The summer solstice is almost upon us! Let’s see those Litha altars!!
Here’s a quick altar I prepared today and the Spells8 Grimoire!
Video: Litha Divination with Playing Cards
For this video, I did some research about the connection between Litha and traditional divinations. I found the book Midsummer Magical Celebrations by Anna Franklin super useful and with lots of ideas for Litha rituals.
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Litha FAQ
Why is Litha also called Midsummer?
The term derives from European farming because the date marks the midway point of the growing season. I also read that in the past, they only had two seasons: summer and winter, and June would have been the point of halfway through summer, hence “Midsummer”.
What day is Litha?
June 21st is a standard date to celebrate Litha. The exact date will vary depending on your tradition and whether you choose to celebrate precisely upon the Summer Solstice. The exact date of each solstice changes by a few days each year – for the same reason that we have years with extra days, our calendar isn’t perfect!
In the Southern Hemisphere, Litha corresponds to the Solstice as well, around December 21st. But right now, you may be celebrating Yule!
When should I set up my Litha altar?
Anywhere between June 19th and June 25th, or even earlier. As soon as you start feeling the heat of the Summer, you know it’s time to organize your altar and begin setting up the Litha decorations!
What to do for Litha?
Decorate your altar with these symbols: Sun wheel, Fire, Sunflowers, Roses, Daisies, Crosses, Torches, Triangles as symbol of fire, the Tarot card “Sun”, the Sword of the sun god Ra, lemons, seasonal fruits and flowers.
Visit this post for more ideas and you’ll find a guided Litha ritual including a fire-jumping solitary ceremony for good luck!
Who is the goddess Litha?
There is no goddess Litha! If you’re wondering where the word Litha comes from. It’s hard to tell! The meaning and history of the name Litha in paganism is obscure.
It may be related to līþe (“mild”) probably cognate with Serbo-Croatian Polish lato, “summer, year”).
What to do with Litha ritual remains?
The following morning after you’ve celebrated Litha with a prayer, ritual or feast, clean up any candles, herbs, or ritual remains. You can keep the decorations and flowers up until they begin to wilt or whenever you need to use the space for something else. The next sabbat, Lughnasadh, occurs about 6 weeks later.
Litha Prayer
"Farewell to the waxing year, Season of fertility and growth.
*Welcome to the waning year, Season of harvest and wisdom." *