A Time of
Illumination

Blake Octavian Blair

The Summer Solstice, also called Midsummer, Litha, and Alban Hefin, is the time we celebrate the peak of the sun’s power and the longest day of the year. Many revel in the summer’s long days, which often include a sense of being energized and renewed. However, spiritually there is a lot more to celebrate, even if you’re not a “sun baby.” The Summer Solstice is a time of illumination where we have an opportunity to better see the unseen. We tap into this energetic current and see into ourselves and the otherworlds.

With the sun at the height of its power, you may or may not be celebrating the vast hours of daylight. If you are, wonderful, enjoy this special time! If you are not, don’t worry. I’m not much of a fan of the long days myself. In fact, I tend to thrive in the dark half of the year. So why in the world would I be the one to write about celebrating the sabbat celebrating all things solar? Because I do love other solar aspects of this day. In fact, the more I tap into the day beyond its literal celebration of heat and light, and more into its mystical and energetic qualities of light and illumination, the more I really connect to the celebration of this sabbat. There is something for us all at this powerful time.

We actually derive the word solstice from the Latin solstitium, essentially meaning “sun stands still.” For a few days at the Summer Solstice, the sun appears to stand still in its course, creating a sort of pause and between-time. This provides us a great opportunity to stop and reflect upon ourselves in this vast illuminating light. With the sun at the height of its power and illuminating the view between worlds, the veil is seen to be thin between our apparent world and that of the otherworld. We can peer into the depths of ourselves as well as into other realities. In fact, the tradition of fairy lore revolving around this time is rich.

Litha is not often highlighted as a time of introspection, with other sabbats in the dark half of the year getting more press in that department, despite Summer Solstice being a perfect time. We can take this time to utilize the extra daylight for doing ritual work in the glowing solar energy and also to harness the qualities of energetic illumination to look within ourselves and see with an increased clarity where we have grown and what our strengths are, and to get an honest assessment of where we have improved personally as well as where we have room for improvement. Perhaps we have weaknesses that can be identified as areas that provide room for growth and improvement. Truthfully, that is what weaknesses are, and it’s much more constructive and less self-depreciating to affirm that you can improve on something than to see it as a permanent deficit! Meditate upon illuminating ways you can use your strengths to help fortify you in your weak areas. This time of active solar energy is good to break out of any passivity that may have prevented you from taking action in the past and develop an action plan to move forward! This is also something that, if desired, groups can undertake too. It can be a great time to set new practices and plans into motion for groves, covens, and other groups as well.

Whenever we are in our own element, utilizing and having our strengths highlighted, or are acting from a place of truly being comfortable with ourselves, people often say we are “shining.” So, perhaps the shining solar radiance of Litha can help us out. We shine best when we are living authentically as ourselves, and the first step to that is being honest with ourselves about who we are—the good and the bad. Nobody is perfect, and we all have room for improvement.

However, the window into the inner workings of ourselves and the communities we are a part of is not the only thing illuminated by the height of our celestial solar powerhouse … there are other beings afoot too. The veil is thin, and the fair folk are afoot.

Many people are feeling playful and jubilant at Midsummer gatherings, and the vibe can be absolutely infectious. However, I’d like to posit that you might well be riding more than the wave of the energies of your fellow human comrades. Summer Solstice is also a time of fairy raids. What is a fairy raid you may ask? A grand parade-like procession of fairies, and Midsummer is a fit time for such occasions. Tales of fairy raids report that they have all the pomp and circumstance you might imagine with horse-drawn carriages and all the fanfare one might expect for potential fairy royalty. With the veil thin, many can perceive the jubilation of the fairies as our realms bleed together for a time.

However, one must not forget that actual fairies are not, on the whole, the miniature pixie-like creatures that have been rolled in glitter by modern culture. Fairies come in all sizes and temperaments, many of them not the most innocent toward humans. To say the least, they can be tricksters and, in fact, have their own moral code of which it could take an entire volume of its own to discuss. However, there are precautions one might wish to take (which can luckily be rolled into the festivities) while enjoying a hopefully peaceful coexistence with the fair folk during this radiant and jubilant solar celebration. Iron is a longstanding material that provides protection and keeps potential marauding fairies at bay. This is one of the many reasons that there is a tradition of using iron horseshoes above doorways. If you feel a concern for fairy mischief, maybe it is time to hang a few. On second thought, perhaps if you’re engaging in some lawn games during the long daylight and celebrations, when playing a friendly game of horseshoes, perhaps see to it you’re using authentic iron shoes in your tossing.

However, not all the fair folk are necessarily out to cause a ruckus in your celebrations, and it would certainly be in good measure to leave some offerings to be on their good side. One of the traditional offerings to the good folk, honey, is especially fitting for this solar celebration. Honey itself, with its rich golden color and its most magical production by the mystical bee, has longstanding solar associations and is associated with the fire element. Leaving the fair folk offerings as part of your Litha rites is not a horrible idea. Also, using a euphemism to refer to them to avoid any offense or undue attention is traditional. One such euphemism for the fairy is “the good neighbors.” Perhaps, by trying to be a good neighbor yourself and leaving offerings for them, you can avoid troublesome behavior on their part.

While we are being mindful of our otherworldly neighbors at our Midsummer celebrations and their potential benevolence or marauding trickery, it is important to remember we have the potential for the same. Under this time of illumination, perhaps we need to realize that we are in fact human, and like the fair folk, we are a mixed lot. We humans are capable of bizarre viewpoints on ethics and engaging in what would be considered less than admirable behavior. However, we are also capable of honorable and benevolent behaviors. So as we engage in a little bit of good faith and neighborly relations leaving offerings for the fey, we can go a little less hard on ourselves. We can use powerful illuminating qualities of the sun to plunge into the depths of ourselves and our relations to fellow humans and other forms of life of all kinds.

How we humans behave as a species, we are finding, has a profound impact on other species. This is readily evident in the catastrophic effects of climate change. At this time of the height of the sun’s path, it is easy to see illuminated the abundance of life we are interconnected with in the web of being. Anthropocentric viewpoints are both dangerous and easy to fall into. We should take care to realize we are but one species upon an earth teeming with diverse life forms. We are not superior to any other. Flowers are in bloom, bees are buzzing about from plant to plant, the trees are lush and green, the birds are about, and if we are up at dawn and dusk there are a host of wonderful crepuscular animal activities we might bear witness to. This, of course, is only the tip of the iceberg. Well, the iceberg may not be there for long, both literally and metaphorically, if we don’t examine our ways. It’s important to remember, whether we are fans of summer heat or not, that the sun and our planet’s relation to it are vital to sustaining life on our planet. It’s important to remember that rising global temperatures, which result in melting sea ice at the poles and other devastating effects attributed to climate change, are not the fault of the sun but, rather, results of complicated chain reactions set off in large contribution from human actions, including the burning of fossil fuels on mass and industrial scales. The sun’s sacred light and its powerful heat, when we work in harmony with the natural world, actually provide the nourishment and conditions needed to grow the agricultural bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables we celebrate as part of our festival menus as the Wheel of the Year turns. What is a festival without a feast? Remember as you sit down to your sabbat meal to give thanks to the divine power of the sun for helping to bring the food before you.

