Sabbats ~ Litha (Wheel of the Year)

Merry Meet,

This is an addition to the Sabbat/Wheel of the year series which I started back in 2014.  I've have been working towards my Summer Solstice entry for my B.o.S and it's been a welcome break, to be amongst the books once more!  This is the fourth post of the Sabbat series:
Click for Beltane

Litha

Celebrating the Sabbats

21^st June (Northern)

21^st December (Southern)

(Sun is 1^o Cancer)

Litha, the Summer Solstice, is the longest day and the shortest night of the year, from this point forward the days will decrease in light and the night increase in darkness.  It is also Yule’s counterpart, which has been dated back at least 10,000 years and has been known by many names. 

 Like Beltane, Litha is very much a time for marriages and coming of age rites, including family celebrations.  Also a time to reflect on and nurture those goals created at the beginning of the Wheel cycle, to bring them into fruition for the better good.

Litha is a celebration of Fire & Water; with the sun representing the survival of all life around us and the water nourishing that life, including that of nature and crops.  Mother Earth and Father Sun are busy making everything green, lush and beautiful.  That being said, in Scandinavian tradition, Litha is the festival of Baldur, God of light.

In some traditions it is believed that the God has reached his peak during this festival, and afterward he starts his descent once the sun has set.  Some would think of it as the God dying slowly. It is then that the Goddess takes her rightful place to reign and she will do so until Yule. She is also with child, She is fertility and abundance. Her husband, the God, slowly decaying, yet her baby will be nourished and soon become the God.

Dating back 2,000 years, it became tradition to set a wheel alight and roll in down a hill; the falling wheel aflame symbolising the decent of the Sun.  A similar tradition was to decorate a wheel with flowers and ribbons, attach lit candles then let it float away along a river or lake.  Another tradition is to light a hilltop bonfire for the villagers to see from afar.

In Greece and Rome, the people would hold mock funerals to mark the Suns descent.

Magical Workings:

    ¶    Write your troubles, problems, sorrows or illness, pour seasonal herbs onto petition, and then tie with red ribbon, burn with red candle, chant to banish.

    ¶    In the sand at the beach draw an image of the Sun, collect 3 stones or pieces of wood to symbolise 3 things you wish to change in your life. Watch the tide rid the old and bring in the new.  Alternatively, select some flower petals in oranges and reds and do the same on a hill top and watch the wind take away the old  and cleanse for the new.

    ¶    The observe solstice sunrise with an orange juice toast, say something like:

“Mighty Sun King, round and bright

I welcome You into my life

I honour You upon this day

As You warm us all with golden ray”

    ¶    Make God’s Eye hangings for use in protection magic.

    ¶    Mirrors to capture the Sun energy

    ¶    Tie yellow, orange or red ribbons to a tree to ask for strength in succeeding your goals.

Craft Ideas & Activities

 

¶    Wreaths made for door out of feathers, red for sexuality and yellow or prosperity. String made from money tree harvesting for wealth tide with green ribbon.

¶    Drum down the sunset for the shortest night.

¶    Host a barbecue, picnic or party for friends & family, maybe with yellow or gold theme, and hold the Lord battle for entertainment.

¶    Go for a walk in nature and take note of all the changes that have taken place since last sabbat: trees, wild flowers, birds, wildlife.

¶    Decorate a wheel/wreath/wooden hoop with yellow, red and orange flowers and ribbons, attach candles then light them and let it float away along a river or lake. 

¶    Host a hilltop bonfire for the people to see from afar to come gather and join the celebration.

¶    Go Morris/sword dancing with some friends.

     

¶    In China, they host Origami boat races. Why not make and decorate your own and either race them or write something you want to rid yourself of and let it float away.

 Spell or Offering Candles

             Items required:    

            ¶    Beeswax sheets (yellows, reds, oranges)

            ¶    Herbs (choose from Roses, Vervain, Chamomile, Lavender, Calendula)

            ¶    Wick suitable for beeswax

Sprinkle festive herbs on top of a beeswax sheet; place a wick at one end

and roll up tight. Say something like:

“”Herb and wax, now meld and mix

Within you, magic I now fix”

        Use them as an offering or for spell work by saying something like:

“These candles are my offering

To ease the workload as You bring

The season into play each year

I offer them with love and cheer”

Fey Offering

            Items required:

            ¶       A plate

            ¶       Food for Fey

            ¶       Runny honey

Leave the honey drizzled food on a plate outside for the fey

and say something like:

“Fey and Fairy-folk alike

Leprechauns and Flitting Sprite

I pay due homage now to Thee

Upon You, may all blessings be”

Reference: Dorothy Morrison

Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Scott Cunningham

Silver RavenWolf

Edain McCoy

Ann Marie Gallagher

Lady Sabrina

Willow Polson

 ☮ ♡ & ツ