Litha

Around June 21st

Litha takes place at the height of summer, on the longest day of the year. It's a day filled with growth and abundance, and it marks the beginning of the darker half of the year as the days shorten afterwards. Like the other astronomical holidays, this one shifts a little on the calendar and can be on June 20, 21 or 22nd each year.

Herbs are said to be at the magickal peak today, so if you do any work with plants in your rituals, you should gather and harvest them now. Doing spells with herbs is another common tradition around Litha. The connecting with the fairy realm is strong on Litha, so any spells or rituals that communicate with them should be very powerful today.

In the mythic view, the Goddess is now pregnant from her tryst with the God at Beltane, and is now considered to be in her Mother aspect. Another view of Midsummer is that the Oak King and Holly King are doing battle once again, just like at Yule. This time, it's the Holly King who wins and will rule until winter.

Other names: Midsummer, Summer Solstice, Whitsun

Traditions and activities: Harvesting herbs, fairy magick, charging crystals, leaping bonfires, making wands

Correspondences: lemon, honeysuckle, orange (fruit and color), butterflies, red, honey cakes, herbal teas

Foods served: honey cakes, herbal tea, citrus fruits

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