As the lockdown eases around the world, and we are slowly allowed to get outside more, it has been precious to see the sunshine making an appearance this month. Litha 2020 is promising to be a little more flexible than Beltane, and, while we can’t necessarily do all the things we might like to do to celebrate this Sabbat, we do have the freedom to breathe in the air of Mother Nature and observe the growth and abundance that the Earth provides in the Summer.
There is some difference in precisely when Litha is celebrated, according to different traditions. Astrologically, Litha occurs at the time when the sun is at its highest point, which, in 2020, occurs on the 24th June. However, Litha is traditionally celebrated in many traditions at the midpoint of the Summer (Midsummer), which occurs on June 20th or 21st. As with all things spiritual, there are no hard and fast rules about how you conduct your own practice, so go with what feels right for you.
What’s important is what we’re celebrating - the Earth is alive again – the crops are thriving (hopefully) and the livestock are grazing happily in the fields. Now is the time for stone circles and the Green Man, for celebrating Mother Earth and Father Sun.
Litha shares similarities with Beltane, given their proximity and focus on crops and growth. However, Litha is less about protection and more about celebration – we have made it well into the Summer now – it is time to revel in the colour and decadence of the season.
Litha Correspondences
Element: Fire
Colours: Gold, Red, Yellow, White, Orange, Green – all the colours of a flourishing Earth.
Food: Ale, Mead, Wine, Honey Cakes, Summer Fruits
Planetary Ruler: Moon
Themes: Love, Marriage, Handfasting, Divination
Plants: Summer flowers, Chicory, Apples, Chamomile, Lavender, Peony, Rose, Chickweed, St. John’s Wort, Mugwort
Crystals: Sunstone, Carnelian, Citrine.
Taking from Tradition
Standing Stones and Stone Circles
It might not be feasible, given the state of the world right now, to make the pilgrimage to stone circles. The good news is, however, that you can make your own. Simply collect some stones, or even use your crystals, to create an indoor altar that includes a circular crystal grid. If you have a garden or outdoor space, you can create a larger circle, and built a bonfire inside of it. If not, you can use your cauldron or a fire-safe dish to burn incense and herbs within your crystal grid, symbolising the Midsummer bonfire celebrations.
Love and Relationships
This is particularly poignant if you have been feeling the pressure of spending a lot more time than usual with your significant other, or with your close family members. Take this time to be thankful for all the relationships in your life; for your community, your family, and your love. Rituals that celebrate and empower those relationships are particularly potent at this Sabbat-time, so light a red candle to symbolise the fire of your romance, or a pink candle to represent your friendships and other close relationships. Prepare a feast for your loved ones, and spend time celebrating the beauty of your connections with one another.
Abundance and Wealth
Is there ever a bad time to give thanks for what we have? Litha is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our blessings and open the way for more of them to join us. Take some time for gratitude practice, reminding yourself of the wonderful things that are happening in your life. By focusing on the positives, we are raising our vibrations, which makes us more susceptible to being especially blessed. What’s not to love about that?
Divination
If you’ve been thinking about learning a new divination skill, why not treat yourself to a Litha learning session? Grab a deck of Tarot or Oracle cards; use a pendulum (or just a necklace!); make a set of runes. Whichever form of divination you feel particularly drawn to, Litha is a time of celebration and spiritual opening, so it’s a beautiful moment to heighten your connection with the Divine and upskill on your divination. Bonus points for blending the tea before you read those leaves. Which leads me to…
Litha Tea Recipe
Let’s blend some herbal tea! This is a very simple recipe and makes around 4 cups of tea. You could share the pot with your loved ones, or just keep it handy through the day. Also delicious brewed and then chilled for morning hydration (just in case you’re also on that Litha mead).
For this tea, you will need:
1 tsp dried rose petals
1 tsp dried apple
1 tsp dried chamomile flowers
½ tsp dried lavender flowers
Make sure you are using food-grade dried goods for this tea, and organic if you can, just to take care of your body.
Instructions:
It’s hard, are you ready? Add all the ingredients together. Mix them up. Use 1 tsp of tea mix per cup of hot water. Steep for around 5 minutes, then strain and drink.
However you celebrate this Sabbat, I hope it is filled with abundance, sunshine, love and quality time with your special people.
Blessings,
xxK
Written by: onebosswitch.com/
A witchy Martha Stewart with a dash of Zadie Smith - Follow her for witchcraft tips and useful blog posts.