Offering Up Wishes (A Simple Midsummer Spell)

Offering Up Wishes: 

Offer up wishes to the Sun God by burning them and watch as the transformed smoke carries our wishes skyward to Him. Be careful what you wish for, you may get it!

Midsummer Customs

Midsummer is about joy. It is about being completely alive, the sun at its zenith. Everywhere you look; it is green and life abundant. The Earth Mother welcomes us outdoors to share her wonders in warmth and comfort. Celebrate summer by walking barefoot whenever you can. Weave flowers into hair, dance and frolic; take a big, deep cleansing breath of summer air. Pick summer strawberries or other early fruits and vegetables. Know how fortunate you are to be alive in this wonderful circle of life and the turning wheel of the year.

Midsummer is considered the most potent time of year to work magick of any kind. This is a good time for clearing away non-useful energies, establishing a stable base. Use lots of beeswax candles for atmosphere (esp. on your table). Torches also help light up the area, because you want to hold your party from dusk until the wee hours. 

Sympathetic magick abounds on the solstice. Cut an ash tree on midsummer morning and place chips of it in your pocket to harmonize with nature and protect yourself against disease. If your herd is diseased, sacrifice a cow to the midsummer bonfire to protect the rest of the heard. Wear coal dug up beneath mugwort on the eve to protect from fever and acne.

Gather herbs and look for feathers on the ground to weave into magickal charms and talismans. Decorate your home (especially over the front door) with roses and other summer flowers, including with birch, fennel, St. John's wort, orpin, and white lilies. 

It is said that larkspur sprinkled in a Midsummer fire will protect against spirits, and give the magician a chance to increase his psychic awareness. Try this as part of your Midsummer fire ritual: Light a tall gold candle; from its flame light four smaller candles, one for each season. Place the small candles around the gold candle. Visualize the Sun at the height of its power, giving its energy to each of the seasons.

Fire ruled the solstice day in much of the world. People moved it around, jumped over it, and gazed through it. Midsummer night bonfires could be seen dotting the Irish countryside well into the nineteenth century, a remnant of the old Celtic fires that opened the summer season. Medieval pagans rolled a flaming wooden wheel, often rigged with straw and pitch, downhill into a river. In the Moselle Valley of sixteenth-century Germany, the men in charge of the fire would pass the morning collecting a bit of straw from each household. They would spend the afternoon using it to decorate a huge wooden wheel to mock the shape of the sun. It had a hip-high axis extending three feet out on each side, which served as a handle to move the symbolic sun on its course. At dusk the mayor of the town would give the signal to light the wheel. A shout would go up as two young men, accompanied by just about every other male in the burg, began to run the wheel down the hill to the river, each with a flaming torch in hand. 

Magick followed in the wake of the fiery sun wheel’s course. If, as it descended along the symbolic path toward autumn, it remained lighted all the way down the slope, a bountiful fall harvest was portended; if it went out: bad luck. In the aftermath young men removed the hot char and reassembled the pieces in the village to prepare for diving omens from the sun now set. They would strip to the waist and run forward and backward—the way the sun oscillated across the seasons—through the glowing embers several times. Whoever did it the greatest number of times without getting singed was declared the victor over the powers of evil. As in all male-dominated sports, young women would do the same, but only after the fire had died down a bit more. At stake for them were prognostications about the number of children they would bear. 

In some areas young couples leaped the fire hand in hand. As high as thy leap, so will their crops grow. And, if they can accomplish the feat scorch-free, they will not get a backache at reaping time.  To culminate a successful courtship, nascent couples look at each other across the fire through straw wreaths or bunch of larkspur. Then, reminiscent of a ritual still practiced at most wedding reception, the girl throws the wreath across the fire, hoping that the object of her affection will catch it.

