During the Summer Solstice the Earth hums here in the Northern Hemisphere.
Her magic rises up through the roots into the blossoming and burgeoning forests, fields, meadows, gardens, and mountains.
Summer Solstice occurs when the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer and the Sun is at its highest and utmost potential on and around June 21st.
Summer Solstice is also known as Litha, and for the Earth-Spirited, Litha is a fire celebration on the Wheel of the Year. From bonfires to rituals under the Solstice sunrise, to standing in groves of Oak, and honoring standing stones, there are many ways to honor the Summer Solstice and the month of June.
One especially potent way to honor summer can be through plant magick and green witchery.
Below are some favorite magickal herbs to work with during this sacred time.
The Magick of Intuition
Mugwort is a plant that can be found abundantly anywhere you know where to look for her. She sprouts up on the roadsides, lines city sidewalks, and traces her way along the banks of the river. Mugwort is a plant that is medicinally and magically used. Mugwort can be burned ceremonially or made into oil. Dab a bit of this oil onto your third eye to enhance your “sight” so to speak. When burned in ritual, Mugwort can connect us to our intuition and to lift the veil ever so slightly. Learn more about Mugwort here.
Sacred Heart Medicine
Hawthorn is known as a sacred heart medicine. It’s a Faery tree and was used by the Druids in ritual and medicinally. Look for this enchanting tree in groves with Oak and Rowan as a telltale sign that the Fae Folk are nearby. Gather its branches, leaves, and berries (while leaving an offering for the Fae) to use in your Summer Solstice ritual.
Lessons in Strength
Oak is traditionally a tree of summertime. Like Hawthorn, it is a Faery tree, and its lore stretches back for centuries. In some stories, it is believed that the Oak King and the Holly King trade power back and forth to create the seasons and the Oak King rules the warm months. Oak is a symbol of strength. Call on the spirit of Oak in your rituals, gather acorns, or read more about its lore to work with sacred Oak magic.
The Magick of Herbal Sunshine
Calendula is an herb that truly understands the sun. Work with Calendula to call brightness back into your life. Calendula teaches us that joy is abundant and is possible with every breath we take. Create a Calendula flower essence, ritual bath, or salve to work with Calendula’s magic. Like Calendula, how do we connect to our own brightness?
A Love Spell
Hibiscus is a flower of great passions. Much like its deep red color signifies, Hibiscus is a flower of love. In magical rituals, work with Hibiscus to call in passion, love, or lust. Some say that if you sleep with Hibiscus under your pillow you may be blessed with intuitive or prophetic dreams. Hibiscus can remind us that we are love embodied.
Unfurl Your Magick
Rose is associated with the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite. In full bloom during the warmer months, Rose teaches us to unfurl ourselves. “How can we love more fully?” Rose asks us. Rose can be used in ritual baths, anointing oil, or in Rosewater. If Aphrodite hears our prayers, she may bless us with a lover, charm, or glittering energy during the sacred time of Summer Solstice.