With the celebration of light, life, and the fiery power of the sun, it is no wonder that bonfires are a traditional part of Litha celebrations. The fire at Summer Solstice really takes on the role of mirroring for us the flames of the fiery star that brings us life. This fire without resonates with the mirroring fires within our souls. This forms a sacred triad of flames among the flames of the sun, the solstice ritual fire, and the spiritual fire within us. Illumination abounds in this time of peak daylight and solar celebration!

References

Daimler, Morgan. A New Dictionary of Fairies: A 21st Century Exploration of Celtic and Related Western European Fairies. Winchester, UK/Washington, USA: Moon Books, 2020.

Evans-Wentz, W. Y. The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries: The Classic Study of Leprechauns, Pixies, and Other Fairy Spirits. New York, New York: Kensington Publishing Corp. 1994, 1996.

Cosmic Sway

Robin Ivy Payton

On June 21, the Sun moves into Cancer, marking the astrological shift from spring to summer. The Moon will be in Aries, waning after the Sagittarius Full Moon on June 14. Both Sagittarius and Aries are signs of fire, intensifying action, activity, movement, and heat during this celebration of the Sun. Waning Moon in Aries is a time of weeding out and cleansing by fire to prepare for expansion and beginnings ahead. This particular solstice is therefore well suited to using fire as a means for letting go, and to flames that are carefully and thoughtfully controlled. The abundance of heat energy in this part of the lunar cycle should be considered when engaging in all rituals involving fire, from the tiniest candle to largest bonfire.

Jupiter and Mars will also be traveling the degrees of Aries on solstice 2022. Jupiter indicates the big picture, a broadening of perspective, changes, and initiations related to education, travel, business, and growing in wisdom. Mars, the warrior planet, is at home in Aries, encouraging action and pushing the limits. Astrologically, there’s a sense of confronting problems or issues and taking bold steps into new territory during this time of year. Themes include breaking down barriers or destroying paradigms in order to recreate ones that are stronger, fiercer, and more suited to present times. With the Moon close to Jupiter on the solstice, personal growth, preparing for beginnings, sense of self, and independence are naturally highlighted. As part of your celebration this year, acknowledge what you’re burning away. Both planets are direct in motion, aligning with progress, momentum, and sense of forward direction.

Loving Venus

A few heavenly bodies will be retrograde on this year’s solstice. Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, and the North Node travel many months in retrograde. Venus influences us with a shorter, and often more personally impactful, retrograde, while happily situated in sensual Taurus, one of her zodiac homes. Representing love, sex, beauty, and abundance during this cycle, Venus aligns with Pluto in Capricorn, each at 28 degrees of these earthy, physical signs. Notice stirring emotions and realizations in the relationship realm. Often Venus and Pluto combine forces to bring transformation and rebirth. Awakening desire, opening to intimacy, and blending physical, emotional, and soulful aspects of love are some results of our Venus-Pluto trine. Venus is soft and receptive, the voice or soundtrack playing continuously as our life experiences unfold. Pluto resides, often subtle in the depths, waiting to be roused by something such as touch, sight, or sound, triggered like a memory or recollection of a dream.

In harmony during this solstice, this duo speaks to and through our heartfelt relationships and innermost feelings. Venus aligned with romantic Neptune two days prior and shares sparks with Jupiter during the June 28 New Moon. The planet of love appears to be connecting soulmates and fulfilling dreams as the Sun burns high in the sky.

Astrological Activities

Depending where you live and what your community is like, there are many ways to honor the solstice. Beginning in the morning, travel or face east to see the sun rise. Invoke the direction of the east and all its creatures and plants, and any other associations you have with the east. Recognize solar animals, like Eagle, Hawk, Swan, and Horse. You may also visualize creatures of the water, such as seals, and any other animal life special and unique to you.

Sun salutations are a physical way to open to the Sun, feel your strength, and increase your life force. Remember to breathe well as you move, first raising arms and open hands to the sky as you breathe in, and folding forward gently toward the earth with head and hands as you exhale. Salutations can be as simple as this, repeating the upward and downward flow, or other postures like planks, backbends, and downward dogs can be added for a yoga -style Sun A salute. Greet the season and yourself with gratitude and joy.

Use fire and smoke as a way of cleansing and releasing during this waning Moon. At sunrise or sunset, light a bundle of sage or mugwort and burn until there are glowing embers. Gently blow on the flame to diminish it, then sage around your body, shaking the bundle safely around you or someone else. (Be very careful around hair and clothing. You needn’t get too close to skin or hair to receive the clearing.) Working with mugwort is said to stimulate dreams.

Meditate on your tarot cards during solstice. Ace and Page of Wands align with both the fire energy of peak Sun and with this year’s Moon in Aries, the first fire sign. The Chariot, long associated with the Sun’s journey into Cancer, and the Sun card, representing youth, are also cards of Litha. On your altar or windowsill, set up your solstice spell to invite the energy and vitality of this season. Crystals such as citrine, yellow calcite, or perhaps some rose quartz for the heart enhance your spell. Understand your own intentions at Midsummer and clarify any release you are approaching as you cross this threshold.

Tales and Traditions

Jason Mankey

While the rituals of Witchcraft are most readily associated with the moon and the darkness of night, at Litha the sun takes center stage! Litha is a celebration of the sun at the peak of its power, and celebrations of the Summer Solstice are among the oldest spiritual traditions in the history of humanity. Even older than solstice celebrations are traditions and customs that venerate and honor the sun. Many of these practices are still honored today on or near the Summer Solstice and have histories that go back possibly thousands of years.

Litha: Summer Sun and Fires Keep On Burning

As a round disc, the sun has been interpreted as both an eye and a wheel over the millennia. Perhaps the eye is the most obvious and implies that the sun sees all and knows all, especially in the light of day. For this reason, many solar and sky deities were described as “all knowing” and “all seeing.” While the sun’s amount of time in the sky waxes and wanes across the year, it generally remains a daily visitor in most places. For this reason, people also made oaths to the sun. Who better to swear to than the one presence (or deity) that’s always watching you?

