☀️20 More Ways to Celebrate Litha and the Summer Solstice☀️ (Patreon)

Litha, Summer Solstice and Midsummer are all about celebrating the sun and the longest day of the year! We honor the warmth of the Sun's rays and the ways it helps nourish us, the plants and the Earth. Summer is when you receive the fruits of your labor from the seeds you planted in the spring. Other Worldy Oracle says, "Our ancient ancestors believed the sun was the life force of the earth – it’s presence kept them warm and fed. The Goddess is thought to be in her Mother form during the Summer season, heavy with child (the God), preparing to give birth during the Harvest season." Here is a list of 20 was to celebrate Litha and the Summer Solstice from Kajora Lovely, Other Worldly Oracle and Uncustomary.

Why is Litha Sometimes Also Called Midsummer?

Other Worldy Oracle shares "This is when people get confused with terminology. And I understand why. There are at least three names for this holiday because we have a melding of ancient cultural traditions AND time periods. Think of it this way – Litha is a Germanic word for the Summer Solstice holiday. While Midsummer is technically a word that means the Middle of Summer. But the Summer Solstice is technically the beginning of Summer, right? Not exactly.

To modern folk, the solstice marks the beginning of the Summer season for us. But centuries ago, and as mentioned in the Celtic section above, Beltane was the first day of Summer and it matched the seasons astronomically. Therefore, the middle of Summer was when the Sun was at its peak creating the longest day of the year. So when people say “Midsummer”, just remember that the dates and months and calendars, and the way we view the year, has changed over the years."

Here are some more ways you can harness this energy to celebrate Litha, the Summer Solstice and Midsummer!

1.) Have a Bonfire

"While the winter seems like the best time for a bonfire, the Litha sabbat is also a great time because it is a celebration of the fire element. To our ancestors, fire came from the sun and they honored it with large bonfires. The best time to do this is at night, sit around the fire, tell stories and make s’mores together" (Other Worldly Oracle).

“You could have a traditional ceremony with two bonfires and have people (and people in relationships), dance through in between the fires to boost their abundance, you could watch someone spin fire, you could do a candle gazing meditation, you could burn your intentions in a small cauldron, you could host a barbecue on a grill in your backyard. Be careful with fire, obviously, though!” writes Uncustomary.

"Bonfires have been staples of pagan traditions, and can be used to ask for cleansing or protection. You can gather together with friends or family as a simple get together, or use the fire’s energy for magic and spells. If you feel guided to, you can stare into the fire for a bit to meditate and connect to the Summer Solstice’s fire energy" says Kajora Lovely.

2.) Celebrate Litha With Scrying

Effective scrying methods during Litha would be with fire and water! You can try fire scrying with a bonfire or a candle and water scrying with a bowl of water, an ocean or a lake. Another form of scrying that could be enjoyable for Litha would be cloud scrying.

3.) Refresh or Create Your Altar

If you haven’t already, Litha is a wonderful time to cleanse and organize your altar for summertime. Take everything off our altar, clean it physically and spiritually, then anoint your tools and altar surface with an enchanting oil that goes along with the season.

Uncustomary says, “A perfect way to set the mood for Litha is to create an altar as a sacred space. Supplies/materials to consider using for your Litha altar include: symbols of the sun, twinkle lights, candles, circles, discs, spirals, sunflowers, seashells, feathers, strawberries, stones (especially in a circle), bees, butterflies, birds, fire imagery, faeries, Oak leaves, Cinnamon, Mugwort, Rosemary, Gold, Citrine, Emerald, Jade, Peridot, Carnelian, and as far as colors, stick to gold, green, yellow, orange, red, and white.”

4.) Cast Spells for Abundance on Litha

Spells to draw in success, love, abundance would be great to do during Litha. The intentions you set in the Spring would be coming to fruition in the summer, similar to the seeds planted in Spring. Spells regarding parenthood would be suitable at this time, too.

