Celebrating Mid-Summer

"Lord! What fools these mortals be!" A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of William Shakespeare's most beloved plays. A story of love and magic where the Fey travel the world of men. Surprisingly, this concept is not as original as many may believe. For centuries, many cultures the world over saw the Summer Solstice as a day when magic abounds. A time of love and fertility, of abundance and health. Not surprising, really, when astrological events had great impact on the crops and lives of our ancestors. The solstice is the single longest day, and shortest night of the year. Where the sun's nourishing rays beat down upon the growing fields and bless the mortals with light and love.

The Modern & The Arcane:

To modern humans, this day is seen as the end of Spring and beginning of Summer. But to ancient cultures it is mid-way through summer or the growing season. The Spring was the time of tilling the fields and planting, the summer a time for growing, and the fall a time of harvest, while the winter was seen as a time of rest, recuperation and introspection. The summer solstice was seen as the mid-way point through the growing season, as after this day the daylight hours (for the northern hemisphere) begin to shorten, the night growing stronger and longer bringing the time of reaping the harvest ever nearer.

"Solstice" is derived from two Latin words: "sol" meaning sun, and "sistere," to cause to stand still. As to the un-educated ancients it appeared the sun stands still in the sky, raining down upon the land with all it's power in full sway. On the day's leading up to the solstice, the noon-day sun rises higher in the sky with each consecutive day. But, on the day of the solstice, there is no apparent change in sun height from the day before, causing the sun to appear to stand still or not change from the day before. The seasons of the year are caused by the 23.5º tilt of the earth's axis. Because the earth is rotating like a top around a fixed point, the North Pole points in a fixed direction continuously -- towards a point in space near the North Star. But the earth is also revolving around the sun. During half of the year, the southern hemisphere is more exposed to the sun than is the northern hemisphere, this is the darker half of the year (1/2 of Fall, winter and the beginning of spring) . During the rest of the year, the reverse is true, with the daylight brighter and longer, being the second 1/2 of spring, summer and the start of fall. At noontime, in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun appears high in the sky during summertime, and low during winter. The time of the year when the sun reaches its maximum elevation occurs on the summer solstice -- the day with the greatest number of daylight hours. It typically occurs on, or about, June 21 -- the first day of summer. The lowest elevation occurs about December 21 and is known as the Winter Solstice - where the night is longest and the daylight shortest. Given these facts, it shouldn't be surprising to note our ancestors only viewed the year in 2 seasons, Summer and Winter, or the time of planting, growing and reaping, and the time of rest and darkness - when the earth appears to sleep.

The winter time was hard on the ancients, lack of proper heating, poor hygiene and scarce food stores made for a time of struggle and depression. So, when the sun gains strength in spring it is a time of joy and celebration. It is also seen as a time of fertility - both of people and the land. So the days marking the turning of the cycle of the seasons - the solstices - were much revered and celebrated throughout the northern hemisphere. (The seasons are the exact opposite in the Southern hemisphere, making the winter solstice on June 21 and the summer solstice on Dec 21). Therefore, the summer solstice was set aside to honor the Gods for the coming harvest, thanking them for the blessings of Spring, and as a safeguard for the coming dark time. Herbs can be gathered between Beltaine (May 1) and the Summer Solstice (June 21) for healing and food. Food is already much easier to find, hinting to the abundance oft he harvest. Furthermore, as Beltaine was seen as the wedding day between the God and Goddess, many couples delayed their marriages and handfastings until the solstice, so as to not impinge on the Deities coupling.

Around The World:

This time of celebration was by no means limited to a single religion or tradition. According to www.Religioustolerance.org the ancient Druids (mostly located in Celtic locales) celebrated Alban Heruin - "The Light of the shore" as the midway point between the spring equinox and the fall equinox. "This midsummer festival celebrates the apex of Light, sometimes symbolized in the crowning of the Oak King, God of the waxing year. At his crowning, the Oak King falls to his darker aspect, the Holly King, God of the waning year..." (1) In ancient China, their ceremony celebrated the earth, the feminine, and the yin forces. It complemented the winter solstice which celebrated the heavens, masculinity and yang forces. Ancient Pagans celebrated Midsummer with bonfires. "It was the night of fire festivals and of love magic, of love oracles and divination. It had to do with lovers and predictions, when pairs of lovers would jump through the luck-bringing flames..." It was believed that the crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump. Through the fire's power, "...maidens would find out about their future husband, and spirits and demons were banished." (1) After the conversion of Europe to Christianity, the feast day of St. John the Baptist was set as June 21. His feast day is offset a few days after the summer solstice, just as Christmas is fixed a few days after the winter solstice. "Just as John was the forerunner to Jesus, midsummer forecasts the eventual arrival of" the winter solstice circa December 21." (1)

As it is the longest day of the year - it is not surprising the Holy Day is all about celebrating the Sun and its corresponding deities. In Wicca the Sun is represented by male deities but in Celtic witchcraft there is no gender alone associated with it - we have both female and male deities associated with the sun {see below for associated Celtic Deities}. This day is also about celebrating the abundance is what spring has wrought after Beltaine - the previous Sabbat. It celebrates the abundance of Summers warmth and strength - the creativity and growth Summer facilitates. SO even as we celebrate the Sun we also celebrate the drastic contrast of the Summer Thunder Storms. So, at the time of celebrating all this richness and abundance we are recognizing and respecting the inevitability of decay, the cycle of birth to re-birth. This makes the Summer Solstice a great time of year to tend the garden, pick herbs, etc.

