Today we celebrate the Summer Solstice, known as Midsummer or Litha, when the growing Sun is at its peak. Midsummer is rich with traditions and associations. It is the first of the harvest festivals; on Midsummer morning the Druids went out to collect magickal herbs and it was the time when people harvested the herbs from their gardens. People lit bonfires to stave off decay and for purification, and they made pilgrimages to holy wells to solicit cures or to make offerings to the resident deity. It was a time for handfasting, love magick and celebration of the Flower Bride. This day symbolized the marriage of Sun and Earth and the fertilization of the Goddess by the God. Anna Franklin writes in her book, Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice:

In the Craft the solar year is often seen as being ruled over by two opposing kings. The Oak King rules the waxing year from midwinter solstice to summer solstice . . . [and] the Holly King rules the waning year from summer solstice to winter solstice . . . At each solstice they battle for the hand of the Goddess and the honor of ruling the land. The summer solstice begins with the Oak King in power, but this is relinquished to the Holly King at the close of the festival.

Partly because this is the day when light gives way to dark, it is a day when the veil between worlds is thin. Much magick is possible on this day. It is a time for herb craft, fairy contact, divination, and spell work. Because the Sun is at its peak, it is the perfect time for empowering magickal tools and spells with solar energy.

From Anna Franklin's book, here are some important Midsummer correspondences:

Basic Midsummer Energies: Power, Creativity, Inspiration, Love, Divination, God energy, Healing, Fertilization

Midsummer Symbols: Sun wheels, Sun, Fire, Bonfires, Roses, Rosettes, Daisies, All rayed flowers, Herbs, Equal-armed crosses, Torches

Midsummer Rune: Dag, the rune of opening. This represents the good door that lets in the beneficial but keeps out the negative.

Midsummer Ogham: Duir, the oak. Duir means "oak" or "door."

Animal Totems: Bee, Butterfly, Bull, Cow, Deer and Stag, Eagle, Falcon and Hawk, Goose, Horse, Lizard, Reindeer, Rooster, Snake, Swan, Woodpecker

Colors: White, Red, Yellow, Gold, all colors of the sun and flames

Gems: Tiger's Eye, Clear Quartz, Topaz, Amber

Tools: Wand, Cauldron, Spear

This Midsummer holds particular significance for me, as I have been working over the past few months to shine the warmth and happiness of the Sun into the dark corners of my life. So the day that is the true zenith of the growth of the Sun also comes at the time when I, personally, am recognizing the culmination of my work to cultivate light of my own. Today I will consecrate my Yellow oil and will use the Sun card from my Fey Tarot deck as a talisman to remind me of my own strength, joy, power, glory and light.

The Sun, The Fey Tarot

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 8:40 AM