5.) Honor Sun Gods & Goddesses

Honor and learn about solar deities during Litha. You can research sun gods and goddesses and honor them with offerings and prayers.  Some sun gods and goddesses you can research are: Horus, Huitzilopochtli, Saule, Aine, Belenos, Helios, Etain, Yu Yi, Macha, Ra, Sunna, and more.

6.) Get moving!

If you are celebrating Litha with a group of people, you could try hosting or attending a drum circle or spiral dance! Learn how to do the Spiral Dance and teach it to your friends so you can do it together.

"In addition to being entertaining (and a great stress reliever), a drum circle or a ritualized dance serves another purpose—that of raising energy. The more you build, the more people will feed off of it. Invite a group of friends over, let them know there will be music and dance, and see what happens. Be sure to provide refreshments for afterwards—drumming and dancing can be draining for some people." (Uncustomary)

7.) Practice Green Magick.

Uncustomary says, “This is a perfect time to see how green your thumb is! Buy some plants, seeds, bulbs, and plant them in your backyard, in your home, in raised beds, in a community garden. And don’t forget about working with Faeries! You can also just spend time in nature, or meander around a luscious garden.”

8.) Make A Bird Feeder.

"Birds are great to connect with this time of year, and it’s really easy to give back to them and to bring them to you — with food! So make a bird feeder with pinecones, peanut butter, birdseed, apples, etc. Or you can buy a fancy bird feeder for hummingbirds or whatever you like! Try connecting with the birds, bird watching, going to an aviary, and looking up what birds you identify with and see the most and what that symbolism means for you at this point in your life." (Uncustomary)

9.) Make A Love Sachet.

"This is a simple craft that will draw abundance in the form of love into your life. Focus on the kind of love you want more of in your life as you craft it. Your just need some cloth (natural fabrics are good), flower petals (rose and lavender are good), and maybe a crystal (like Rose Quartz or Amethyst) to put in before you tie it up with needle and thread or just a piece of ribbon. Charge it under the sun, then put it on your altar!" (Uncustomary)

10.) Create a Litha Ritual.

Create your own ritual that fits the best for you! Do a simple spell or ritual, make yourself a nice meal, get a tarot reading (or do one for yourself!), share your knowledge about Litha and the Summer Solstice with others, make your own crafts, do your own research on gods and goddesses associated with Litha, learn about faeries, make your own cleansing ritual bath, wear jewelry and colors that correspond to Litha, connect with nature in your own way, say a blessing or a prayer.. Basically, do whatever works and feels right for you!

11.) Make a Gratitude List

Kjora Lovely suggests to "Write down all of the things you’re grateful for in your life right now. You can start small, and even include certain people, pets, situations, or experience you’ve learned from. The idea is to celebrate the fullness of life, the things that make life worth living.

The Summer Solstice relates to The Sun card in tarot, which is all about basking the sun’s glory, noticing the good going on in your life, and opening up to success, recognition, and happiness. This can be difficult for some if they’re focusing too much on what isn’t going right. Just for now, focus on what is going right. Thank the Universe or your higher power for these things, and spend a moment looking at the list. Notice how you feel, and focus on the elements that make you feel warm inside. Spend a little time in that feeling. Gratitude is powerful and can raise your vibration. This is something you can come back to any time of the year, and the Summer Solstice is a great time to practice."

12.) Use Herbs or Essential Oils

Kjora Lovely says, "According to The Hearth Witch’s Compendium: Magical and Natural Living for Every Day by Anna Franklin, the herbs relating to Litha are: Alexanders, Angelica, Apples, Ash, Bay, Calendula, Chamomile, Celandine, Daisy, Dill, Dog Rose, Elder, Elecampane, Fennel, Fern, Feverfew, Fir, Frankincense, Heather, Honeysuckle, Lavender, Marjoram, Mint, Mistletoe, Oak, St. John’s Wort, Strawberry, Sunflower, Sweet Cicely, Violet, Yarrow

You can use these to create a sugar scrub, add them to epsom salts for a bath, use them in spell work, or use them in food. You can also use whatever is in season around you, whether that’s food or flowers."

