Summer Solstice

June 20, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Happy Litha

Hope everyone has a Happy Litha. Don’t forget to greet the sun and gather herbs at this time.

For more about the seasons and cycles of Wicca, get your copy of my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess. Here is an excerpt about Litha from the book:

Litha

The Summer Solstice, Litha, also known as Midsummer, represents when the God is at the height of his power and fertility. The sun now takes its longest path across the sky, and we experience the longest day of the year. This completes the sun’s waxing cycle and marks the beginning of the waning part of the solar year. The days become increasingly shorter until the Wheel of the Year returns to Yule when the days once again wax with the sun.

Wiccans enjoy collecting and drying herbs during Litha. Many take nice walks out in nature to harvest these herbs. Herbs harvested during this period have greater magickal powers than herbs gathered at other times of the year. Herbs reach their peak of strength and potency during Litha.

Once again, the bonfire holds a prominent place. The God rises to his peak as his power and strength expand at Litha.

Not all covens have access to open places that permit bonfires, but that doesn’t mean these groups can’t celebrate the summer Sabbats. They just need to develop their own symbolic representations. For example, when my coven meets for Litha, we do a barbeque. Meat and fire form a good combo for this Sabbat! Yum!

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

Litha/Midsummer

June 16, 2013 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

Bee

Litha/Midsummer

The Summer Solstice Litha, also known as Midsummer, represents when the God is at his height in power and fertility. The sun now takes its longest path across the sky and we experience the longest day of the year. This completes the sun’s waxing cycle and begins the waning part of the solar year. The days become increasingly shorter until the Wheel of the Year returns to Yule when the days once again wax with the sun. The days grow longer.

Wiccans enjoy collecting and drying of herbs during Litha. Many of them take nice walks out in nature to harvest herbs. Herbs harvested during this period have greater magickal powers than herbs gathered at other times of the year. Herbs reach their peak of strength and potency during Litha.

Once again, the bonfire holds a prominent place. The God rises to his peak as his power and strength expands at Litha.

Along the line of a bonfire, when my coven meets for Litha, we do a barbeque. Meat and fire form a good combo for this Sabbat! Yum!

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

Using Herbs for Magick at Midsummer (Litha)

June 9, 2013June 10, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

The Herb Catnip

Using Herbs for Magick at Midsummer (Litha)

Many Wiccans enjoy harvesting and drying herbs at Midsummer, also known as Litha. At its annual height of power, the Sun (representing the God) makes the herbs quite powerful at this time. Wiccans recognize that herbs, so empowered, are best harvested during the Litha Sabbat.

We harvest flowers and plants and hang them to dry during Litha.

Warning: Never use plants that have had pesticides and other chemicals sprayed upon them in your practice.

To collect herbs, you will use a boline, a knife with a curved blade and a white handle. Wiccans use this tool for all of their cutting, from harvesting herbs to carving symbols in candles.

To harvest a herb, cut the plant while leaving a long enough stem so you can tie it in a bundle. Then, hang the bundle upside down. In this way, the plant’s energies will be concentrated at the head of the plant, the part you are going to use.

Hang your herbs in a dry place where there is no direct sunlight—to avoid the sun leaching out the essences you’re trying to capture. Use an attic or if none is available just be sure the area you choose is dry.

Once you’re certain that the herbs are thoroughly dried you can take one of two steps. Either grind them with a mortar and pestle or package the whole leaves of the herb. Be sure to use air tight containers, made of either glass or ceramic. These materials will not contaminate your herbs with chemicals like plastic tends to.

Wiccans enjoy using the energies of herbs in their magic.

Consider expanding your use of herbs, too.

Blessed be,

Moonwater SilverClaw