Author: A Solitary Pagan

For hundreds of years’ people or groups have been performing dedication rituals to their Gods and Goddesses, this was done to declare themselves to the divine, it solidifies the relationship you have and joins your energies together in a harmonious act of love and light. This ritual is a self-dedication for those of us who are solitary practitioners, meaning we practice our craft alone rather than...

An Ancient Solar Celebration Nearly every agricultural society has marked the high point of summer in some way, shape or form. On this date–usually around June 21 or 22 (or December 21/22 in the southern hemisphere)–the sun reaches its zenith in the sky. It is the longest day of the year, and the point at which the sun seems to just hang there without moving – in fact, the word “solstice” is from ...

Summer Solstice—Midsummer’s Day, the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its peak of power, and begins to decline. We mark this day as the beginning of summer, of the time of ripeness and harvesting. Yet is also a time of grief, of knowing that the flower must fade for the fruit to set. This year, the solstice falls in the midst of enormous grief—for those who have died in the pandemic, ...

This was when the whole world measured time This is when the light would turn around This is where the past would come undone and the spinning earth will mark a new beginning Let’s go back in time, to when it all began To the breaking of new dawns Where moments bright with fire, would light the chanting song Where pagans worshipped sun, and danced among the trees Wore strange masks of covered stra...

The importance of Summer Solstice ties back to ancient Celtic society’s reliance on agriculture and crops. The reliance and appreciation for the sun is what brought people closer to nature and furthered the understanding of the environment. Through suffering and hardships during the winter months, the Solstice became an important celebration for success and ease during the summer. The celebration ...

(NORTHERN HEMISPHERE) Date: June 20th – 22nd Other Names: Alban Heruin (Druidic), Summer Solstice Pronunciations: lee-thuh, lii-thuh Although the name Litha is not well attested, it may come from Saxon tradition — the opposite of Yule. On this longest day of the year, light and life are abundant. At mid-summer, the Sun God has reached the moment of his greatest strength. Seated on his greenwood th...

In Latin the word ‘solstice’ literally translates to ‘the sun stands still’. In the Northern hemisphere we will enjoy over 16 hours of daylight – and thousands will gather at sacred sites around the world to witness the sun rising on this auspicious day. In the UK this will happen in just a few hours, at around 4.40am. It may be evening still in many parts of the world. Stone circles such as Stone...

The June solstice is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Solstice’ (Latin: ‘solstitium’) means ‘sun-stopping’, because the point where the sun appears to rise and set, stops and reverses direction after this day. The date varies between June 20 and June 22, depending on the year, and the local time zone. Zenith Furthest Away from the E...

Host a Bonfire Litha is all about the fiery aspect of the sun, so why not celebrate the fertility of the gods with a blazing, roaring fire in your back yard? It’s the longest day of the year, so stay up late and host a bonfire for your friends and family. Get sparklers too, and light them after dark. Make an offering to the gods of your tradition. Be sure to follow basic Bonfire Safety Rules, so n...

The ancient Celtic festival acts as a timely reminder and celebration of who, where and what we really are. Summer Solstice celebrations date back to over 5,000 years ago in ancient Ireland, For northern hemisphere dwellers, Summer Solstice – the longest day and the shortest night of our year – is usually celebrated on June 21st. This year, the exact time of the cross-quarter moment between Bealta...