Wheel Of The Year: Midsummer

Midsummer marks the time of the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, the height of the sun's power. And though the hottest days of 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." - Edain McCoy (pg 149, Sabbats: A Witch's Approach To Living The Old Ways)

Also known as Litha, this Sabbat is the 6th of eight turns on the Wheel of the Year.

Midsummer is the high point for the Green Man or The Oak King. For soon, he will give himself as a symbolic sacrifice to show us that death is part of the natural order of life. For after death, comes rebirth or the summer lands.

Fire plays a key role at Midsummer, from giant bonfires to lighting a few bright yellow candles, and anything in between that is safe for where you live and/or practice.

With Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Summer Solstice is now forever connected with fairies in the mind of pagans and non-pagans alike.

Rituals and Magick are important in the life of a pagan, but can be very different as well. It greatly depends on your path, traditions, coven, circle, family, or if you practice solitary.

The following is a Family Ritual that is found in The Pagan Family by Ceisiwr Serith:

"For this ritual, the barbecue will substitute for the bonfire. Pour the charcoal into the barbecue and soak it with lighter fluid. Put the grate on and on top of it a pot of water (you can use the same pot you used for May Day, but be careful of plastic handles. They can melt). Nearby put the lighter fluid, the matches, and an aspergill.

When everything is ready and everybody is around the barbecue, establish sacred time. Then the father (or the oldest male present) says:

" 'Today the wheel has come to a special point.

Since Yule the light has been growing.

At Ostara the light became greater than the dark

and it kept on growing.

It has grown until today: Midsummers,

The middle of the light time.

Tomorrow the light will start to fade

as the wheel turns to darkness 

until it is Yule again.

But today it is bright 

Today the sun is high

Today the world is warm and bright 

and we celebrate this with fire.

The Lord Sun blazes above

Our fire blazes below.' "

He lights the fire (with one more squirt of lighter fluid first.) When the flames have died down a bit, everyone can take an aspergill, dip it in the water, and sprinkle everyone else with it. Then take the pot off and, after it cools, water your garden or a tree with it. While waiting for the coals to be ready, a water fight would be a good idea. Then barbecue."

Blessed Be
Goddess Bless America, and all Nations )O(