Summer Soltice

This is the season of Litha/Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, the shortest night. All energies are at work to expand the will, enhance our earthly blessings, and celebrate the joy and power that is our birthright.

Summer solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme. The name is derived from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstices, the Sun stands still in declination; that is, the apparent movement of the Sun's path north or south comes to a stop before reversing direction.

The term solstice can also be used in a broader sense, as the date (day) when this occurs. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons. In some cultures they are considered to start or separate the seasons, while in others they fall nearer the middle.

For those living in harmony with nature's cycles, it's the season to harvest herbs and honey. Many couples still marry in June, at the peak of nature's abundance. Some traditions would feed the newlyweds a honey-laced food for the entire first month, which is where "honeymoon" comes from. The full Moon in June is the Honey Moon.

This time of year, as the Caluba coven we like to visit the beach to do our Summer Rituals. We ask members of the public to give us Wishes. So we can join with all the Elements to give the best of luck to every thing.

We also as witches like to give shells and crystals we have found on the beach away to young children or passers by.

Also remember that it’s also Fairy’s day and all Fairy’s like to come out and do their own celebrations. One being that they like to torment those of the human kind!

So we tend to wear a piece of clothing inside out, to let the Fairy’s know we are celebrating with them, and so they don’t give us a little mischief.

Also remember that doing that old Daisy chain was for pregnancy and good health.

SUMMER WAND MAKING!

This is also a good time of the year to find your own perfect Wand.

I feel you must not go with the traditions of Willow, Elder, Apple and so on.
There is nothing more fun or exciting than making your own witches wand.

The real Magick then happens while you are channeling and crafting your own type of wood, and the idea’s you will come up with while crafting makes it more fun.

I do not believe in harming none. So while out during a walk into a woods, let the wand pick you?
How will you know? Easily you will just get drawn to a piece, of course check to see if its long enough, you do not have to have a long wand as long as you can handle the piece of wood from your elbow to your finger tip its fine.

Just check to make sure it’s strong by slightly bending it.

Take it home and with as tradition says; use your witches’ tool (sharp knife) to whittle off the bark.
Then sand the wand down with sand paper.

You can use beeswax to strengthen your wand if you want.

You can put crystals into the ends, put ribbon around it. You could even put copper around it.
Or leather or even burn a design into the wood, the possibilities’ are endless.

© Wendy Binks aka Lady Snake 2010