Hi there! As summer approaches and the days become longer, many people around the world celebrate the summer solstice. This ancient tradition and astronomical event hold tremendous significance in pagan cultures and religions. The summer solstice, also known as Midsummer or Litha, represents the peak of the sun's journey and the longest day of the year. Pagans and nature-based spiritual traditions see this as a time of celebration and gratitude for the abundance and vitality of the natural world. In pagan beliefs, the summer solstice is associated with themes of light, fire, and growth. It is a time to honor the power of the sun and its energy, which nurtures and sustains all life on Earth.
This is my first Litha or Summer Solstice and I was going to mark it in great form but recently life threw me a massive curve ball and all plans went out of the window!
No matter what is going on in my personal life I didnt want to leave it unmarked…its also a full Moon and there is a moot with my local pagan group so busy day all in all!
Calling in the Circle 2015 Spirit of the East, Land of the rising Sun, Bringer of Air, the winds that blow across the lands-of new beginning each day and of open horizons. Calling in the Circle 2015 Spirit of the East, Land of the rising Sun, Bringer of Air, the winds that blow across the lands-of new beginning each day and of open horizons.
It is a time to honor the power of the sun and its energy, which nurtures and sustains all life on Earth. Many pagan rituals and traditions involve bonfires, dancing, and feasting to symbolize the transformation and growth that the sun's energy brings. In addition to the sun's importance, pagans also hold reverence for the Earth and its cycles.
Worshiping the Dark at the Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice occurs at almost midnight on June 20th in the Northern Hemisphere this year. It is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. Summer finally begins here in the Midwest, both meteorologically—with the warming of the air and the increasing occurrence of sunny days—and socially—with the end of the school year. This is why I don’t call the day “Midsummer.” For me, “Midsummer” falls on Lughnasadh in early August.
The summer solstice is the twin to the winter solstice which falls around December 21. The day is called “Litha” by many Pagans. “Litha” is the name given to the summer inter-calendary period by the Anglo-Saxons, just as “Yule” is the name they gave to the winter inter-calendary period—which is where we get the name “Yule” for the Christmas-tide.
I’ve got a somewhat different take on the Summer Solstice than many other Pagans. Many Pagans celebrate the summer solstice by honoring the light. That’s natural enough. It’s summer after all. What’s more natural than to celebrate the light in the summer? Often summer solstice rituals are performed at high noon (much to the chagrin of those standing under the sweltering sun in ceremonial robes)—just as some winter solstice rituals are performed at midnight.
But for me, the summer solstice is as much, if not more, about the darkness than the light. The summer solstice is the longest day, but it is also the time when the days begin to grow shorter again and we anticipate the decline of the year. It has always seemed odd to me that we Pagans should celebrate the light at the winter solstice and again at the summer solstice.
“Virgin and Child” by William Adolphe Bouguereau (inverted)Neo-Paganism, as I understand it, is all about balance. It is about bringing opposites together into harmony. At the winter solstice, many of us celebrate the birth of the Sun Child from his mother, the Goddess, Mother Night. (This Neo-Pagan myth is mirrored somewhat in the Christian Nativity.) And if we celebrate the birth of the Sun Child on the longest night, what else would we celebrate on the longest day but the birth of the Dark Child from his mother, the Goddess of the Sun?
The myth of the birth of the Dark Child is a wholly new myth, invented for Neo-Pagans. In some ancient pagan traditions, the Sun is a male God, but in others she is a Goddess. For example, the ancient Japanese worshiped a goddess of the Sun called Amaterasu. And the Egyptians worshiped a sun goddess, Sekhmet, who had the head of a lion. But in neither of these cases did the Goddess have a son—at least not that I am aware of. In spite of its absence of (paleo)-pagan antecedents, I think the myth of the Dark Child fits perfectly with the Neo-Pagan mythos and the Wheel of the Year.
The Dark Child is born at Litha and will eventually grow up to be what Neo-Pagans call the Holly King, the King of Winter. He will battle the Oak King, the King of Summer, who was born on the opposite point on the Wheel of the Year, at Yule. In the Neo-Pagan myth the Sun Child and the Dark Child are twin brothers—not identical twins, but mirror twins. The story I’ve told my children at the summer solstice is that the Dark Child was born out of the shadows that are cast by the summer solstice fires (“darkness leaping out of light”)—fires which both represent the consummation of the love of the Goddess and her Consort and presage the impending immolation of the Consort in August.
This Neo-Pagan myth is reflected in the Celtic myth of two kings, Gwyn and Gwythr, the white son of the night and the dark son of the day who battle for the love of a maiden, representing the Neo-Pagan Goddess. The myth of the Dark Child is also reflected in the Egyptian myths about Set, who burst from his mother’s side prematurely, grew to be his brother’s slayer, and is ultimately slain in turn by his brother’s son. It is reflected in the Norse myths about Loki, who orchestrates the death of the Norse sun god, Balder, and sets into motion Ragnarok, the doom of the gods. And it is reflected in the Arthurian legends about Mordred, Arthur’s illegitimate son who takes his fathers throne (and his wife) while Arthur is away, after which the two slay each other.
The Dark Child represents, for me, the seed of destruction at the heart of all endeavor—in Hegelian terms, the antithesis to every thesis, which leads eventually to a new synthesis. He is present in all our deeds, all our thoughts, all our desires, all our dreams. But the Dark Child is not evil or bad. Just as the light half is not good per se. They are both part of a whole, and it is the the whole that is good.
