Litha
Litha
Pronounced: Li-tha
Astrological Timing: 0* Cancer
Calendar Timing: June 22
Sun Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Sun Zodiac Sign Element: Water
Sun Zodiac Sign Element Quality: Cardinal
Moon Phase: Half to Full
Also Known As: Midsummer
History/Mythology:
Here we are at Midsummer, we have arrived at the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The Goddess is now full and pregnant with Child, and the Sun God is at the height of His virility. This is the peak of the Solar year and the Sun is at the height of its life-giving power. The Earth is awash with fertility and fulfillment and this is a time of joy and celebration, of expansiveness and the celebration of achievements. [3]
Yet within this climax is the whisper and promise of a return to the Dark. As the Light reaches its peak so this is also the moment when the power of the Sun begins to wane. From now on the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer and we are drawn back into the Dark to complete the Wheel of the Year. [3]
Nearly every agricultural society has marked the high point of summer in some way, shape or form. On this date–usually around June 21 or 22 (or December 21/22 in the southern hemisphere)–the sun reaches its zenith in the sky. It is the longest day of the year, and the point at which the sun seems to just hang there without moving – in fact, the word “solstice” is from the Latin word solstitium, which literally translates to “sun stands still.” The travels of the sun were marked and recorded. Stone circles such as Stonehenge were oriented to highlight the rising of the sun on the day of the summer solstice. [4]
In addition to the polarity between land and sky, Litha is a time to find a balance between fire and water. According to Ceisiwr Serith, in his book The Pagan Family, European traditions celebrated this time of year by setting large wheels on fire and then rolling them down a hill into a body of water. He suggests that this may be because this is when the sun is at its strongest yet also the day at which it begins to weaken. Another possibility is that the water mitigates the heat of the sun, and subordinating the sun wheel to water may prevent drought. Crops are growing in their fields with the heat of the sun, but may require water to keep them alive. The power of the sun at Midsummer is at its most potent, and the earth is fertile with the bounty of growing life. [4]
Honey
Our lovely bees are now making honey. Midsummer full moon is known as the 'Honey Moon' for the mead made from honey now available. This is often part of handfastings performed at the Summer Solstice. Mead is regarded as the divine solar drink, with magical and life-restoring properties. Drink to celebrate and toast the life-giving abundance of the Sun. [3]
Symbols:
The Oak
Tree worship has always played a large role in Midsummer festivities and trees near wells and fountains were decorated with coloured cloths. The Oak King who has ruled the waxing of the year represents strength, courage and endurance, and the Oak has always been particularly significant at Litha. The Celtic name for Oak is 'Duir' which means 'doorway' - we are crossing the threshold, entering the doorway into the second, waning part of the year. [3]
Practices:
The Bonfire
Traditionally people stayed up all night on Midsummer's Eve to welcome and watch the sunrise. Bonfires were lit on tops of hills, by holy wells, at places held sacred, to honour the fullness of the Sun. At Litha the bonfire really represents a reflection of the Sun at the peak of its strength. The chosen wood would often be Oak and aromatic herbs were scattered into the fire. People danced around the fires and leap through them. Blazing herbs from the sacred bonfire were used to bless the animals. Blazing torches were carried sunwise around homes and fields. Coals from the Midsummer fire were scattered on fields to ensure a good harvest. [3]
Oak and Holy King Myth
In some traditions, Litha is a time at which there is a battle between light and dark. The Oak King is seen as the ruler of the year between winter solstice and summer solstice, and the Holly King from summer to winter. At each solstice they battle for power, and while the Oak King may be in charge of things at the beginning of June, by the end of Midsummer he is defeated by the Holly King. [4]
Colors:
Well, take your pick! The natural world is full of colour at this time. Choose blue for the sky, green for the grass, yellow for the Sun. Or red, orange and purple to honour all the blooming flowers. Or choose the colours of the four elements - red, blue, green and yellow. [3]
Correspondences:
Sun Zodiac Sign: Cancer
Strengths: Tenacious, highly imaginative, loyal, emotional, sympathetic, persuasive [1]
Weaknesses: Moody, pessimistic, suspicious, manipulative, insecure [1]
Cancer likes: Art, home-based hobbies, relaxing near or in water, helping loved ones, a good meal with friends [1]
Cancer dislikes: Strangers, any criticism of Mom, revealing of personal life [1]
Deeply intuitive and sentimental, Cancer can be one of the most challenging zodiac signs to get to know. They are very emotional and sensitive, and care deeply about matters of the family and their home. Cancer is sympathetic and attached to people they keep close. Those born with their Sun in Cancer are very loyal and able to empathize with other people's pain and suffering. [1]
The sign of Cancer belongs to the element of Water, just like Scorpio and Pisces. Guided by emotion and their heart, they could have a hard time blending into the world around them. Being ruled by the Moon, phases of the lunar cycle deepen their internal mysteries and create fleeting emotional patterns that are beyond their control. As children, they don't have enough coping and defensive mechanisms for the outer world, and have to be approached with care and understanding, for that is what they give in return. [1]