13.) Charge Your Crystals and Water in the Sun

This would be a powerful and magical time to charge your crystals with the sun's strong energy. The sun's energy will be at its highest and you can set an intention with your crystals to be charged by the sun's energy. Your intention could be to possess more qualities of the sun or whatever you choose. Make sure your crystals can go out in the sun and won't fade before doing so. Leave them outside when the sun is at it's strongest and highest point, which would be around noon.

14.) Do Protection Work

Protection spells can be done for yourself and loved ones during this time. You can harness the energy of the sun before it's strength starts to wane and carry it with you. Some ideas for protection spell work would be to charge your protective crystals in the sun (make sure they are sun safe!), creating a crystal grid for protection or make your own protection sun salts for the front of your doorways and windows in your home. (Hint: A recipe for sun salts can be found in one of my previous Litha recipes post on Patreon!)

15.) Connect With Nature

Spending time in nature definitely helps with grounding and recharging, but it can also be stronger around this time. Kajora Lovel says "You can also spend some time sitting in the direct sunlight (even if it’s just a couple minutes) and imagine the sun’s warmth wrapping around you like a nurturing, healing blanket that will provide you with anything you need, and that you can take with you when you leave."

16.) Go to the Beach

Other Worldy Oracle suggests “Go to the beach to celebrate Litha. Not only do you have the sun to enjoy, the water is there too. This is the time when the sun moves into Cancer, which is a water sign. Fire and water together make summer one of the best seasons to go to the beach. Build a sandcastle near the water and let the ocean take it away, along with your worries. This is an easy and fun way to celebrate Midsummer.”

17.) Greet the Sunrise

"If it’s just too hot and you can’t take the heat, get up extra early and celebrate Litha by greeting the sunrise. Sip on your coffee and say hi to the sun OR practice some yoga sun salutations. Breathe in the sunshine." (Other Worldly Oracle)

Uncustomary says "Depending on your sleep schedule, you can find out what time the sun is rising and setting in your location, and go set up camp to watch a gorgeous sunrise/set on the longest day of the year. Great the sun, do Sun Salutation poses, do your own ritual, do a meditation, make out with your loved one, do cartwheels, take a nap in a hammock. Great the sun as it rises or leaves with gratitude and tell it how grateful you are out loud."

18.) Leave Fairy Offerings

"Leave treats for the fairies. They particularly love sweets, for example: cakes, cookies, brownies, doughnuts, sweetbreads and more! They also adore milk, cream, butter, as well as a hearty alcoholic beverage. Some of the drinks they like are mead, wine, ale, and brandy. You can try almost any food or beverage but they typically like the sweet, boozy kind. Be sure to put some thought and effort behind your fairy offerings and don’t thank the fairies. They hate being thanked!" (Other Worldly Oracle)

19.) Celebrate With Litha Crafts

An easy way to celebrate Litha with a little divine creativity is to get crafting! Fun crafts for Midsummer include: making suncatchers, crafting floral crowns or wreaths, dreamcatchers, craft a sun wheel, salt dough sun plaques, a Summer besom, etc. Get the details and instructions on how to do these here. 

20.) Watch the Sunset

"You greeted the sun on the longest day of the year, so why not tell it goodbye when it sets? I like watching the sun set over the water, if you have a local body of water where the sun goes down. Or just anywhere you can get a good view of it. As it sets, thank the sun for its life-giving rays and warmth. For life here on this planet." (Other Worldly Oracle)

Sources:

https://www.learnreligions.com/summer-solstice-craft-projects-4136751

https://uncustomary.org/10-ways-to-celebrate-litha/

https://otherworldlyoracle.com/celebrate-litha/

https://www.kajoralovely.com/lovely-blog/2019/6/19/celebrating-litha-the-summer-solstice?format=amp

https://www.pexels.com/photo/lady-in-beach-silhouette-during-daytime-photography-40192/