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Summer Solstice

What is the Summer Solstice?

Even if you were not aware of the Summer Solstice, you would probably notice June 21st as a seemingly unending day. The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, as the length of time between sunrise and sunset on this day is a maximum. In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year marks the first day of the season of summer (in the southern hemisphere this date marks the Winter Solstice). For Europe, this is the traditional “midsummer” as it is in the middle of their growing season.

The word “solstice” comes from the Latin, from “sol” meaning sun, and “sistere,” to cause to stand still. The Summer Solstice is also traditionally known as Midsummer, Litha, or St. John's Day. The solstice is as a result of the movement of Earth in an orbit that is tilted to the direction of the equator. The sun has been climbing higher and higher since the Vernal Equinox, and the axis of the Earth’s orbit is closest to the sun on the day of the Solstice. This, coupled with the Sun’s prominent position directly above creates the longest day. That is the basic scientific explanation, but the results are truly worth celebrating! Solar energy means everything to our lives and the Summer Solstice holds magickal connotations throughout many times and cultures.
The Solstice has long been celebrated since humans first began noticing the changes of the seasons and the movement of celestial objects. Celts, Slavs and Germanic tribes all lit bonfires to celebrate this night (much as was done at Beltane). Druids view the midsummer as the wedding of Heaven and Earth, and named this time “Alban Heruin”, meaning the Light of the Shore, when light and dark hold hands.

There are many sacred spots where the solar movements were tracked. The axis of Stonehenge for example, (dating from around 3100 BC, built upon the Salisbury Downs) aligns with the monument's entrance, and is oriented to the direction of the midsummer sunrise. The focus of the monument is where the rays of the rising sun fall on a huge sparkling bluestone that for a few minutes each year at the time of midsummer solstice is illuminated. The Avenue, a ceremonial approach to the Stones aligned to the midsummer sunrise, was also built during the Bronze Age. Legend has it that the Celtic warrior Queen Boudicca built Stonehenge as her monument, although it’s actual origin is disputed.
Avebury in Wessex is another World Heritage site, dating from approximately 2800 BC. At the centre of the northern circle once stood a trio of very large stones, two of which survive, called "the Cove”. The Cove is aligned to the midsummer sunrise.
The Incas also built an entranceway that captured solstice sunrise, and today Peruvians still use the temple to mark the solstice. For the ancient Romans, midsummer was a time to honour Fors Fortuna, the goddess of fortune. Native Americans, the Greeks, Egyptians and Chinese all left notes and rituals related to the summer solstice.

In the Artic Circle, the Solstice has a very special meaning in modern times, as it brings them into a fleeting period of continuous light – something to be celebrated after of months of darkness.
First harvests

This Summer Solstice is the peak of the year, full of warmth, radiance and fulfilment. We see the earth full of her colourful bounty of blossom, and the promise of ripe fruits and plentiful harvests. Beltane was a time for the Goddess – a prayer to her to make our land and lives lush; however, the Solstice is when we see our wishes fulfilled and we celebrate this. With the heat of the sun embracing the land, the celebration of the Summer Solstice brings forth a wondrous recognition that we can now enjoy the fruits of our labours.

Historically, this was the time of first harvest, when plants and herbs planted during the spring equinox were collected, and Midsummer Eve is an evening traditionally dedicated to the gathering of herbs. Herbs and flowers harvested on this night are considered to be especially powerful. Midsummer eve’s harvest traditionally consisted of St John's Wort, Burdock, Thorn, and Nettle. These herbs were then hung on doors and windows and placed around the home for protection. Homes were also decorated with Fennel, Orpine (also know as Live Forever; Stone Crop and Sedum), St. John's Wort and Birch branches. Also gathered were Mugwort (the herb of St. John), Chamomile, Geranium, Thyme, and Pennyroyal. A particular gem gathered on Midsummer Eve, are Royal Fern (Raithneach na Ri) seeds said to make the possessor invisible, or have the ability to find treasure! They who manage to find and gather Royal Fern blossoms on Midsummer's Eve are said to become wise, lucky, happy and wealthy.
In celebration of this potent time, women wove and wore circlets of clover and flowers, whilst men wore chaplets of Oak leaves and flowers. Livestock were also traditionally adorned with garlands to bless them and give thanks. A fire would be lit, and nine different types of herbs were thrown upon it, including Mistletoe, Vervain, St. John's Wort, Heartsease, Lavender, and four others chosen from the season. These herbs would also be hung about the home for their aroma and to protect the inhabitants from bad luck and illness.

A Fertile time

Not surprisingly, most civilisations naturally linked the fertility of the earth with their own, and evidence of this is still apparent today. The act of silently gathering nine kinds of flowers and placing them under a pillow is supposed to reveal in dreams the identity of the person you will marry. In pagan traditions, handfastings and marriages were often performed at this time. The phrase “honeymoon” is a derivative from the traditional name for the moon at this time the Honey Moon. The honeymoon was a time when newly-weds would share foods prepared with honey so that their lives together might be sweet, also allowing the couple a certain period of time together, alone, in celebration of their union. Even in the traditionally reserved Catholic Church, St. John is associated with Midsummer and is believed to be the protector of lovers.

