Litha
History & legend
Litha / Summer Solstice is the longest day and shortest night of the year. It is the peak of the Solar calendar, where the Sun enters the sign of Cancer, and is at its apex of life giving power. The days will now become shorter and the nights longer as we enter the darker part of the year. This time is also known as Midsummer’s eve, Midsummer’s day, Litha & St. John’s day, The festival of Attainment & the Celebration of the return of the dark. The Sun has been celebrated since time immemorial. Ancient cultures built temples all over the globe to revere its strength and potency. Stonehenge’s north-east entrance aligns perfectly with the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset. Temples of the Sun exist all over the world; the Temple of the Sun in Palenque, Mexico; Machu Pichu in Peru; Dakshinaarka temple in India; Userkaf in Egypt, to name a few.
This is an ancient and sacred time of celebration in honouring the Sun, particularly its rising. Traditionally, torchlight processions of people and animals converged on sacred sites, hilltops and sacred wells on Solstice eve, to celebrate the Sun in its fullness and at its peak of strength. Fires were lit, usually from an Oak branch, to encourage the Sun to be strong through the darker months, to purify people and animals, to bring good fortune to those who would jump the flames. This is where the festivities would begin and continue into the night and toward sunrise on solstice morning. Herbs were thrown onto the fire to aid its power of purification.
The tradition of gathering herbs was also a very important event at this time. Many agricultural crops are in full growth and coming closer to harvest. Most herbs are in full bloom too, containing all the power of full growth and the sun. Harvesting herbs for medicinal and magical use was attended to, especially on the Summer solstice as the plants were said to be imbued with potent solar power at this time. They were then stored and dried for use over the coming months. Mugwort, Vervain and St. John’s Wort are traditionally in flower and harvested at Solstice. The growth period is at its peak & around us we witness the beauty & abundance of the Mother Earth.
This is a sacred time to the Sun God, his potency and virility, his ability of continuity of life in the face of darkness. He guides the development of crops. He is now in his ‘protector’ mode. His lover, the Goddess is in her expectant motherhood aspect in red, after the grand union of Beltane, and he is the protector of his prospective family. Agriculturally the crops are nearing readiness, herbs are in full bloom and the Sun will help to ripen all that bears fruit.
There are many legends surrounding Full Solar power and of the waning Sun. The stories of Lugh, and the Holly and Oak kings are two. The Oak king represents the waxing Sun, his brother the Waning Sun. The Oak king is slain at Summer Solstice, leaving the Holly king as ruler over the darker months of the year, until Yuletide when the Oak king returns to retake his place, residing over the returning of light into the world.The Oak tree plays an important role in tree worship at this time of year, being decorated with ribbons and cloths. The Oak King’s residence over the the waxing year represents strength, courage and endurance. It becomes more evident during the Autumn, Lammas, that his power has truly waned and that the Holly king resides over the darker seasons.
The Goddess, Earth mother is at her most radiant, endowed with life giving attributes at summer Solstice, like the Earth she is loved, lover and now blossoming with abundance, she grows and ripens in all her glory.
Summer Solstice Rituals
The Summer solstice is the apex of our personal expressiveness. It celebrates fulfilment in each of us. This is a time to celebrate what we have, who we are and what we look forward to achieving & manifesting from our seedbed. This is a time to focus on our intention of personal manifestation, who we wish to become, by adding the potency of the Sun to activate whatever is being wished to birth into life. This is the time of acknowledging the beginning of the waning of the outer world & the rising of the inner world. Here we find the balance in the turning wheel where we can dance, sing, celebrate ourselves & our distinctiveness.
Traditionally great processions would have marked this time of year. Huge effigies of the Mother & wicker dragons would be wheeled along. Perhaps try to create your own models & procession even!
Make a Sun shrine dedicated to the Sun & its potency.
Make elixirs with sun charged waters, herbs, non water soluble crystals. Cleanse crystals & leave them under the Sun to charge.
