A Litha Celebration
Summer is in full swing, and the sunny days have me re-energized! We are taking full advantage of the longer days and spending as much time as possible outdoors.
Family Activities
As Litha approaches, you can decorate your home with simple projects representative of the season. These are just a few to get you started.
Have a bonfire with friends
Harvest herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables from your garden
Go to the beach
Make pinwheels
Create a Blessing Besom- add herbs, ivy, ribbons, flowers, and bells to a broom and use it to Cleanse your home or sacred space.
Celebrate the fathers or masculine figures in your life.
Make sun catchers
Go berry picking
Buy sunflowers- remember to leave some seeds for the birds.
Charge crystals in sunlight
Create a Stone Circle Sundial - place a pole in the ground in a sunny place. At each hour, place a rock to mark where the sun's shadow falls.
Put together a Handfasting 13 Blessings Basket for a newly married or handfasted couple- use trinkets, ornaments, or knick-knacks, symbolizing some aspect of the relationship and carrying meaning for the couple. Include a note explaining what each item represents.
Altar Decorations
When setting up your altar for this season, remember that the summer solstice is about nourishing growth (internally and externally), the power of the sun, and the Wheel's turn toward darker days ahead.
Solar Symbols - can be as simple as circles or decorative store-bought items. Kids may enjoy creating their suns from baked or air dry clay.
Opposing symbols- Like the winter solstice, the Holly King and Oak King battle again. Consider displaying opposites on your altar; fire and water, day and night, etc.
Colors- use warm colors for candles, altar cloth, and flowers
Flowers- sunflowers symbolize the sun, but any bright, vibrant flowers can be used.
Acorns- oak trees are associated with solar power and energy.
In The Kitchen
Take advantage of the summer crops of fruit and vegetables, and prepare a simple and delicious feast with savory fiery flavors. Check out your local farmers market for fresh seasonal ingredients.
Grilled Salmon
Fresh Fruit Salad
Candied Ginger
Grilled Veggies
Lemonade
Sun shaped cookies
Blueberry pie
Honey cakes
Goat cheese stuffed chicken
Journaling/Divination
What is balanced and unbalanced in your life?
What is reaching culmination from the first half of the year?
What do your Yule intentions need to come to fruition?
What will you harvest at the end of the season?
What will the dark half of the year bring?
Stories
The Holly King and The Oak King
I hope this gives you a few fun ideas for your Litha celebration this year. Let me know your favorite ways to honor the sun!
