Midsummers, or Summer Solstice, is celebrated around June 21st. This holiday marks
the beginning of summer and also reflects the gathering magickal powers which are increasing
as the summer grows. In Celtic tradition, this holiday is a time of personal rededication to the
Goddess and God.
The Tarot card for Midsummers is the Empress-----life-giving but also life-suffocating:
all the motherly forces(positive as well as negative) are represented. The warm sun causes
growth, yet can become hot enough to burn, thus the ancient custom of combining fire with its
opposite----water! In ancient times, a hay "Sunwheel" was set afire, then rolled downhill into a
river, stream, or pond. This represented a magickal attempt to use the sun's goodness for a
fruitful growing season, while decreasing the possible damage by too much sun/heat.
Herbs of Midsummers
Pine, Rose, Vervain, Chamomile, Elder, Fennel, Lavender, Mugwort are just a few of
the herbs associated with Midsummers. Herbs gathered on Midsummers Day are considered to
be very powerful, so get a basket and take advantage of the Solstice power!
Herbal Ideas for Midsummer's Day
Make a Centerpiece: Fill a crystal or glass bowl with water, then float fresh flowers
and lit candles on the surface. This looks nice on the altar, and can make a candlelit meal truly
spectacular!
Decorate with the Colors of Midsummers: Use red, yellow, white and green to
decorate your altar, shrine, or home. Some herbs/plants to consider: early roses, daisies,
dogwood stems with leaves, ferns
Herbal Aspergill: Make aspergills for the whole family to use for sprinkling blessed
water during rituals on this day; kids especially love the "job" of gathering suitable branches or
tying bunches of herbs together. One herb used traditionally is St. John's Wort. After the rites,
offer the aspergills in the bonfire, or hang in your home to dry and spread Midsummer energies
throughout the season.
Midsummers Day Ritual Ideas
Water Fun
Play water games(great time for water fights, or water balloons----especially in "sun" colors!), go
swimming or wading. Feel the warm sun on your back and cool water on your body to
experience the duality of Midsummers.
Picnic
This is an excellent day to take your family, some friends, or go alone on a picnic. Build a fire if
at all possible----even in a grill! Take some time to appreciate the cycle of the seasons, and don't
forget to leave offerings for the outdoor spirits-----herbs, bread, and wine are good. Tossing coins
into water is a good offering to the water spirits(perhaps wishing wells had an origin here?)
Make Potpourri
Use some of the fresh flowers and herbs for a summery potpourri-----wild roses & other
nice-smelling petals are good alone or with herbs such as pine needles and chamomile. Rinse the
petals/leaves; spread out in a single layer in a warm, dry place out of direst sunlight. Once all
ingredients have dried completely, mix gently and store in an airtight container.A few drops of
essential oil can be added for a stronger fragrance, or to refresh "old" batches. One pretty way to
enjoy potpourri is to simply place several pinches on a square of lace and tie with ribbon-----then
you have a sachet that smells like summer!
Midsummers Kitchen
Witchery
Don't forget about food! Whether you have a picnic, cookout, or have a meal in a
restaurant, try a few of the foods of Midsummers!
Spicy foods: borrow from cultures who eat spicy, hot foods. Try Thai, Indian, or
Mexican meals. The heat represents the sun's fiery force........and you can always cool down with
a dairy food on the side----such as yogurt or sour cream!
Vegetables: try anything that is in season and grows fresh in your garden, or at the local
farmer's market. Veggies in sun colors are nice----corn, peppers, tomatoes, carrots.
Dessert: Cheesecake with fresh fruits, tarts/pies/cakes featuring in-season fruits,
Balsamic strawberries(macerate fresh, ripe berries in a little sugar; just before serving, add a
dash of the best Balsamic vinegar you can afford-----it's worth every bit the vinegar costs!) with
fresh whipped cream.
We hope these ideas are useful for planning your Midsummers holiday!
