Blessed Be! This is the third and final installment in our series about Litha, the Summer Solstice. We feel so much gratitude for you joining us on this journey. For this final article, we’ll talk about ways to celebrate the Summer Solstice, ritual suggestions, and food for the feasting!
Celebrating Litha/Summer Solstice
Lighting a bonfire, singing, dancing, and feasting are fantastic ways to celebrate the Summer Solstice. These can be modified for your living situation, too. If open flames aren’t an option, a symbolic fire of paper in a cauldron could work, or a battery-operated candle. If you can light real candles, that’s another option instead of a bonfire. Play music from your smartphone and dance around your living room!
If you can, spend the day outside. Go to the beach, walk a path in a national or state park, or just walk around your neighborhood. While you walk, carry a bag and pick up trash you find along the way. The land will thank you. Take plenty of water to drink, especially if temperatures are high. You could even have a picnic halfway through your walk. Sit and listen to the world around you. What do you hear? Smell? See?
Litha is about abundance. It’s the longest day of the year, the peak before days begin to become shorter again. In your journal or on any paper, write down the things you’ve gained throughout the year so far. Think about what you want to bring to fruition in the year to come? The Clear Space has some wonderful journaling prompts along with a playlist of music.
Rituals
Rituals are very personal. You can find many on the internet and in books. But always remember to make any ritual your own. The intentions are what matter most.
Moonfall Metaphysical has a lovely, simple ritual you can try. And Midsummer, from Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials series (affiliate link), has rituals for solitary witches, pagans, and groups. Cast a divination to discover your true love or answer another pressing question. You can also harvest herbs for use in magick or healing. While you harvest them, focus your thoughts on the sun’s energy that is stored within and give thanks for the energies of the elements that nourish the plants.
Truly, anything can become a ritual if it’s meaningful.
For a very simple Litha ritual, light a fire, whether that be a bonfire or a candle. Then take a small piece of paper and write your greatest desire for the year to come. What do you wish for in abundance? Then place it in the fire. While the paper burns, focus on your desire. Watch the flames. You’re sending your wish to the Deities and the Universe. Will them to hear you. (Always practice good fire safety. Be aware of dry conditions and flammable materials.)
If you can, perform your ritual at noon when the sun is at its highest, or at sunrise to greet the sun, or at sunset to say farewell.
Food
Many of the foods of Litha, the Summer Solstice, are those that are abundant at this time. What’s seasonal for you where you live? Traditionally, this includes honey, berries, lemonade, cinnamon, summer squash, pine nuts, spinach, sunflower seeds, and sun-dried tomatoes. Ale, mead, tea, and wine are popular as well!
Magickal Spot has a delicious-sounding recipe for honey cakes that would look beautiful at your feast or picnic. And we can’t outdo The Pagan Grimoire with their list of 70 recipes for Litha! We just don’t have that much space here!
May You Be Blessed With Abundance
Thank you again for joining us in this celebration of Litha, the Summer Solstice. In case you missed the previous articles, The History of Midsummer Summer Solstice Revealed and Summer Solstice/Litha Preparations: What You Need To Celebrate, you can click the titles to find them.
May you have a year of abundance and light! Blessed Be!
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