Due to the movement of the sun, many ancient people saw the sun as a wheel. Even the most unobservant person is aware that the sun is in constant motion throughout the day, so why not symbolize the sun as something that implies movement? The sun as a wheel could then be pulled along by a goddess or god (sun goddesses were nearly as prominent in the ancient world as sun gods!), a team of horses, or a deity steering their chariot. The symbolism of the sun being drawn through the sky by a chariot became so common that the spoked wheel of the solar chariot became a popular image on coins, pottery, and statues.

The solar wheel was also honored in a very literal sense closer to the ground by people building large wooden wheels, lighting them on fire, and rolling them down hills. The first reference to such activities dates to the fourth century CE and is directly connected to ancient Paganism. In the Acts of the Martyr St. Vincent the author mentions a group of French Pagans rolling a burning wheel down a hill into a river. At the conclusion of the wheel’s journey the pieces were picked up and reassembled in the temple of a sky-god. The author who chronicled the life of Saint Vincent didn’t specify what time of year the French Pagans rolled their wheel, but it might have very well been near the Summer Solstice. An English monk writing one-thousand years later mentions a similar wheel, but this time with a date, Saint John’s Eve, the start of Midsummer, the celebration of the Summer Solstice (Hutton 1996, 311).

Writing less than two hundred years later, the German theologian Thomas Naogeorgus writes about how common flaming wheels were on Midsummer, and includes a description of their use:

Some others had gotten a rotten wheel, all worn and cast aside

Which they covered round with straw and rope, they closely hide;

And carried to some mountain’s top, all with fire alight,

They hurled it down with violence, what dark became the night:

Resembling much the sun, that from the heavens down should fall,

A strange and monstrous sight it seems, and fearful to them all.

(Hampson 1841, 301, emphasis in original, old English cleaned up by Mankey.)

Here the solar wheel is explicitly linked to the sun, implying that the churchman who wrote this passage was well aware of the burning wheel’s connection to Paganism.

A similar account published in 1909 documents a similar practice in England that allegedly dates from the 1820s. This account has people running down a hill with the wheel, holding the flaming wheel upward by inserting a pole through the middle of it. This particular account has an extra bit of folklore attached to it. Just how long the wheel stayed on fire as it rolled was said to predict how that year’s crops would turn out. If the wheel’s fire went out before it reached the bottom of the hill, it was thought that the harvest would be poor (Hutton 1996, 311).

Flaming wheels are probably not allowed where most of us live, but bonfires have been a summer solstice staple for thousands of years and are another way to symbolize the sun. In many parts of Europe, it’s still common for bonfires to be lit on Saint John’s Night (or Eve), the successor to Pagan Summer Solstice traditions. Most of those fires primarily burned wood, but an English monk writing during the 1300s observed that some Midsummer fires were composed primarily of bones. According to the monk, the burning bones were a dragon repellent (Hutton 1996, 312–313). In other parts of Europe, it was thought that bonfires kept malicious Witches at bay. The very word bonfire probably derives from “bane-fire,” a fire lit to drive away evil forces and energies.

Both fire and the rays of the sun are seen as purifying, an association that dates back to the Pagan past. Writing in the first century CE, the Roman writer Pliny the Elder mentions the purifying power of smoke and encouraged farmers to set up bonfires around their crops as a form of protection. In later centuries, similar ideas would lead to people taking smoking brands from the Midsummer bonfire and running through their fields with them, to keep the crops free from blight and supernatural forces.

Jumping over a Midsummer night’s bonfire (or its ashes) was considered good luck in many societies, with some groups taking this to the extreme. An account from the middle of the nineteenth century in Ireland has young men jumping through the flames of a bonfire forward and backward to celebrate the solstice. It was also believed that whoever braved the most intense flames would have the most power over evil. As the night progressed, and the fire grew less intense, others would leap or walk through it. Young unmarried women who leaped through the fire three times back and forth were assured a speedy marriage and many children (Hutton 1996, 319–320).

Our ancestors honored and praised the sun with flaming wheels, smoke, and bonfires, honoring the power of fire on the longest day of the year. Today many of us are not in a position to light much more than a grill or a candle in our backyards (large fires, and certainly flaming wheels are against the law in many areas for safety reasons), but we can still celebrate the sun just as they did. Hail the fiery disc that watches over us all!

References

Hampson, R. T. Medii Ævi Kalendarium: Or Dates, Charters, And Customs of the Middle Ages [ … ]. Vol. 1. London: Henry Kent Causton and Company, 1841.

Hutton, Ronald. Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2009.

———. The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Mankey, Jason. Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals for Circles, Solitaries & Covens. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2019.

Feasts and Treats

Elizabeth Barrette

Litha celebrates the sun at the height of its power during the Summer Solstice. This is the peak of the growing season, when everything is green and gardens are overflowing with summer produce. Life and light are at their zenith, with death and darkness far away. It’s a popular time for outdoor parties and picnics too. That calls for food that can stand up to summer heat.

Stuffed Strawberries

Strawberries are a quintessential June treat, representing love and fertility. Fresh mint nicely mimics the leafy green top of a strawberry, creating an edible garnish.

Prep time: 30 minutes

Inactive: 30 minutes or more

Servings: about 12

1 pint fresh strawberries

zest of 1 lemon

juice of 1/2 lemon (about 11/2 tablespoons)

1 (8 ounce) package full-fat cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup mascarpone cheese

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 handful fresh mint

Set out the cream cheese to soften at room temperature.

Rinse and pat dry the strawberries. Pull off the leaves and use a paring knife to remove the stems, opening the core of the strawberries.

Zest a lemon. Cut it in half and juice one half. Save the zest and juice in a small bowl.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 package softened full-fat cream cheese, 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese, and 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Mix in the lemon zest and juice. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and mix until smooth.

Put the cream cheese filling into a plastic baggie and snip off one corner. Squeeze the filling into each strawberry.

Remove the mint leaves from the stems, discarding any damaged leaves. Poke a mint leaf into the top of each strawberry. Arrange the strawberries on a platter and chill in the refrigerator for at least half an hour before serving.

Heirloom Tomato Toss

Tomatoes are the epitome of summer. They reach their peak in the long hours of the sun. These sweet, juicy vegetables are best enjoyed fresh right now. Unlike modern hybrids, these “heirloom” or “antique” cultivars are open-pollinated and selected for intense flavor rather than shipping convenience. They come in many fascinating sizes, shapes, and colors. Red, orange, yellow, and pink symbolize the sun but there are also green, purple, brown, white, and almost black ones!

