Prayers for Litha - Summer Solstice Prayers

From ...Patti Wigington,
Your Guide to ...Paganism / Wicca.

Prayers for Litha - Summer Solstice Prayers

Midsummer is the time when we celebrate the bounty of the earth and the power of the sun. Our fields are flourishing, fruits are blossoming on the trees, herb bushes are fragrant and full of life. The sun is at its highest point in the sky, and it has bathed the earth in its warmth, heating up the soil so that when autumn rolls around, we'll have a rich and bountiful harvest. These prayers celebrate the different aspects of midsummer. Feel free to modify them to suit the needs of your tradition.

1. Prayer for the Garden

Small plants, leaves and buds,
growing in the soil.
O fiery sun, may your rays of
light and warmth
bless us with abundance,
and allow these plants to blossom
with life.

2. A Prayer for the Beach

O mother ocean, welcome me in your arms,
bathe me in your waves,
and keep me safe
so that I may return to land once more.
Your tides move with the pull of the moon,
as do my own cycles.
I am drawn to you,
and honor you under the sun's fiery gaze.

3. A Prayer for the Fourth of July

Gods of liberty, goddesses of justice,
watch over those who would fight for our freedoms.
May freedom be given to all people,
around the world,
no matter what their faith.
Keep our soldiers safe from harm,
and protect them in your light,
so that they may return to their families
and their homes.
Goddesses of liberty, gods of justice,
hear our call, and light the sky
your torch shining in the night,
that we may find our way back to you,
and bring people together, in unity.

4. A Prayer to the Sun

The sun is high above us
shining down upon the land and sea,
making things grow and bloom.
Great and powerful sun,
we honor you this day
and thank you for your gifts.
Ra, Helios, Sol Invictus, Aten, Svarog,
you are known by many names.
You are the light over the crops,
the heat that warms the earth,
the hope that springs eternal,
the bringer of life.
We welcome you, and we honor you this day,
celebrating your light,
as we begin our journey once more
into the darkness.

How To Hold a Midsummer Night's Fire Ritual

From ...Patti Wigington,
Your Guide to ...Paganism / Wicca.

The Summer Solstice, known to some as Litha, Midsummer, or Alban Heruin, is the longest day of the year. It's the time when the sun is most powerful, and new life has begun to grow within the earth. After today, the nights will once more begin to grow longer, and the sun will move further away in the sky.

Difficulty: Average Time Required: Approximately 60 minutes

What You Need:

• A place to build a fire
• An offering to the gods (optional)

Here's How:

1. If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, consecrate a space, or call the quarters, now is the time to do so. This ritual is a great one to perform outside, so if you have the opportunity to do this without scaring the neighbors, take advantage of it.

2. Begin this ritual by preparing the wood for a fire, without lighting it yet. While the ideal situation would have you setting a huge bonfire alight, realistically not everyone can do that. If you're limited, use a table top brazier or fire-safe pot, and light your fire there instead.

3. Say either to yourself or out loud:

   Today, to celebrate Midsummer, I honor the Earth itself. I am surrounded by tall trees. There is a clear sky above me and cool dirt beneath me, and I am connected to all three. I light this fire as the Ancients did so long ago.

    At this point, start your fire.

    Say:

    The Wheel of the Year has turned once more
   The light has grown for six long months
   Until today.

    

4. Say:

   Today is Litha, called Alban Heruin by my ancestors.
   A time for celebration.
   Tomorrow the light will begin to fade
   As the Wheel of the Year
   Turns on and ever on.

    

5. Turn to the East, and say:

   From the east comes the wind,
   Cool and clear.
   It brings new seeds to the garden
   Bees to the pollen
   And birds to the trees.

    

6. Turn to Face South, and say:

   The sun rises high in the summer sky
   And lights our way even into the night
   Today the sun casts three rays
   The light of fire upon the land, the sea, and the heavens

    

7. Turn to face West, saying:

   From the west, the mist rolls in
   Bringing rain and fog
   The life-giving water without which
   We would cease to be.

    

8. Finally, turn to the North, and say:

   Beneath my feet is the Earth,
   Soil dark and fertile
   The womb in which life begins
   And will later die, then return anew.

    

   Build up the fire even more, so that you have a good strong blaze going.

    

9. If you wish to make an offering to the gods, now is the time to do it.

   Say:

   Alban Heruin is a time of rededication
   To the gods.

