Today's Candlemagic
Sunday June 21st
12.46 a m cdt
SUMMER SOLSTICE
Sun enters Cancer

- see ritual posted below!

in what house does this degree fall
in your personal chart?

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SUMMER SOLSTICE RITUAL
sun june 21st, 2009 - 12.46 am cdt

excerpted from "Magical Astrology Guide 2009"
©1997-2009 Sarolta G. DeFaltay

A note on the Sabbats:
Sabbat rituals are seasonal, so exact timing is not neccessary; it is possible to perform the ritual usually a week or more after the traditional date of the Sabbat.

Every planetary alignment holds an opportunity for growth and expanded awareness, and contains symbolism that can be universally shared and understood. By meditating on current planetary themes, we can tune in to the archetypal energy inherent therein, gaining a deeper understanding of our own personal myth, integrating the planetary energies experientially
through personalized ritual.

see: "casting a circle" article here

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SUMMER SOLSTICE / LITHA RITUAL
exact June 21st, 2009 at 12.46 am cdt
===================================

The holiday of Midsummer marks the height of the waxing season; a time of peak fertility, when the Sun is honored with three days of joyous celebration!
This is the year’s longest day; the Sun enters the nurturing sign of Cancer, and the season of harvest begins. We are now in the “Full Moon” phase of the year, when the waxing energies and magical potency are at peak intensity.

Weddings, marriage proposals and baby blessings are lucky now, as are rituals of unity among families and communities.

The cauldron is central to the rituals of Midsummer, representing the womb of the Great Cosmic Mother, the Cauldron of Regeneration symbolizing reincarnation within the womb of the Goddess. The season of sowing is
at an end, and the blessed harvest begins! As we celebrate the Sun in all its glory and bask in the solar energy, we can give thanks to the abundance of
nature, and pray for a bountiful harvest for all Mother Earth’s communities. The waning year begins today, and so we must honor once again the descent
into the dark mysteries of regeneration and rebirth.

The astrological charts of the Solstices and Equinoxeshave been read by astrologers since ancient times for
news of the upcoming season, especially as it pertains to the well-being of nations, their leaders, and the
condition of the people. Ingress charts (as they are called) are drawn for the exact moment the Sun enters one of the four cardinal signs: Capricorn, Aries,
Cancer and Libra (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn). Cardinal energy is initiating, and an excellent time for magical workings, as practitioners of seasonal rituals have known for a long, long time.

MIDSUMMER HERBAL LORE
Cedar: consecration, longevity (Fire)
Chamomile: determination, loyalty; use in ritual bath, cup, or incense. (Fire)
Chickweed: love herb, worn or imbibed to attract or enhance love
Elder (Flowers): clairvoyance, magic, divination; to contact devas and faeries,use in ritual cup. (Venus, Air)
Fennel: confidence, courage, fertility; use in cooking to protect all who imbibe.
Frankincense: all purpose solar incense, for consecration, spirituality and success.
Heather: brings one in touch with inner beauty and divinity; dip a sprig in consecrated water and sprinkle
around temple space to purify.
Holly: represents the waning half of the year, which begins at Midsummer.
Larkspur: delphinium flowers on altar symbolize generous, altruistic leadership.
Lavender: love, harmony, domestic tranquility, and mental clarity.
Meadowsweet: good luck, domestic tranquility, harmony. (Jupiter, Fire)
Mugwort: magic, longevity, clairvoyance, psychic empowerment.
Oak: represents the waxing half of the year, which ends at Midsummer.
Rose: love, compassion, beauty; an aphrodisiac attributed to Venus.
St.John’s Wort: courage, confidence, magic, success (Sun, Fire)
Vervain: love, magic, aphrodisiac, consecration (Earth, Venus)

These herbs can be utilized in ritual by making an incense, or anointing candles with essential oil. Theycan be sewn into a charm bag and consecrated (dedicated to a single purpose), and worn or carried when needed.

RITUAL BATH: Fennel, heather, lavender, mugwort, rose petals.