Other fire jumpers included married women and young cattle. Herdsmen drove cows through the hot ashes with lighted hazel twigs, which were kept and later used as instruments of power on cattle drives. When all the accompanying songs, dance, and general merrymaking were done with, everyone would dip a pine stick into the remains of the conflagration and carry a bit of the new solstice fire that had helped to ignite with their contributions of straw back home to reignite the hearth to certify continued good luck.

To nurture and protect their crops, farmers generally kindled the solstice fire near their own fields, and then walked the periphery of the flames holding lighted torches—or along the riverside. Ashes from midsummer’s fires were then tossed on the crop to make produce abundant.

In Sweden, Midsummer is still celebrated but is coincides with their Midnight Sun and their celebrations consist of feasting, dancing, and talks of the supernatural. Their belief was that on this night, the Witches flew to see the Great Witch of the Mountains.

Activities:       Clan Gatherings

Gathering Herbs

Jumping Balefire

Well Dressing

Special Activities: An ideal time to reaffirm your vows to the Lord and Lady or your dedication to following the old traditions.

Roman Summer Solstice Season Celebrations

Vestalia

In Rome, on this day, the vestal virgins officially opened the terrestrial storeroom to the abundance of consumables that came with the season. Likewise they stood guard at the central larder of the traditional Roman house and ceremonially swung open the gates so that women of the house could bring offerings to the temple of Vesta. She is forever guarded by virgins for, as the only unmarried daughter of Saturn, her sacred things are allowed contact only with chaste hands. She is as pure as the eternal flame that burns in her temple. “Vesta is the same as the Earth,” writes the Roman historian, Ovid, “under both of them is a perpetual fire; the earth and the hearth are symbols of the home. Conceive of Vesta as naught but the living flame.”

 

Mater Matuta

Next in the Roman solstice season came the festival to Mater Matuta, another form of the feminine goddess—this time she is the goddess of dawn. To her, married women offer foods cooked in earthenware vessels.

Jupiter Fulger

The feast honoring the sun’s entry into the constellation of Cancer follows. It is dedicated to Jupiter Fulger, hurler of lightning bolts. He represents the highest place or supreme dawn, the bright light than encroaches relentlessly on the darkness at the time of the summer solstice. 

Fortuna

In ancient Rome, a “festival of jollity and drunkenness” was celebrated by the Plebaia slaves in honor of Fortuna, the Roman Goddess who was the personification of good. She was originally a Goddess of blessing and fertility and in that capacity she was especially worshiped by mothers. As the Goddess of Chance, she was consulted about the future at her oracular shrines in Antium and Praeneste (now Anzio and Palestrina).

A favorite subject, the Goddess Fortuna is usually depicted holding a rudder in one hand and a cornucopia, horn of plenty, in the other. The rudder signified that she guides the destiny of the woman that she was the provider of abundance.

Known as Tyche to the Greeks, she was worshiped extensively throughout the Roman Empire and had oracular shrines. The festival involved features water. Events include foot-races and boat-races, and plenty of wine and merry making.

In the Middle Ages, she was depicted as Dame Fortuna who, spinning the wheel of fortune, seemingly at random, would grant goodness to one while she beset others with misfortune. In nearly every culture, the Summer Solstice has been recognized, revered and even feared. The Sun is at its height, but at the same moment begins to decline.

Midsummer, the Summer Solstice

Midsummer (Summer Solstice)

Changes in the mood of nature never fail to kindle feelings in all sentient beings.  The June solstice is a turning point—and what a grand turning point it is!  The sun, having climbed ever higher in the noonday sky and having risen and set ever closer to the northern limit on its annual pendulum-like swing along the horizon, now slows its course to an imperceptible pace.  It stands still, giving visual meaning to the word “solstice.”  Then, like a roller coaster at the peak of one of its summits, it begins ever so slowly to retrace its steps along the heavenly highway.

Technically, a solstice is an astronomical point and, due to the precession to the equinox, the date may vary by a few days depending on the year. The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer and we then experience the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Astrologers know this as the date on which the sun enters the sign of Cancer.

