The one thing about Midsummer, or Litha in New Zealand, is that it is in caught in the very busy, constantly advertised, waaay too-expensive season of the Christian Christmas.
I try not to be envious of the Northern Hemisphere, who celebrate Midsummer in June, a time when there are traditionally not very many holidays.
If you like me and you're getting to the end of the year, feeling overwhelmed, frazzled and tired doing a Litha Ritual may feel like it's just a bit too much. This year, my family and I have decided we will have a down-low Litha - a very simple barbecue with a green salad (from my vege garden) and some summer fruits - then we will light the outdoor fire, grab a glass of something nice (I like Whiskey the others may have Baileys). We will relax and with luck watch, and toast as the Full Moon rises.
I love Juliet Batten’s statement that Midsummer is “a festival for bathing in the light and bathing in love”.
It is the time for crowning the Oak or Corn King, and the Goddess is heavily pregnant with the God who will be born at Yule. (More Wiccan). Three characteristics are common in early Pagan European celebrations.
1) Fires. A bonfire was seen as a homage to the sun. Traditionally, in some European Countries Bonfires could be seen on every hilltop and were thought to increase the length of the sun’s light and warmth so that essential crops grew. Dancing and celebrating around a fire is common, along with the tossing of herbs and flowers into the fire for protection, cleansing and burning away of bad luck.
2) Processions. The walking around the fields with burning torches. As above this was thought to increase the sun’s energy for crop growth.
3) Fire Wheels. (This is cool!) An old wagon wheel would be decorated, and using a flaming torch from the midsummer bonfire, be set ablaze at midnight and rolled down a hill, with people madly chasing it (Putting out little fires I suspect). Then watch as the wheel comes to rest and burns fully. The thought of this fills my little Pyro heart with joy.
My spin on items and correspondences for the Summer Solstice ritual and celebration in New Zealand.
European:
Fire (of course) – to honour the sun. Sometimes, fire bans in NZ mean an actual fire is out of the question, so a collection of candles as a representation of fire is okay.
Solar Wheels or discs – an equal-armed cross, within a circle. The outer circle represents the sun and the magic circle while the equal-armed cross inside signifies the strength and union of those that come together. These wheels can be decorated with herbs of the season, sun symbols and charm sachets.
Bees (It’s the little things, right?!) – Bees use the sun to navigate so I love incorporating them into my Summer Solstice Rituals – I have some bee jewellery that I make a point of wearing at this time of year. A friend’s sister makes these really cute candles that have bees on them! Of course, with bees comes honey – honey cakes, honey water for the bees, or maybe just a small amount on the altar.
Fruit & Vegetables – there is nothing as satisfying as a delicious peach, apricot, or nectarine in my world but it’s a bit too early for the garden-grown fruit to ripen so I tend to leave having these until Lughnasadh – but cherries are perfect, as are any berries. There is also beetroot, carrot, and courgette in an array of colours.
Colours – Red, Gold, Yellow, harvest green, sky blue.
Crystals – see colour representations above. Place Citrine, cat’s eye, yellow topaz, tourmaline, sunstone and other yellow or gold crystals on your altar. Carrying them with you can act as a constant connection to the Sun.
Altar – your altar should usually be decorated with seasonal objects to remind you to stay focused on our present moment in the wheel of the year. Sunflowers are out so I love having them in the house. Other things could be fire animals (lions, salamanders, phoenixes, dragons) glass balls, and masculine symbols.
Incorporating Maori or NZ indigenous rituals:
Mythology – honour Mahuika the Maaori fire goddess, who held the power of fire in her fingernails until Maui came to steal it. Or perhaps tell the story of how Maui tried to steal the sun, and how, in the struggle the sun lost some of its power by revealing his secret name Tamanuiteraa. There is also the story of the Maid of Summer Hine Raumati, one of the two wives of Tamanuiteraa
Native flowers/herbs – Harakeke, Pohutukawa, kootukutuku, manuka, Tarata, toitoi, hebes, Akeake
Symbols – seashells (representing Hine-takurua the Goddess of Kaimoana)
Rehua – is the red star Antares in the constellation of Scorpio. For Maaori, midsummer begins the day that Rehua is seen on the horizon pre-dawn.
Food – Raupo pollen cakes with manuka honey or harakeke nectar.
(Please note I have used a double vowel instead of a macron where appropriate for Maaori words as this programme is not kind to macrons).
Whatever you have planned for Litha/Midsummer/Summer Solstice/ Te Maruaroa o Hine Raumati ensure that it involves the Sun in some manner. Other ideas include
Solar garden lights (using the suns' essence)
Moving a symbol of the sun from the earth (growth) to the water(winter/rest)
Share symbols of the sun to represent what you are manifesting/or have achieved during the year.
Light yellow candles to acknowledge the moment of greatest light.
Acknowledge love for others by offering them red flowers.
Spend time outside with loved ones. Go for a hike, long walk or spend time in the sun (safely).
Thank and acknowledge the sun for its heat and energy.
Relax over a herbal tea made with herbs of the season.
Sun Salutation Yoga.
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