Reading · Earth and Verse

This weekend is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year, also known as Litha in the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Litha is Old English for Midsummer, which has always confused me since this is clearly the beginning of summer, not the middle of it! But apparently, there used to be only two seasons; winter and summer, and this term harkens back to that era.

Like many Pagan holidays, Litha has been celebrated in a multitude of ways in a plethora of cultures. The Celts celebrated Litha with hilltop bonfires and dancing. Apparently people attempted to jump over or through the bonfires for good luck (not recommended).

Other European traditions included setting large wheels on fire, and rolling them down a hill into a body of water…

The key elements are typically: bonfires, dancing, flower crowns, feasting, singing, and rituals honoring the sun at its greatest strength.

One of the stories says that Litha is when the battle between light and dark takes place. In this battle, the Oak King and the Holly King battle for control. During each solstice, they battle for power, and the balance shifts. The Oak King, who represents daylight, rules from the winter solstice (Yule) to Litha. During this time, the days steadily get longer. However, during Litha, the Holly King wins this battle, and the days get steadily darker until Yule.

Oak King and Holly King by Lotte Schonis

Perhaps for this reason, Midsummer is considered a liminal time, a threshold when the veil between worlds grows thin and encounters with spirits, fairies, and other mysterious beings becomes more likely.

I’ve written about the changing seasons for years now. I’ve celebrated equinoxes and solstices, planted seeds in spring, reflected on darkness in winter, and filled countless notebooks with observations about the natural world. Yet somehow, I’ve only rarely written about Litha, maybe because I’m usually too busy eating fruit and dancing outside ;)

For me, Litha is for simple summer delights: bare feet on warm pavement, basil plants growing faster than I can keep up with them, staying outside until the stars appear, reading novels on my porch, fireflies blinking on at dusk, and the scent of cut grass and sunscreen.

It is a season when I’m often parenting and planting, photographing, playing and poet-ing (like that consonance?)

So without further ado, here are some poems and prompts and a simple ritual to get you into the mood for this season of fullness.

Some recently developed film. Boston in late spring is just beauuuutiful.

The Midsummer Fairy

The Midsummer Fairy wakes after dark,
on the longest day of the year,
to share her wisdom and mischief with me.

She places plums in my pockets
and teaches me new ways
of playing human for another year.

We share our truths
and call them fiction,
we sing the same song
in our heads.

We dance wildly together,
under the strawberry moon,
while the trees pretend to sleep.

Summer is here

Allow yourself to shed the masks you’ve worn
since you knew how to speak.
You found ways to protect yourself,
to keep your young self safe,
to make a space for them far from harm.

You are not a child now
and you know how to choose.
Open yourself to the right kind of people.
You can sense smiles that hide dangerous teeth.
You have teeth of your own.

Put down your daggers
and tend to the campfire,
the heart, the children.

You can sing freely now,
like the birds,
for survival is done
and summer is here.

Moonlight Dance Party

At sunset, toast the longest day with something delicious (I like sparkling sparkling apple juice in a beautiful goblet). Invite the Moon to dance with you. Light a fire, toast marshmallows, play a song or two that brings you joy and do a little frolicking - this can be done alone or with a small group of people you feel safe being silly with. The important thing is to embrace the part of you that is wild and free and allow yourself to be completely present to this first summer night.

Journaling Prompts

What seeds planted in winter or spring have begun to bear fruit?
What am I ready to celebrate instead of improve?
What am I afraid to enjoy fully?
A list of simple pleasures

Poetry Prompts

Write a poem that begins: On the longest day of the year...
Make a list poem of twenty things summer has taught you.
Write a conversation between yourself and a fairy.
Write a poem you can taste
Finish the sentence: Summer arrived carrying...

Art & Photography Prompts

Photograph twenty signs of summer within walking distance of your home.
Create a collage full of your summer dreams.
Gather flowers, leaves, grasses, and found objects to create a temporary nature mandala - share a picture in the group chat!
Collect colors from your day and turn them into a seasonal palette.

And finally, I’d love to hear your answer in the comments,

What wild thing has been trying to get your attention?

Moonlight Dance Party

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