However, since most European peasants were not accomplished at reading an ephemeris or did not live close enough to Salisbury Plain to trot over to Stonehenge and sight down its main avenue, they celebrated the event on a fixed calendar date, June 24th. The slight forward displacement of the traditional date is the result of multitudinous calendrical changes down through the ages. It is analogous to the winter solstice celebration which is astronomically on or about December 21st, but is celebrated on the traditional date of December 25th, Yule, later adopted by the Christians.

Again, it must be remembered that the Celts reckoned their days from sundown to sundown, so the June 24th festivities actually begin on the previous sundown (our June 23rd). This was Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Eve. Which brings up another point: our modern calendars are quite misguided in suggesting that 'summer begins' on the solstice. According to the old folk calendar, summer BEGINS on May Day and ends on Lammas (August 1st), with the summer solstice, midway between the two, marking MID-summer. This makes more logical sense than suggesting that summer begins on the day when the sun's power begins to wane and the days grow shorter.

Although our Pagan ancestors probably preferred June 24th (and indeed most European folk festivals today use this date), the sensibility of modern Witches seems to prefer the actual solstice point, beginning the celebration at sunset. Again, it gives modern Pagans a range of dates to choose from, hopefully with a weekend embedded in it.

Once again, thinking back to our ancestors, we know that they found this to be a peaceful time.  The breeze is balmy and pleasant, and flowers are in full bloom.  The crops were planted, their animals had usually birthed by this time and they have a slight lull as they awaited the time of the first harvest.  Among humans there is changing type of energy.  Where spring made us sprightly, Summer makes us passionate.  Sensuality is at its highest expression; heat makes us languid, yet the cooler are energizing.

The ancients celebrated Midsummer because the fruits (literally) of their hard work were now obvious in their gardens and fields, and even in the fruit-laden trees. It has traditionally been a time of great feasting and merriments.  These festivities arose from a fear that the waning light would disappear altogether, so ancient peoples built huge bonfires to warm the heavens and help keep the Sun going.  As the years passed, magickal rituals replaced the original rites and included many spells for romance and marriage.

The oldest recorded midsummer rituals, from France in the fourth century, describe rolling of a flaming wheel down a hill, and midsummer rolling wheels of fire are recorded throughout the Middle Ages. 

This day is known as Midsummer, because, for the pagan community, Summer officially starts at Beltane (on May 1^st) and ends on Lughnasadh (August 1^st) with this day falling between the two.  Other names that this holiday is known as are Litha and St. John the Conqueror Day.  For those who are of the Christian faith this the date chosen for honoring John the Baptiste, cousin and fore-seer of Jesus Christ.

Names:           Alban Hefin

Alban Heruin (Druidic)

Feill-Sheathain

Gathering Day

Litha (Saxon)

Midsummer

Midsummer Night’s Eve

St. John’s Day

Summer Solstice

Sun Blessing

Thing-Tide

Vestalia

Whit Sunday

Whitsuntide

Meaning:        Beginning of Waning Year

Honoring of Sun/God at His Power

Honoring the Pregnant Goddess

Preparation for Harvest

Saying Farewell to the Waxing Year

Key Actions(s):          Nurture and Love

Taboos:           Giving Away Fire

Neglecting Animals

Sleeping Away From Home

Symbols:         Balefire

Blades

Faeries

Fire

Mistletoe

Oak Trees

Sun Wheels

The Sun

Colors:            Blue

Gold

Green

Tan

Mythical Creatures:  Dragon

Faeries

Firebird

Manticore

Satyrs

Thunderbird

Animals:         Cattle

Horses

Robin/Wren

Summer Birds

Stones:            Diamond

Emerald

Jade

Lapis Lazuli

Tiger’s Eye

Double Fifth, A Chinese Solstice Celebration

Double Fifth (China)