Lack of patience or even love will manifest through mood swings later in life, and even selfishness, self-pity or manipulation. They are quick to help others, just as they are quick to avoid conflict, and rarely benefit from close combat of any kind, always choosing to hit someone stronger, bigger, or more powerful than they imagined. When at peace with their life choices, Cancer representatives will be happy and content to be surrounded by a loving family and harmony in their home. [1]
Cancer - the Brave Crab Sent to this Earth by something they believe in, only to mess with someone bigger than they are, this isn't an animal aware of their strength. Patriotism can make them endanger their own wellbeing, fighting for someone else's cause, as if others can become their higher power. The Crab knows where they're going, but this is often in a wrong direction, at least until they learn their lessons and start relying solely on themselves.[1]
Sun Zodiac Sign Element: Water
This is the element of constant movement, but slow and steady, swirling inside each of us and holding on to its mystery. This is the element of conception and death, of illusions and fairytales, holding the secret to our Soul - its beginning and its end. [1]
In the element of Water we literally deal with matters of life and death, of our genetic inheritance and all of our ancestors. Strangely, this is also the element of emotions. We all have to understand that our emotions have already been lived through by someone in our family tree, and they are passed on from generation to generation, mostly through the role of the mother. [1]
Water Signs
Signs belonging to the element of Water are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. This makes the entire need of this element a bit complicated, for the ruler of Cancer falls in Scorpio, and Pisces seem to be there to hide its body. Perhaps this is the greatest task of all, for each of us to embrace emotion, accept the negative as much as the positive, anger and sadness as much as love. [1]
Typical representatives of the element of Air have often been said to be too emotional. They could deal with a lot of suffering before they realize that there is no such thing. Their sensitivity and fragile nature make them perfect for advisors and compassionate therapists, helping those with deep emotional problems. They came to this planet to teach everyone else that love is truly endless and feelings our greatest quality. [1]
How Do We Balance Water?
People with accented element of Water have something to learn about their emotional nature. This is the element of greatest possibilities but often puts us to sleep and makes it impossible for a person to creatively express themselves. This is a field of all talents and everything that was left for us to take in this lifetime. Here lies the river of everyone that lived before us and everyone that is ever going to be born. [1]
Water is a pool of endless possibility and it is almost impossible to find direction in it if there is no contact with Fire. The element of Fire burns bright as a guiding light, and gives person energy, passion and direction where their talents can be found and properly used through creation. Element of Water standing alone simply carries us from shore to shore, from left to right, and even though life can be magical and dreamy inside it, we could simply be spinning in circles without every finding a way out. [1]
Moon Phase: Half to Full
Within a few days after the Full Moon, the strong lunar energies have clearly begun to recede, ebbing like the ocean waves just after high tide. Now begins the waning half of the cycle, as the Moon starts to disappear gradually into shadow. The Autumn Equinox marks this turning toward the dark time of year, and the days become noticeably shorter than just weeks ago. The Mother Goddess has reached the point of full maturity along her path and now progresses onward to greater and greater wisdom. The harvest is in full swing now as Autumn’s bounty is reaped from the fields. The fully ripened fruit is gathered and put to use. What can’t be used is left to drop to the ground where it will feed the animals and the soil. This is a time to harvest the fruit of our magical efforts, which includes affirming and giving thanks for any manifestations that have arrived or are on the horizon. Be sure to enjoy everything that has come into your life, and celebrate your efforts on both the physical and non-physical planes. This is also the time to release the energy of outward action, and align with the energy of inward reflection. Let go of any specific spellwork that has yet to come into fruition. This doesn’t mean you should give up on your goals—just release any attachments you have to outcomes from this particular spell. It may be that there is a larger timeline for the manifestation to occur than you’d like, but this is where patience and trust in Universal timing comes in. In the meantime, you can take advantage of the waning energies of the lunar cycle to make some very beneficial changes in your life. Eliminating negative energies and experiences is the governing principle of magic during the waning Moon. Spellwork aimed at overcoming obstacles, resolving conflicts, and removing causes of illness is favored at this time. Looking within and examining our inner landscape brings about clarity, and can help us identify where we might make more effective choices around recurring issues, both in our spellwork and in our daily lives. Think of this work in terms of the harvest—we sort through what we’ve brought about and discard anything that doesn’t serve us. What we let go of is released back to the Earth and ultimately transformed into new life. [2]
References:
Chamberlain, Lisa. Wicca Natural Magic Kit: The Sun, The Moon, and The Elements: Elemental Magic, Moon Magic, and Wheel of the Year Magic . Wicca Shorts (Chamberlain Publications). Kindle Edition.
https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-summer-solstice-holiday-litha-2562244
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