Prep time: 15–20 minutes

Servings: 6 (1 cup) or 12 (1/2 cup)

4 pounds of heirloom tomatoes

1 bunch of Italian sweet basil (about 1 cup)

6 tablespoons full-flavor extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon sweet marjoram

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon thyme

1/2 teaspoon rosemary

1/2 teaspoon sage

1/2 teaspoon cracked green pepper

1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or sea salt

Rinse and pat dry 4 pounds of heirloom tomatoes. Remove the stems and cores. Grape tomatoes and small cherry tomatoes should be cut in half. Larger cherry tomatoes may need to be cut in quarters. Beefsteaks and other full-size tomatoes should be diced. First slice them, then cut the slices into strips, then cut the strips into cubes. Just roughly chopping them won’t make a tidy salad. If some of the tomatoes have large amounts of slime inside, remove it and use the firm parts. Put the tomato bits into a big salad bowl.

Rinse and pat dry 1 bunch of Italian sweet basil. Remove the stems and large veins by tearing the leaf sides away from the middle. Tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces; you should have about a cup. Put the torn basil in a bowl.

Make the dressing in a clean jar with a lid. First, pour in 6 tablespoons full-flavor extra-virgin olive oil. (If you have olive oil infused with any of the herbs in this recipe, you can use that.) Add 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar.

Peel and mince 2 cloves of garlic. Add them to the jar of dressing. Add 1 tablespoon sweet marjoram, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon sage, and 1/2 teaspoon cracked green pepper.

Put the lid on the jar snugly. Shake briefly to combine all the ingredients. This is not an emulsified vinaigrette, so you’re not trying to make a smooth blend, just distribute the ingredients equally.

Add the basil leaves to the tomato bits in the salad bowl and toss to combine. Shake the dressing one last time and pour it slowly over the salad, tossing as you go. Finally, sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel over the salad.

Serve immediately. This recipe makes about 6 (1-cup) servings as a bowl salad or (12 1/2-cup) servings as a side dish.

Note: In addition to standing on its own as a salad, the Heirloom Tomato Toss also makes an excellent topping for sandwiches, baked potatoes, tacos, chili, and so on. Use it for extra flavor anywhere that you would use diced tomatoes. If you like a leafier salad, put a scoop of this on top of Romaine lettuce or baby spinach.

Rosewater Lemonade

Nothing says summer like pink lemonade. This recipe adds a few extra ingredients to make it more magical. Strawberries add sweetness and color. Rose petals and rosewater evoke love and luxury. Lemons refresh and uplift the mood, standing for the yellow sun at the height of its power.

Prep time: 5 minutes for ice cubes, plus 10 minutes for lemonade

Inactive: 5 hours for ice cubes

Servings: 4

fresh rose petals

water

4 cups water

4 lemons

1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon dried rose petals

1–2 teaspoons rosewater

1/2 cup ice

Ice Cubes

Into an ice cube tray, pour enough water to cover the bottom of each cubicle. Place in the freezer until the surface frosts over, about half an hour.

Wet the fresh rose petals, then place one rose petal into each cubicle, pressing down to contact the ice. Return the tray to the freezer for half an hour.

Fill the cubicles to the brim with water. Return the tray to the freezer until frozen solid, about 5 hours.

Lemonade

Put 4 cups of water into a high-speed blender.

Peel the lemons. Remove any seeds. Put the sections in the blender.

Rinse the strawberries and cut off the tops. Add the strawberries to the blender.

Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon dried rose petals. Add 1 teaspoon of rosewater, then taste. You should get just a hint of rose flavor; too much and it tastes soapy. Add another teaspoon if needed.

Put in 1/2 cup regular ice.

Use the “smoothie” setting, or process until liquefied. If you want pulp-free lemonade, strain it before pouring into glasses. Serve over rose petal ice cubes.

Store in the refrigerator for up to a year or tuck into the freezer. If you’re a home canner, process in a water bath canner for longer storage.

To serve, add two or three tablespoonfuls of shrub to a glass of chopped ice and water. There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day!

Crafty Crafts

Charlie Rainbow Wolf

Litha, or Midsummer, marks the middle of the summer (in the Northern Hemisphere) and the time of year where the nights are at their shortest. It’s the apex of the sun’s revolution; everything is growing like mad. It’s the time of fetes and festivals, and when the Oak King rules.

It’s also a time when there’s some urgency to start getting things accomplished before winter. As the sun peaks, it whispers the long dark nights are on their way again. The Oak King will soon surrender to the Holly King; the cycle continues.

Melt and Pour Soap

What better way to relax after a long day out in the sun than to take a soothing shower or recline in a beautiful bath? The melt-and-pour method of soapmaking is quick and easy. It’s also a good way to use up the little scraps of soap that linger in the soap dish. My mum-in-law taught me that; she kept these scraps in a jar on her old Aga stove, and when the jar was full, she would mix the soft soap together then tip it into a container to harden into a bar again.

Materials

Soap: For small batches, I favor castile soaps, usually available from grocery stores or online retailers. If you plan on making soap regularly, consider bulk-buying the soap base from a specialist supplier. Hobby and craft shops offer something between the two; not bulk, but enough soap base to make several bars.

Mold: Soap molds are fun! They’re reusable and affordable, and available from most places that sell the soap base. No mold? No problem. Use an old yogurt pot or the bottom of a plastic jar. The bottom of a pop bottle makes a great mold, because the uneven bottom turns the soap into a massage bar. I favour the silicon molds; it’s easy to get the soap out of them.

Glass jug

Pan

Spoon (one that you won’t be using for food)

Something to grate the soap: Some soapmakers use an old food processor, some a cheese grater; I just use an old knife.

Fragrance oil (optional): I use essential oils in my soap, but fragrance oils are acceptable and often less expensive. Make sure they are safe to use in soap. Some fragrance oils are only suitable for candles.

Colorant (optional): Commercial food colorings might discolor over time. There are colorants specifically made for soap and bath products. My favorite is clay; various clays add different properties to the soap and give it a lovely natural hue.

Cost: A bar of castile soap is less than $3 most places; buying in bulk is cheaper per bar but initially more expensive. A silicone soap mold with multiple cavities for more than one bar of soap is around $5. If you want to invest in soap molds, fragrance oils, herbs, colorants, or other inclusions, the sky’s the limit as to how much you will need to spend. Lavender oil is readily available and inexpensive and goes well with purple Brazilian clay—the clay is $5 or so an ounce and a little goes a long way. Any old knife you have on hand to grate the soap will do; you don’t need to use a food processor or even a cheese grater.

Time spent: It doesn’t take long at all to melt and pour the soap, but it’s best to let it cure overnight before it is used.

