Wheel of the Year - Midsummer
Some people have adult reading the word 'Midsummer' and might have wondered what it meant. Certain calendar's mark 'Midsummer's Eve' as some time in mid-June, and naturally there's the Shakespearean play bearing its title, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Midsummer is a celebration that has historical origins, and is continued today largely by those who practice Pagan and Wicca religious paths. How can these contemporary pagans understand and celebrate the midsummer holiday?
At Midsummer, we find ourselves on the stage in the Wheel of the Year when the Sun is at its peak, the summer solstice. It is the longest day of the year. Since the summer time usually started on Beltane (May 1 in the Northern Hemisphere), this festival is often called Midsummer. It's also known as Litha.
In the Northern Hemisphere the summer solstice falls around June 19-22, whilst it is between December 20-23 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Midsummer is a time when much focus is on the sun, of course. Many old temples and sacred places, including Stonehenge, are established in such a way concerning align with the position of the sun at summer solstice.
Like Yule, its opposite counterpoint on the Wheel of the Year, Midsummer conjures up themes of the remarkable Oak King, representing the light half of the year, battling the Holly King, who represents the dark half of the year, when light is waning. morning the Holly King will start to have the upper-hand, after though the Oak King reaches his top. For the next half a year, light can decrease.
The overall male aspect, the God, is currently recognized as having achieved his purpose. Various countries needless to say enjoy the Sun God on summer solstice. He was recognized to the historical Celts as Lugh, service and bringer of the crops. Naturally, by this point in the year, plants are successful. The Goddess is giving forth her generous bounty as well, as Divine Mother Earth. fulfilling her function
Both male and female powers, sometimes represented respectively as earth and sunshine, have bestowed their gift ideas of creation upon the property. We ought to recall how the pagan customs arose out of agrarian cultures, and how closely these cultures paid attention to the timings of the seasons; in old Europe, people's lives depended on it.
Creation is living with the appreciation of life and considerable range at Midsummer. The flower is just a effective symbol of the Goddess at this time, as flowers abound in several parts of the world at this time of year.
Love and variety come in the air now in the Wheel of the Year. The plant life and herbs have cultivated and are growing, and all is in blossom. The sexy, purely physical passion of Beltane, the sabbat, has matured and now deepened into the whole-being embrace of lovers who now know each other well. Thus, this was typically an occasion of hand-fasting (wedding) ceremonies, which remains to this time with June being the most popular month for nuptials (in the Northern Hemisphere ).
Fruits that are ready locally, flowers, and any symptoms of the sun are apropos. , If you need suggestions for decorating your church at Midsummer
More details can be found here.
More functions as we enjoy Midsummer include:
Colors: Green and silver generally, also red.
Incense: Rose, violet, fir, forest, tangerine, frangipani and frankincense.
Herbs: St. john's wort, parsley, basil, peppermint, violet, dragons blood, thyme, fern, jasmine and vervain.
Stone: Emerald.
Since so much emphasis is on the sunlight, Midsummer's Eve fire rituals really are a common practice. Everywhere you are able to cast a circle (draw energy around a spot to make it sacred), correctly make a fire, and make an individual offering to the Divine is appropriate. Some Wiccan practices inspire holding the ashes of the Midsummer fire for safety. Anything you do, imbue it with a sense of wonder, thanks, and energy for this vibrant and bountiful time of the year.