The Christian myth contains these anti-theses in form of Christ and Satan (or the Anti-Christ). Carl Jung theorized that the Christ figure represents the self, while the Satan or the Anti-Christ represents the Shadow—that part of ourselves that we repress and refuse to recognize. Jung explains that, prior to the Manichaean influence upon Christianity, Clement taught that God ruled the world with his right and his left hand, the right being his son Christ and the left being his other son Satan—the two providing a kind of balance in the “paradoxical unity” that is God. Later, however, Christianity became dualistic, splitting off one half of these complementary opposites, personified in the irreconcilable figure of Satan (and thereby creating the “awkward” problem of theodicy). According to Jung, Satan is a necessary psychological response to the pathologically one-sided nature of Christ:
“Psychologically the case is clear, since the dogmatic figure of Christ is so sublime and spotless that everything else turns dark beside it. It is, in fact, so one-sidedly perfect that it demands a psychic complement to restore the balance. This inevitable opposition led very early to the doctrine of the two sons of God, of whom the elder was called Satanael. The coming of the Antichrist is not just a prophetic prediction— it is an inexorable psychological law … every intensified differentiation of the Christ-image brings about a corresponding accentuation of its unconscious complement, thereby increasing the tension between above and below.”
In Neo-Paganism, these previously irreconcilable images are brought together again and reconciled in the gestalt of the Wheel of the Year, in which these two archetypes are held in a dynamic and creative tension. We might visualize the relationship of the Sun Child and the Dark Child as the Chinese symbol of the yin-yang. To a Neo-Pagan, the light spot on the dark field may represent the Sun Child born from the womb of the Goddess of Night at the winter solstice. And the dark spot in the light field may represent the Child of Darkness born from the Goddess of Day at the summer solstice. The two are balanced and unified in the movement of the Wheel.
For me, then, the summer solstice is not about the light, but reclaiming the dark. In the words of Starhawk:
“… we begin by making new metaphors. Without negating the light, we reclaim the dark: the fertile earth where the hidden seed lies unfolding, the unseen power that rises within us, the dark of sacred human flesh, the depths of the ocean, the night—when our senses quicken; we reclaim all the lost parts of ourselves we have shoved down into the dark. Instead of enlightenment, we begin to speak of deepening …”
— Starhawk, Dreaming the Dark
Fairy Blessing of a Place: Through this house give glimmering light / By the dead and drowsy fire: / Every elf and fairy sprite, / Hop as light as bird from brier;.
The summer solstice signifies the midpoint of the year when nature is in full bloom, and fruits and vegetables are being harvested. This bountiful time calls for gratitude and appreciation for the Earth's abundance and the interconnectedness of all living beings. While different pagan traditions may have their specific rituals and practices, many pagans greet the summer solstice by spending time in nature. They may gather in sacred places, such as stone circles or forests, to connect with the natural world and honor the changing seasons. Some pagans also create altars or shrines dedicated to the summer solstice, adorned with flowers, symbols of the sun, and other meaningful objects. These sacred spaces serve as focal points for meditation, reflection, and offering gratitude. The summer solstice is an occasion for pagans to come together in community and celebrate their beliefs. Festivals and gatherings are held worldwide, where people engage in rituals, workshops, and ceremonies to deepen their connection with nature and honor the changing seasons. It's important to note that pagan beliefs and practices vary greatly, and not all pagans celebrate the summer solstice in the same way. Nonetheless, this time of year holds great significance for those who follow pagan paths, as it symbolizes the abundance, vitality, and interconnectedness of all things. As the summer solstice approaches, let us embrace the warmth of the sun, the beauty of nature, and the joy of community. May this time be filled with gratitude, celebration, and an appreciation for the cycles of life. Bright blessings to all! ************************************************** Please note that paganism is a broad umbrella term encompassing many different spiritual paths and beliefs. This note is meant to provide a general overview and may not cover all practices and perspectives within paganism. It's always best to consult specific pagan traditions or individuals for a comprehensive understanding..
Reviews for "Manifesting Abundance and Growth: Pagan Practices for the Summer Solstice"
1. Samantha - 2 stars
I found "Summer Solstice Greetings Pagan" to be quite disappointing. The plot seemed promising at first, but it quickly became convoluted and confusing. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult for me to connect with or care about their struggles. Additionally, the writing style felt amateurish, with awkward dialogue and unnecessary descriptions that slowed down the pace of the story. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Michael - 1 star
"Summer Solstice Greetings Pagan" was a complete waste of my time. The storyline was unoriginal and predictable, offering nothing new or exciting. The author's attempt to incorporate pagan elements felt forced and superficial, lacking any real understanding or depth. The pacing was slow, and the characters were forgettable, making it difficult to stay engaged throughout the book. I was hoping for an enjoyable summer read, but instead, I was left bored and disappointed.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Summer Solstice Greetings Pagan," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing was mediocre, with repetitive phrases and a lack of descriptive language that left me feeling detached from the story. The plot had potential, but it was poorly executed, with inconsistencies and unresolved subplots. The main character was unlikable and made questionable decisions that were difficult to understand. Overall, I found this book to be lacking in substance and would not recommend it to others.