Mysteries of Litha, and Courting the Unseen at Midsummer's Eve

Happy Summer Solstice and blessed celebrations of Litha and Midsummer’s Eve!

This is the abundant time of year, when all is in full bloom and expansion, when the day comes to its longest, and nights are warmer and hold a feeling of enchantment.  Litha is the old European name for the Summer Solstice, also referred to as Midsummer.  This celebration is astrologically based on the longest day of the year, when the sun’s light is strongest, though it is not the actual middle of the Summer months.

The word “Litha” comes from Old English and means “gentle” or “navigable,” in reference to gentle winds and smooth seas.  It became associated with the months of June and July in an old text called De temporal ratione (The reckoning of Time), which was written by a monk named Bede, and outlined Anglo-Saxon Pagan customs and notions, including the naming of seasons and their rites.  Today, we celebrate the Solstice on the 21st of June, though there can be some variation, depending on the exact astronomical timing.  Yet Litha is sometimes still celebrated on June 24th, apart from the Solstice, because the formerly used Julian calendar marked it on that day.  This is why Litha is sometimes represented as the Solstice, and sometimes as a separate Midsummer’s Eve and Day celebration.  The astronomical date for Midsummer is the solstice on June 21st, yet it is still traditionally recognized in Europe as the eve and day of June 24th, and sometimes celebrated as the full period of time between June 19th and 24th.  There is clearly a range of possibilities, however the specifics do matter for some aspects of observance.  The longest day of the year happens when the sun is at the highest point of its arc, in relation to the earth.  The earth’s axis is tilted 23.4 degrees, and it travels around the sun in this manner.  At this moment of summer for us, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and so gets more light and warmth than in any other time of the year.  At the solstice, we are at a pinnacle of receiving the sun’s light, but it is also a turning point, as from here we move towards a decline of light, and a slow progression towards the dark of Winter, when we will be tilted away from the sun.  It is this tension between light and dark, between the outer expression of what is seen by day and that which is hidden in night that marks the invitation for reflection, mystery and magic within this moment in the Wheel of the Year.

The Dictionary of Witchcraft, by David Pickering, states:

“Midsummer’s Eve “is widely held to be one of the most magical times in the year and is thus a favored date for the holding of witches’ SABBATS.  Marking the moment when the sun’s power gradually starts to diminish and a time when the forces of darkness are reputed to be especially active, Midsummer’s Eve was formally considered an ideal time to probe into what the future might have in store.  For this reason, witches throughout Europe once broke open hens’ EGGS on this night in order to divine from the contents things to come…”

This dual notion about the diminishing of the light and the activation of the hidden in the dark is at the heart of many of the customs of Litha.  In some ways, Litha appears to be a continuation of the rituals of Beltane.  It shares the celebration of fertility, the fullness of the Goddess, pregnant in her mature season between the planting and the harvest, and the presence of the maypole and ritual lighting of fires.  The emphasis on fire, however, was more specific at Litha, and was meant to keep the Sun’s fire strong through the ritual burning of Oak, known as the Sun’s tree, as well as for purification purposes and for fortifying the inner light.  People burned the ill luck of the past, along with sacred dreaming and protection herbs like mugwort and vervain.  They danced around these fires, made processions to sacred sites by torchlight, and stayed awake in vigil until the dawn.  They created fire wheels made of straw woven into a cart wheel, as a form of divination.  When this wheel was ablaze, it was rolled down a hill towards a body of water.  If it stayed lit all the way until entering the water in a display of steam and smoke, then it was predicted to be a good harvest year.  It’s hard to imagine these fire rituals in the context of today’s fire season challenges, so please don’t try any of this at home!  The meaning, however, continues to live and find its adaptations, just as it did when the emergence of Christianity forced these rituals to be cloaked in the guise of St. John’s Day, or the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, whose birthday is said to be June 24th.  Herein the fire rituals became more about spiritual cleansing, or “baptism by fire”, rather than offering support for the sun’s enduring strength in the waning days of the year.