    The triple goddess watches over me.
   She is known by many names.
   She is the Morrighan, Brighid, and Cerridwen.
   She is the washer at the ford,
   She is the guardian of the hearth,
   She is the one who stirs the cauldron of inspiration.

    I give honor to You, O mighty ones,
   By all your names, known and unknown.
   Bless me with Your wisdom
   And give life and abundance to me
   As the sun gives life and abundance to the Earth.

    

10. Say:

    I make this offering to you
    To show my allegiance
    To show my honor
    To show my dedication
    To You.

    Cast your offering into fire.

     

11. Conclude the ritual by saying:

    Today, at Litha, I celebrate the life
    And love of the gods
    And of the Earth and Sun.

     Take a few moments to reflect upon what you have offered, and what the gifts of the gods mean to you. When you are ready, if you have cast a circle, dismantle it or dismiss the quarters at this time.

     Allow your fire to go out on its own.

     

How To Honor the Sacred Feminine with a Goddess Ritual

From ...Patti Wigington,
Your Guide to ...Paganism / Wicca.
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When Margaret Murray wrote her ground-breaking God of the Witches, in 1931, scholars quickly dismissed her theory of a universal, pre-Christian cult of witches who worshipped a singular mother goddess. However, Murray wasn't completely off-base; a number of individual cults existed in pre-Christian Europe which honored mother goddesses of their own. In Rome, the cult of Cybele was huge, and the mystery traditions of Isis soon took on a mother-goddess status. Take advantage of the blooming of spring, and use this time to celebrate the archetype of the mother goddess, and honor your own female ancestors and friends.

Difficulty: Average Time Required: Varied

Here's How:

1. This simple ritual can be performed by both men and women, and is designed to honor the feminine aspects of the universe as well as our female ancestors. If you have a particular deity you call upon, feel free to change names or attributes around where needed. Otherwise, you can use the all-encompassing name of "Goddess" in the rite.

2. Decorate your altar with symbols of femininity: cups, chalices, flowers, lunar objects, fish, and doves or swans. You'll also need the following items for this ritual:

   • A white candle
   • An offering of something that is important to you
   • A bowl of water
   • A handful of small pebbles or stones

    

3. If your tradition calls for you to cast a circle, do so now. Begin by standing in the goddess position, and saying:

   I am (your name), and I stand before you,
   goddesses of the sky and earth and sea,
   I honor you, for your blood runs through my veins,
   one woman, standing on the edge of the universe.
   Tonight, I make an offering in Your names,
   As my thanks for all you have given me.

4. Light the candle, and place your offering before it on the altar. The offering may be something tangible, such as bread or wine or flowers. It can also be something symbolic, such as a gift of your time or dedication. Whatever it is, it should be something from your heart. You may want to read up on Offerings to the Gods for some ideas.

5. Once you have made your offering, it is time to call upon the goddesses by name. Say:

   I am (your name), and I stand before you,
   Isis, Ishtar, Tiamat, Inanna, Shakti, Cybele.
   Mothers of the ancient people,
   guardians of those who walked the earth thousands of years ago,
   I offer you this as a way of showing my gratitude.
   Your strength has flowed within me,
   your wisdom has given me knowledge,
   your inspiration has given birth to harmony in my soul.

6. Now it is time to honor the women who have touched your life. For each one, place a pebble into the bowl of water. As you do so, say her name and how she has impacted you. You might say something like this:

   I am (your name), and I stand before you,
   to honor the sacred feminine that has touched my heart.
   I honor Susan, who gave birth to me and raised me to be strong;
   I honor Maggie, my grandmother, whose strength took her to the hospitals of war-torn France;
   I honor Cathleen, my aunt, who lost her courageous battle with cancer;
   I honor Jennifer, my sister, who has raised three children alone...

7. Continue until you have placed a pebble in the water for each of these women. Reserve one pebble for yourself. Finish by saying:

   I am (your name), and I honor myself,
   for my strength, my creativity, my knowledge, my inspiration,
   and for all the other remarkable things that make me a woman.

8. Take a few minutes and reflect on the sacred feminine. What is it about being a woman that gives you joy? If you're a man performing this ritual, what is it about the women in your life that makes you love them? Meditate on the feminine energy of the universe for a while, and when you are ready, end the ritual.

Tips:

1. This ritual can be adapted for a group easily; with a little planning it can become a beautiful ceremony for a number of people. Consider doing it as part of a womens' circle, in which each member honors the others as part of the rite.