Midsummer Rituals, fairies and witches

Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes Watercolor & gouache on paper 1908

June 20/21st is the Peak of the Sun’s Light, the Masculine FIRE in the Northern Hemisphere. At the day of the longest light and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. we turn with the Wheel of Time and the Natural Year. The shift begins now to the shortest Days of Light. the FEMININE force ascendS until winter solstice. And round and round the seasons go. 

Litha: St. John’s Day, Summer Solstice  begins at 12:24 am EDT/ 4:24 a GMT

The SUN enters CANCER, the 4th sign, cardinal water. In the Tarot, it is associated with Major Arcana #7 THE CHARIOT> 

The Fire Festival of Litha

Midsummer’s Eve was believed to be a time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest and when fairies were thought to be at their most powerful. Shakespeare’s famous play is based on ancient pagan beliefs. Party in the woods with some magic mushrooms round the Holly Tree. 

Midsummer/ Summer Solstice is the most powerful day of the year for the Sun Gods. Fire is the predominant element in the celebration. Fire is spirit, action, and passion. Balefires have always been lit on hilltops since very ancient times and still are to provide magical aid to the dying Sun and also used to drive out evil and to bring fertility and prosperity to the people, crops, and herds.  Stonehenge is the most widely known of these ancient calendrical markers. The heel stone marks the midsummer sunrise as seen from the center of the great stone circle.

Magical Aspects

A candle should be lit for the entire day, especially if it is cloudy or raining. The fire represents the Sun and is a constant daily reminder of the power of the Source. Rituals should be performed at noon when the sun is highest and strongest. Many pagans initiate protective amulets which become empowered over the Midsummer balefire. 

MIDSUMMER MANIFESTATION RITUALS

From Hearth and Home Witchery

“Make a list of everything you wish to manifest during the next six months. Be complete — include things related to career, personal issues, and other factors like clarity, confidence, and fun. After sunset, light a candle of your choice. Place a vase of flowers you like next to the candle.

Say aloud:

“I gather in the power of this day of greatest light and call in the guardians of fire, earth, air, and water to bring the last grace of power in light to manifest my desires in the coming harvest. I ask that this be

Read aloud your list

“I affirm that I am able and willing to allow these wishes to manifest and I participate in the miracle of
creation and with faith. So mote it be.”

Allow the candle to burn until you go to sleep. Celebrate the energy of the evening in some way –play music, raise a glass, allow yourself some indulgence. ” -From Hearth and Home Witchery

I found this next one on ravenandcrone.com

Ring of Fire Spell 
 “This spell is based on a little-known solar ritual from the Aegean islands. Long ago on the night before the Summer Solstice, hoops were set ablaze, and the villagers would guide the Sun’s return by jumping through rings of fire. You can create your own ring of fire with this spell. At dusk, outdoors if possible, light four candles of the appropriate color, one for each season, in a circle. In the center place a gold or yellow candle for the Sun. Light the seasonal candles and say:

“Seasons must turn,
Let the Sun return.”

Light the Sun candle and say:

“Shining One,
Charge me with passion,
Turn my words into action.
It must be!”

Jump over your lit candles if you dare. Meditate on each Season and Thank the Sun for its return as you put out the candles.”

Coupling or handfasting

Midsummer is the time to formalize any relationship. Couples that have been together a year and a day since the previous Beltane can make their marriage final. This Sabbat is also an excellent time to renew wedding vows.

Midsummer Incense

Sage, mint, basil, Saint John’s Wort, sunflower, mistletoe (specifically the berries which represent semen), oak, rowan, and fir.

 Litha foods

The Midsummer Moon is also known as the HONEYMOON, where this term originated. Mead is made, a drink considered to be a magical life enhancing drink. Magical baking and charms are created on this special day. Traditionally this festival spans three days. This year it is June 20-23rd.

Elderflowers

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. You could also drink elderberry juice. 

 Eat 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.

 Have a Happy Summer or Winter. 

The planets are active June 21st.

Sun and Mercury both enter Cancer, governed by the Moon. 

The Moon inconjuncts SATURN in SAGITTARIUS early in the morning

The Mood may be very grumpy and testy and perhaps difficult to feel lit up. 

