Summer in the City: Celebrating Litha without the bonfires
(Thanks to Nia,who, as usual, inspired my post with her questions)
Litha, or Midsummer's night, or St John's night, is a very popular festivity-many people, Wiccans and non -Wiccans, love to celebrate it,and that elucidates a few questions that I would like to answer to the best of my knowledge. For the sake of brevity, I have chosen four of the most popular questions.
1. What should I celebrate, solstice on the 21th or St John's Night on the 24th???Which is "more correct"?
Answer: Neither date is more correct than the other. Magick was made for you, not the other way round. Maybe the beginning of summer is the most magical thing for you,; then the 21st is your date. Maybe your region or village has St John's bonfires or parties- so it is at least in many parts of Spain and Portugal- or you and your friends are used to St John's celebrations. This date, celebrated for years under a Christian name with Pagan rituals, has acquired a power of its own, so it is as good as the other one. As I have said in earlier posts, ritual is more powerful than you'll ever know.
2. I will be in town or somewhere where I can't make a bonfire. Which rituals can I make?
Answer:Well, there are quite a few, but I offer you the simplest one I know:
Put around you four things to symbolize the elements: a handful of earth or a potted plant for Earth, a candle for Fire, a glass or bowl of Water, and an incense stick for Air (The latter is optional; air is around you, anyway). Try to put the elements in their corresponding cardinal points (North for Earth, South for fire, East for Air, West for Water) but don't worry too much if you can't; elements know where they should go :))) Empty your mind, thank and bless the Elements and make three wishes. One of them is sure to come true, the other two maybe, maybe not.
3. Are there any "more appropriate wishes" for Midsummer's Night?? What should I wish for?
Answer: Whatever you need is OK, Universe is always open to your needs, so as long as you mean harm to no-one and you don't make whimsical wishes, you can ask for whatever you like.
4. I've heard that this night is good for getting rid of past stuff that is hurting me. Is this true?
Answer: yes, it is. There are two nights that are very good for this: New Year's Eve and Midsummer. Burn your ex's picture, burn that letter that makes you cry. Write about the defects in you you hate the most, then burn the paper. Burn whatever you want to leave behind, and if you can't burn it, tear it to shreds and throw it away for recycling. Let it become something really useful, not something that has power to destroy you.
And most of all, go to your window or balcony and wish on a star,whether you see it or not. Wish the best for you and your loved ones, because the Goddess is full of child and ready to part with her beloved, since he will be born of her again. The mystery of life is renewed every year, so your life can be renewed too. Never give up and keep wishing.
Litha, or Midsummer's night, or St John's night, is a very popular festivity-many people, Wiccans and non -Wiccans, love to celebrate it,and that elucidates a few questions that I would like to answer to the best of my knowledge. For the sake of brevity, I have chosen four of the most popular questions.
1. What should I celebrate, solstice on the 21th or St John's Night on the 24th???Which is "more correct"?
Answer: Neither date is more correct than the other. Magick was made for you, not the other way round. Maybe the beginning of summer is the most magical thing for you,; then the 21st is your date. Maybe your region or village has St John's bonfires or parties- so it is at least in many parts of Spain and Portugal- or you and your friends are used to St John's celebrations. This date, celebrated for years under a Christian name with Pagan rituals, has acquired a power of its own, so it is as good as the other one. As I have said in earlier posts, ritual is more powerful than you'll ever know.
2. I will be in town or somewhere where I can't make a bonfire. Which rituals can I make?
Answer:Well, there are quite a few, but I offer you the simplest one I know:
Put around you four things to symbolize the elements: a handful of earth or a potted plant for Earth, a candle for Fire, a glass or bowl of Water, and an incense stick for Air (The latter is optional; air is around you, anyway). Try to put the elements in their corresponding cardinal points (North for Earth, South for fire, East for Air, West for Water) but don't worry too much if you can't; elements know where they should go :))) Empty your mind, thank and bless the Elements and make three wishes. One of them is sure to come true, the other two maybe, maybe not.
3. Are there any "more appropriate wishes" for Midsummer's Night?? What should I wish for?
Answer: Whatever you need is OK, Universe is always open to your needs, so as long as you mean harm to no-one and you don't make whimsical wishes, you can ask for whatever you like.
4. I've heard that this night is good for getting rid of past stuff that is hurting me. Is this true?
Answer: yes, it is. There are two nights that are very good for this: New Year's Eve and Midsummer. Burn your ex's picture, burn that letter that makes you cry. Write about the defects in you you hate the most, then burn the paper. Burn whatever you want to leave behind, and if you can't burn it, tear it to shreds and throw it away for recycling. Let it become something really useful, not something that has power to destroy you.
And most of all, go to your window or balcony and wish on a star,whether you see it or not. Wish the best for you and your loved ones, because the Goddess is full of child and ready to part with her beloved, since he will be born of her again. The mystery of life is renewed every year, so your life can be renewed too. Never give up and keep wishing.