Lather Up!

Cover the work surface with old paper, particularly if coloring will be used. Finely slice the soap into small cubes or slivers and put them in the glass jug. Put the glass jug in the pan of gently simmering water. The soap should melt fairly easily, especially if it is a designated melt-and-pour soap base.

Once the soap is melted (give it a thorough stir to ensure there are no lumps), add the fragrance oil and colorant. The strength of both is a matter of personal choice, but go lightly—it cannot be removed once it’s been added. I usually use about 4 drops of oil to 1 bar of soap and add the coloring bit by bit until I get the pastel shade I’m seeking.

Pour the soap into the mold. Let it set somewhere cool for at least two hours before removing it—overnight is better. The smaller the mold, the quicker the soap will set. I’ve found it easier to remove soap from silicone molds than the harder plastic ones, but neither is difficult.

Once you’re familiar with the process, it’s possible to add all kinds of inclusions to the soaps. Oatmeal makes a nice exfoliant; for a harsher texture, ground seeds and nuts might be added. Some herbs and flowers—sage or marigold, for example—work well when added to the soap; others—like lavender or rose—tend to go a funky color after a few days, which won’t harm the soap, but it could look ugly. Mostly it’s best to sprinkle dried flowers and herbs on the top of the bar as it’s setting. Have fun with this and experiment; it’s good clean fun!

Suppliers

JOANN and Michaels are craft shops that have both a physical and an online presence.

Brambleberry.com and bulkapothecary.com are online suppliers of bulk materials.

Further Reading

Melt & Pour Soapmaking by Marie Browning, 2001.

Melt & Mold Soap Crafting by C. Kaila Westerman, 2000.

The Joy of Melt and Pour Soap Crafting by Lisa Maliga, 2011.

Candle Magic

Ember Grant

For the summer solstice, here are two spells that utilize candles with mirrors. In honor of the longest day, we celebrate the sun’s strength; soon it will begin to wane. For now, let’s revel in the light of both fire and sunshine.

Healing Light

For this spell, you need a small pocket mirror you can carry—a compact is ideal, but any small mirror will do. In addition, you’ll need enough candles to make a circle around the mirror. You can use any size or number of candles you wish, but try to use white, yellow, orange, or red—or a combination of these colors. If you wish, carve sun symbols into the candles.

Your goal is to charge the mirror with both sunlight and candlelight and then use the mirror as a symbol for healing light. Imagine the mirror as a battery. You’ll charge it with both candlelight and sunlight. Imagine both types of light as healing fire—the candle flames and the radiant light of the sun. Harness both into the mirror. Every time you look into it, visualize that healing light reflects back to you.

You can do this in whatever order you choose—sunlight first, then candles, or candles, then sunlight the next day. Place the mirror outside in full midday sunshine. Leave it there for at least one hour. Do this on the summer solstice or any bright day. Visualize that you’re capturing the light—this is one reason a compact works well because you can close it, figuratively capturing the light. For the nighttime portion of the spell, open the mirror in a dimly lit area and light the candles in a circle around the mirror. Let the candles burn out.

Any time you look at your reflection in that mirror, imagine the sunlight and candle flames and chant:

Sun and fire, day and night, in this glass I hold your light;

healing rays of summer days, bring magic when it’s in my sight.

Visualize the light flowing through you with energizing, healing power.

Radiance Spell

Summer represents the full bloom of life, a flourishing, vigorous time. No matter what your age, this spell is intended to help you channel the full splendor of a beautiful summer—the magic of warm evenings, fireflies, lush trees, and cool water. If seasons are life, then summer is the height—be your summer self, your most strong and beautiful inside and out. Embrace the fullness of life wherever you are. You are radiant.

For this spell, you will need a large mirror, such as one you may have in your bathroom or bedroom—one that lets you see as much of yourself as possible.

You will need three candles of any size or color, but make sure that you can hold one of them comfortably in your hands without burning yourself. (Use a container if necessary.) You will hold one candle as you stand in front of the mirror and place the other two on each side of you on a counter, table, or dresser. Try to catch the light of the candles in the mirror with you, if possible.

Light the candles and, as you view your reflection, say these words:

Let the flames of candles three

show the traits that flatter me;

inner beauty brought to light—

I’m radiant and shining bright.

Stand or sit that way as long as you can. Meditate on you—your inner and outer beauty. Feel it. See it. Shine with the radiance of self-love. Reflect on who you are and who you want to be. Are you your best self? If not, why? What changes would you like to make? Take time to reflect on more than what you see, but how you feel. Know that you have the power to be your best self.

When you’re finished with your self-reflection, extinguish the candles or keep them burning as long as you wish. Keep using them for this purpose over time until they burn out.

Simple Midsummer Protection Spell

Ancient people all over Europe are known to have celebrated Midsummer. According to scholar Ronald Hutton, Midsummer (as well as Midwinter) celebrations were common throughout ancient Britain and almost certainly employed fire. There is evidence of “the making of sacred fires at the opening of summer and at its solstice, to bless and protect people and their livestock from the dangers of the season” (Hutton 2013, loc 7698). Fire was used to purify with smoke, and to provide protection.

Use a red votive candle and carve it with protective symbols such as pentagrams. Imagine ancient tribes of people at Midsummer creating protective fires for their livestock and villages. You are connecting with your ancestors and all those who came before by utilizing the power of fire, even if you’re merely lighting a candle. The fire is symbolic. It is pure power. As you light the candle, visualize the element of fire forming a protective shield around you that deflects all negative energy and harm of any kind. You can imagine a circle of fire, a series of fires in a ring around you, or a sphere of fire that encompasses you like a ball. Even though fire can destroy, in this case it’s warding all harm away from you. Say these words three times:

Fire is power, and it’s mine to wield; fire is power, and it is my shield.

Allow the candle to burn out. Anytime you need to evoke the protective shield, repeat the phrase and visualization.

Reference

Hutton, Ronald. Pagan Britain. Yale University Press: New Haven and London. Kindle edition, 2013.

Litha Ritual

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!

The Sabbats
as Seasons

Laura Tempest Zakroff

A previous summer not long ago, I was standing on top of the West Kennet Long Barrow near Avebury in England. It had been a bit of a harrowing hike and my shoes and socks were thoroughly soaked from the copious morning dew. But as I looked around, the complaints my feet were sending to my brain were hushed by the view. The sun was just gaining purchase in the startling blue morning sky. All around me, the wind gently rippled the fields of grain that surrounded the ancient burial site. The resident swallow couple went about their business, giving me a minimal side-eye as they darted around the large stones. I tried to imagine what this land looked like back during the time of the people who had built this mound. In the distance, I could see the stones and hills that had beckoned people from all around, marking Avebury as a central gathering space.