The potency of this time can also be seen in many works of literature - the magic of Midsummer’s Eve has been often celebrated. Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is set on this eve, where quarrelling lovers, both mortal and otherworldly, bewitch each other through a potion brewed of magical herbs. In Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, Aragorn finally weds his beloved Arwen on this blessed night. It is hardly surprising then, that this same spirit of pleasure, celebration and fun have carried over into our modern-day lives.

Celebration of the God

The Summer Solstice is the season of the celebrated and mighty Oak – evocative of power, strength, security, stability and endurance. Although God and Goddess are both present at Beltane and Litha, Beltane is much more a celebration of the Goddess. The Solstice however is a time for celebrating the God. This is the time of year when the sun reaches its highest apex, at the Tropic of Cancer, the day when light overcomes darkness, a day of power. Thus this is a time for celebrating the masculine – energies of power, strength and endurance. Litha, as a Wiccan holiday, has the Sun/God reaching full power. When you consider also that the Sun is a male deity and the solstice is the pinnacle of the sun’s power, the reason for male-based merriment becomes apparent more so.
Paradoxically however, this is also the time when the Sun’s power is about to wane, as there is nowhere to go other than down once you have reached such dizzy heights. Thus, it is at Midsummer that in Pagan times (and in modern pagan celebrations) the Holly King, God of the Waning Year, encounters the Oak King, and succeeds in seizing the reign of the year.

A time for reflection

The Summer Solstice is a time of fire and passion, but also light and enlightenment. It is a time to reflect upon the growth of the season: the seeds that were planted in the earth and the seeds planted in our souls. It is a time of cleansing and renewal; it is a time of love and growth, for strength and optimism.

As such, for adults this is a time to celebrate your strengths and take stock. It is also a time for letting go of past failure so you can usher in the new. After all, just because you have played the wrong notes on the piano, it doesn’t mean that you will do it every time! You learn from your mistakes, and will eventually play the whole tune. However many of us become entrenched in believing the negative and cannot move on, resulting in self-limiting behaviour. The Summer Solstice is the perfect time to focus on the positive – how can you not feel positive in the face of such powerful exuberance, such as the sun at its pinnacle? Now is the time to make the decision to take life by both hands – indeed, make hay while the sun shines!
This is also true of our family lives. Have you been meaning to make changes? Spend more time with your children? Start a new healthy eating regime? Try a new hobby? Well now is the time – after all, you have the whole summer ahead of you for fun, games and new approaches to life!

Children are so wonderfully receptive to new ideas that it is often a joy to make such changes – what child doesn’t enjoy a happy fun-filled parent? Thus this is a time to nurture you. Make a promise to yourself, whatever it may entail, to embrace a hopeful and optimistic change. You can also include your children in following activities.

Find an Oak tree. This may be in a public place, woods or forest, your back garden. If space and budget allows, it would be an even more wonderful gesture to plant your own tree. It doesn’t have to be an Oak, but the significance of this tree for the time of the year is very powerful, and as such, the Oak is preferable. If you are growing a tree, see this as a symbol of your promises to yourself, and nurture it and watch it grow. Although this may sound quite ambitious, you can begin with a tiny seedling in a pot on the windowsill, as this is equally if not more valid. Planting your tree as a family is a wonderful thing to do, and as you plant, make promises to each other – for example, you could say “with this earth I promise to read you a story every night”, or “with this earth I promise to clean my room once a week” as you each place in a handful of earth. Make sure though, that you make your own silent dedication to the tree for personal change and life enhancement – focus upon your strengths – promise yourself that you will paint that picture, you will go for that dream job!

If however, you “adopt” a tree, simply sit beneath its boughs and feel its strength. Sit and take stock, and breathe in the tree’s power – ask for it’s blessing, it’s power and protection. Draw up the energy you need from the roots of the tree, and leave something as an offering by way of thanks - for example, a beautiful crystal or pebble nestled in the ground at the base of the tree, or placed in it’s branches. Before you leave the crystal with the tree, “fill” it with all you hope to achieve.

As a family, you could choose your adoptive tree together, and then go foraging. Each of you find an item which attracts you, be it a pebble, a leaf or a flower, and fill it with your promises before you leave it in the protection of your tree. An alternative is to have every member of the family paint a mural of a tree, and onto the leaves write your promises – messy and lots of fun!

You can also incorporate a picnic as part of your day – wonderful solstice foods are herbs and berries of the season – herb based salads such as couscous or rice salads, lush strawberries and cream plus lots of elderflower cordial and wine for the grown-ups!

This is the message of the Solstice - Enjoy each other, enjoy your family, enjoy life, and enjoy the summer!