Litha/Summer Solstice Suggestions and Ideas

We are so excited about the Summer, here at Witch Joseph…we have the windows open here at Witch house and Angelique is thrilled with it (so are we).  This time of year is so ideal to gather with others and celebrate the Light as it reaches its peak on the Solstice…and there’s so much going on in the world…so we thought we would give a few suggestions and examples of the kinds of things we do to celebrate the Solstice.

June is also LGBTQIA Pride month…and this year, all of us need to be doing something to protect the progress we have made in the last decade and to push forward with enshrining Equality for everyone, to fight back against anti-Transgender and anti-Gay laws being passed nationwide…and banishing bigotry and hate from every heart and mind.  Consider including magickal work for these purposes in your rituals.  Also, we have an LGBTQIA collection on our website and in our Etsy shop (check it out) and this year, we are donating 10% of proceeds from these to the Trevor Project which works to prevent suicide among LGBTQIA+ people and protect homeless and vulnerable LGBTQIA+ youth…and so much more.  Even if you make no purchases please consider making a donation to them…we will be posting links throughout the month to make it easy to do so.  We will all fight to make sure Love prevails.

We should also mention, we rebranded our Etsy shop “Gifts from the Glen” to be included under our Witch Joseph banner…so its name is now changed on Etsy and we will be focusing on our handmade items there so be sure to check it out…and also, be sure to like follow and subscribe to our platforms on social media (we have buttons here on the website to make it easier for you) so you never miss out on anything.  

One of the chants we often use for this Sabbat is from the Reclaiming tradition of Witchcraft (there are examples of how it is chanted online so look to those of you find it difficult but want to use it)

”We can rise with the fire of freedom

Truth is the fire that burns our chains

We can stop the fire of destruction

Here is a suggested ritual…this has evolved over the years and continues to evolve as all practice should if its living.  We tend to be rather ceremonial in some of our rituals here at Witch Joseph…but they don’t have to be…we encourage everyone to create their own rituals and stimulate their own creativity…when we do this we engage in a process (formalized by ritual) that leads to our empowerment and liberation…and from there, we can transform the World.

I don’t recall all the sources we have drawn from in this ritual…very much is created by us outright but like everyone else we are influenced and take cues from others in our religious practices and ceremonial procedures.  Please feel free to use this ritual, adapt it to solitary use, change whatever you would like to change about it and make it your own.

Litha/Summer Solstice Ritual

Items needed: candle for the cauldron

Fireproof container for burning the slips of paper

Slips of paper

Pen or writing utensil

(Altar is decorated in Golds, yellows and greens and with solar themes…seasonal flowers are appropriate)

1. grounding and purification, according to your tradition

2. Sabbat Declaration:

“We gather on this holy night of Litha, the longest day in the wheel of the year, to honor the Mighty Ones, especially Our Lord, the Sun.  On this Summer Solstice we celebrate the height of the God’s power…it is at this point that He dies and begins His journey into the Darkness where He will be reborn of the Great Mother…which is the destiny of all beings.  Blessed Be!”

Response: “Blessed Be!”

3. General Blessing, according to your tradition

4. Casting of the Circle/Erecting the Temple/Creation of Sacred Space according to your tradition.

5. Invocation of Deities, according to your tradition.

6. Ritual Leader:”This is the feast of Litha, the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.  We gather to honor the power of the Sun to burn away all suffering and all negativity, to purify our bodies, minds and spirits.  As this fire burns, we release and banish all that is harmful to us…As this fire burns, we kindle and invoke all that is healing and Life-giving.  -candle in cauldron is lit- “On this day of longest Light, we honor the passing of the God as He begins His long journey into the Darkness on His way to rebirth.  May He grant us the courage to face our own darkness and give us the power to release what needs to be released in our lives.  Hail, Great God of the Sun!   Response: “Hail, Great God of the Sun!”  -slips of paper can be burned (safely) at this point with words or sigils signifying what we want to release from our lives.  After the ritual, the ashes should be scattered outdoors and released to the natural elements.

7. Cakes and Ale according to your tradition

8. Thanksgiving to the Mighty Ones according to your tradition

9. Releasing the Circle