celebrating litha: what, when, where, why & how.

If you are new to 'The Wheel of The Year', then it may seem a little overwhelming, as there are eight festivals during the year to get one's head around. Do not fret, as I am here to help you with the navigating of it all. I will help you by breaking it down. In this blog post I will focus on the Summer Solstice, Litha.

what is litha?

Litha marks the Summer Solstice- the longest day of the year It is also one of the four solar festivals. Litha calls you to honour your vibrancy.

when is it celebrated?

Traditionally, Litha is celebrated in the northern hemisphere on June 20th to June 24th. In the southern hemisphere, it is celebrated on December 20th to December 24th. When one hemisphere celebrates Litha, the other celebrates Yule.

Strength and power are both themes of Litha.

where is it celebrated?

All over the world, Witches, Wiccans, Druids, and other Pagans across America, Canada, Europe, Australia and elsewhere, recognise and celebrate Litha.

why is it celebrated?

"Strength and power are both themes of Litha. The height of daylight propels nature into a flurry of growth and activity. For our ancestors, this palpable season of production was a reason to celebrate and hope for a full harvest in the coming months The cold winter is out of sight, and the growing season's hard work is bearing fruit. To properly honour the sun, it's common practice to watch the sun rise and set on the day of the Summer Solstice and hold a large bonfire during the night of the Summer Solstice." - Understanding The Wheel Of The Year by Cassie Uhl.

how can I celebrate it?

Suggested ways to celebrate Litha:

• Drink and/or make mead and/or solar water.

• Have or attend a bonfire.

• Enjoy foods that correspond with Litha (see below).

• Light a candle to honour the light of the sun.

• Make a sun wheel.

• Decorate your home/space with symbols of the sun and bright flowers

• Make a honey cake

• Spend time outside in the sun.

• Do a Litha card reading spread.

• Journal your summer solstice reflections

• Create a Litha altar.

• Do a light visualising meditation.

• Sun magick- powerful spells, faery magick, love, passion, luck magick.

• Charge your tools under the sun (please note: some crystal's colours will fade under the sun).

• Burn the past- write down what you want to let go of from the past and burn it.

• Work with the Fae (if you know how to).

• Play music and dance!

• Bask in your power and your authenticity!

magickal tools and items that represent litha.

Food and Drink

• Fresh Herbs

• Berries

• Seasonal Foods

• Honey

• Honey Cake

• Edible Flowers

• Mead

• Solar Water

• Spicy Foods

Crystals

• Citrine

• Turquoise

• Sunstone

• Sodalite

• Yellow Jasper

• Hematite

• Quartz

Herbs & Flowers

• Sunflower

• Elderflower

• Oak Tree

• St John's Wort

• Lavender

• Mint

• Basil

• Sage

• Paprika

• Honeysuckle

• Carnation

• Rosemary

Incense

• Chamomile

• Lavender

• Vervain

• Mint

Altar Items

• Altar cloth (colour associated with Litha or white)

• Candles (Gold, Yellow, Red, Green, Blue)

• Crystals (Suggestions above)

• Triple Goddess Statue (or chosen Goddess representations)

• Ribbon (Red, Gold, Yellow, Green, Blue)

• Picture of the Sun & Moon (Moon Phase below)

• Sun Wheel

• Incense (Suggestions above)

• Runes (Suggestions below)

• Flowers (Suggestions above) or potted plant/s (suggestions above)

• Symbols representing confidence, strength, light, power

• Goddess/God offerings (research what each like or offer food that you have created)

Litha Correspondents

Moon Phase: Full Moon

Element: Fire

Zodiac: Gemini, Cancer

Runes: Wunjo, Jera, Ehwaz, Sowilo

This may look and feel like a lot of information, and may feel overwhelming. My suggestion is to take one or two things that resonate with you and apply it to your first celebration. You may find that your intuition will guide you anyway. After all, our bodies are connected with the cycle of Mother Nature herself.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog post. I hope it was helpful to you. Please feel free to share and like it if you liked it.

RESOURCES:

• 'Wicca' by Harmony Nice

• 'The Complete Grimoire' by Lidia Pradas

• 'Understanding The Wheel Of The Year: Your Handbook To Honoring The Eight Seasonal Celebrations' by Cassie Uhl

Do you celebrate Litha? How will you be celebrating it? Let me know in the comments below.

Blessed be

Cassie xx

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