Blake Octavian Blair
Litha, or Midsummer, also referred to as Alban Hefin in the Druid tradition, is a joyous time of celebration of the height of the sun’s power. Summer Solstice jubilation abounds! However, we should not forget to make friends with our otherworldly neighbors at this time when our worlds collide.
Offerings and Illumination Between the Worlds
Summer Solstice has long had associations with the fairies. At the time of Summer Solstice, the veil between this and the otherworld is especially thin, and therefore we will be having quite a bit more visitor traffic from the good neighbors than usual. Oh yes, it is to be noted that despite having done so already, it is considered a bit of a taboo to mention the fairies directly by name, as you might catch their attention and provoke undesirable results. Therefore, best to use a euphemism, as I have done in the rite itself using “the good neighbors,” so as to be able to functionally mention them in a low-key yet respectful and flattering way. It is well known that the good neighbors have their own sense of morality and ethics that do not necessarily align with those of humans. An objective way to look at this is not that the good folk are immoral or unethical but rather that they have a different cultural set of morals. However, one way to help with good relations between you and the good neighbors and to avert mischief is to acknowledge them with some offerings. Milk, butter, honey, and baked goods are traditional. Sweets are often well received. This is in line with the pagan value of hospitality toward guests and visitors anyway, whether they be human or otherwise, and from this apparent world or the otherworld. Some fairy lore even states that giving the good neighbors offerings is giving them what they are owed and that not doing so would invite their wrath. So, no matter how you look at it, what better than a Litha ritual that celebrates both the height of the sun and offers hospitality and good faith to the good neighbors! When inviting people to attend your ritual, you can also invite them to bring appropriate offerings for the good neighbors.
Supplies
Offerings for the good neighbors
An altar cloth or surface (cloth on the ground, a tree stump, a flat stone … )
A central candle on the altar or a central fire *
Sage, incense, or other material for purification
A rattle or bell
Additional small bell(s) for use in honoring the fairies
Any other miscellaneous altar decorations or ritual tools you wish to have present for use.
*Practice responsible fire safety. Do check to see if there are any bans on open fire in your area due to fire risk. Also, practice diligent fire tending, and have a necessary fire extinguisher nearby.
Preparation
Gather the supplies listed above into a basket, backpack, or other easily transportable container for ease of location at ritual time and the journey to the ritual site. If you plan to make baked goods for offerings to the good folk, then you will want to account for the creation of these in your preparations.
Once you are at the ritual site, you’ll want to first prepare your altar space with the central candle, if you choose to use one, or build the fire in a safely prepared fire pit or ring. In this case, be sure to place the fire extinguisher safely in one of the quarters (I suggest south). The candle or fire will be lit during the ritual itself. Place the offerings brought by the ritualists on or near the altar. Provide room for more to be added later. Also, place the bells that are for honoring the fairies on or near the altar at the center of the circle. Put the purification materials and the bell or rattle in the western quarter.
The ritual is written with two ritualist parts, however, it can be adapted to just one or four altogether with minor adjustments.
The Rite
Appoint two participants to stand one on either side of the western quarter of the ritual area as a gate for entry into the ritual circle. Have one burn the sage or incense and the other use the bell or rattle to ritually cleanse participants as they pass into the ritual circle. As the participants file through the gate, they then move clockwise around until choosing a place to stand in the circle. Once all participants are in the circle, you may finish creating sacred space, including calling of quarters and circlecasting, in accordance with the protocols of your tradition. Once sacred space is established, the ritualists can step forward into the center of the circle.
Ritualist 1: We gather today in the illumination and celebration of the longest day of the year! We celebrate the height of the sun’s power on this the Summer Solstice!
Ritualist 2: We celebrate the illumination of many things, seen and unseen, within and without, physical and ethereal, earthly and Otherwordly.
Ritualist 1: At this sabbat, the veil between this apparent world and the otherworld is thin. We are afforded an opportunity to see not only deep within ourselves and our earthly relationships but also across the veil between worlds. According to lore, this is a time at which traversing between the worlds is not only possible, but many report the experience of good neighbors visiting from their otherworldly realm. Humans must be careful to not end up trapped visiting their realm. In an effort of good relations, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Ritualist 2: In this case, we will present our good neighbors a variety of offerings in goodwill toward the hope that we will peacefully share the realms while the veil is thin, with no mischief between our peoples and a joyous time of celebration to be had by all! At this time, we welcome any gathered in circle here who have brought items they wish to offer the good neighbors to bring them forward and place them in the center of the circle. While doing so, please pick up one of the available bells and take your place in the circle once again.
As this is taking place, ritualists are assisting and guiding participants as necessary.
When all participants who wish to do so have brought forth their offerings and returned to the circle, ritualist 1 proceeds.
Ritualist 1: Now, we pause for a moment and focus on our intent of these offerings to the good neighbors. When I begin to ring my bell, please follow suit! (Pauses for a moment or two while intent is focused. Then begins the ringing of the bells.)
Ritualist 2: We present these gifts to the good neighbors, whether they be owed, given freely, or else-wise. May they be a gesture of our goodwill and a display of our hospitality to our good neighbors!
Ritualist 1: May we now, with relations between the worlds acknowledged, turn our attention to the sun, our life-giving star, and the energy it provides us both physically and metaphysically, its light and illumination.
Ritualist 2: Let us join in meditative communion with the sun. Close your eyes and envision yourself enveloped in the warm golden rays of the sun. Consider what the sun brings to your life, how you are dependent on its existence for yours. The life it brings to the earth with its light. (Pause.)
Ritualist 1: Picture it illuminating your body, inside and out, with radiant golden light. (Pause.) What is illuminated within that was once hidden. (Pause.) Illuminated are your strengths and weaknesses. You can see where you have grown and have room for growth. (Pause.) What is illuminated that you can bring to the world for the benefit of all? (Pause.)
Ritualist 1: Now, let us lastly consider what is revealed to us in this time of illumination about our relation to the planet, its climate, and other life upon our earth. (Pause.)
Ritualist 2: Open your eyes. Feel yourself rooted here again upon the grounding soil of the earth. Still illuminated in the powerful solar energy of the solstice. In peace, love, and illumination, may we move mindfully forward through many more turns of the wheel! Blessed be!
All: Blessed be!
Now, in accordance with the protocols of your tradition, you can dismiss and close sacred space.
Post-Ritual Notes
It is said that any food offerings to the fairies have no value to and are not to be consumed by humans after their offering. Leave them for a time. Any offerings not consumed by nonhumans after a time may be left in nature, in a biodegradable manner (no plastics, wrappers, bottles, cans, etc.). Always leave nature as you found it. May your relations with the good neighbors be peaceful, and may you feel the blessings of solar illumination within and without during the time of Litha!