Wishes - Summer Solstice is also a time when the veils between the worlds are at their thinnest. Fairies and spirits are said to roam the Earth causing mischief and mayhem in a topsy turvy manner. Fair warning here, be careful what you wish for! Be accurate as the mischief makers will have some fun in translating your wishes!
The June Full Moon is known as the Bee moon. It is at this time that honey is harvested to make the mead which is traditionally used for handfastings. Solstice Mead is made and consumed with blessings of the divine , abundant Sun. Drinking this divine solar drink honours the grand union of Goddess and God.
The traditional of making creative/ protective amulets is also an important part of Summer Solstice. As mentioned, the Sun is at his most potent energy and right now is the best time to get creative and make protective amulets which are imbued with this energy. A Sun spell captures the power of the sun’s daily journey into an amulet. The amulet can be of your own choosing, and can be something as simple as a flower, daisies are ruled by the element of fire so would be a good choice. If you are using more than one item, you can bind them together with either melted wax or a tie. Raise the item to the sun and imagine the sun’s ray’s forming a potent solar energy ball around the item. You can chant something simple like ‘Powerful / protective Sun, imbue this work/amulet/spell til it is done’ . If you can, leave the item in the sun for the whole day, then do so. Recharge in the sun when needed. This little amulet can bring a ray of sunshine into your life at times when things get dark, or can be charged for protection to be carried at all times.
Another way to celebrate is with the themes of living fully , as the Earth is at this time. Go out into nature with friends. Experience the wonder of the land in joyfulness. What is done now will direct us toward our future creativity. Take a glass of wine. Saturate it with words which describe the beauty of the natural world in all its glory. The strong green of the leaves, the beauty of the blossoming flowers, the healthy nature of all animals, the cleanliness of rivers, strong fishes. When you have finished breathing words into wine, take 3 sips and as you pour the rest of the glass to Mother Earth say:
"Let this be the way on Earth
Let this be
Wild creatures, plants and places in regeneration
Wild, free and strong everywhere”
As you pour the wine to the ground say
“I give this vision to life. May we all share it & live by it”
(Rae Beth,2001)
Litha Associations
Symbols: The Sun, Sunflowers, Daisies, Oak leaves
Moon: Strawberry moon (height of strawberry picking season), Bee moon (honey for solstice mead). Mead moon (drinking mead to honour the grand union)
Colours: Red, orange, gold, yellow, blue
Crystals: Pearl or Moonstone, anything green, or tiger’s eye
Herbs: St. John’s Wort, Mugwort, Vervain, sage, Mint, Basil, sunflower, Lavender
Decor: seashells, summer fruits and flowers, dried or drying herbs
Flower: Rose, Wild Dog Rose
The Rose has a special affinity with midsummer. It was & still is used to decorate sacred groves & midsummer dancers. The five petals of the Wild Dog Rose is a symbol of the Goddess, Venus, Aphrodite, Mary Magdalene, motherhood, regeneration & eternal life. In addition, the five petals represent the five points of the pentacle, a power symbol of protection. The red rose is symbolic of motherhood, maturity & sexuality. The white rose represents the virgin.
Litha and the Christian Church
“Then doth the joyful feast of st. John the Baptist take his turn,
When bonfires great with lofty flame, in every town do burn,
And young men round with maids, do dance in every street,
With garlands wrought with Motherwort, or else with Vervain sweet”
(Thomas Kirchmeyer: The Joyful feast of St. John 16th Century, in Green, M. p.61)
Of course there is another celebration, quite close to Litha, which is Midsummer. This usually falls just after the solstice celebrations of 20th - 21st June. Traditionally a pagan festival of midsummer, 21st - 24th June, predating the Christian calendar, had, at some point been chosen by the Christian church as the birth date of St. John the Baptist. Many European countries abandoned Litha and Midsummer rituals in favour of celebrating St. John’s day, which is what the placing of the Christian celebration was designed to do. However, there are some pagan elements which have remained in tact on this day, such as the lighting of fires at sacred sites and holy wells. These inclusions changed in nature from the warding of evil, purifying people, crops and animals, encouraging the sun’s strength to become warding of evil spirits and witches, the light of the bonfire representing the coming light of Jesus Christ. I for one will be at a Litha ritual celebration.
