celebrated midsummer. Some scholars even debate whether they celebrated it at all.
Litha (or Lida) was the Anglo-Saxon word for July and August and meant “smooth sailing,” presumably because navigating the sea was easier during this time due to the clement conditions.
According to Pagan lore, two brothers — the Holly King and the Oak King — rule the two halves of the year. They do battle twice a year, on the Summer and Winter Solstices. At the Summer Solstice, the Holly King wins and reigns over the decline of the sun until the Oak King defeats him at Yule, and the light returns once again.
Many of us think of Midsummer celebrations as being as ancient as Stonehenge, where the standing stones align with the rising sun on the day of the Solstice. We commonly associate Stonehenge with the Druids, as it was attributed to them in the 19th century.
But the stones predate the Druids by 3,000 years, and there’s little to no evidence showing that Solstice celebration was the original intention of the stone circle. This is in contrast to Yule, the precursor to Christmas, whose celebrations marking the return of the light are widely documented.
It’s likely that, over the centuries, summer celebrations — almost always involving fire — evolved to give us the Midsummer that modern Witches know and love.
Energetic themes for the Solstice
The Solstice has long been held as a time of transformation, purification, and cleansing, as well as an auspicious moment for all things magickal.
Like a caterpillar emerging from the cocoon, we feel transformed and ready to live abundantly as the fullest, most authentic expression of ourselves.
At the Solstice, we celebrate the power of the life-giving Sun, but at the same time are reminded of the fleeting, transient, and cyclical nature of all things.
As this marks the halfway point of the year, it’s a great time to look back and give thanks for all the blessings we have received so far as we begin our journey once again towards the darkness.
Some of the energetic themes of the summer Solstice include:
Love
Success
Prosperity
Power
Creativity
Abundance
Cleansing
Protection
Sun magick rituals
Transformative fire ritual
Traditionally, Witches build bonfires on the night of the Solstice (a tradition that is still very much alive and well here in Catalonia). Some even jump over the fire for cleansing and purification.
If you can build a bonfire, do! You can make it a time of celebration for the whole family. A bonfire isn’t realistic for many of us, though, so here’s an alternative ritual suggestion.
Find a quiet space for your ritual where you won’t be disturbed. Take some time to get grounded with deep breathing, meditation, yoga, dance, or whatever you need.
Have a pen, piece of paper, and a heatproof bowl or container nearby.
Take your piece of paper and divide it in two. On one, write down three things you want to release that are holding you back. On the other, write down three things you want to manifest. Then, burn them in the fire.
If you wish, keep some of the ashes of your fire to use in a protection spell.
Sun salutations
Traditionally, yogis celebrate the Solstice with 108 sun salutations (108 is considered sacred as the number that represents the whole of existence).
However, counting 108 by yourself can be tricky (I know, I’ve tried!), so it can be helpful to have someone count for you using a mala (which has 108 beads).
If 108 sounds like rather a lot, just practice however many rounds you feel like! This is best done at sunrise on the day of the Solstice.
Other ritual suggestions
Ask for clarity — let the light of the Sun illuminate that which you need to see.
Call on spirit guides or other beings, such as faeries.
Watch the sunrise. Perform magickal efforts of all kinds.
Stay up all night.
Gather healing herbs, such as St. John’s Wort, lavender, and mugwort.
Leave your magickal tools in the Sun for Solstice cleansing.
Decorate your altar or home with yellow.
Drink honey and lemon tea.
Yoga for your solar plexus chakra (Manipura) — think twists and backbends.
Divination
The Mead or Honey Moon — 24th June
The June full moon is known as the Mead Moon or Honey Moon because it’s the time of the honey harvest.
This moon is supportive of magickal efforts that involve prosperity, abundance, intuition, inspiration, and creativity, as well as anything that involves personal or spiritual transformation.
If you’ve been feeling scattered recently, you’re not alone. June is an astrologically-charged month, with a tense Saturn-Jupiter square, Mercury still retrograde until the 22nd, and the outer planets entering their annual reversal for retrograde season.
The earthy Capricorn vibes of the Full Moon will help us to get grounded and find some relief from the cosmic washing machine we’ve been going through. You may feel pushed and pulled in all directions — this moon encourages you to slow down.
However, as a Super Moon, it has the power to bring things to the surface of you that no longer serve. Prepare for deep releases...you have been warned.
Mead Moon Magick rituals
Get grounded
With so much attention on our celestial neighbours, it can be easy to forget about the Earth beneath our feet.
Stay grounded by spending time in nature or even just in your garden. If you can, swim in living water. Or, try a few rounds of Earth salutations. I like this one by Sarah Robinson, author of Yoga for Witches.
Problem-solving
The Mead Moon is a supportive time for removing obstacles from your path. Try including this problem-solving chant in your Full Moon ritual (it doesn’t have to be elaborate — it can be as simple as standing under the Moon and reciting the incantation).
Mother Goddess, lift your eyes.
And aid me now, for you are wise,
Help me look at every angle
Of this situation, and untangle
The threads just serving to deceive
Shed your light that I receive
A good solution to this mess
With speed and fairness too, please bless
Me as I work unto this task
Mother, do no as I ask.
That’s it for this week — happy Solstice and Super Mead Moon, Witches! How will you be celebrating?