Our coven celebrated Midsummer on the traditional date of June 23rd. In the old days folks didn’t have an astrological ephemeris to know the exact moment of the summer solstice, so they agreed on the date of June 23rd. Nowadays, many neopagans are into being EXACT, and so follow the ephemeris date for the solstice. Our group is a bit more fluid in our approach to the seasons, feeling there’s more of an orb of energy around a holiday, and so meet when most convenient.
Our Litha celebration took place at Sycamore Hill, and a magickal evening it was! Only four of us witches were there, however, many astral beings showed up as well.
We met up at the Magickal Cottage for crafting. A number of potential wand -sized pieces of wood from various trees were presented: oak, willow, walnut, sycamore, birch and acacia.
We each selected a piece that felt right for creating a magick wand, and then we all hiked down past the hedge to the Oak and Willow Glen.
A circle was cast, we called the quarters and then, with wands in hand, we sat down and prepared for a meditation as we listened to the drumbeat.
In this guided mediation we left our physical bodies and traveled to a “tweeny” place where we met up with our own personal spirit guides. Our guides then took us to the giant oak where we entered a portal in it’s trunk and descended to the underworld. We followed a crystal pathway and saw wondrous sights and spoke with magickal beings. With the help of our spirit guides we chose the path that would lead us to a cast off, unwanted part of a magickal being, such as a dragon scale or a unicorn hair, that would be inserted energetically into our wands. This would serve to enchant our wands and empower them to serve us in our magick.
After finding our items and achieving our goal, we returned with the help of our guides to the physical realm.
On returning, our circle energy felt very mystical. The solar lights had lit themselves while we were “away” and flickered and changed colors.
One by one, we walked the labyrinth just beyond the Fairy Portal, offered some incense, and asked for insights and energy at the stone cairn by the fairy oak.
We returned to the altar, requested healing and safety for family, friends and planet, and raised some energy to send our petitions into the cosmos.
We celebrated the cakes and ale. I had earlier in the day had some fun creating a special “solar cake” for the occasion.
We dismissed the quarters, took down the circle and got in some cardio hiking back up the hill.
We sat around the fire pit and snacked on salad, wine and a midsummer zucchini cake.
May you all be blessed by the solstice energy as we now begin the slow journey to the dark half of the wheel.
Midsummer Blessings,
Sarina 🧚♂️
I know it seems like I was living at my last magickal cottage, Crow Hollow, for only a short time (5 years seems short), but life takes some unexpected turns sometimes and we are called to make changes.
for bringing things into your life
This one is dedicated to the water element.
This sconce to Brighid by Mickie Mueller I bought on Etsy serves as a good kitchen altar and I have these lovely witchy kitchen wands that I display as well. 
After all, the hearth is the heart of the home!
We discussed some of the natural elements that could be gathered in nature to set up an altar on the spur of the moment. Here are a few:
There are even mini travel altars made from Altoid tins!
The Magickal Cottage 