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Lithia: Summer Solstice - 21st/22nd June
Lithia (Midsummer, Gathering Day, Summer Solstice, Alban Heffyn, Feill-Sheathain)
Incense: Sage, mint, basil, Saint John's Wort, sunflower, Lavender
Decorations: Dried herbs, potpourri, seashells, summer flowers, and fruits.
Colours: blue, green, and yellow
The Fire Festival of Lithia
Midsummer or the Summer Solstice is the most powerful day of the year for the Sun God. Because this Sabbat glorifies the Sun God and the
Sun, fire plays a very prominent role in this festival. The element of Fire is the most easily seen and immediately felt element of
transformation. It can burn, consume, cook, shed light or purify and balefires still figure prominently at modern Midsummer rites.
Most cultures of the Northern Hemisphere mark Midsummer in some ritualised manner and from time immemorial people have acknowledged the
rising of the sun on this day. At Stonehenge, the heelstone marks the midsummer sunrise as seen from the centre of the stone circle.
In ancient times, the Summer Solstice was a fire-festival of great importance when the burning of balefires ritually strengthened the sun.
It was often marked with torchlight processions, by flaming tar barrels or by wheels bound with straw, which were set alight and rolled
down steep hillsides. The Norse especially loved lengthy processions and would gather together their animals, families and lighted
torches and parade through the countryside to the celebration site.
The use of fires, as well as providing magical aid to the sun, were also used to drive out evil and to bring fertility and prosperity to
men, crops and herds. Blazing gorse or furze was carried around cattle to prevent disease and misfortune; while people would dance
around the balefires or leap through the flames as a purifying or strengthening rite. The Celts would light balefires all over their
lands from sunset the night before Midsummer until sunset the next day. Around these flames the festivities would take place.
In Cornwall up to the mid 18th century the number and appearance of fires seen from any given point was used as a form of divination and
used to read the future.
Astronomically, it is the longest day of the year, representing the God at full power. Although the hottest days of the summer still
lie ahead, from this point onward we enter the waning year, and each day the Sun will recede from the skies a little earlier, until
Yule, when the days begin to become longer again.
Agriculturally, the crops are in full growth. They are reaching the pinnacles of maturity and coming closer to the harvest time. Most
wild herbs are fully mature by Midsummer and this is the traditional time for gathering magickal and medicinal plants to dry and store
for winter use. In Wales, Midsummer is called Gathering Day in honour of this practice.
Magical Aspects
Since this sabbat revolves around the sun, a candle should be lit for the entire day, especially if it is cloudy or raining. The fire
represents the sun and is a constant daily reminder of the power of the God. Rituals should be performed at noon, when the sun is
highest in the sky. The best rituals to perform on Midsummer are those dealing with masculine issues, masculine energies, or issues
dealing with solar influence.
Many pagans choose to make protective amulets, in the week before the Sabbat, which are later empowered over the Midsummer balefire.
Some witches choose to bury their protective amulets each Midsummer’s eve and construct new ones. Rue, rowan and basil, tied together
in a white or gold cloth, is a good protective trio that can be carried in your pocket year round.
Midsummer is the time to formalize any relationship and couples that have been together a year and a day since the previous Beltane
can make their marriage final. This Sabbat is also an excellent time to re-new wedding vows.
Midsummer Incense
Sage, mint, basil, Saint John's Wort, sunflower, mistletoe (specifically the berries which represent semen), oak, rowan, and fir.
Suggested activities for Litha:
*Rededication to the Lord and Lady
*Divination related to romance and love
*Light a white candle in front of a mirror and say your own Lithia prayer over it, then allow the candle to burn out.
*Float paper boats with blessings on a river/stream to bring luck and love to whatever may find it, or to the land.
*Singing and dancing around a bonfire
*Outdoor picnic feasts
*Create crowns out of flowers
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