It's summer time :cheers2: 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 and * Smoke an nice big joint and enjoy the day. I added the last one just for everyone here. :cheers2:
yeah well, the solstice (which was yesterday, according to my astrologer), was hella hot... right along with the fire/sun power symbolism, lol! 106 F in the shade! ugh! but this particular solstice was/is especially powerful, as it is conjunct mercuring heading back to direct motion, and a full moon in... sagittarius i believe. WOWSERS. intense stuff, but way good, for me anyhow! and happy birthday babyhellfire!!!
The 21st is solstice , the longest day of the year- and my B-day.. but its over now, in my time zone at least . Thanx NTH !!
Depending on where you live, the Summer Solstice occurs this year — in the Northern Hemisphere on: June 20, 2008 at 7:59 PM EDT; and in the UK on June 20, 2008 at 23:59 UTC. [SIZE=2][FONT=Arial][SIZE=2][COLOR=#333333]in the Southern Hemisphere on[SIZE=3]:[/SIZE][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE] December 21, 2008 at 10:04pm AEST. that's what i went off of. and i'm on pacific time, so maybe that makes a difference as to what the calendar says? who knows. all i know is we have a lunar calendar, and it said yesterday, lol! but anyhows.... did you have a good birthday baby?
Neato ,you are totally right, it depends on the yr and were the axis is- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice This yr it was the 20, next yr it will be the 21 again , - it was alright,pretty good actually. My b-days tend to be delightfully suckttacular. hubby had to work all day -me and the kid spent the day shopping and hanging out with my folks. Got my hair dyed-- or at least the front bleached out so I can dye it red
thats exactly what i did while dressed as a pirate i also got drunk and played card games it was a good night happy bday hell fire