Summer solstice was the great turning point in China as well.  In the Han dynasty lunar calendar the June solstice was clocked to the fifth day of the fifth month—they called it the “double fifth.”  They reckoned the day by the shortest noontime shadow cast by the gnomon of a sundial.  Solstice rituals in China focus on the interchange of yin-yang forces, which aggressively content with one another at this critical time of year.  They say that now the elements that make up life shift and move.  And we must respond by stopping all human activity to await the return of the ethers to a more settled state.  We relinquish our weapons; merchants do not travel; the government does not function; no fires are lit—lest yang will grow too powerful; no charcoal or metal are prepared; all wells are dredges do that their waters will be renewed, for water is to yin what fire is the yang—a stimulant.

Origins Of The Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival originated in the Zhou Dynasty, in honor of a man named Qu Yuan, who was a poet and statesman, and a minister to the Zhou Emperor. Qu Yuan was a wise and kind and honest man, who did much to eliminate the corruption rampant in the Zhou court.

This was a time in Chinese history when, though the Zhou Dynasty was the ruling power, a number of feudal states were vying for power, and internecine warfare was rampant. Qu Yuan advised the Zhou Emperor to avoid going to war with the Qin – one of these feudal states. This advice was not popular with the other members of the court, and Qu Yuan ended up being exiled.

When the Zhou were defeated by the Qin, Qu Yuan, in despair, threw himself into the Milou River, one the fifth day of the fifth month in 278 BC.

Upon hearing of Qu Yuan’s suicide, the local fisherman paddled out in their long boats, beating drums and throwing glutinous rice balls (zong zi) into the water, so that the fish wouldn’t eat Qu Yuan’s body.
Since that time, people have commemorated Qu Yuan by celebrating the anniversary of his death with activities that include dragon boat races and the eating of zong zi. Because Qu Yuan was a great poet, Duanwu Jie is sometimes also celebrated as “Poet’s Day.”

Dragon Boat Races

The highlight of the Dragon Boat Festival is, of course, the Dragon Boat races! Dragon boats are long canoes that are painted in bright colors – to look like dragons -- and feature a dragon’s head at the bow and a dragon’s curved tail at the stern. The Dragon Boat is “brought to life” in a ceremony in which its eyes are painted. The boats range in length, and can be powered by up to 80 rowers. The winner of the Dragon Boat race is the first team to grab a flag hung at the end of the course.

Activities

In the past, the festival was a day that people worshiped. It marked new weather that is brighter and fresher that could help them release ailments from their bodies. Prayers also wish for safety and a prosperous life.

In some regions, people take the festival as a chance to express thanks to herbalists to save them from heavy ailments.

1. Drinking Xiong Huang wine (a combination of the Chinese herb Xiong Huang with rice wine) which is believed to ward off evil spirits.

2. Painting and/or hanging pictures of Zhong Kui – a Chinese mythological guardian spirit – on ones front door, to protect the household from ghosts and evil beings. It's common also to hang Herbs such as moxa (mugwort) alongside the images of Zhong Kui.

3. Creating charms, amulets or medicine bags – pouches filled with herbs and/or spices believed to ward off disease.

4. Making the attempt to stand an egg of its end, at noontime on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival. If you succeed, it means good luck for the following year.

As a whole, these activities are intended to support happiness and good health, and ward off disease at the time of the year when people are most likely to come with something.

The festival is also called Doan Ngo because during the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the sun is so bright at noon.

The God and Goddess at Midsummer

The God and Goddess

The Craft year of eight festivals is often represented as an eight-spoked wheel. The turning of this wheel symbolizes the turning of the year through the seasons, and each of the 8 spokes represents a festival.

At Yule the God is born as a babe from the Goddess. At Imbolc the Goddess is purified and renewed as a virgin (the face of the earth is washed by winter rains). At Ostara the young vegetation God emerges and meets the young Goddess (the earth begins to green in spring). At Beltane they marry and the earth flowers.

