Wicc'ed
Ways~Midsummer, the Elemental Path
By Katharine Clark, Art by Timothy Schenk
It's Midsummer, the longest day of the year, a celebration of light and growth and the energy of the Sun. So, if you had to sum up the observance of Litha in one word, what would you choose?
Fire!
...and earth...
...and air...
...and... water?
You bet! Even though the most celebrated rituals of Midsummer involve bonfires and torches, ashes and hearths, the other three elements play a very significant role as well. Let's take a look at all four, starting with the obvious...
FIRE. At Midsummer, fire is both a purging and an invocation. It is a funeral pyre for all those unwanted negatives that can effect your fields and your lives: bad weather, bugs, blight, bad habits, poor health, and mental/spiritual/physical stumbling blocks. Fire cleanses, and communities would establish a public village bonfire. Later, families would have private observances around their own hearths, setting their own fires with embers from the one in town.
Folks could cast onto the fire symbols of whatever they wished to remove from their lives or gardens. This could be anything from a doll's leg (representing the arthritis in your ankle), to a sample of weeds threatening your wheat.
The fire, at its highest, invoked the spirit of growth. The nearby fields should see the flames as a challenge as to how tall they could grow. Torches would be lit from the communal bonfire and run through the fresh fields to carry energy to every plant. These torches would then be tossed into the air--again, to encourage growth.
When the fires died down, ash could be spread on the field and garden, another way to share the energy and light. Jumping through the dying flames could also assure protection, safe travel, and good health. So could drinking a mixture of water and bonfire ash. After all, if you lived through Midsummer, the elders said, you would live out the entire year. Drink up!
AIR. Where there's fire, there is usually smoke. It is considered a vital sign of life. Think about smoke coming from the chimney of a house in the woods. It indicates warmth, food, companionship--the true meaning of “home.” This symbol was so important that in Ireland, during the times of mass migration, neighbors would “smoor” the fires of those who had left, so it would be ready to come to flame, should they return. (“smooring” was to cover over the hearth fire in such a way that it would smolder without going out). The smoored fire could even call them back from their exile: their “hearth” was a part of their “heart.”
Smoke from the sacred bonfire was far from being a pollutant. It would spread across cottages and fields alike, the blessing of air bonded with the blessings of the fire. It spread farther than runners could travel, and wider than just the immediate village. Air and smoke blessed those near and far.
EARTH. Midsummer is the feast of Aine, a goddess of the fields. Indeed, Earth and its fertility is what the “wheel of the year” is all about! The entire miracle of life has been symbolized by a single shaft of wheat, in various western mystery traditions.
Aine is said to be sister to another goddess, Fennel. Her herb is often used in protective amulets and charms. Other herbs of importance at Midsummer are St. John's Wort--for healing (The Christian church set the date for the feast of St. John to coincide with Midsummer), Mugwort--for dreams and visions (Mugwort is so closely linked with the Sun and fire that it can take the place of candles in a Circle casting. Mugwort also draws luck), Yarrow--for divination (It was placed under a pillow to bring dreams of a future mate, but also other prophetic dreams), and Foxglove--for medicinal purposes. (Foxglove stops seizures).
Finally, don't forget honey. It's sacred, a product of earth (courtesy of the bees), and considered a staple of life. It's traditional to harvest this “nectar of the gods” at Midsummer.
WATER. Litha was the start of the swimming season. If you lived on the coast, or near rivers, a swim today would assure that you would be safe from drowning all season long. This is also the start of the summer fishing, and boats and nets were blessed on this morning.
The first water drawn from any well was viewed as sacred. It could be used in the remaining rituals of the year, for blessings, or for healing. It could also be sprinkled over cattle and family members to keep them safe from evil.
In some areas, this was the time for the annual salmon dinner, to celebrate the fishing season and the trust in the gods that the catch would be abundant.
So then, what things can you and your family do to keep the Old Ways alive? There are many!
FIRE. With your family, make a small fire in a fire pit, bar-b-que or grill (DON'T do this alone!). Picture the energy of the fire spreading outward to your entire community.
If you do battle with weeds, pull one of each kind and toss them on the fire. This will signal others of their kind that they better pay heed and get gone!
After the fire is out, sprinkle the ashes (when they are cool enough to handle!) on your doorstep for protection and on your garden for continued growth.
Can't light a fire? Don't be disappointed! A bee's wax candle set in the center of the room where your family gathers can serve the same purpose as a bonfire. Again, this is an activity for which you'll need an adult present. You can also use a battery operated tea light. They're easy to find, and not only do modern ones look like real flames, they can be left safely unattended to burn as a vigil light the whole night through!
AIR. Burn a smudge stick (they can be bought in stores) or dry and make your own. (Smudge sticks are bundles of dried herbs, such as sage and mugwort). An alternative is to use a single stick of incense.
With a feather, a smudge fan, or just your own hand, fan the smoke all around the outside of your home and your garden. You can even smudge the members of your family to keep them healthy and safe. The smudge or incense smoke symbolizes the smoke of the Midsummer bonfire. Make sure you do any fire based activity with an adult!
EARTH. Stuff dried mugwort into a pouch, along with some yarrow, or sew it into a small pillow. Put it under your own pillow to promote visions and dreams. Struggling with a problem or a question? Mugwort under your pillow at night will help your unconscious mind find the solutions.
Make a protective amulet with fennel and hang it on your front door for protection. Better yet, make that amulet a bee-shaped poppet! Bees stand for the Divine energy ( and much more! Just ask Puca!), and Fennel is the sister to the field goddess Aine herself. Hanging a bee poppet on your door welcomes in the spirit of the gods while repelling anything that threatens the growth and balance of your home.
WATER. The first water drawn from your well on Midsummer morning is sacred. But what if you don't have a well? Most of us don't, these days, but think: what takes the place of your homestead water supply in modern times? That's right--the bathroom or kitchen sink!
City water must still come from Nature, it's just drawn from lakes or reservoirs. Turning on your tap is the equal to dropping a bucket down a well. So, the first family member who wakes on Midsummer morning should draw the first tap water into a clean container. It can be sprinkled on family members as a blessing, and small sips can be taken for the same reason. The rest can be saved for rituals and spell work.
Any or all of these activities will connect you to our beliefs in an earlier time. May the spirit of the Goddess and God of Nature dwell in your hearts and homes!