An Introduction to the Summer Solstice

Monet's Garden Giverny France 2008

Three years ago I found myself in France at the height of a European Summer. It was a heady experience for sure. The language and culture so different from my own and a style of living which contrasted significantly from my own. Most significantly for me and that which continues to astound me was the light and colour of a Solstice like nothing I had ever seen before. Of a day that lasts for 24 hours......
You realise how different the shades and hues are in contrast to that of Australian skies. Here our skies are the most brilliant blue, and the sun so strong and energetic blasts across our landscape with great regularity. Our Solstice is not so noticeable physically. We do not have the long winters associated with our Northern Hemisphere cousins. Even in Winter we can enjoy more than the odd day of sunshine and pleasant weather. Our lives are less restricted by the seriousness of sub zero weather conditions. We are insulated from the experiences that tie many of our ancestries to the Northern lands. And our longest day passes by virtually unnoticed, unlike the Midsummer celebrations of the Orkney Isles where Orcadians gather and play a 24 hour round of golf 18 holes drinking whiskey throughout the course...few have made it to the now legendary 18th hole...
But there is still a connection that we feel, and a palpable and visual clue that heralds each season here in Australia. The first stirrings of Spring are seen as the earth begins to stir and awaken from her wintery repose. As Spring progresses the earth begins to warm and the first signs of many of our beautiful summer flowers, natives and fruit and veg begin to blossom. 
How thrilling these moments are to me now, but I think how reassuring and welcomed they would have been to my forefathers in the Highlands and Border regions of Scotland and in Prussia. In many countries it is also called St Johns Day, although pronounced a sacred day in Christianity many of its customs still bear the hallmarks of paganism. In Mexico for example the customs of St Johns Day are associated with bonfires, bathing, water and decoration of wells and rivers with flowers. St John being the nominated patron saint of the Element of Water.

(Kindly reproduced The Sun in summer

Artist: Frey Micklethwait. Source: Museum Victoria)

For those practitioners of the Craft the Summer Solstice marks both an astronomical event and a time which marks the marriage between the God and Goddess. Some traditions also acknowledge this time as a change over between the Oak and Holly Kings. Many countries celebrated Midsummer with bonfires as an act of sympathetic magic to ensure the sun's potency and virility throughout the season. Some Nordic countries decorated trees and women and girls took part in bathing rituals to ensure rain for crops. Celebrations continue in our modern times and here in Australia where we can often feel so far away from the rest of the world we can still see and feel the changing landscape. Our indigenous people like the people of the Northen Hemisphere welcomed this time as a season of new and more abundant  food sources. A time where herbs, barks, roots and flowers could be harvested for medicinal use. Honey could be collected to use as a sweetener and for Mead (this is also the time where the term Honeymoon comes from). It is a season considered magically potent and a time of potential, planting and preparation. This is a simple introductory post with just a handful of the material that can be sourced regarding the customs of people globally at this time of the year, what customs do you observe? Where does it come from?

Behold the sacred union and eternal fires, welcome spirit, celebration and festivity as we herald in Litha /Midsummer!

(Albert France 2008)

However you choose to celebrate Midsummer let it be in joy and festivity-hand to hand and heart to heart B*B.

(Picture courtesy of European Association for  Astronomy Education)

(Image courtesy of http://lucyria.com/cards/solstice-australia)

Summer Solstice (AEDT):

2011 December 22, 4:30pm
2012 December 21, 10:11pm

References: 

Ronald Hutton: The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles

Deborah Lipp: The Elements of Ritual

Anne Ross:  Folklore of the Scottish Highlands

Doreen Valiente: The Rebirth of Witchcraft

Owen Davis: Cunning Folk Popular Magic in English History

John Lindow: A Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals & Beliefs

For those that are concerned /interested

Hello everyone,

Recently we received this in our inbox. If you feel so inclined please check the link and make your own decisions. We have reposted out of good faith but neither dismiss nor endorse the request :)

Dear folks,

We're trying to spread the word that there's a magical piece of art by Aaron Pocock up for auction this week, for a very worthy benefit cause:

His auction listing is on this page (scroll down midway): http://magick4terri.livejournal.com/tag/artist%3A%20aaron%20pocock

If you know anyone who might be interested in this opportunity to own a piece of Aaron Popcock's art, would you please pass this info on?

Thank you very much!

Mel Davis
Assistant editor, The Endicott Studio

Some lovely Beltane photos...

Head on over to Necropolis Now and see some beautiful photographs taken at Mount Franklin at this year's Beltane.

Another memorable Beltaine

Here are my pictures of this years colossal birthday event. It was so strange to see the mountain covered in lush green leaves, and not just small buds on the trees and barely any grass. I don't remember seeing the ritual circle looking so green - all this rain these past two years has done wonders for the mountain. This was my 11th Beltane - I am getting very used to attending this event now, each of them different but wonderful...

Erecting the marquee

Sunny Saturday visiting the neighbouring campsite of my old friends

The neighbours camp

Our pots of stew bubbling away.

I picked red, pink and white hawthorn for the altar and the maypole

chillin' round the marquee

costumes for the ritual

Michel enjoying the smell of good food

Josie learns her lines for ritual

Members of the Coven of the Eternal Goddess

Andrew, Scarlett, Bev and Kira

Scarlett and Mick

Scarlett plays with my green sequin material

Scarlett as the Nightmare

The Fire birds

The Raven (Me!)

Clive and the Raven

Josie and the Raven

The May Queen and the Raven

Doug

Reuben as the obby oss

The Teaser with the fire birds

Getting ready for ritual

Our fair mountain

My sheep skull Fred got a new feathery hairstyle and LED lights for shiny eyes..

I decorated the maypole on Sunday with the red hawthorn

Looking for people to dance the maypole

The musicians play while the people dance

The Moot begins...

A basenji watches the moot

The final fun for the mount - a witch pinata full of lollies

The maypole gets ready to go away for another 12 months...

Beautiful photos from Kylie...