The Solstices also celebrated the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. The year is rolling toward winter and the abundance of the Oak (spring & summer) must battle the decay of the Holly (fall & winter). From the Summer Solstice on, the days begin to become shorter and shorter, the harvest begins to ripen, etc. So, while on this day the Oak King is at his strongest, He is challenged by Holly - the oncoming of Winter. The Oak King is thought of as the Goddesses consort - Her lover and partner in abundance and fertility. (He's the Green Man who marries Her at Beltaine) on Beltaine this Green Man is very green, covered in foliage - by Mid-Summer he is represented by a single tree - he has matured. (By Lugnasadh His leaves have begun to turn and he is aging unto decay and "death" of Winter.)

Associations:

The Wheel of the Year is a way of looking at the High Holy Days, of the 8 Sacred Days (Sabbats) in a cyclical format, as the wheel keeps turning, so too does time rolling ever forward, and the seasons moving from one to the next with no breaks, they flow ever forward. The Wheel of the Pagan calendar starts with Samhain (Hallowe'en) and flows to the right in a circle to Yule (Dec. 21, Winter Solstice), to Imbloc (Feb 1), to Ostara (the Spring Equinox, March 21), to Beltaine (May 1), to Litha (Summer Solstice, June 21), to Lugnasadh (Aug 1), to Mabon (Fall Equinox, Sept 23). So the Solstices, Summer and Winter, lie directly opposite each other on the circle, as do the Equinox's, Fall and Spring. The Equinox's and Solstices make up the major festivals of the Pagan calender. The cross quarter days - Imbloc, Belatine, Lugnasadh & Samhain are the days directly between the major festivals, and while still counted among the 8 major Sabbats, were slightly less in importance from the other 4. But, keep in mind that the High Holy Days are often represented as a wheel of the year - as such it flows from one Sabbat to the next.

Elements associated with Summer Solstice are Fire and Water. As the Wheel of the Year turns every forward there will be some overlapping in associations, meaning some of the associations are the same as Beltaine and some are the same as Lughnasadh (August 1), and beyond in both directions. Along this reasoning - water is most associated with Fall while Fire is Spring and Summer. Directly opposite, both on the wheel of the year as well as it's meaning, from the Mid-Summer (Summer Solstice = Summer, South) is Yule (The Winter Solstice = Winter, North). Winter's element is Earth. The 2 Equinoxes (days where the night and day are equal in length) associated with Air and Water are Ostara and Mabon (respectively). Therefore - the Summer Solstice is "complimented" by Air and Water, and "opposed" by Earth. Earth and Fire balance each other, understandably, as most fires are built on the earth or framed by it - but earth is also one of the best ways of extinguishing a fire. So, if you raise too much energy w/in your circle - you're "on fire" from it, you ground by connecting to the element of Earth. Fire cannot burn without Air - it needs it, which is why Air complements Fire. Symbolically, the beginnings of magick in our circle begin at the East (Air) - so to raise the energy w/in your circle, your "fire" as it were, you need Air. But, you might be wondering how Water can complement and not oppose fire, as it also extinguishes Fire. BUT in many cultures Fire is a God aspect and Water is the Goddess aspect - you need both to complement the other.

Since the Sun, at the Solstice, is entering Cancer (a water sign) this holiday is one of the best ones for gathering your magickal water or being near the water as a means of being closer to that connection to Deity within us all. We usually go to the beach, and gather salt-water. Bring offerings of flowers and nuts, and 3 pennies or 3 dimes for prosperity and throw these into the waves before we taking a bit of the water home as a means of Ritual or just for bringing that prosperity and blessing within your home. We honor Aphrodite and Yameya as the Goddesses of the Sea by taking some jewelry as an offering. It can be simply a broken silver chain, a ring you used to wear, one half of an earring set, things like that. We find that doing this means that when we visit the beach anytime at all, we don't have to worry about losing any of our "good" jewelry to a jealous Goddess!
If you don't live near the sea, another excellent source of magickal water, is rain water from a thunderstorm, and there are plenty that occur at this time of year. The more electrical energy the storm puts out, the more energized the water is, so the fiercer the better! Collect in a glass jar, or porcelain, avoid metal containers. Store on a shelf, and don't leave the jar on the ground, or the energy will ground. We only use our water for 6 months, after that we return the water to the source, and collect fresh. The energized water really only lasts about 6 months. If you add shells, rocks from the sea, or other non-perishable sea items such as coral, the energy of the water will stay higher during the 6 months. This water is not for drinking, but only for magickal use.

