Midsummer/Summer Solstice/Litha June 20-23 
The Summer Solstice occurs when the Sun reaches it's highest point above the Tropic of Cancer. This is the longest day & the shortest night of the year. Solstice literally means 'the Sun stands still'. The days grow shorter from this point until Yule. Astrologers know this as the date, when the sun enters the water sign of Cancer (lasting from approx. June 21-July 22) symbolic of home, family, mothers, emotions & intuition. This is the time when the God of the Sun is at his peak of power, & the Goddess is full with child, observable in the full bloom of nature on Earth. There are Ancient monuments that were built to be aligned with the Sun at this time of year; two of which are Stonehenge in England, & The Teotihuacan Temple of the Sun in Mexico. Many individuals build their own standing stones circle to perform rituals in. Midsummer Eve is thought to be another time of year (2nd after Hallowe'en) when the veil between the world of the living & the world of the spirits is very thin. This is a wonderful time to communicate with such otherwordly spirits as fairies, sprites, etc. Any spells worked at this time are especially powerful. *********************** HERBS/INCENSE:
St John’s Wort (chase-devil) , rose, honeysuckle, vervain, trefoil, mugwort, chamomile, lily, oak, lavender, ivy, yarrow, fern, elder, wild thyme, daisy, carnation, sunflower, birch
COLORS:
Green, Yellow, Gold, Red
DECORATIONS (altar or otherwise):
Summer flowers; athame/sword; seashells; coral; cauldron, bowl, or chalice of water
FOODS:
Summer fruits & flowers, fresh vegetables, Honey, Mead
GODS & GODDESSES:
Pan, Jack of the Green, Llew, Apollo, Ra, Osiris (Consort & Sun Gods); Danu, Badb, Inanna, Ishtar, Artemis, Isis (Mother Goddesses) GEMSTONES:
Bloodstone, Jaspers, Sunstone, Ruby, Peridot, Emerald, Jade, Moss Agate, Green Tourmaline, smokey Quartz, Rutilated Quartz, Carnelian, Citrine, Topaz
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
Fairies, Sprites, honeybees RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Young women collect flowers to place under their pillow to dream of their future love, & young men use copper coins; Hang flowers & birch (protection, purification) branches over doors for protection; Collect flowers & herbs needed for the coming year; Collect ritual water for the coming year from natural water sources, including thunderstorm rains which are naturally very energized (store in glass & off the ground so as to not "ground" the energy); Burn bonfires; Perform blessings for animals health, protection, & fertility; Perform spells especially for healings, love magick and protections; Celebrate bountiful life, strength, success, & passion. TAROT CARDS: Sun, Strength, Empress written by GypsyJaguar 2003 ************************ SOFT MEAD
by Scott Cunningham
1 quart water, preferably spring water
1 cup honey
1 sliced lemon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
Boil together all ingredients in a non-metalic pot.
While boiling, scrape off the rising "scum" with a wooden
spoon. When no more rises add the following:
pinch salt
juice of 1/2 lemon
Strain and cool. Drink in place of alcoholic mead or
wine during the Simple Feast.
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