Celebrate Litha - Life, Love & Happiness!

The Summer Solstice marks the Sun's movement into Cancer at the height of summertime and a time for celebrating our abundance and happiness in life! Summer as a kid always meant being happy to be out of school and running with wild abandonment for as long as the sun stayed shining! The solar radiance is providing for our growing plants and helping them push for the final productions for when we get ready for the coming shorter days when we will harvest what we've accomplished to nurture. This is a great time to enjoy an afternoon picnic, barbeque, or even a traditional bonfire celebration! At this time we count our blessings, but we can also cleanse ourselves from troublesome problems, sorrow, illness, addictions, and general negative thinking. The Solstice marks a time of coming into balance and brings the elemental strength of the fiery Sun and emotional rainy waters together! First you might want to start the day with a fresh cleansing!

• Take a shower and visualize the water bathing you in a cleansing white light. Let the water wash away any negativity. Feel the water absorbing through your body. Feel your own body's water level. After all, our bodies are nearly half composed of water. Feel the white light coursing throughout your body leaving you invigorated with life's blessings! Step out into the day's Sun and soak up more of the Earth's healing light.

or..

• If you're lucky enough to be living near a flowing body of water.. immerse yourself and allow your body to float on your back if possible. If you're not comfortable with that or the water is a little rough, just sitting in the water is fine too. Feel the water all around you and visualize the water being absorbed THROUGH you. Feel any negativity being pulled away from your body and dispersed into the water where if it is a fresh watered body, it will flow to the ocean and be neutralized by the salt, or if you're in the ocean feel any negativity instantly disintegrate away from you! Come out of the water and allow the Sun to fill you with it's light. (Hopefully you remember sunscreen too if you're outside!)

After the cleansing, make a list of the things you would like to continue to work to achieve and what you will want to "harvest" in the next few months. You may want to choose to anoint this list with some essential oil, or spray with a scent that reminds you of summer. Once you are done, say a small prayer or chant that you will continue to be thankful for your blessings received. Then roll the piece of paper up into a scroll and tie a red piece of yarn or string around it 9 times to seal your intentions. Keep this scroll handy as you'll need it at the time of Mabon also known as the Autumn Equinox! You may also want to burn a Litha inspired incense to help carry your prayers and wishes. Here is a recipe that I enjoy using!

• 2 parts Sandalwood, 2 part Chamomile, 2 part Apple Blossoms, 1 part Mugwort, 1 part Vervain, 1 part Yarrow, 3 drops Rose oil, 3 drops Carnation oil, 3 drops Lily oil

Finally; if love has been elusive, this is the BEST time to perform magick for some romance! Many old superstitions and divination methods are available at this time to find out who it is you're meant to be with! If you wash your face with the dew of Midsummer morning, the first man to gaze at you will fall in love. In Ireland, it is customary to put 9 sprigs of Yarrow under your pillow to dream of your beloved. Since a good number of weddings take place in June it has ALWAYS been an Italian custom for me to place a piece of cake under my pillow for prophetic dreams of love. This started when I was around 12 years old! The cake tradition then changes that once you have found your love, you will continue to have "sweet success" if you place a piece of wedding cake under your pillow! The following morning it's standard to toss the pieces out into the yard for the sweetness to be shared!

I hope this has given you some ideas on how you can celebrate the Summer Solstice! It's always a favorite time of mine as I know I'll be getting birthday presents in a few days time! LOL! If you need any assistance with your holiday celebration preparations, are wanting some love spell work done, or if you'd just like to chit chat, you can reach me at my email or facebook.

Have a superb Summer Solstice and many blessings!!!