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circa
June 21
Also known
as: Midsummer, Summer Solstice, Alban Hefin (Caledonii)
The
Summer Solstice, the longest day, is a time of triumph for the
light. This holiday represents the Sun King in all his glory.
In many Wiccan celebrations, this is when the Oak King, who
represents the waxing year, is triumphed over by the Holly King,
who represents the waning year. The two are one: the Oak King is
the growing youth while the Holly King is the mature man..
Healings and love magick are especially suitable at this time.
Midsummer Night's Eve is supposed to be a good time to commune
with field and forest sprites and faeries.
Celebrate
passion and success. This is a night of powerful magick. Laurie
Cabot, in Celebrate
the Earth, calls midsummer the sun's sea change, when the
sun reaches its peak, and "in one magical instant begins to
wane." A midsummer fire was traditionally fuelled by the
friction between two sacred woods -- fir and oak. The element of
fire is an important component of Midsummer, possibly because the
sun is blazing in the sky and the heat generates thunder and
lightning. Says Cabot: "The tradition of hurling fire
wheels into the air or down from atop a sacred hill was a common
practice throughout Europe up until the 19th century or even
later." As at Beltane, herds were driven through the embers
of Midsummer fires to purge them of disease. Rubbing the ashes
from the Beltane fire on our foreheads at Midsummer heightens our
magickal powers.
Midsummer
is a good time to seek protection and to purify space against
negative or harmful energy. It's also a good time to divine in
matters of fertility and love. idsummer is a very magickally
powerful night, and a classic time for works of magick. A good
time to tackle the biggies – spell-work that needs a lot of
power behind it. Midsummer
is also a great time for a re-dedication
(Author
Anonymous)
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~~o00o~~
This
is a time when energies abound, & is a good time for
Magick/purification rites. The altar can be decorated
with summer herbs, greenery, & flowers. The cup should
be filled with milk. If you have made a protective amulet
previous to the ritual, you will want to place this on the
altar.
Before the ritual begins, make a small pouch out of
white cloth and fill it with any combination of midsummer
herbs that you wish & be sure to add them in threes. Tie
pouch with red string & place it on the altar.
The altar cloth & candles should be white. Light
the altar candles and the incense, & cast the circle.
Invoke the God & the Goddess.
Kneel before the altar, facing east, and say: "With
these mystic rites, I celebrate the summer time and the
coming bounty of autumn.
Now, the world is bathed in the warm glow of the sun,
and the fields and seas and skies and forests are teeming
with life."
Hold
the cloth pouch in your hands. Concentrate on any problems,
pain or illness that you wish to be rid of. Picture these
things going into the bag. Stand up, walk around to East
side of the altar. Light the pouch with an altar candle.
Drop the pouch into the cauldron to watch it burn. As you
watch, know that those impurities are burning to ash. Say:
"Oh great Goddess and God, on this Magickal night I
pray that you will help me to know and understand myself and
the world around me.
May you bring joy and happiness into my life, and may
no harm come to anything by my hands.
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