Litha Rituals

Litha celebrates the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. This is a celebration of the God and the warmth and power of the sun. It is also a good time for a rededication as well as pet blessings. It is also a good time for healing, love and protection magickal workings.

Incense: Anything floral.
Herbs: Mugwort, vervain, chamomile, rose, lily, oak, lavender, ivy, yarrow, fern, elder, wild thyme, daisy, carnation.

Apythia Litha Ritual
(Includes rededication and pet blessing)

Need: tall white or yellow candle and a short black candle, cauldron for burning, incense (Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Jasmine, rose, lotus, other flower), bowl of blessed, pure water, wand, paper, pen, one white candle for each pet and the pet or representation of him or her (photo, drawing etc.)

Cast circle, call corners, light altar, goddess, god candles.

Statement of purpose:
Pick up your wand, and with arms upraised, face the South and say:

I celebrate the noon of Summer with this rite
held in honor of the Blazing God of the Sun.
All of nature vibrates with the fertile energies of the Goddess and the God.
The Earth is bathed with the warmth, and light and life of the Sun.
The Wheel of the Year turns again.
Since Yule the light has been growing ever stronger.
At Ostara the light finally became greater than the dark,
and the light has kept on growing until today,
the middle of the time of light, Litha, Midsummer.
From here, the light begins to fade again,
until once more, the Wheel will turn to darkness and Yule will return.
Today the Sun is high, the Light is bright, the Earth is warm.
As the Lord of the Sun blazes above,
the Fires of my celebration shall flame below.

Place wand back on altar. Face altar. Light white and black candles.

Brother Sun and Mother Moon, day is longest now.
Energies of the brilliant Sun aid all at work or having fun.
Longest day, a blessing is, from rise to set supreme is the Sun.
Fueling growth and passions bright, strong and true is the solar light.
Bounty grows and river flows, as Earth is warmed and lighted.
Creative energy reaches zenith on this day of shortest night.
Crops grow high and excitement grows, with each new ray of Sun.
Every day, all creatures play and hail the mighty Sun.
Ancient solstice, fires burning, honor the Sun and feed the light.
Druid, Indian, Norse, and Celt all danced on Summer Solstice, joyously felt.
Solar winds and solar flares wash away our hunger and our cares.
Mighty Sun, King of warmth, makes humans to frolic and bees to swarm.
Keep this day in memory bright, to warm you on long winter nights.
May the rays of solstice keep us warm, all through the year.
So mote it be. (by Abby Willowroot)

On a piece of paper, write all your troubles, problems, pains, sorrows and illnesses.

O fiery Sun, burn away the unuseful, the hurtful, the troublesome, the painful, the sickness, and ill luck. Purify me.

Light paper with sun candle (the long white one, not the God candle.) Drop paper into cauldron.

By the powers of the Great Goddess and the Great God,
by the powers of the Great Spirit of All-That-Is,
by the powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
and by the powers of the Sun, Moon and Stars...
I banish these banes from my life

Visualize the negative energies burning away to nothing. When the paper has been consumed by the flames say:

As the Phoenix rises from the ashes,
so let this water be pure and new,
for this is the sacred cauldron of the Triple Goddess.
O Great Mother Goddess, bless this water,
so that its touch may bless and renew,
even as the rays of the Midsummer Sun
nourish and bless all life.

Pour the water over the ashes. Pass your cupped hands over the cauldron, pausing briefly each time to "pour" in wishes for health, prosperity, and good fortune to be part of your life. Dip the forefinger of your right hand into the cauldron water, and trace a pentagram on your forehead, saying:

"Let my mind be open to the truth."
Anoint your lips saying:
"Let my lips always speak the truth."
Anoint your heart area, saying:
"Let my heart seek the ways of the Goddess, now and always."
Anoint the centers of your palms, saying:
"Let my hands be gifted to work in magickal ways."
Anoint the soles of your feet, saying:
"Let my feet ever walk upon the sacred paths!"

Pet blessing

Do each pet separately. Light a white candle and then, holding your pet (or its picture), kneel before the altar and recite the following prayer:

O Great Horned God, father of the woodlands, and loving lord of all creatures that walk crawl, swim and fly.
A threefold blessing I humbly ask of thee on this special day:
May (pet's name) life be a long, happy and healthy one.
May (s)he always receive your divine protection.
And when our incarnations in this world cease to be, may we forever be reunited in the great Wiccan otherworld known as the Summerland.
Blessed be! (Raven Silverwing)

Chant name of pet and Blessed Be three times.

Enjoy a simple feast if desired. Thank the Deities and the corners. Open the circle.