Summer Solstice

This is the longest day of the year and marks the high point reached by the Sun on its yearly journey. The Summer Solstice is an astronomical point, the date may varying from year to year from June 20-23. The Summer solstice is considered one of the "lesser" Sabbats. It is one of the cross quarters of the wheel of the year. The solstices and equinoxes are actually astronomical times not calendar dates. Summer Solstice occurs when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer (1 degree Cancer),when the longest day and the shortest night of the year occurs. The evening before Summer Solstice is Midsummer Night's Eve and was the time that Shakespeare wrote about in his play.

It is the height of Summer and the fields are green with the new crops. Life abounds all around us and in every living thing is the feeling of oneness with nature. It is easy to stand in a woods or a field and feel the Earth around you while the Sun shines on your face. This is the time of teaching the young what they need to know to survive winter. A time of rest between the first sowing of spring and the first harvest of Lammas. A time of Thankfulness for blessings given and prayers for the future.

Summer Solstice is know by several names - Midsummer, Litha, Alban Hefin and by Christians as St. John's Day. It is also the day of Jack-in-the-green, and alot of the pagan symbolism has be transferred to John the Baptist (June 24). This also symbolizes the birth of John six month before Jesus so John could announce Jesus arrival. John has been called the Oak and Jesus the Holly. And is often pictured as a rustic figure, sometimes with horns, like Moses, and even shown with the lower torso of a satyr. But to most medieval Christians John the Baptist seem to have taken over the role of Jack in the Green. This also seems to be a Christian version of the Ancient story of the Oak and Holly kings, that fight and die each Solstice.

Where Beltaine is a day of Sexuality and Mating - Summer Solstice is a day of Fertility and growth. Bonfires are lit but in the Cities and gathering places, where on Beltaine they are lit on the hilltops. Lights, lots of light, were lit at this time in honor of the Sun. People often jumped through the fires for good luck, there was singers and bands often with morris dancers, people dressed as unicorns, dragons and hobby horse riders. It was a time to stay up all night and greet the rasing Sun, or for the more brave of heart to spend the night in a stone circle in the hopes of inspiration to become a poet or bard. This is also the time of Sun Wheels, To be lit and rolled into a body of water as a sign of a good harvest.

Maybe the most important tradition associated to Summer Solstice for Druids is that this was the time that the "snakes" gathered together to give birth to the glain also know as the Serpent's egg or Druid's egg. Anyone in possession of one is said to wield incredible magical powers, even Merlyn went searching for one.

Midsummer's Eve is especially sacred to the Faerie folk. Midsummer and Halloween are their two favorite times of the year to be out and about. To see the Folk you needed to gather fern seeds at the stroke of midnight and rub them into you eyelids. Carry a piece of rue in you pocket for protection from being Pixie led. Or turn your jacket inside out. If all else fails find and stay upon a Ley Line, the old straight track, to find your way home.

Other Traditions are decking the house with birch, fennel, St. John's wort, orpin, and white lilies. Certain plants were thought to have special magical properties on this night: rue, roses, St. John's wort, vervain and trefoil. Be sure to pick some if they grow in your garden or you know where they are growing wild. Traditionally all herbs picked at midsummer are suppose to be more "powerful". Oak or Fern is the tree of the Summer Solstice. Zeus, Jupiter, Hercules, The Dagda, Thor and Balder are a few of the Gods associated with the Summer Solstice.

Summer Solstice Ritual

I was asked to include a short ritual with these articles that a person could do by themselves. The only thing that come to me when I meditate and ask my guides is a meditation. I am told that this is a time of thanksgiving and to ask for future blessings. This is what I was told by my guides to do this Midsummer. It is based on the prayers in the Dreamer's Sweat Lodge.

Start a week before and make four lists.

• A list of thanks for the blessings of the past year. (ie children, mate, new car, money, or just for the fact you are alive)
• A list of blessings for others. (ie health, improved living conditions, spiritual understanding strength to deal with what they need to - A positive list that doesn't interfere with their free will)
• A list of blessings for the Earth (ie clean air, peace, clean up toxic waste)
• ** And most importantly - A list of blessings for yourself.

I recommend keeping the last three lists to 3 things, giving thanks can be as long as you wish - the Mother and Father of us all seem to really like Thank you's.

All you really need is a orange or yellow candle to stand for the Sun, but if you wish you can cast your circle and set up your altar in the usual way. I just believe in the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Silly). Anoint and light candle, Do breathing exercises until you reach a mediative state and then meditate on each list in turn. Really see and feel the list, each item in turn. In the case of your own blessings also see what you can do to make it happen. Do this for 3 nights and then let the candle burn itself out. Caution Note: DO NOT LEAVE BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED! Do not leave it burning while you sleep either. Fire has two sides - it can cook your food and keep you warm or it can burn down your house and it only needs a couple of minutes to get out of control.

Return to the mundane world, or if you cast a circle, do your cakes and wine and close the circle in the usual way.

Bright Blessings!