As I surveyed the beautiful landscape surrounding me, I thought, if I lived in this place, I’d definitely be celebrating the Wheel of the Year as many modern Pagans have come to know it in the last half of the century. Even Lughnasadh. How could you not feel connected to the harvest cycle with all of this beautiful grain surrounding you, singing with the spirit of the land? You can hear the ancient myths being told on the wind as it brushes the grasses. These lands are part of the origin of that cycle.

But back home it’s a whole other beast. There are different seasons, different climate cycles, different land spirits—patterns unique unto themselves. That means that parts of the Wheel of the Year’s cycle just don’t match up to the heartbeat of where I live. Even the places I have lived that are closer to the climate of England or resembled the landscape are still very different in how they feel and follow the seasons. True, you could squint your eyes on a summer day and a farm in southern New Jersey might pass for the English countryside. But the history, the land, the surrounding waters and creatures all have a different story to tell—worthy of celebration in their own right.

Which is why I feel Lughnasadh is a great reminder that if we are going to observe a Wheel of the Year in our practice, it should make sense with where and when we are living. Lughnasadh is often considered a bit of the oddball sabbat—many folks don’t know what to make of it. The solstices and equinoxes have their logical place for sure and are easily understood. When it comes to the cross-quarter days, Beltane and Samhain are well-known and also well-loved, sort of like the “big” holidays of Christmas and Easter in Christianity. Imbolc has a beloved goddess (Brigid) associated with it for many to connect with—along with the human need to feel like we are finally making way against the cold and the dark. At the tail end of winter, we need little excuse to light up some candles and celebrate to get us through to spring. But Lammas (Loaf Mass)? The one I like to call “the bread holiday”? It’s usually the one folks most often cite that makes them feel meh or bad about not “feeling” their practice.

Why is that? What is this sabbat all about? Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the harvest season in the Celtic world and is named after the god Lugh. It is celebrated with feasting, games, the making of corn dollies, and special breads that may be ritually sacrificed. It is also a favored day for handfastings in some traditions. According to folklore, Lugh’s mother Tailtiu passed away from exhaustion after clearing the land to make way for agriculture. So he held a funeral feast and games to celebrate her memory. Yet the modern observation of this event tends to focus more on him and his deeds than her sacrifice, so that particular detail tends to get a bit lost. The deeper symbolism is that Lughnasadh is a celebration of both the labor of the earth itself and those who work with the land to grow food.

So, what if you’re not intimately working with Celtic deities but some other pantheon altogether (or maybe none at all)? What if you’re not quite a “Green Witch,” and you don’t find yourself out in the fields or in the garden? Maybe your harvest season started months prior, so this seems an odd time for a “first harvest.” Heck, what if you’re sensitive or allergic to gluten and just the idea of a bread holiday (or as I like to call it, Glutengala) gives you hives or an upset stomach? Whatever the reason, you might find it really hard to connect to this particular sabbat. Perhaps maybe you’re also feeling this way about some of the others too?

I’m here to help you out. First, it’s important to recognize that the Wheel of the Year—as modern practitioners know it, with its eight sabbats—is a fairly recent creation dating back to the mid-twentieth century. It pulls upon the history and mythology of the United Kingdom, piecing together different practices over centuries with modern interpretations. Because it’s rooted in lore of the region, it definitely makes the most amount of sense there—though not uniformly depending on the region. As we move further away, we see some overlap with other locations and cultures with some of the sabbats, but the seasons, names, and practices start to differ more and more.

What’s a Witch to do? We need to foster connections with where we live and let those be our guide to crafting a wheel that works for our practice. It takes a bit more work, since you’ll be creating your own framework, but the results are worth it. Another thing to consider is that we also have a tendency to fixate on days and specific dates. In nature, seasons rarely align perfectly with the calendar, and they can vary in number and length depending on where you live. Instead, consider that the wheel is more about the flow of seasons, not specific days. A Wheel of the Year largely acknowledges the solar cycle—the way the planet reacts as we orbit around the sun, heating up and cooling down as we turn on our axis, affecting each hemisphere and altitude differently. That means while Arizona is experiencing monsoon season, fires are burning in nearby California, and hurricanes and typhoons take up residence in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans—all at once!

Now, I’m not saying to abandon celebrating sabbats on certain days. Having predetermined days is crucial when you’re organizing groups, covens, and festivals. Everyone needs to know when and where to meet. But in your personal practice, you can expand past a single-day observance or one official ritual and open yourself up to more ways to explore a season with your magic.

Finding Meaning

Here are some guidelines to help you find more meaning in the sabbats—whether you plan to work with the classic model of the Wheel of the Year or would like to assemble one unique to your practice.

Connect with the Spirit of Place

Where we live is the root of our practice. Yes, we are influenced by our ancestral practices, where we grew up (if it’s different than where we are now), the traditions we may initiate into, etc., but there’s no denying that ignoring where you reside in your practice is like a fish swimming in air: it doesn’t work for long. We are embodied spiritual beings existing in a physical realm, and there’s immediate magic to be found right underneath your feet. Tapping into it is a conduit to those distant places—the planet is all interconnected. Trying to connect to a faraway place while being disconnected to where you are makes the process that much harder. It is possible to honor both lands afar (be it your ancestry or tradition’s roots) and where you reside. It may require two different kinds of ritual (one from a tradition and one you create to acknowledge the land), but understand that ritual doesn’t have to be elaborate. Sometimes even the simplest of gestures can be incredibly powerful.

To help you connect with where you live, look to the folklore of the area. Head over to the anthropology section of the library to dive deeper for starters. What are the stories and history of the place? Who was there before you? What are the landmarks and features of the land? Consider the best way to formally introduce yourself and interact with the land through ritual.

Connect with the Spirit of the Season

Remember that seasons are not run by dates on the calendar. Spring can arrive early, winter can start late. When we start to become more in tune with the goings-on of the weather, we pick up on nature’s patterns much more easily. What is the nature of your land’s season at this time of year? What are the plants and animals doing? How does the air make you feel? Is there a specific crop or other seasonal event that coincides with this time of year? Is it something you can see being integrated into your personal practice? It doesn’t all have to be combined into one ritual, but rather can progress through the whole season, focusing on different characteristics that define the season.

