Litha & the Summer Solstice
Celebrating the Summer Solstice with Fire, Fertility, and Fierce Light
The Wheel has turned once again, and now we stand at the edge of fire. Litha, the Summer Solstice, marks the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The sun, proud and golden, reaches its peak in the sky, drenching the earth in brilliance. For witches, this is not just a seasonal shift. It is a sacred threshold. A time of blossoming and burning. Of joy, but also reckoning.
The word "solstice" comes from the Latin solstitium, meaning "sun stands still." And for just a moment, it does. Everything halts in reverence. The Earth pauses. And so should we.
The Power of the Solstice
Litha is a celebration of life in full bloom. Gardens overflow. Trees are crowned in green. Bees hum like spells on the wind. It is a festival of fertility, passion, magic, and manifestation. Yet beneath the radiance lies a subtle sorrow. From this point forward, the light begins its slow retreat. The days shorten. The shadows grow. The Solstice reminds us that all things crest before they fall.
Light and dark. Growth and decay. Power and surrender. The witch knows that both are sacred.
If you want a deeper dive into the mystery and myth behind Litha, be sure to listen to the Chasing Crows podcast episode titled Celebrating Litha where I unravel the roots, symbols, and shadow of this sacred sabbat. You can listen to it here.
Ways to Celebrate Litha
1. Sunrise or Sunset Rituals
Begin or end your Solstice day by greeting the sun. Whether you rise with the dawn or light a candle at twilight, face the direction of the sun and offer a moment of gratitude. Whisper your intentions into the golden hour.
2. Fire Magic and Bonfires
Fire represents transformation, purification, and passion. Burn herbs like rosemary, lavender, and mugwort. Write down fears, doubts, or habits you are ready to release and feed them to the flame.
3. Create a Solar Altar
Use gold, yellow, and orange cloths. Decorate with sunflowers, citrine, carnelian, and honey. Add symbols of abundance and power—sun discs, oak leaves, bees, and feathers. Anoint candles with solar oils like cinnamon, frankincense, or bergamot.
4. Harvest and Bless Your Garden
If you grow your own food or herbs, this is the perfect time to clip your first harvest. Offer a pinch back to the land with a blessing of thanks.
5. Wear Your Power
Dress in colors that match your solar magic. Golds for vitality, reds for courage, greens for abundance. Adorn yourself with intention. Let your outfit become your spell.
A Simple Litha Spell to "Solar Charge"
Purpose: To charge your inner fire and attract radiant abundance.
You’ll need:
A gold or yellow candle
A bowl of water
A pinch of cinnamon
A mirror
The morning sun (or a sunny window)
Ritual:
Place the candle beside the mirror, so its flame reflects. Place your bowl of water before it. Light the candle and add cinnamon to the water. Gaze into your own reflection and speak:
"Sun above and fire within,
Charge my soul, let light begin.
May power rise from deep inside,
My will be strong, my heart my guide."
Let the candle burn down safely. Use the solar-charged water to anoint your wrists or doorways.
Quick Litha Correspondences
Element Correspondence
Herbs. St. John's Wort, lavender, basil, mugwort
Crystals. Sunstone, citrine, carnelian, amber
Colors. Gold, yellow, orange, red
Deities. Aine, Apollo, Lugh, Amaterasu
Foods. Honey, fresh berries, mead, seasonal fruits
Animals. Bees, stags, snakes, hawks
Reflections at the Height of Light
Take a moment to ask yourself:
• What has grown since Imbolc or Ostara?
• What must I release to fully shine?
• Where is my energy best directed for the rest of the year?
Journal your answers. Or better yet, speak them aloud under the Solstice sun. Power spoken becomes power claimed.
May this Litha fill you with fierce courage, wild joy, and a sunfire heart. May your spells blaze with purpose, and your path be illuminated with golden clarity. The light is yours, for now. Use it wisely.
Blessed Solstice, my radiant darling.
And don’t forget to listen to the Chasing Crows Litha episode right here.