Litha

Also known as Summer Solstice or MidSummer. This is the fifth sharing I'm doing on the Celebrations of the Wheel of the Year. The other preceding posts can be found here. Please note that these are not necessarily the ways that those who call themselves traditional Wiccan or Pagan would interpret these holidays or celebrate them. They're just me and where I've come to with them. I meditated on the energies as I felt them, added to the things I had learned and took them different places. I see these celebrations as not only about the celebrations of the cycles of the Earth, but also our life cycles. Ostara is about birth and young childhood, Beltane about becoming alive sensual beings in our bodies as the Earth starts to grow strong with lush green everywhere.

By Midsummer time, gardens are in full swing. In my area, some of the harvest has begun and all the rest of the plants are in full expression. How that translates to me in terms of our life cycles? We are in full on adulthood. We have grown, are in the midst of creation and full on expression of defining who we are. In the olden days, this was another of the fire ceremonies, that often included an honoring of Life Force in the form of sexual activity. In the groups I participated in, we focused more on our inner achievements and their expression's manifestation on our outer worlds.

Generally this celebration included a time when each participant was given an opportunity to share the ways in which their intentions made at Imbolc were coming to fruition. Each person's journey in turn was given full space and attention and was honored. As we live in an area that gets very hot with has rivers and streams, we usually had our celebrations by the water. We would have a fire. We were instructed to bring organic materials to make a "Prayer Boat." We would do a deep guided meditation, make our boat, then offer them to Yemaya or any other Energy that caught our fancy. It was really fun to watch them float down the river, making their way to the infinite ocean of wish fulfillment.

When I did the combined Tantra/Wheel Cycle of Celebrations, I had the women bring an outfit and a piece of music that best portrayed an aspect of their Sexuality that they usually didn't allow out, but they wanted to embrace. We then took our turns, standing up, speaking as Buried Voice to tell who She is, her gifts, and what she wanted from us. Then the music was turned on and we Danced Her.

I came dressed as a Dominatrix. I remember starting out, speaking as her, but holding myself back as her energy terrifies me. The more I spoke the stronger she became. When I fully allowed her in, started whipping the air, putting every ounce of me into her, the other parts of me literally fell to the ground, as I was shaking so hard. I sobbed and could not continue. Pretty powerful stuff.

And, of course, no matter whether Tantrically inclined or not, there is always feasting. Always. With chocolate.

Questions to ask at this wonderful Solstice time???

As this is the time when the sun and moon get equal stage time, this is a time to also look at balance. How am I in balance? How am I out of balance?

How am I allowing and acknowledging all MySelf?

How am I expressing my Intentions in this world? What are the ways in which they are manifesting but I am not seeing just yet? That if I look, I can celebrate instead of always thinking I'm not there yet?

What are my greatest gifts that I can start to express more fully?

And if you have time for nothing else, go light a candle, put on some great music ("In Your Eyes") by Peter Gabriel mentioned in the previous post is always a nice choice) and Dance in joyous celebration of your glorious You!

Blessings!!!

Litha Card from the 4 Witches Occult Shop
Floating Leaf Offering from here
Dancing woman from here