To us summer is just beginning, but to the ancient Celts who saw the year as divided solely between summer and winter, we have reached the mid-point of summer and so celebrate Midsummer. It falls on the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. The sun now high over head is at the height of its power. For several days it may appear to stand still, but shortly begins waning as the days begin to grow shorter.

Bonfires were lit on hilltops and joyous celebration abounded at this time to honor solar gods such as Apollo, Dagda and Ra. The early church attempted to shift focus from pagan tradition by adopting the festival to celebrate St. John, who himself is often seen as a man of nature. St. John’s Wort, a popular herb often called nature’s Prozac, was traditionally harvested at this time of year. In Celtic circles The Oak King and Holly King were seen as deities who each ruled one half of the year: The Oak King from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice and The Holly King from Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice.

But the goddess is not forgotten at this festival as she is everywhere: in the wind blowing through the trees, the fragrant flowers blooming and the many crops that are ready for their first harvesting. This is a particularly powerful time to harvest and dry herbs for use in cooking, crafting, magical workings and healing.

Midsummer joins Beltane and Samhain as being one of the three most magical nights of the year. It’s said that if peering through a ring of rowan twigs on Midsummer Eve you’ll see the fairies dance and sing.

ASSOCIATIONS
· Animals: horses, cattle, robins, wrens
· Colors: yellow, gold, white
· Element: fire
· Food: homegrown vegetables, fruits and herbs, citrusy things
· Plants: chamomile, lavender, St. John’s Wort, roses, vervain, yarrow
· Power: abundance, affirmation, strength, power
· Symbols: cauldron, fairies, flowers, sun wheels, swords

DECORATIONS
· Bundles and bunches of herbs
· Wreaths laden with summer flowers
· Baskets of potpourri
· Images of the sun

ACTIVITIES
· Collect herbs for bunching and drying
· Make a wreath for your front door using your favorite dried flowers
· Make potpourri
· Have a garden tea and serve herbal teas, lemonade, savory cheese spreads made from fresh herbs, rose geranium pound cake and shortbread cookies shaped like the sun
· Sit in a quiet, secluded spot in nature and meditate on the sun and feel yourself filled with its nourishing light

MIDSUMMER INCENSE
(burn on incense charcoal or cast into the fire)
2 parts sandalwood - protection, healing, spirituality
2 parts benzoin - purification, prosperity, stabilizing
2 parts bay - protection, psychic power, healing, purification, strength
1 part dragon’s blood -“ love, protection, exorcism, potency
1 part lavender- peace, harmony, healing
1 part chamomile - money, sleep, purification.
3 drops oak moss oil - drawing of money

LEARN MORE
· Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice
· The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest
· Summer Solstice, The

Posted in: The Wheel of the Year