How to Celebrate Litha
Litha, also known as midsummer or the summer solstice, is around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and December 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. The date of its celebration differs year to year due to the misalignment of the Gregorian Calendar and the actual connection of the sun and earth in producing the longest day of the year. Location also affects the date of the celebration; thus, there is no exact date for Litha for people around the world.
Litha is a celebration where fertility, abundance, bounty, and the sun are at their most powerful while the day and night are at their longest and shortest, respectively. From this day onwards, the days will slowly shorten until the night becomes the longest. The Sun King, who is at its peak on Litha, also gradually surrenders his reign to the Holly King. People believe that midsummer is the most powerful for spellwork. During this time, healing, love magick, protection, and purification are the strongest.
Feast of The Faeries
Faeries are mythical creatures who look like humans but have wings; they tend to the garden to guarantee abundance. Not everyone has the ability to see the faeries, only those with the gift can see them. However, primrose, thyme, and four-leaf clovers may help you with gaining vision.
In Litha, there is a celebration called the Feast of Faeries. It is a way to honor and thank the faeries for all their help. To celebrate, Pagans create an altar dedicated to them. They wrap gold cloth and decorate the altar with red, orange, yellow, green, and blue candles with gold holders. Faerie figurines and other decorations such as seashells, flowers and leaves fill the altar with pine incense being burned on the side. For offerings, they put flower garlands, ribbons, herbs, seashells, and a bowl of milk outside of their houses.
Other than staying indoors to celebrate, pagans also roam around and try to take a peek at the beautiful faeries. Pagans try to check out bonfires as Faeries love to play around them to have fun- singing and dancing. However, once you see a faery, do not take your eyes off them or even blink; otherwise, they’d disappear so fast!
Hold A Solo Ritual as The Sun Rises
To perform this ritual, you will need to wake up early to start the preparations. Do this while the sun is not out yet as you will need to perform the ritual as the sun is rising. If possible, look for a place where you can see and feel the sun: outside or by the window.
- Prepare the following materials:
- Flowers that speak to you. You may either get from the forest, your garden, or the shop. People usually use sun-related colored flowers such as orange and yellow.
- Crystals (Citrine, Tiger Eye, or Clear Quartz)
2. Create a circle using the petals of the flowers you picked
3. In the middle of the circle, place a crystal.
4. Begin to meditate and hold the crystal as the sun rises.
5. Feel and welcome the energies of fire, fertility, bounty, and abundance – the energies most powerful during this solstice.
6. After meditation, you may start to dance to fun music in your circle. Channel excitement and let joy fill your heart.
Hold a Midsummer Night’s Fire Ritual
In ancient paganism, lighting fire is a way to strengthen the sun, which is why pagans conduct processions while holding torches and having bonfires. Up to this date, the bonfire rituals still happen.
Traditionally, Pagans do bonfires outdoors and at midsummer’s eve. Keep in mind that what matters most is what you feel is best for this ritual. If you want to do it indoors and at a time where the sun is at its peak, then do so. Below is a Midsummer Night’s Ritual by Patti Wigington:
- Prepare the following:
- Wood
- Fire Safety Materials
- A place to cast a circle
2. Cast a circle or consecrate the place
3. Say the following:
Today, to celebrate Midsummer, I honor the Earth itself. I am surrounded by tall trees. There is a clear sky above me and cool dirt beneath me, and I am connected to all three. I light this fire as the Ancients did so long ago.
4. Begin to light the fire and say:
The Wheel of the Year has turned once more
The light has grown for six long months
Until today.
Today is Litha, called Alban Heruin by my ancestors.
A time for celebration.
Tomorrow the light will begin to fade
As the Wheel of the Year
Turns on and ever on.
5. Starting from east, rotate clockwise and face the four cardinal points. Say the following for each direction:
East:
From the east comes the wind,
Cool and clear.
It brings new seeds to the garden
Bees to the pollen
And birds to the trees.
South:
The sun rises high in the summer sky
And lights our way even into the night
Today the sun casts three rays
The light of fire upon the land, the sea, and the heavens
West:
From the west, the mist rolls in
Bringing rain and fog
The life-giving water without which
We would cease to be.
North:
Beneath my feet is the Earth,
Soil dark and fertile
The womb in which life begins
And will later die, then return anew.
6. Make the flame bigger and meditate.
7. When you’re done, dismiss the circle and let the fire die down on its own.
Other Ways to Celebrate Litha
Decorate Your Altar.
Just like other Sabbats, you can use this opportunity to use different decorations that represent and symbolize the festivity for your altar. For Litha, you may use summery flowers, fruits, herbs, and incorporate the colors green, blue and yellow.
Meditate Outside.
Feel the presence of the sun and step outside of your house. Meditate as you feel the warmth and sensation of the sun around you. Understand that slowly, the sun will fade and meditate on how this will affect you.
Create an Energy Bag.
As the sun’s power is at its peak during Litha, use this opportunity to gather energy from the sun by leaving herbs and crystals under the sunlight. Afterwards, you may use these to accompany your other tools for spellworks and rituals.
Visit Stonehenge.
Stonehenge is one of the most popular places to go to during the Summer Solstice. Thousands of people flock the Stonehenge at the midsummer’s eve with various activities prepared for them. Bonfires, drum circles, and a fun-filled celebration happen as people wait and watch the sunrise.
Perform Handfasting
Handfasting is a rising popular ritual among wiccans and pagans who wish to wed. As Litha falls during the traditional month of weddings (June), others tend to hold this magical experience on the longest day of the year. The ceremony does not necessarily need to involve an authorized person to wed a couple, the ritual can go as simply as declaring the couple’s love for each other.
Needing the right tools to start your Wiccan journey or celebrating Litha may be hard to find. However, you do not have to look far! Visit our website, Wiccan Online Shop to find what you need for your rituals.
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