Celebration of the summer solstice, June 21, the longest day of the year, is as old as humankind. The days after the solstice began to get shorter and shorter. For this fundamental reason, bonfires and fire rites of all kinds were initiated on Midsummer's Eve, June 20, to symbolize the sun's power and help renew the sun's energy as it began its downward, waning, course across the horizon. In later times bonfires were lit on mountain tops, along streams, in the middle of streets and in front of houses; torches were carried in procession and burning wheels were rolled down hills and through the fields. Often there would be dancing and leaping over fires which was both to purify and protect from harsh times; as well as to ensure the well-being of the sun. Since pagan times, Midsummer Eve has been the night of rejoicing and merrymaking over the return of summer.

For a festive ritual, Invite friends to a bonfire. When everyone has arrived sacred circle is started by smudging the four directions (East - Fire, South - Earth, West - Water, and North - Air) and each other with a wonderful summer-smelling sweet grass braid traditional in some Native American rituals. While making the ceremonial circle, listening to a tape by Libana of women's acappella singing/chanting "The Air, The Earth, The Fire, The Water, Return, Return, Return, Return" and " A Circle is Cast Again and Again and Again". It is a time to remember the ceaseless rhythm and cycles of life, to remember what changes, what stays the same.
  When everyone is ready,  gather up  drums, rattles, rainsticks, and bells and parade noisily around the house in a circle and then over to where a bonfire ( and a table full of this summer's bounty of strawberries, melons, fresh produce and breads of all types will greet us.
  Tell stories of past summers, and sing to the earth and sun.
  Watch the June full moon rise -- traditionally in America known as the Strawberry Moon -- and attempt to become conscious, for a moment, of the total faith we inherently now have in the rising of the sun, the cycles of the moon, the placement of the stars, and how dependent we are on the universe, the sun and moon in particular, for life as we know it.
  It is a time to acknowledge and make connections with our place in the universe which is both a creative part and product of the universal forces of nature, of the divine and our journey within it.

Cleansing Chant... 
I celebrate the noon of Summer with mystic rites.
O Great Goddess and God,
all nature vibrates with your energies
and the Earth is bathed with warmth and life.
Now is the time of forgetting past cares and banes;
Now is the time for purification.
O fiery Sun,
Burn away the Unuseful, the Hurtful, the Bane,
In your omnipotent power...
Purify Me! Purify Me! Purify Me!
(Scott Cunningham)

"With the Sun God at the height of his power and majesty , the waxing of the year is accomplished, and the reign of the Oak king ended. With the sun God at the height of his splendour, the waxing of the year begins; the Holly King must rise, and rule over the land until the depths of winter, when the wheels turn again."

"Dance, Lady, dance-on the Oak king's tomb, Where he lies half a year in they quiet womb Dance, Lady, dance-at the Holly King's birth, Who has risen for the love of Earth. Dance, Lady, dance-to the sun God's power And his touch of gold and field and flower. Dance, Lady, dance-with thy blade in hand, That shall summon the Sun to bless thy land. Dance, Lady, dance-in the silver wheel, Where the Oak King rests, his wounds to heal. Dance, Lady, dance-for the Holly King's reign, Till his brother the Oak shall rise again. Dance, Lady, dance-in the moonlit sky To the threefold Name men know thee by. Dance, Lady, dance-on the turning Earth For the Birth that is Death, and the Death that is birth. Dance, Lady, dance-to the Sun on high, For his burning splendor, too , must die. Dance, Lady, dance-to the year's long tide, For through all change must thou abide."
 -and now, accelerating the rhythm-
"Dance for the Sun in glory, Dance for the Oak King's passing, Dance for the Holly king's triumph Dance, Lady, dance - Dance, Lady, dance - Dance, Lady, dance -….."

"The spirit of the Oak King is gone from us, to rest in the castle of the Silver Wheel; until, with the turning of the year , the season shall come when he shall return to rule again. The spirit is gone; Let us be free from waxing."

 "Let the Midsummer fires shine forth!"

- The Witches Bible Janet and Stewart Fara

Walk with Wisdom