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin and was reportedly born 6 months before Jesus as a sign of the coming of the light of Jesus. The placement of his birthday in the modern Christian calendar was deigned to replace Pagan solstice celebrations. Theory, analysis and research has revealed that John the Baptist was born in the month of March and Jesus birth 6 months later would have been some time in September, when it was still warm enough for Shepherds to watch their flocks in the fields. As Summer solstice heralds the Sun at its high point, receding into Winter, Winter Solstice heralds the returning of the Sun towards its apex. This was the perfect representation for the two holy male figures to fit into.
That said, many countries still celebrate St. John’s day at or around Litha, but there are still some countries who celebrate Midsummer with some semblance of its Pagan origins.
In the UK traditional bonfires on hilltops, such as Cornwall, are still lit. Many people visit sacred ancient sites such as Stonehenge, Avebury and Glastonbury, in honour of the ancestors and to herald the rising Sun on the morning of the Summer Solstice. Rituals and handfastings do take place throughout the day. This is often preceeded by all night festivities which are continued after the main event and into the night of Litha. This is a huge affair which attracts thousands of people, and is often badly reported in the press.
It is my belief that Summer Solstice celebrations have far surpassed those of St. John’s day here in the UK. The importance of this seasonal celebration is of huge significance to the British public, with Pagans of different persuasions coming together to celebrate with non-pagans.
In Sweden a maypole is erected to dance around. Greenery is placed over homes for good fortune and health. Midsummer is seen to be a strongly mystical night when magic is at its strongest.
The Spanish equivalent of Midsummer celebrations revolve around The feast of St. John, however, the gathering of medicinal herbs is still a big event in some parts of Spain. Garlands or bunches are left over night to gather dew, which is then used to wash the face with on St. John’s day. Bonfires are also lit at midnight and when it is safe, many still jump the flames for good fortune and to ward evil.
In Russia, midsummer is believed to be a fertility festival containing water and ritual purification. Girls float flower garlands for good fortune and to be blessed with partners. Boys jump the flames of bonfires. This night is also known as Kupala night, which is a Pagan fertility festival.
Austria celebrates with a procession of ships down the River Danube. Fireworks are lit at the banks and hilltops are lit up with candles and bonfires. Although deeply Pagan in origin, this tradition of lighting up the mountaintops with the symbol of the cross and the heart has its modern day roots in commemorating the deliverance of the people from Napoleon’s armies.
As you can see many who celebrate Midsummer / St. John’s day retain a sense of their ancient Pagan influence taken from Litha celebrations.
So, It gives me great pleasure to wish you all a Merry Solstice!
My gratitiude to you for joining me on this journey of the Turning Wheel. It has been my absolute pleasure to write about such a fabulous time in our calendar. All credits to sources are given at the end of this article. I have endeavoured to include every last one of them.
May your Litha be filled with potent solar energies and may this light keep you and guide you safely into the dark part of our year. Bright blessings to you all, in perfect love and gratitude, Sheela, x
Credits:
Printed resources:
Beth R, 2003, The Hedge Witches Way, Robert Hale Limited, London.
Green, M. 1991, A calendar of festivals, Element Books, Dorset. UK.
Kindred, G. 2019. Sacred Earth Celebrations, Permanent Publications, Hampshire, UK.
Mitchell M, 2014, Hedge Witch Book Of Days, Weiser Books, Red Wheel / Weiser LLC, San Francisco
Online resources:
Thegoddessandthegreenman.co.uk
Thewhitegoddess.co.uk
Witchesofthecraft.com
Ladymorgana.com
Witchery.wordpress.com
UCG.org/thegoodnewsbible/biblical-evidence-shows-jesus-christ-wasn’t-born-on-dec-25
Livescience.com
Alsintl.com/blog/midsummer
Wikipeadia.org
Realitatea.net
New.nationalgeographic.com
Images:
Biopantheonism, Wordpress.com
Blissfullyfree.co.uk
Prayers to the universe, Wordpress.com
The Tuning tree
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