Integrating Deities and Other Practices

As I mentioned earlier, most folks seem to be able to connect with the equinoxes and solstices, and usually some variation of Beltane and Samhain—largely because they can be viewed with a context that fits other cultures, even if the names aren’t the same. If you work with deities, spirits, and ancestors that aren’t associated with the modern Wheel of the Year, you might find there are myths and practices that do overlap with existing dates—if you wish to celebrate on the same pattern of the wheel. Or you may choose to alter the structure of the wheel to incorporate events that are more relevant to your practice. Is there a festival honoring a certain deity that is special to you? Is there a similar sabbat, but it happens at a slightly different time of year? What has the most amount of meaning for you and your practice?

Simply Honor Life

If you don’t work with deities, then consider what this time of year means for you personally. Is there a shift in how you function as the light decreases? Do you transition from vacation to work or school? At the very least, the time of Lugnasadh is about relishing the last days of summer while we’re still embedded within them.

Remember Why We Celebrate

Lastly, it’s important to consider that ritual is about connection and marking transitions. If you choose to celebrate a sabbat, don’t do it just because you feel obligated. Ritual celebrates life itself: the patterns that connect us to nature, to our ancestors, to our communities, and to ourselves. We do it to honor the past, to recognize the cycles of death and life happening around us, and to weave our threads in the larger tapestry of the universe.

Conclusion

I hope these points help inspire you to connect more deeply with where you live and in turn build and strengthen your practice. Also remember, like the seasons, we are ever-changing, so don’t be afraid to experiment. You can use established concepts as a foundation to see how they work, then build out from there. Give more traditional approaches a try, but don’t be afraid to use what else inspires you, especially if you feel it in your gut. Discover what works best to create the most effective and authentic practice. It may not be what everyone else is doing, but it’s your road to walk. Blessings on your path, wherever it leads you!

Cosmic Sway

Robin Ivy Payton

With August comes fruits of spring and summer’s efforts. On the farm and in the garden, some gather to harvest berries, corn, and other gifts of the earth. Also known as Lammas in some traditions, this festival of the loaf included baking and blessing bread from the season’s first grains. Assembling around food continues to be a primary way we socialize in present time, and in early August locally grown foods are enjoyed and plentiful at farmer’s markets, local grocers, and eateries that provide farm to table delights.

Lughnasadh: Time of the Sun King

The felt sense of Lughnasadh celebration is expressed and embedded in its name. Lugh, “shine,” and nasad, “assembly,” suggest gathering in the bright Sun during the midpoint of summer. Derived from the Celtic mythology of Lugh, a Sun god, this festival marks the cross quarter, which actually occurs days after the traditional calendar date, August 1. On August 7 or 8, the Sun reaches 15 degrees of the astrology sign Leo, and we are halfway between Summer Solstice and autumnal equinox.

Lughnasadh is a time of shift for the Sun, and waning hours of daylight become more obvious. This time is often chosen for vacations, reunions, outdoor art fairs, concerts, and other events that lend well to clear skies, warm sunshine, and colorful sunsets. A desire to prolong summer enjoyment prompts us to assemble, as if to gather summer rays and gifts before darker, cooler days arrive. We bathe in light and water, absorbing the natural shine of middle summer.

Astrology for Lughnasadh 2022

Lughnasadh follows the July 28 New Moon in Leo and precedes Aquarius Full Moon on August 11. The New Moon and Sun harmonize with Jupiter in Aries, fueling courage, initiative, and momentum. Innovative and creative methods are favored. On August 1, earthy, sensual Virgo Moon accompanies the fiery Leo Sun and, likewise, planets dominate earth and fire signs. Uranus and the North Node in Taurus together break long-held paradigms related to money, stability, and growth. Some will experience an undeniable sense of life purpose and remove all obstacles, clearing their paths to follow their calling. Conventional is replaced by ingenious and radical as these two forces combine. The Moon is void of course from 6:29 p.m. on August 1 to 12:05 a.m. EDT on August 2. Void of course Moon time lends well to parties and gatherings as it tends to help us relax socially and let tensions go.

As Lughnasadh 2022 passes, the Full Moon alights on August 11 in Aquarius, a sign of friendship, community, and collective energy. The Moon approaches Saturn, planet of karma, commitment, and consequence, presenting opportunities to resolve past injustices and to fully engage in devotion to others and our planet. At this time, Mercury, Venus, and Mars, the closest planets to Earth, move forward at their usual pace while some of the more distant planets are retrograde. Having the closer planets direct may be helpful for early August pursuits and plans.

Celebrating Love

Lughnasadh is a traditional time for weddings. One tale in Celtic lore says the Sun God, Lugh, wed Mother Earth on this day. Along with “shine,” another root meaning of Lugh is “oath.” Vows taken for life, or for one year and a day, feature Venus in either Cancer or Leo this August. For the first ten days, Venus in Cancer blesses home and family and honors the soul journey. Partners wedded now will thrive with emotional intimacy and strong roots. They kindle romance throughout their relationship and are known for unconditional love. Venus crosses the threshold from Cancer to Leo on August 11 at 2:30 p.m. EDT, and tours Leo through early September. Venus in Leo marriages flourish with social friendships, adventures, and unwavering loyalty. The Sun will be in Leo for the entire period of Lughnasadh. This Sun sign radiates a sense of playfulness, longevity, creativity, and joy for partners married from July 22 through August 22, with either Venus sign. Leo rules the heart and spine for love and courage required in enduring relationships. Attune to the felt sense of your own heart at Lughnasadh as the Wheel of the Year turns.

Aligning with Lughnasadh

Create sacred space with colors, crystals, amulets, and any other items needed for your own Lughnasadh rituals. It is traditional for altars to face west, recognizing the waning sun and sunset. Also call your attention to the south, the direction of summer season and the astrological element of fire during Leo time. Invoke the flora and fauna of the south and west. Honor the creatures associated with summer and the south, such as orioles, yellow finches, and blackbirds, whose cycle of power is now. Cougar, Dolphin, Dragonfly, and Lizard also speak from the south and are at the height of their power. Most importantly, call upon beings that hold special meaning for you. Ask for their energy, gifts, and blessings.

The plant world offers magic, abundance, and beauty. Experiencing full blooms now, remember the seeds of their origin, recognizing the passage of time and the Sun’s journey. Adorn your space or altar with sunflowers if they’re locally in season. Other flowers of yellow, gold, and orange can be planted or harvested as cut flowers. These same colors may be reflected throughout your home, with clothes, bedding, candles, or even glasses and dinnerware used during high summer. Refresh your kitchen as sacred space for baking with corn and other grains of this harvest sabbat. Corn, grains, fire, and earth inspire the colors of the season, and while orange and golds are more obvious, balance them with the greens and browns of Mother Earth.

