IvyLine

 

This ritual is adapted from the one found in The Wiccan Book of Ceremonies and Rituals by Patricia Telesco.

Preparations for the Ritual

You will Need:

  • Add summer flowers to your ritual bath, and anoint yourself with Midsummer Oil.
  • Have a source of fire for the ritual
  • Dew or rainwater
  • Protective incense for each room in your home
  • A white candle
  • A sun wheel
  • Fashion the sun wheel from grapevines or rose briers so the branches form a circle with an equilateral cross in the center. Decorate with golden ribbons and symbols of the four elements.
  • Gather nine dried herbs in a bowl, of of which represents a personal need or goal - nine is the number of completion.

The Altar

Cover the altar with a red or orange cloth to honor the sun, and decorate the altar top with daisy blossoms. Use gold, yellow and red candles to represent the divine Fire of the Sun. Place your fire source at the center of the circle or altar and have your sun wheel and water on one side of the altar, and your herbs, white candle, and incense on the other.

Cast the Circle

Take up the Athamé and facing East, the direction of the Rising Sun, take a moment to center yourself and begin to cast the Circle. Visualize a white light coming from the tip of the athamé and with arms straight out, turn the blade point out, slowly turning clockwise the light following you.

When you return to the East bring the athamé back to you and say:

“As above, so below.”

 As you say this, visualize the light going above you and below you forming a perfect sphere.

Call the Quarters

This ritual should ideally start at noon, when the sun is highest and strongest in the sky. Having four quarter candles is also a nice touch to represent the power of the Fire element at this ritual.

South

Fires of Creation, within me burn,
for the Wheel of Life has turned.
Keep safe the sun's dynamic spark;
Throughout the world, ignite the dark."

West

"Waters of Creation, within me flow,
'round again the Wheel must go.
Keep safe the dew of dusk and dawn;
let magic prance upon the lawn."

North

"Loam of Fertility, nourish me;
the Wheel's lessons I wish to see.
Keep safe the soil where roots can grow,
while round the circle, magic sows!"

East

"Air of Insight, breathe in this place;
 the Wheel of Time shall guide your pace.
Keep safe the winds of muse and mind;
within this circle, the magic bind."
 

If your source of fire is not already burning, light it now along with the God and Goddess candles.

Invoke the Lord and Lady

Goddess

My Lady of the Sun! Mother Goddess!
I ask that You join me here this day
in honor of the Sun's power.
Bless me and this day,
and help me illuminate the shadows in my life!
Blessed be!"
 

God

"My Lord of the Sun! Father God!
I call upon You to ask that You join me here
in honor of the Sun's power!
I ask that You help me
 illuminate my life and show me my strengths!
Blessed be!"
 

Main Ritual

Stand in front of the altar and take the bowl of herbs in hand, saying:

"Fires of Fertility, sun of creation, I welcome you.
As these herbs burn, let their smoke
carry the message of my needs swiftly to your hearth,
and gather there the light of magic."

Sprinkle the nine herbs on the fire source, one at a time, saying:

On the count of one, the spell's begun."
On the count of two, my wishes come true."
On the count of three, the magic's freed."
On the count of four, I open the door."
On the count of five, the magic's alive."
On the count of six, the magic I fix."
On the count of seven, it reaches the heavens."
On the count of eight, no more to wait."
On the count of nine, what I wish is mine!"

Afterward, move yourself through the smoke created by these herbs three times for mental, physical, and spiritual health throughout the rest of the year.

Light a white candle from the flames and take it to a room in your house. From this fire, light a stick of incense, hold it high and invoke your household god and goddess's blessing. Leave the incense burning in a proper container.

Repeat this in every room in your house.

Pick up the sun wheel and hold it to your heart. Close your eyes and make a wish. This wish should be as specific as possible, and visualize it in completed form.

Release the energy by throwing the sun wheel into your fire. The fire inspires manifestation. Let this burn itself out naturally. Alternatively, you can make your wish and hang the sun wheel in a visually predominant part of your home. Each time you see it, repeat your wish, until it manifests. Then take down the sun wheel and keep it safely put away for next year's ritual.

Midsummer Activity

Choose one of the Activities from the Midsummer Activities page, or from the Midsummer Rituals main page.

 

Farewell to the Goddess and God

Farewell to the Goddess

"Farewell, Blessed Mother Goddess.
Thank You for giving me the blessing of Your presence.
In peace and love, Blessed Be!"

Farewell to the God

"Farewell, Blessed Father God.
Thank You for illuminating my life with Your light!.
In peace and love, Blessed Be!"

Releasing the Quarters

East

"Wind of Change, move on, move on.
With the ever-turning Wheel,
go from this place carrying the air of magic."

North

"Loam of Earth, move on, move on.
With the ever-turning Wheel,
go from this place planting the seeds of magic." 

West

"Water of Birth, move on, move on.
With the ever-turning Wheel,
go from this place cresting with waves of magic."

South

"Fires of Creation, move on, move on.
With the ever-turning Wheel,
go from this place burning with the embers of magic."

Releasing the Circle

Stand in the center of your circle, facing east. Turn slowly counterclockwise saying:

"Turn, turn, turn, the Wheel must turn.
 As dawn to day, as day to night,
so the Wheel turns, filled with might.
The circle is open but never broken."

This rite is now ended, and so begins the Feast of Midsummer!  

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