Litha Ritual
( Summer Solstice, June 21st )
Tools: In addition to your usual m'jyk-l tools,
you will need:
A Golden Yellow Alter Cloth, Small Cloth Pouch of Summertime Herbs, Cauldron, 1c Fresh Spring Water,
Red Sun God Candle, Green Earth Goddess Candle, Summer Blend Incense (Jasmine, Rose, Lotus, Wysteria, or combination).
Preparation: Sweep area moving in deosil manor. Set up
Quarter Candles and any accessories
symbolizing the Elements of the Quarters. Decorate the alter with seasonal flowers,
especially Sunflowers. Prepare your Pouch of Summertime Herbs, and as you make it, pour your troubles, pains, sorrows, illness,
and regrets into it. Place the Cauldron in the center of your alter, the Red Sun candle to the right of it , the Green Goddess
Candle to the left of it. Place the cup of Fresh Spring Water in front of the Goddess Candle. Take a shower or bath for purification.
Sit quietly and meditate for a while, then ground and center. When ready, play some peaceful music for the ritual.
Cast the circle....Pick up your Wand, and with arms upraised, face
South and say:
"I celebrate the Mid-of-Summer, held in honor of the Blazing
Sun God.
All of Nature vibrates with the fertileness of the Goddess and of the God.
The Earth basks in the light and
life of the Sun.
The ever turning Wheel of the Year has made the light ever stronger
And the light has kept growing
longer, until today
The middle of the time of light, Litha, MidSummer's Day, Summer Solstice.
From here, the light begins
to fade, again,
Until once more the Wheel turns to the time of darkness, Yule, Winter Solstice.
Yet, for today, the
Sun is high, the light is bright, the Earth is warm.
As the Sun God blazes above, may the fires of my rite flame below."
Face the alter, put down your wand, and light the Green Goddess
Candle to the left of your cauldron, saying:
"Oh, Mother of Nature, She that brings the meadow to bloom,
Green Forest Mother, from lakes and streams your children spring forth.
Blessed Lady of the stars and the Moon,
Fruitful
Womb of which I honor, and ask of Thee, Thy Blessings.
Light the Red Sun God Candle to the right of your cauldron, saying:
"Oh,
Father of all things, He that plants the seed and nurtures Life.
God of Fertility and Fruitfulness, from hill and forest
your children emerge.
Blessed Lord of the blazing Sun,
Potent Consort of which I honor, and of Thee, Thy Blessings."
Take the Herb Pouch and hold above your head, saying:
"By thy power, oh sacred herbs, may the Lord of the Sun
Burn
away the hurtful, the troublesome, and the painful,
Leaving me purified through His warmth and Light."
Hold the pouch over your main Alter Candle to take flame. While
it is burning, drop it in the cauldron, saying:
"Great Goddess and Great God, from Thee all powers flow forth.
The
Two that are One, Great Spirit of All-That-Is,
By Thy powers, and the powers of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth,
By Thy
powers, and the powers of the Sun, Moon, and Stars,
I banish these negatives from my life."
Visualize the negatives burning away to nothingness. When all
that is left is ashes, douse the ashes with the cup of Fresh Spring Water, feel as if the water were being poured over you
and your negatives washed away. Air dry by dancing and running your hands up and down your arms, body, and legs. Don't forget
your head, lay it back and shake running your fingers through your hair. When done, face alter, wave hand over the cauldron
and say:
"As the Phoenix rises from the ashes, so let this water be
pure and new.
Mother Goddess, bless this water so that it may bless and renew me.
Father God, may your rays of the MidSummer
Sun bless and nourish me.
Two that are One, may your blessings sustain me as I journey, anew."
Pass your cupped hands over the cauldron, pausing briefly each
time to "pour" in wishes for health, prosperity, and good fortune to be part of your life. Dip the forefinger of your right
hand into the cauldron water, and trace a pentagram on your forehead, saying:
"Let my mind be open to the truth."
Anoint your
lips saying:
"Let my lips always speak the truth."
Anoint your heart area, saying:
"Let my heart seek the
ways of the Goddess, now and always."
Anoint the centers of your palms, saying:
"Let my hands be gifted to work
in m'jyk-l ways."
Anoint the soles of your feet, saying:
"Let my feet ever walk upon the sacred paths!"
Now is the time for meditation and any spellworkings. MidSummer spellworkings
include: prosperity, fertility, and plentiful harvests. Finish by having the Cakes and Ale Ceremony and releasing
the circle. Clean up. You are done.
This ritual was obtained from this site