The SUN and Mercury conjunct @ 7:14 am PDT/ 10:14 am EDT/ 2:14 pm GMT our minds ur emotions are now one. Expect to feel sentimental, nurturing, homey, needing to be in

Our emotions are now one. Expect to feel sentimental, nurturing, needing to be at home and near water, or to help conserve water. We are governed by our tummies. We will be want to take care of others. Mars is also in Cancer all actions are directed to the Feminine. This is a very fertile time if you want to get pregnant or initiate anything to do with food, women, children, pregnancy, nursing, or the home.

Moon enters GEMINI @ 3:44 pm PDT/6:44 pm EDT/ 10:44 pm GMT

Please share widely, all writing is copyright of Tara Greene unless otherwise indicated.

Get a reading with Tara http://www.taratarot.com

 

Death and change, the only constants

My Mother in law, who is 88 years old is dying and I have been sending prayers constantly all day. Death always changes your consciousness about what you are doing with your life.I know she is ready to leave this planet and incarnation and to move on to a new dimension. As my husband left to travel to Ottawa where his mother is earlier today I said Don’t worry, she is fine. Your Dad, her sister brothers and parents are all waiting for her with open arms.  His sister called from Vancouver as she was also making preparations to fly to Ottawa to be at their mom’s side. She said I know my Mom is talking to me. She just told me that she is fine, that Daddy, her sister and brothers and mom and dad are all there waiting for her. I asked her when she received this telepathic message. She said around 10:15 am and I said that’s exactly when I told my husband the same words..

I’ll keep it very short. Scorpio Moon is the mood of death, rebirth, letting go, deep pain, grief, rebirth, transformation. We’ve been in Scorpio phase since Wed. Dec 17

Just before this month’s Scorpio dance through the depths of the underworld ends the Moon meets Saturn the Lord of Death and finality at 1:11 pm Dec 19 PST then the Moon goes void of course.

We are in the death throws of dealing with the constancy, the certainty of time and death that Saturn brings in Scorpio . These are the last days of that ornery critical 29th degree of Scorpio, the last of the last. Stephen Colbert has bid adieu to his character. Its been a hugely intense week. Yes it was only Monday that the 6th Uranus-Pluto square happened. Massacres, shootings, Sony hackings, Cuba renewed and more.

Remember this is a very HUGE transitional weekend and has been one of the most powerful weeks energetically all year.

Moon enters Sagittarius Friday at 1:55 pm PST and it is the perfect holiday moon with which to travel under.

There’s a VENUS PLUTO URANUS CARDINAL SQUARE WEEKEND on the 20th in the day

MARS also sextiles Uranus  to tickle your changeability fancy.

URANUS turns DIRECT Dec 21 on a New Moon and the Winter solstice December 21 aka YULE in pagan wiccan traditions. It is the day of the Longest night and the return of the Light. Stonehenge and other sacred sites are visited by thousands to mark this great turning point in the year.

We are scant days away from Saturn moving on from the 29th critical degree. It will feel very heavy and intense until December 23 @ 8:34 am PST/11:34 am EST when Saturn totally shifts our reality and moves into the honest optimistic humorous sign of SAGITTARIUS. 

INSPIRATIONAL CARD OF THE DAY

JUSTICE #8

Sacred India TAROT- Varuna 

Varuna is the Hindu God of the Law, keeper of order, oaths,and seasons. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

The Rigveda shows Varuna as  omniscient, catching liars in his snares. The stars are his thousand-eyed spies, watching every movement that humans make. He is the god of oceans and Guardian of the Directions.

MEDITATIONS

Find peace and harmony, justice and balance these days as the holiday season begins

Do not be judgemental, maintain a balanced outlook, everything in moderation.

Wishing you and yours a Joyous healthy Holiday.

Please share widely 

all writing is copyright of Tara Greene

get a reading with Tara http://www.taratarot.com 

Turn Turn Turn The Byrds 1965  

Saturnalia, Winter Solstice-hot-spots from Tara Greene

WINTER SOLSTICE is the shortest day of the year, the longest night. Called YULE in the Pagan circle of the year.

