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Midsummer Magical Tool Recharge Ritual
At Litha, the summer solstice, the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Its power reaches its apex, and we celebrate the raw energy of the sun on the longest day of the year. Because this is the high point of the sun’s journey, it is a day of great magical potential. Take advantage of this natural power, harness it, and use it to recharge your magical tools. Typically, magical tools are consecrated before first use, but it’s a good idea to periodically recharge them, just like mundane tools. After all, if you use a cordless drill or a flashlight often enough, eventually the battery is going to…
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Aerra Litha and the Germanic Pagans
When they arrived in the British Isles, the Saxon invaders brought with them the tradition of calling the month of June Aerra Litha. They marked Midsummer with huge bonfires that celebrated the power of the sun over darkness. For people in Scandinavian countries and in the farther reaches of the Northern hemisphere, Midsummer was very important. The nearly endless hours of light in June are a happy contrast to the constant darkness found six months later in the middle of winter. The period following the solstice was called Aefterra Litha, according to the Venerable Bede’s eighth century writings about the “heathen” Anglo-Saxons. Author Sandra Kynes says in A Year of…