I bring up St John’s Day because of the special relationship Litha has with the flower that bears his name, St. John’s Wort.  The mysteries of the green world are a large element of honoring Litha, and within that there are many lesser known customs for engaging the magic and potential of this time of year.  This is a time for appreciating the gifts given to us by the natural world, and for noticing what is usually unseen as we approach the light of the longest day, and as the Oak King loses his annual battle to the Holly King, until their next meeting at the Winter Solstice.  When we step through the gateway to the seasons of longer nights, we turn gradually towards the dreaming aspects of our world, and at this pivotal moment they are illuminated.  Perhaps that is why it is said that the healing and mystical properties of St. John’s Wort can only be fully accessed if it has been harvested in the full sun of Litha.  St. John’s wort has a long history of use as medicine for treating melancholy, physical aches, and nervous disorders, as well as for fertility support.  It has a strong effect as a tincture, tea, and even as an oil absorbed through the skin, soothing both the emotional body and many ailments of the physical body. As a magical aid, we can look to its alternate name, ‘chase-devil,’ for clues to how it has been used.  St. John’s Wort is known to “chase” away the unwanted “devils” that haunt the mind and heart, but also is said to be a protective herb, shielding one from malevolent spiritual interference, particularly when woven into a garland.  This was important at Midsummer, because as the shift towards the dreaming time begins (which is what is meant more specifically by the term “dark”), spirits of all natures were said to appear, including the more harmful or perhaps mischievous, as the veil between realms becomes thin.  Folklore suggests, however, that if you would like the most powerful and subtle aspects of this plant medicine, then it should be gathered on Midsummer’s Eve, preferably in the nude, while being careful not to step on any of the golden flowers.  Stepping on them may result in a far more intense encounter with the Faerie realm than any of us would enjoy, as the lore states that a Faerie horse may appear from beneath and carry the offender away on a wild ride through the night, to be left in some distant terrain!  Perhaps this evening it would be wise to call to another of the mystical plants of Litha, the lovely Fern, whose seeds when gathered this time of year, may grant the gift of invisibility, one of the most effective of psychic protection techniques.  But, more on that in this month’s plant and crystal ally blog, coming next.

This talk of green magic and Faeries, brings me to my favorite associations with Litha and Midsummer’s Eve, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  For some time I have wondered about the many references that can be found in Shakespeare to sacred traditions and the principles of magic.  (If you’re interested, I also strongly suggest a close reading of Hamlet, for example.)  In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we see a vivid and fun, but also very spot on illustration of what people expected of Midsummer’s Eve, a moment when the Faeries were active and brought close to the human realm, as the sun shone brightest, illuminating the hidden, before opening the passageway to the dark, where dreaming resides.  People once feared this time, and its potential for magic and mischief, but fear or interest is in the eye of the beholder and age in which one lives.  Midsummer may be a time when the Faerie realm comes close to bless or to tease us, depending on the circumstances, but that means it is also a time when we can initiate some respectful interaction, or at least observance.  As the Bard channels, “And we fairies, that do run By the triple Hecate's team From the presence of the sun, Following darkness like a dream, Now are frolic;”

Just remember, if you choose to sit out this evening before the Solstice, or on June 23rd, to watch for the Faeries, that they have a strict etiquette that should be followed.  Always give an offering.  Make certain it is of a high quality and that you give it before enjoying any yourself.  This includes things like good chocolate, honey, cakes, libations, and other special treats.  You can also build a beautiful altar of natural objects, especially crystals, flowers, shells and other lovely objects artfully arranged.  Best of all, you could make a special ritual on Midsummer’s Eve, or on Litha, honoring the beings of the green world by building Faerie houses somewhere outside your home or in the wild.  This is a fun and sweet activity to do with children, and to connect with the childlike wonder always waiting for attention inside you.  But, remember a few rules.  It’s not a good idea to build these inside your home.  Inviting Faeries inside your home can lead to mischief of many forms.  Make your offerings beautiful.  This shows respect and invites enchantment in the best sense.  Be humble.  Even if you have not been taught to believe in them or understand them, doesn’t mean that Faeries don’t exist, and are not elders to the human race.  From all the lore available, it is easy to believe that they are often offended by our manners and our attitude towards them, so be extra polite and intentional.  Finally, should you encounter the Faerie realm in the natural world or in your dreams during this time of year, be careful not to eat or drink anything there, unless you are willing to never return home.  Remember that time moves differently, and like Rip Van Winkle, if you stay too long, you may find nothing familiar when you return home.  And, dancing in Faerie is an art we are not cut out for.  One dance may be your last dance.

If your eyes are widening, instead of rolling in disbelief or closing tight in fear, then step out into the evening tonight, or greet the whole Solstice season with a childlike heart.  May you find just the right amount of enchantment.  And while the magic is palpable, may you divine, in any of your favorite forms, the answer to this simple question:  What do you need most right now, to feed your inner fire and preserve your childlike wonder?

Ometeotl.

-This blog was written by Melusina Gomez, originally for publication with the eleventh house.