SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATING THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR
- Sanctum of the Rose
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
The Wheel has turned passed Beltane for those of us that dwell here the Southern Hemisphere and now the blooming seasons pulls us towards Summer Solstice and the longest day of the Year. Many call this time Mid Summer, though the light may slowly start to reduce from here, the heat does not where I dwell anyway, the middle of Summer can so often endure until late in January, depending on the monsoon/cyclone season. The hot heavy weather can extend well into March, which really lengthens the summer intensity here in Norther NSW.
WHATS IN A NAME?
Many also refer to Summer Solstice as Litha, a name that has never really resonated with me, thought I feel it necessary to sometimes use it as others recognise the connection and it is these days a widely used term. Some say the word Litha became associated with Summer Solstice from the word Lipa meaning gentle or calm in Old English. Others have said it is because the Sun"Lethed"at this time of year, meaning that it relented in strength and started to decline. But the word Lethe to my knowledge relates to a ancient Greek River of forgetfulness, which may be metaphorical but is far from the word Litha, with its first recorded use by Anglo Saxon Monk Bede, in the 8th centaury, relating to mild English weather during their summer. And if you live in Australia or have been here in Summer, mild really doesn't resonate with Aussie Sun! And so I prefer to call this powerful celebration Summer Solstice, pure and simple. But you call it what you will.
If you do like to use the word Litha, perhaps you will appreacate this information from Dan the Bard:
"I like Litha as a name for the Summer Solstice/Midsummer. It stems from Bede who wrote that the Old English called June Ærra Līþa, before Midsummer, and July Æftera Līþa, after Midsummer. The þ letter is pronounced ‘th’. So Litha is, according to Bede, an Old English name for Midsummer."
THE DATE:
Summer Solstice Traditional Wheel Date is the 21st December.
The Exact Date for 2025 is: 22nd December at 2.03am AEDT.
Summer Solstice to me is a time of passion, beauty, intensity, vital and energetic strength, an opportunity for many to honour the Solar Masculine as Father Sun.
In my personal path and practices there are several solar goddesses that I also honour at this time, Hathor and Sekhmet most prominently. And so the strength of the unification of the masculine and feminine that we honoured at Beltane continues. Heat and Passion!
Images: Honouring Hathor with her sacred Sistrum that I brought back with me from Abydos in Egypt. The beauty and the power of the sun - Ra, sinking over Mother Nile. And an Altar to Sekhmet, Hathor and Horus. The intensity of all these deities really embody the power of the Sun to me and the memories of so many timelines in Egypt that flow through me.
At this time of year the heat may be intense, bordering on harsh and unrelenting and we are either usually inundated with fires or floods in this beautiful and extreme place that is Australia, and so often we are on a fire ban and so the best way to celebrate fire here in Summer is with secure candles, palm torches, floating candles, sun wheels or simply by being in the Sun.
Summer is alive with fertile potential, the sounds of the crickets and cicadas ring out through the woodlands and seem to sing in the spirit of Summer. The vibrancy of the Flame Trees and the Poinciana have begun to replace the lovely glow of the Jacaranda, Banksia and Silky Oaks and an abundance of red is bursting through the tree tops everywhere. This vital colour of strength, determination and courage perfectly reflects the potency of Summer Solstice as the full power of the Solar Energy reigns supreme before the days once more begin to shorten and we flow towards the darker months.
Illawarra Flame Tree - Brachychiton acerifolius - are found along the east coast of Australia and bring stunning vibrant blood red blooms, a striking site against the blue skies and deep green of the verges and forests. The inner bark was used by indigenous peoples to make string, nets, and traps. These seeds rich in protein cooked to remove the hairs before eating.
To me, they are aligned to strength, resilience, and radiance, and the Element of Fire and along with the Paperbark and the golden flowering Silky Oak are one of my favourite Aussie trees. Do you have a tree that you align to Summer Solstice or Winter for Northern Hemisphere folk?
At Summer Solstice a gateway opens as the Sun completes the journey across the skies to full power before beginning the light slowly begins to diminish again, this energetic gateway brings the triumph of full Solar Strength and enables us to take some of this powerful energy with us as we prepare once more for the release of light and warmth.
SUMMER SOLSTICE CORRESPONDENCES:
Colours: Red, Yellow, Gold, Green, Blue, Brown, White. (Bold blue of Summer Skies)
Symbols: Sun, Solar Wheels, Fire, Candles, Vibrant Flowers, Storms.
Deity: Sun Deities - Some Suggestions: Aine, Amaterasu, Apollo, Ares, Bast, Belenos, Hekate Aglaos (radiant) and Hieros Pyr (Holy Fire), Sunna, Hathor, Hestia, Horus, Isis, Khepri, Ra, Sekhmet, Sol. Brighid and Sol, though they have other Sabbat associations more personal to them. Elementals: Dragons, Phoenix, Salamander.
Botanicals: Agapanthus; Basil, Bougainvillea, Calendula, Chamomile, Chilli, Cinnamon, Citrus, Dragons Blood, Elderflower, Frangipani, Garlic, Geraniums, Ginger, Grapes, Flame Tree, Flowering Gum, Gardenia, Grevillea, Jacaranda, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Mango, Marigolds, Myrrh, Red, Yellow and Orange Roses, Sunflowers, Silky Oak Flowers.
Stones: Bloodstone, Carnelian, Citrine, Emerald, Fire Agate, Fire Opal, Gold, Goldstone, Lapis, Pyrite, Strawberry Quartz, Tigers Eye.
Food Suggestions: The great Aussie BBQ, Elderflower Cordial, Citrus Wine, Succulent fruit platters, Salads laden with mango, orange and chilli, Rosemary and Citrus tea, Garlic stuffed olives, Plates of fruity and spiced cheeses, Contreau and floral Gin, Brandy and Spiced Rum especially on puddings, Golden custard and rich creamy fruity ice cream, lashing of honey, Dates and Figs and Melon and plentiful seafood. Chilli, Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon.
The invitation is to work now to harness the energy of the Sun and all the beautiful associations of Solar Light and bring all you wish to see into bountiful fruition with the climax of the Calendar Year. Set fire to all that you no longer wish to take with you into the unfolding calendar year ahead as we prepare to flow from Serpent to Fire Horse in mid Feb!
Get outside in nature and observe the happenings all around you, revel in the vibrant, vital energy, the sounds and visions of Summer Potency and allow the joy of it all to flow through your heart and energy field. Super Charge Yourself.
And if you wish to join me to honour Summer Solstice there are two FREE opportunities to do so:
Live Summer Solstice Ceremonial Journey Online via Google Meet, please see my Facebook and Instagram Feeds/Stories for the Live Link to join on Saturday 20th December at 7.30pm AEDT (Sydney NSW time). Info and Details here:
If you live in the Northern Rivers or SE QLD you are invited to to gather with me on Sunday 21st December in beautiful Kingscliff, for a family friendly social picnic, feast and sunset connection. Info and Details here:
Many Blessings,
Jenni-Rose
Sanctum of the Rose
Instagram: instagram.com/Sanctumoftherose
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