While searching a specific topic to share for this Summer Solstice there was so much rich information it made it hard to decide. Instead, it seemed appropriate to give an overview of symbolism for this special time of year. We found the following information has been shared from Hearth and Home Witchery.

Midsummer speaks to our nurturing soul and love. If you haven’t yet done so, Litha, or Summer Solstice, is a good time to perform your Self-Dedication or a Re-dedication Ceremony. What better time than the longest day of the year for affirmation of your desire as a part of your Sabbat celebration. The powers of nature are at their highest point which make it a great time for herb gathering. And of course, it is the Longest day of the year. This marks the time when days begin to get shorter again.

Symbols:

DEITIES: Father Gods and Mother Goddesses, Pregnant Goddesses and Sun Deities. Particular emphasis might be placed on the Goddesses Aphrodite, Astarte, Freya, Hathor, Ishtar, Venus and other Goddesses who preside over love, passion and beauty. Other Litha deities include Athena, Artemis, Dana, Kali, Isis, Juno, Apollo, Dagda, Gwydion, Helios, Llew, Oak Holly King, Lugh, Ra, Sol, Zeus, Prometheus, Ares, Mother Earth, Father Sun, the fey, fairy folkand Thor.

MAGICK: Healing, growth spells, empowerment spells, and love magick are all incredibly potent at this time.

TOOLS: Drums, rattles, bonfire, mirrors for reflecting the sun or bonfire, or Earth circles of stone energy.

COLORS: White, red, maize yellow or golden yellow, green, blue and tan.

STONES: All green gemstones, especially emerald and jade. Other appropriate gemstones are tigers eye, lapis lazuli, ruby, diamonds, amethyst, malachite, golden topaz, opal, quartz crystal, azurite-malachite.

ANIMALS: Robins, wrens, all summer birds, horses and cattle. If you prefer mythical creatures include satyrs, faeries, firebirds, dragons, thunderbirds and manticores in your celebrations.

HERBS: Chamomile, cinquefoil, elder, fennel, hemp, larkspur, lavender, male fern, mugwort, pine, roses, Saint Johns wort, honesty, wild thyme, wisteria, oak, mistletoe, frankincense, lemon, sandalwood, heliotrope, copal, saffron, galangal, laurel, ylang-ylang, Basil, Betony, Dogwood, Oak, Rue, vervain, trefoil and verbena. Traditionally, herbs gathered on this day are extremely powerful.

INCENSE: A combination of any of the following or one of them by itself such as frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, lemon, pine, jasmine, rose, lotus, or wisteria.

Frankincense and Myrrh

FOODS: Be sure to include fresh vegetables of all kinds and fresh fruits. Consider lemons and oranges, pumpernickel bread as well as Summer squash and any yellow or orange colored foods. Flaming foods are also appropriate such as barbecued anything, (barbecues represent the bonfires….) but especially chicken or pork. Midsummer is also the time for making mead, since honey is now plentiful.

Honey for Sale. Photo credit: Nathan Congleton / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

Traditional drinks are ale, mead, sweet wines, fresh fruit juice of any kind and herb teas.

ELEMENT: Fire. Celebrate the power of the sun, sun wheels, god eyes, mother goddess, ripening fruits, sun dials, feathers, and swords, blades.

This marks the beginning of summer and the time when the days get shorter. Add a few of these elements to your celebration for memorable festivities.

Many Blessings for this Summer Solstice!