Now we come to Midsummer, the height of the solar wheel. This is the time of the longest day and shortest night, and a time of maturity, both in the agricultural cycle and the lives of the man and woman. They now rule as King and Queen; just as the Sun is at its height, so too they are at the height of their creative powers. 

The Sun God has reached the moment of his greatest strength. Seated on his greenwood throne, he is also lord of the forests. The man’s power is reflected in his Kingship, and in his mastery of nature and rule of the kingdom.

The Goddess is also at her finest at this time. The Goddess is becoming a Mother from the seed that was planted earlier at the rivalries at Beltane. She blossoms just as the earth blossoms with abundance. She basks in the light of her lover and grows with child each day. The land is glowing with flowers and ripening fruit as the Goddess glows and ripens as well.

The Battle of Light and Dark

In the story of the Oak/Holly King, the sun god is seen as split between two rival personalities: the Oak King, the god of light, who rules the waxing year from Yule to Midsummer, and his twin, the Holly King, the god of darkness, who rule the waning year from Midsummer to Yule. Often they are depicted as fighting seasonal battles for the favor of their goddess/lover, who represents nature.

The dark twin is not an evil power but merely the other side of the coin. One is light, the other dark, one summer, one winter, one sky, and the other the underworld. Pagans accept these polarities as a necessary part of the whole—winter comes but summer will return. The sun sets, travels through the underworld at night, and is reborn with the dawn. The King dies; returns to the underworld womb of the earth goddess and is reborn.

Deities of Midsummer:         Father Gods

                                                Mother Goddesses

                                                Pregnant Goddesses

                                                Sun Gods and Goddesses

                                                Thunder Gods (Most)

                                                War Gods and Goddesses (Most)

Goddesses:     Aine (Irish)

                        Aestas (Roman)

                        Artemis (Greek)

                        Athena (Greek)

                        Banba (Irish)

                        Bona Dea (Roman)

                        Cerd (Iberian)

                        Chup-Kamui (Japanese)

                        Dag (German)

                        Damona (Breton)

                        Dana (Irish)

                        Dia Greene (Scottish)

                        Djanggawaul Sisters (Aboriginal)

                        Elat (Semitic)

                        Eos (Greek)

                        Erce (English)

                        Eriu (Irish)

                        Freya (Norse)

                        Gerd (Teutonic)

                        Gokarmo (Tibetan)

                        Grian (Irish)

                        Hathor-Tiamet (Egyptian)

                        Indra (Aryan)

                        Isis (Egyptian)

                        Jord (Teutonic)

                        Kali (Indian)

                        Keca Aba (Russian)

                        Kou-Njami (Siberian)

                        Kupulo (Russian)

                        Mabd Maeve (Irish)

                        Marici (Tibetan)

                        Mitra (Aryan)

                        Nut (Egyptian)

                        Olwen (Welsh)

                        Robigus (Roman)

                        Sekhmet (Egyptian)

                        Shekinah (Hebraic)

                        Vesta (Roman)

                        Wurusema (Hittite)

                        Xatel-Ekwa (Hungarian)

                        Zoe (Greek)

Gods:  Apollo (Greco-Roman)

            Baal (Phoenician)

            Balder (Norse)

            Bochica (South American)

            Chacol (Mayan)

            Dagda (Irish)

            Dharme (Aryan)

Donnus (Irish)

            El (Semitic)

            Hadad (Syrian)

            Helios (Greek)

            Hyperion (Greek)

            Ganges (Indian)

            Gwydion (Welsh)

            Legba (Voodun)

            Llew (Welsh)

            Lugh (Irish)

            Maui (Polynesian)

            Oak/Holly King (Anglo-Celtic)

            Orunjan (Yourban)

            Prometheus (Greek)

            Ra (Egyptian)

            Sol/Helios (Greco-Roman)

            Thor (Norse)

            Upulero (Indonesian)

            Xiuhtecutli (Aztec)

            Zeus (Greco-Roman)