Place any or all herbs in cheesecloth and tie well; run under tap. You can also make a strong tea from the herbs: bring pure water to a boil, and allow to cool a few minutes before pouring over herbs; strain into bath.

Light 2 gold candles, one representing the Waxing year (surround it with Oak leaves) and the other the Waning year (surround it with holly leaves). As you pour the herbs over your body, imagine yourself purified by an aura of golden light. Meditate on the symbolism of
the Waxing year: as it dies at its height, the dark cycle is born, reminding us that within the light there is dark, and within the dark there is light.

Think about what has been planted, and what remains to be gathered, distributed and assimilated, and how the symbolism pertains to your personal creative cycles. Affirm your determination to do all in your power to assure a plentiful harvest in harmony with all of nature.

THE ALTAR: Place the altar in the South, the direction representing Summer, the Sun at High Noon, and the element of Fire. Decorate your altar and home with roses of many colors, Delphinium or Heather.

Bring the gold candles to your altar, and place a cauldron [or large bowl] filled with water on the altar, and place some flowers in the cauldron as well.

You will need three candles: PALE GREEN, ORANGE, and BLOOD RED.

RITUAL: Cast the circle by visualizing white light encircling you in a clockwise motion.

Honor and invite the four elements into your circle: East for Air, South for Fire, West for Water, and North for Earth. This Solstice corresponds to the ripened energies of the Mother Goddess (Isis, Ceres, Demeter, Ishtar, Innana) and can be honored with thanks and offerings at
this time of the year.

INCENSE: cedar, cinquefoil, frankincense, lavender (flowers or oil), mugwort, oak bark, rose petals or
oil.

Bring any or all of the above ingredients into your ritual circle and add each ingredient one at a time, while grinding by hand with a mortar and pestle and
focusing on the properties of each herb as it is added.

Consecrate your incense by dedicating it to the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess, and once the incense is
prepared, burn some on a charcoal as you focus in on your ritual.

CANDLES:

The PALE GREEN candle represents the Sun entering the sign of Cancer, bringing nurturing and caregiving to yourself and your surroundings. Cancer
is also a sign of psychic sensitivity; visualize yourself accessing deeper parts of your own subconscious,
and affirm accessing new channels of inspiration that lie within, to bring you creative flow. How would you
like these energies to manifest in your life in the upcoming year? Write down your intention on a small slip of paper and place it underneath the candle;
anoint the candle with oil. Focus intently on your intent as you light your candle.

1. Write down how you’d like to see this accomplished, or what your wish may be, and place the slip of paper under the candle.

2. Light your candle as you say your goal aloud, while meditating on its meaning.

Repeat with the following:

the ORANGE candle represents the
SUN in the coming Sun / Pluto opposition, symbolizing powerful
energy for action and transformation. What changes would you like to see in your drive, actualization, or the way
you approach goals? Write down what you want to dedicate yourself to now, and focus clearly as you place your note
under the candle and light its flame.

Make a commitment to yourself to follow through with the plan you write down. [repeat steps 1&2]

The BLOOD RED candle represents PLUTO in the coming Sun / Pluto
opposition, making this Summer Solstice a uniquely powerful time to make the long term changes that will lead to self-
empowerment and self-actualization.

This is the time to release all obstacles to your highest purpose, no matter how difficult. This aspect cam give you the strength to move forward, so have courage.

How would you like to see these energies manifest in your life at this time? Be specific and repeat the process as before. Take some time now to give thanks for all you have received so far, as well as the harvest yet to come. [repeat steps 1&2]

Spend some time meditating on the themes of your ritual, and when you feel the ritual is complete, thank the Mother
Goddess, and burn each paper as you focus once again on the intention of the goal, releasing the energy to the wind and elemental helpers. Thank the nature spirits, deities or elementals, and close your circle, allowing the candles to burn all the way down, or instead, burn them for a little while for the next few days, letting them burn all the way down on the third day.

Blessed Be!

bibliography

© 1997-2009 Sarolta G. DeFaltay. All rights reserved.

http://planetaryalchemy.com

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SUMMER SOLSTICE RITUAL
sun june 21st, 2009 - 12.46 am cdt

- see ritual posted below!

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