Time: Three days beginning from sunset around 20 June (20 December in the southern hemisphere) Focus: Full potency, illumination, mysteries revealed; healing, the height of joy, fulfilment, the need to seize the moment. The summer solstice has been celebrated in cultures as far apart as Russia and North America, where Sun dances were an assertion of power and courage and in a new form still bring healing to the nations and the Earth. The height of the festival is the first light falling on the morning of the solstice, like a shaft of gold across standing stones and stone circles, linking the dimensions. Many circles throughout Europe and Scandinavia, such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire, are aligned to the summer solstice sunrise, as are a number of stone medicine wheels in America and Canada. These places, built on centres of great power, have accumulated not only the power of the thousands of midsummer suns that have shone on this day since their creation, but the hopes and prayers of those who have and still gather at such places. These include priests, Druids, healers, warriors, monarchs and ordinary men and women who connect with fusion of Sky and Earth energies, the sacred and ceremonial marriage of god and goddess on this most magical of days. There is a long-standing pagan tradition of lighting bonfires on beacon hills to strengthen the power of the Sun before it began its decline. On Midsummer Day, fire wheels were rolled down the hillsides, flaming tar barrels were swung on chains and blazing torches tossed in the air. In Sweden, they still hold a midsummer weekend with a midsummer tree, or pole, decorated with greenery and flowers forming the centrepiece of music and revels. There is feasting in towns as well as the countryside in what is a national event and thousands of people gather as they have for centuries at focal points such as the Island of Oland on the Stockholm archipelago. St John’s wort, the golden herb of midsummer and symbol of the summer solstice, was said to offer fertility and powers to attract love if picked at midnight on 23 June, the eve of St John’s Day, or the eve of the actual solstice. Hopeful lovers would carry it or place it under a pillow. The power of the summer solstice can be harnessed for tackling seemingly insoluble problems and bringing light and life and hope to those who are depressed or who have been unable through circumstances such as poverty to fulfil their potential. It can help to tackle global warming, famine and disease, and to prevent oppression of people and cruelty in intensive farming methods where livestock suffer for human greed. On a personal level, summer solstice rituals are for courage, male potency and fertility, for achievement, success, confidence, health and happiness, for fulfilling potential and providing ever-expanding opportunities both physical, mental and spiritual. These spells are especially potent for maturing adults approaching middle age. Associations Candle colours: Gold, orange or red to mirror the Sun at its height Symbols: Brightly-coloured flowers, oak boughs, golden fern pollen that is said to reveal buried treasure wherever it falls Crystals: Amber, carnelian, citrine, golden beryl, sunstone Flowers, herbs, oils and incenses: Chamomile, dill, elder, fennel, frankincense, lavender, St John’s wort and vervain A Summer Solstice Stone Ritual This ritual can be used to absorb the courage, power and joy of the season. You can carry out this ritual at any time during the three-day period. You might like to perform it at dusk on the eve of the solstice or at one of the other traditional times, such as midnight, the dawn of the solstice day or noon. Alternatively, you may prefer to watch the actual solstice sunrise from a hill or an open place or even close to one of the sacred sites at dawn. * Take eight large, long, rounded stones, one for each spoke on the Wheel of the Year. * Arrange them around the edges of a circle. The eight points correspond with the mid-winter solstice in the North, Imbolc in the North-east, the spring equinox in the East, Beltain in the South-east, the summer solstice in the South, Lughnassadh in the South-west, the autumn equinox in the West, and Samhain in the North-west. (In the southern hemisphere, they will all move six months so that the summer solstice is in the North, etc.) * In front of each stone, place a yellow beeswax or gold candle and set a large gold candle in the centre of the circle. If you have a cauldron or large pot, you can set the central candle in that. Surround the central candle with flowers and herbs of midsummer, if possible freshly picked from an outside source, and any greenery. * If you are working in a group, members can stand around the circle, one at each of the points of the year, with the rest of the coven standing in the North, in a line, facing the South. If you are alone, you may wish to adapt the ritual so the stones and candles are smaller. Place the central candle on your altar, which will on this occasion be standing in the North, facing the South, and move round the altar in a circle. * Enter the circle at the mid-winter solstice (North), the position of the birth of the Sun, and light the central candle, saying: Sun, sacred centre of warmth, light, light and fertility, I greet you on this your time of glory. * Behind the candle, light a semicircle of frankincense sticks, saying: Sun who has been from the beginning, King, God, Father, orb of inspiration, I greet you now at this your time of glory. * Face the North and light the mid-winter candle, saying: The Sun is born anew, see light grows, light flames to illuminate the darkness and promises renewal as the Wheel turns too. * Move round the Wheel to face the North-east. Light the Imbolc candle, saying: The Sun increases and the maiden flames the white fields. You claim her as your own and so the year turns and life and light wax as day returns. * Move next to the East and, facing this direction, light the spring equinox candle, saying: Once more you overcome the darkness; the throne of light is yours to ascend and longer days are won. * Move to the South-east and, facing this direction, light the Beltain candle, saying: Your warmth brings green growth once more to the barren Earth. I kindle fires to draw your healing strength and the corn will grow high. * Move to the South, face the direction of the summer solstice, light the candle and say: The Sun is at its height and all nature filled with power. The Lord and Lady of the Universe, Sky and Earth, are joined on this day. * Around the summer solstice candle, scatter a circle of dried or fresh dill, St John’s wort, vervain and clover (trefoil) – these are the herbs that bloom at this time and were used to exorcise harm and bring protection to home and people. If you cannot get any of them, use rosemary or any of the herbs of the Sun. * As you scatter the herbs, say one of the variations of the old midsummer chant that can be found in folk legend in Europe. My favourite is: Trefoil, vervain, John’s wort, dill, Drive off darkness at your will. Trefoil, vervain, John’s wort, dill, May the summer sunshine fill All with life and hope – and keep Hearth and home safe while I sleep. Scoop up some of the herbs in a tiny purse or drawstring bag. Keep it and place it beneath your pillow before sleep. You will, it is said, dream of the person who can make you happy and also, if you add some golden pollen to the sachet, of ways of increasing your wealth. * Light the final three candles in turn, saying: Wheel turn, though light from henceforth falls, Turn year, till spring and new life calls. * Leave your solstice wheel of candles to burn down. * The following day, when daylight comes again, plant golden flowers and spend the day in the open air if at all possible, enjoying every moment of light until you witness the Sun setting in the West.
