June 20 is the Peak of the MASCULINE FIRE in the Northern Hemisphere. And at the longest night of the year in the North everything shifts as the DARKNESS and the FEMININE begins to grow stronger until December 21st when the powers are switched again. This is the balance of everything that exists in the Universe.
As Summer begins in the North we are repleat with gardens, strawberries, roses, greenery everywhere and heat. The Goddess is symbolically Pregnant with the child she conceived March 21. Venus is also in Cancer at this Solstice and the Moon will oppose Venus @ 11:51 a.m PDT/2:51 pm EDT, 6:51 pm GMT.
FLOWER WREATHS are huge on summer solstice,
Traditional symbols for Midsummer
The Bonfire
Bonfires are lit on tops of hills, by holy wells, and at a sacred place, to honor the fullness of the Sun. People danced around and leap through the flames. Traditionally people stayed up all night on Midsummer’s Eve to welcome the sunrise. Coals from the Midsummer fire were scattered on fields to ensure a good harvest you can scatter them in your garden
Flowers, honey honoring nature and growth
The Midsummer Moon is also known as the HONEY MOON, where this term originated. Mead is made, handfasting ceremonies are performed. Mead is considered to be a magical life enhancing drink,
You can make an alter to honor the Oak tree, with their leaves. Sunflowers are also a great example.
Magical baking and charms are created on this special day. Traditionally this festival spans three days.This year it is June 20-23rd.
Buttermilk Bread
To bring abundance to your kitchen. Sunflower seeds represent the light half of the year and the poppy seeds represent the dark half of the year.
You will need:
3 cups of white flour, preferably bread flout type.
500 ml of Buttermilk
I tsp.of bicarbonate of soda
Sunflower and poppy seeds for sprinking
Red ribbon and a sprig of rosemary
Place the flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Sieve in the blended salt and soda and pour in the buttermilk. Mix well with a wooden spoon until the dough feels springy. If it feels too sloppy just add a little more flour. Turn it onto a board and cover with a fine dusting of flour. Pat it with your hands until you have a round shape. Take a sharp knife and score lightly into eight sections, one for each festival. Sprinkle half of the loaf with poppy seeds and the other half with sunflower seeds.
Place onto a greased baking tray and pop your buttermilk bread into a moderate oven for about 20-25 minutes. Keep and eye on it. When the bread is ready it will change colour and it will sound hollow when you tap the bottom. Cool completely on a wire rack. When it is cool, place your sprig of rosemary on top and tie the red ribbon across the middle.
Consecrate the bread by turning the loaf three times saying “From the fields and through the stones, into fire, Midsummer Bread, as the Wheel turns may all be fed. Goddess Bless.”
Take your bread and share it with your family, friends or whoever you would like to bless. Eat it fresh, as soon as it is made if you can.
Elderflower Champagne
Elderflowers peak at Midsummer. Pick them in the fullness of a sunny day, ideally on Midsummer’s Day. The Elder is sacred to the Mother Goddess and is often called the Witch’s Tree, the Elder Mother, or Queen of the Trees. It is protective with wonderful healing properties. It aids transformation, change and renewal,this drink will aid in transforming your life.
In Canada Strongbow makes an elderflower cider. http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/product/strongbow-elderflower-apple-cider/413880#.V2eHm_krLIV
Ingredients:
8 litres water
1.25 kg sugar
8 large elderflower heads
4 lemons
4 tablespoons mild white wine vinegar
Do use screw top bottles. Large plastic bottles are good. This is a fizzy drink, if not bottled tightly it can explode! Keep it somewhere safe. Make sure the elderflowers are clean and pick them when the sun is strongest.
Boil the water and dissolve the sugar into it , organic sugar is best.
When the water cools, add the elderflowers,the juice of two of the lemons and slices of the other two, plus the vinegar.
Cover with a clean cloth and leave for a day.
Strain through a fine sieve or piece of muslin, carefully squeezing the flowers to extract as much flavour as possible.
Store in clean screw top bottles.
Leave alone for 10 days or so. Drink within a month. Enjoy and give thanks to the Spirit of the Elder.
Honey Cake
A celebration of a sweet life.
If you can source locally produced honey its the best. Wherever it comes from always thank the precious Bees.
Ingredients:
225 gram Butter 1 cup
250 gms Honey or 1 cup
100 gms Dark Muscovado Sugar, 3.5 ounces by weight
3 Eggs, beaten
300 gms Self-Raising Flour, 1 1/2 cups
Cut the butter into pieces and heat slowly, adding the honey and the sugar. When fully melted, turn up the heart and boil the mixture for one minute. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the beaten eggs to the cooled honey mixture. Sift the flour into a large bowl and beat the liquid honey mixture into it until you have a smooth batter. Pour the mixture into a round lined sponge tin and bake in a preheated oven at 160 C for about 50 mins – or until the cake is well-risen and springs back to the touch. Cool on a rack and glaze with a few tablespoons of warm honey. A nice sweet treat.
FULL Moon Bowl Charm
A full moon charm to enhance your natural radiance to celebrate the beauty of Midsummer.
You will need: A glass or china bowl, a glass or china jug and a small white candle. Remember the candle needs to burn away completely so choose a small one.
Put water into your jug- rainwater is best, but fresh water from the tap is fine. Take the jug of water, the bowl and the small white candle outside and place them on the ground. Light the candle in a suitable holder and place it at the top of the bowl – at the midnight/noon point of a clock face. Pour the water into the centre of the bowl and say:
“Renewing water shining bright
Weave your charm in my bowl of Light”
Place your Moon Bowl in the moonlight so the light of the full moon is reflected in the water and leave the candle to burn down.
When this is complete take your bowl and dip your hands into the water and as you gently splash the moon water onto your face say
“By Full Moon charm,
By Full Moon light,
May inner beauty shine through tonight.
Brightest Blessings of the Goddess shine through me.”
When you have finished, return the water to the Earth. I always pour it on my favourite Holly Tree.
Charm from Counter Enchantress from website https://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/litha
PLease share widely, all writing is copyright of Tara Greene unless otherwise indicated.
Get a reading with Tara http://www.taratarot.com