In June, the Full Moon is called the Honey Moon, because this is the time to collect the honey from the beehives. Honey is also sacred and represents the Goddess (sweetness of her form and love of her children). Mead is an excellent brew made from honey. For these reasons, it is the preferred Mead be made just prior to this Sabbat. Ironically, since the ancients wed in June instead of May, and the Moon is known as the "Honey Moon" can you guess where the term for the short interval directly following the wedding arose? Yup, Honeymoon came from this time of sweetness and joy directly following the wedding or handfasting ceremony, and the blessings of family and friends for prosperity to the couple - it was also seen as a blessing directly from the Gods. Due tot he magickal properties of water on this day, Midsummer dew has been thought to have special healing powers. Young girls wash their faces in it to make themselves beautiful, older people do the same to make themselves look younger. If you walk barefoot in the dew on Midsummer Day's morning, it will stop the skin from getting chapped. If you can brave the sometimes chilly June night and bring yourself to skip naked through the dew, then it will ensure fertility for the coming year. The passion at Midsummer has escalated from the playfulness of Beltane to a more fervent intensity. Divination on matters of love are especially powerful Midsummer's eve.

Midsummer is the time when everything is abundant and flourishing. Flowers smell their sweetest, colors are their most vibrant, trees are their greenest, berries are their sweetest, and faeries are their most playful, it is the time that nature's lavishness has reached a pinnacle point. It is also the only time to find the summer's sweetest and most abundant foods available - strawberries, watermelon, vegetables, potatoes. These staples are best fresh and can only be found so during the flourishing abundance of Summer. It is said that during a full moon on Midsummer Eve a mortal may witness fairy dances and celebrations. Be sure to leave an offering for the fey on Midsummer eve, so they may think fondly of you and yours, usually honey water or mead as well as some sweet treats (the Fey certainly have a sweet tooth).

Myths:

The importance of telling myths at the Sabbats was great. It was a way of teaching the next generation the solemn meanings behind the Holy Day. On the Summer Solstice, many ancient Celts would pick summer grasses and toss them into the sea thanking Manannian Mac Lir for allowing the land to remain above the water for another year. Many Druids consider this time a time of great Healing - as we gather our strongest herbs at this time. So many will recite the story of Dian Cecht as a part of their rituals: Dian Chect was one of the Tuatha De Danann. He was a healing deity who slew his own son, Miach, out of jealousy for surpassing his healing power. Since Dian could not re-attach the arm of a King of the Tuatha De Danann after it was cut off in battle- and Miach accomplished it. After Miach's death it was said that 365 healing herbs - one for every human ailment - grew from his grave. His sister, Airmid, gathered the herbs and laid them in an outline shaped like a body, so that the healing knowledge could be passed down from generation to generation. But Dian scattered the herbs so that the knowledge of how to cure all ailments was lost to us.

The outcome of this story for the ancient Celts was the Brat Aitmeithe, a large piece of cloth cut into the shape of a human body. Stitches on it are pictures of herbs that are beneficial to each part of the body. So, even as the story warns against pride, it also teaches of the great healing properties given unto us by the Earth - therefore, from the Gods themselves.

Specific Associations: These things can be used in your own personal ritual celebrating the day, or you can have them on your person, or around your home as a means of bringing the blessings from the Gods closer to your heart and spirit.

Themes:
Sun at peak of power; longest day of the year; beginning of transformation of the sun's energy into the fruits of the earth; battle between the Oak and Holly Kings,

Special Activities:
An Ideal time to reaffirm your vows to the Lord and Lady or your dedication to following the old traditions.
Getting Together with friends/loved-ones.
Handfasting, re-affirming your vows to your significant other, or getting married.
Enact the battle between Holly and Oak (Holly Wins)
Hold games and contests yo choose a Sun King
Tell stories of the sun god/goddesses of Apollo, Helios, Ra, Horus, Bast, Sekhut, Arinna; Dian Chect or Amaterasu.

Traditional Foods:
Garden fresh fruits and vegetables are made into a variety of dishes and eaten by Pagan's who choose to celebrate this day.

Herbs and Flowers:
Mugwort, Vervain, Chamomile, Rose, Honeysuckle, Lily, Oak, Lavender, Ivy, Yarrow, Fern, Elder, Wild Thyme, Daisy, Carnation.

Incense:
Lemon, Myrrh, Pine, Rose, Wisteria.

Woods:
Oak

Gemstone(s):
Emerald, Diamond

Animal(s): horse; bee

Color(s): bright: gold, yellow, orange

Direction:South

Element: Fire

Gods/Goddesses: Brigit; Epona; Lugh, All Sun God/Goddesses, Holly and Oak Kings

Guardian Creatures/ Mythical Beasts: Lizard; Phoenix; Dragon

Inner Forces: Nurture; love; sharing; honoring; Gods

Time of Day: Noon

Tool: Sword

References:
Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon by Ashleen O'Gaea

Summer Solstice Celebrations Around The World,www.Religioustolerance.org , copyright 2000, by Onterio Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Written originally May 28, 2000 by B.A. Robinson.