It’s CAPRICORN time. Ruled by Saturn, the planet/God of Time, testing, maturity, old age. The ancient Romans celebrated this tradition as the Saturnalia. A time of revelry, when slaves were free and became the masters, everyone was celebrating the Return of the  Light, the King, in infant form. The Christians overlaid the story of Jesus onto the ancient worship. Everything we associate with Christmas are ancient pagan symbols -the holly, the mistletoe, the Yule log, the tree. Paganism is the fastest growing “religion” in the U.K. and the U.S. Actually it is not an organized religion at all per se, it is a practice of spiritual immanence with Nature, the Goddess and the God, with All That Is. Paganism is  more of a group spirituality that can be practiced alone. It has nothing to do with devil worship. The popularity of Harry Potter has also certainly brought back its popularity. Pagans worship nature, Druids worshipped trees.

So it’s Capricorn time. The sun is on the Tropic of Capricorn 23.26 degrees South of the Equator.  The Tropic Of Capricorn has many countries world-wide which it runs through. Five in Africa, North of Alice Springs, Queensland, Australia,and four countries in Brasil.

All Capricorn’s, especially those Old Bill Goat Gruff’s and Goatees born December 23- January 5 this is a huge  year for you. Or anyone with Capricorn planets at 9-14 degrees. You know PLUTO is forcing the old you to die and be reborn, unless you are truly following your soul’s path. Then Pluto can bring power, rewards, riches. An entirely new you is being forged deep in the bowels of the earth. And if that’s not enough to change your soul totally. Then Uranus Mars and Jupiter get in on the act to revolutionize, ignite and expand your horizons respectively.

Where the PLanetary Lines fall on the Winter Solstice chart map in Astro Cartography is where the greatest tension will be for the next 3 months to a year. Especially where  Mars Uranus Jupiter and Pluto lines fall are the areas to watch.

PLUTO runs right through Maputo South Africa,North through Zambia, Zaire,Chad, Western Libya,France,South West England, Ireland. PLUTO MARS and URANUS CONJUNCT exactly in the middle of CHAD AFRICA. TRIPLE HOT SPOT with Jupiter crossing north of the others in LIBYA.

Pluto conjuncts the Moon over ICELAND, right over the Northern most part of   Canada, including that north Pole passage and down through, North West Alberta and bisects British Columbia and goes out to the middle of the Pacific Ocean and South of New Zealand.

PLUTO is on the Mid Heaven and runs through Argentina, BOLIVIA, Venezuela, Western Puerto Rico, North to Boston and into Quebec and Labrador.

PLUTO conjuncts URANUS right on Tiera Del Fuego Argentina and again in Northern Russian down through Ulan Bator MONGOLIA.. Those are HOT SPOTS.

On the other side of the World Pluto is on the I.C. of Indonesia,BEIJING , into Mongolia and Russia.  If you are a Capricorn and living on these lines you will be transformed even more. Or got to these places if you are seeking Plutonic transformation.

URANUS and MARs actually cross paths directly over New York, near Washington , through the Caribbean, right over HAITI, Venezuela and Columbia. Also through Western Alaska, near Hawaii. They cross Pluto right at the Society Islands. On the Western side, Uranus and Mars cross paths  right through Stockholm, Sweden,Warsaw, Poland, Budapest Hungary, down through Belgrade Yugoslavia, South through Libya, Chad, directly South through Botswana, Africa. Mars and Uranus Ascend through JAVA and Indonesia. Uranus and Pluto cross over each other in Mongolia.

JUPITER is on the Mid Heaven through TAIWAN, MANILLA Philipines, Indonesia and Western Australia. Jupiter on the I.C. through Nova Scotia, South through Guyana, Paraguay, Argentina and the FALKLAND ISLANDS.

JUPITER ASCENDS through TASMANIA, SUDAN, crosses MARS & URANUS in LIBYA!!!!! VERY HOTTTT,

Jupiter Ascends through France, Britain, Ireland, Jupiter Descends through NOrthern CANADA, NOrth of HUDSON”S BAY,Northern Saskatchewan, right through the ALBERTA TAR SANDS, right through Mt. ST. HELEN’s And WASHINGTON STATE and Descends through the Pacific near the Society Islands and South of New Zealand.

The Winter Solstice is a very GALACTIC SOLSTICE or SOULSTITCH

“A stitch in time saves nine.” Francis Bailey, English Astronomer 1797

http://www.taratarot.com/id32.html

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY

All writing copyright Tara Greene

GET YOU READING WITH TARA and Buy GIFT CERTIFICATES http://www.taratarot.com

STILL TIME TO BUY GIFT CERTIFICATES – http://www.taratarot.com