Whatever your spiritual path, chances are you have special traditions or ways to celebrate the return of summer. A time of barbecues, late nights, bon fires and being around water and in nature. The Summer Solstice has been celebrated since the Stone Age. The word solstice comes from Latin term meaning 'sun stands still' and is the longest day of the year. This is a time to celebrate the power of the sun and a shift from the darkness into the light. Many lit fires on the solstice to energize the power of the sun and ensure good crops for the season. Many pagans lit bonfire to ward off evil spirits and demons, and it is said that magic is at its peak at the solstice. This is an amazing time where the world is in full bloom and the energy is high.
It's perfect to work to step into your own personal power with themes of empowerment and abundance. This is the time to connect with our dear Mother Earth, tend to gardens, plant flowers, and work on a little green magic. Here are a few correspondences of nature and themes to celebrate the summer season.
Themes of the Summer Season
Spend the summer time working on abundance, empowerment, passion, fire, growth, energy, light and health. Use this time to celebrate the the heightened energy being put out with a sense of joy and happiness. Goddesses & Gods to work with include: Hestia/Vesta: Greek/Roman Goddess of hearth and agriculture Gaia: Mother Earth, earth goddess Athena: Greek Goddess of wisdom, war Apollo: Greek God of the Sun Horus: Egyptian Sun God Juno: Roman Goddess the month June named after, goddess of marriage
Herbs, Trees and Plants of Summer
These are but an example of some of the herbs and trees you can use or honor in the summer season. Explore more and see what resonates with you this summer! Check out more herbs and oils here Basil-fire element herb for protection, prosperity Bay Leaves-protection, strength, success, purification. Sun and Fire element Cinnamon (oil)-money draw, protection, power, healing, success Clove (bud or oil)-love, protection, money. clearing negative forces. Fire element. Dill-protection, luck, money. Fire element. Dragon's Blood (resin or oil) love, protection, release negative energies, power, healing. Elder Tree-Sacred tree with spirit of Elder Mother, offering prosperity and good health Fennel-strength, protection, vitality, healing. Honeysuckle-love, good fortune and protect garden from negativity Mint-cleaning, healing, abundance Oak Tree-strength, stability, health, the tree of Midsummer Rosemary-memory, learning, protection, wards off bad dreams, cleansing, purification. Sun and fire element Sage-cleansing, healing, prosperity, used to 'smudge' and cleanse/purify spaces of negative energy Saffron-divination, psychic abilities, wealth and prosperity Vervain-abundance, protection, midsummer herb connected to Thor and Cerridwen
Crystals and Stones of Summer
Amber-Tree resin, not crystal, Chakra cleanser, absorb pain, dis ease & negative energy. Clears depression, creativity. Carnelian-grounding, motivation, creativity, courage, success in business, overcome abuse, perception, concentration. Citrine-energizing, Chakra cleanser, solar plexus chakra, intuition, abundance, happiness, prosperity. Jade-purity, wisdom, love, nurturing, activate Anahata (Heart) Chakra, helps emotional release, calms irritability. Tiger's Eye-protection, strength, grounding, good fortune, helps to draw will power & emotional stability during changes Yellow Jasper-self confidence, positive energy, helps to attune to the earth and wildlife
Activities and Rituals for Summer
Ganesha, remover of obstacles and flame to consume what you no longer need
Bonfire and Fire Ceremonies-Light a fire in honor of the sun, gather with friends or sit in silence to take in the warmth and prosperity of the daystar at night. Use fire in manifestation and fire ceremonies by writing down any intention you wish to create or release, blow your intention into the paper and throw it into the fire. Fire is a transformative element, it can forge and create or consume and destroy. See your intention disappear into the flames, turned into ash the energy mulching up though the smoke to bring about or release what you wish.
Create a Fairy Garden-This is the time of the Fay! Honor these elemental spirits looking after the earth by setting them up a garden in or outside of your home. Fairy doors, succulents and plants can grace their space and you can leave our offerings such as milk, honey and sugar to keep them happy. They love to dance and help things grow but they can also be mischievous and play tricks on you as well!
Set up a Summer Altar-this can be done in our outside of your home as a place to honor the season and what it represents. Sunflowers, crystals, herbs, stones, fairies, candles oak leaves and more. Spirals, circles and other symbols of the season can be used to make it a personal space of love, passion, self-empowerment and abundance.
Practice Green Magic and Cooking for the Season-Tend to and gather your herbs, use in divination, manifestation and cooking to celebrate the season. Some foods to incorporate are those with cinnamon, honey, sunflower seeds, fresh fruit and veggies, squash, pumpernickel bread, fire roasted meats and anything with lavender!