Crystals of the same shades can be added to your altar or worn as jewelry. Citrine, yellow agate, and tiger’s-eye represent the solar plexus, the body’s center of fire. Consider using tiger’s-eye, a stone of courage in deep browns imbued with red or gold, for the spirit of the Sun and Leo season. Green crystals such as aventurine and malachite align with the heart center, ruled by the sign of the lion. While aventurine soothes the heart and balances emotional processes, malachite absorbs negativity, supports transformation, and grounds in personal growth.

Meditating on the tarot can be helpful at this cross-quarter time. Fan out your cards and select some wands (also called rods) and pentacles that draw your attention. Open your intuition beyond thinking to perceiving, and simply listen through your third eye and heart. In the tarot, pentacles symbolize earth, our harvest, and wands are the symbol of fire.

At Lughnasadh, Leo Sun rules creative force, which can be channeled into crafts and projects. Design a wand from a tree branch and add summer crystals or shells. This is a traditional time to create a besom, the broom used to clear sacred space. The broom handle symbolizes wands, the fire element, while the brush is from fibers of the earth. Seek instructions online or do it yourself with original ideas and materials. The besom can be used year-round to cleanse your space symbolically or physically. Hang it on a door for protection or display it in the kitchen as assurance that the Sun and summer’s harvest will once again return.

Tales and Traditions

Jason Mankey

Traditionally Lammas (or Lughnassa) is a celebration of the grain harvest. In Ireland and other parts of the British Isles the first harvest of the year was in early August and generally for cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and oats. An alternative name for Lammas is “First Fruits,” an apt description for the first of the three major harvest festivals on the Wheel of the Year (the other two being Mabon and Samhain of course). While I have never lived in an area where the grain harvest was brought in during the first week of August, I still enjoy celebrating both bread and cereal crops at Lammas, and generally do so by honoring various goddesses of the grain.

Lammas: Goddesses of the Grain

The most famous grain goddess is the Greek deity Demeter. Demeter is the sister of Zeus and one of the twelve (or thirteen) Olympians who hold court upon Mount Olympus. Unlike many of the other Olympians, Demeter is intimately involved with the mortal world. It’s her very presence that makes the earth fertile and provides for the harvest.

But traditionally Demeter is more than just a fertility goddess and the lady of the corn, her influence spreads into nearly every facet of our lives. Agriculture has long been hailed as a civilizing force; large-scale farming requires cooperation and a variety of people undertaking different sorts of labor, making Demeter a goddess of civilization. Because large societies require at least a few rules, Demeter is also a goddess of law, order, and justice.

Demeter is often pictured with her daughter Persephone (or Kore), and together the two goddesses symbolize the grain harvest. In the most well-known tale of Demeter and Persephone, Persephone is abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld. Demeter goes into mourning and the earth’s fertility ceases. Eventually Demeter is reunited with her daughter, but for only a portion of the year. When Persephone returns to the underworld, the earth goes fallow as Demeter mourns, and when Persephone returns in the spring, Demeter once more gives her gifts of fertility and abundance.

There are deeper meanings in the pairing of Demeter and Persephone than their most popular myths suggest. Just as Persephone goes into the underworld, the roots of the grain also reach underground. The first grain harvest is generally joyous, but side by side with that joy is death. There is no flour without the death of the wheat, and the crops cannot return again in the spring without the fertility of the soil brought about by decay, rot, and death.

The celebration of the cycle of death and rebirth involving Demeter and Persephone reached its height at Eleusis, a religious site about half a day’s walk from the Greek city of Athens. At the Eleusian Mysteries worshippers mourned with Demeter as she lost her daughter but took solace in the idea that all which dies is born again. The mysteries of Eleusis promised hope in the afterlife and lasted in ancient Greece (and later the Roman Empire) for a few thousand years. The very word “mystery” comes from the Greek word mysterion, which means a secret rite. Every time we honor Demeter and her daughter, we tap into the energy of her mysteries.

In many communities throughout Ireland, Scotland, and England the grain harvest was symbolized by a female figure made from grain sheaves. Today this figure is most commonly known as the Cailleach. Depending on where one lived (traditions varied from village to village), the Cailleach was either seen as a beneficial or menacing figure. If her reputation was positive, she was often given a seat of honor at harvest feasts. If it was negative, she was generally set apart from the proceedings and used as a figure to scare children (Hutton 1996, 337–338).

The varying interpretations for the Cailleach most likely have to do with how the harvest was perceived among various communities. For some people the harvest was a time for unbridled joy—the hard work was done and there was most likely plenty (at least for a time). For others, the harvest was the “beginning of the end,” and they saw it as symbolizing the coming winter. Many Witches honor the Cailleach as a Crone goddess, seeing within her not just the bounty of the harvest, but the intelligence and wisdom needed to take the crops in.

Isis was the goddess of just about everything in the ancient world, and that includes the grain harvest. She was intimately associated with both the river Nile and the fertile soil around it. According to some versions of her myth, it was the tears of Isis that filled the Nile, allowing the ancient Egyptians to partake in the harvest. In other versions, it was her lover, Osiris, who was seen as the waters, while she was the earth. When the Nile overflowed its banks, it was seen as the union of the two deities, a union the crops of Egypt depended upon.

Nissaba (sometimes spelled Nisaba) was one of several Sumerian grain goddesses, but her dominion extended far past ancient Sumer’s barley fields. Nissaba was the goddess of all of Sumer’s grasses, including the reeds which were used to write upon Sumer’s cuneiform tablets. Because of her association with scribes and writing, Nissaba was revered as a goddess of wisdom and learning. As most early Sumerian records were used to keep track of agricultural goods, Nissaba was also a goddess of mathematics, commerce, and accounting.

Asherah was a major Canaanite goddess and was also once worshipped among the Hebrews of Israel (and was possibly even married to the god Yahweh). While Yahweh was worshipped in his large temple in Jerusalem, Asherah tended to be honored among the common folk who would often worship her under a simple wooden pole. To honor Asherah, cakes would be baked in her shape and honor, marking her as a goddess of the grain and the harvest.

If you choose to honor a grain and harvest goddess at Lammas, be sure to thank them for the gifts of the season by name, and to leave them a gift of some sort. Libations of bread, beer, or anything else made from the gifts of the earth are especially appropriate. And don’t forget to invite whatever goddess you invoke to partake in any harvest feasting you might do.

References

Burkert, Walter. Greek Religion. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 1985.

Farrar, Janet, and Stewart Farrar. The Witches’ Goddess: The Feminine Principle of Divinity. Custer, WA: Phoenix Publishing, 1987.

Hutton, Ronald. The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Mankey, Jason. Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals for Circles, Solitaries & Covens. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2019.

Feasts and Treats

Elizabeth Barrette