Summer Solstice – Midsummer – Litha – Alban Hefin
The Summer Solstice occurs around June 19-23rd when one of the Earth’s poles has achieved its maximum tilt toward the sun. This year the Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere falls on Wednesday, June 24th. It is also known as Midsummer, Litha and Alban Hefin, to name a few; it is a festival of fire and water. The fire represents the Sun at its zenith; it is at the peak of its power on the longest day and shortest night of the year. The water represents the Earth, the Goddess, pregnant with all the planted potential from earlier months preparing to birth out all that has been sown. The cauldron of the Lady is filled to the brim with the magic of abundance at this time. At this turning point of the wheel it is the longest day of the year, and thus each day thereafter is shorter and shorter until the wheel turns to Yule once more.
In the mythology of my tradition this turning point marks the transfer of power from the Oak king, who presides over the part of the wheel where the sun is waxing, to the Holly king who presides over the waning sun portion of the year. The Oak and Holly King represent aspects of light and dark, night and day, sowing and reaping. The waxing Sun has pushed its growing potential energy into the earth, with Oak serving as guardian and protector. Seeds, energetic and literal, begin to germinate, grow, and now may begin to bear fruit. The sun still has months of shining and growing to do, but the energetic polarity shifts from sowing to reaping, and this is the energy that Holly holds for us.
In the mythology of these kings, Oak and Holly vie for the role of guardian of the goddess by way of battle or contest. She is testing for a new mate; one who can guard and support her. In many species in nature, the male is tested and must impress or be selected by the female to mate; so it is here. Ultimately, the Holly king defeats the Oak king who is then sacrificed; in days of old it is believed that the human enacting the role of Oak king would be sacrificed in truth; by fire, crucifixion or other means. This was followed by a great celebratory festival as the Oak king returns in wraith form to the goddess to be reborn at Yule, and the cycle continues. Remember that to sacrifice means to make sacred; to offer something of value up freely for the sake of love and devotion. In current days this is accomplished symbolically with an effigy of some sort. Making a poppet (doll) in the image of the Oak king, and putting time, attention and love into it can be a worthy sacrifice as well.
At this point in the Wheel, the goddess in her aspect of Heather presides over the testing and choosing of her mate, and in this choice she demonstrates her Sovereignty; the ability to choose is the ability to be free. The Oak king, the god, ultimately concedes and chooses to honor the balance for the good of the land; a willing sacrifice. There is magic in sovereignty; be sovereign to yourself and you will find yourself more able to allow and honor it in others. Oak and Holly are the guardians of the goddess who embodies Sovereignty; self-governance, choice, freedom, authenticity. We carry both of these feminine and masculine energetic aspects within us as well, regardless of physical gender. The feminine aspect should be presiding over helping to choose what is best for you; what lights you up, the things that you are passionate about and are here to express. The masculine aspect guards; not competing or controlling, but supporting and protecting as the feminine in you creates and births whatever it is you are here to do. They work together in balance, as all things do. As above, so below.
There are many ways to bring the energy of Midsummer into your life. This is a good time to take advantage of the strength and might of the sun. Here are some ideas: balance and open your Solar Plexus chakra as well as your entire auric field; this can be as simple as spending time in the sun with your feet on the earth. Take stock of what you have been working on energetically so far this year. What intentions have you been crafting for? How is it going? How would you like to see it going? What steps can you take now to bring you closer to your goal? Use these as journal prompts and let the light of the sun at its peak illuminate your subconscious. Create effigies of the Oak and Holly King; get creative. These could be made from straw, cloth, yarn, clay, any medium you enjoy working with that can be burned or buried to be returned to the earth. Keep the Holly figure to be used at Yule, and sacrifice the Oak figure, preferably by burning as this is a fire festival, but burying is also a good option. Have a feast in honor of the Oak king; this is a great time to get together and celebrate the sun. Another way to celebrate is to enact the fight of the kings with two people who wish to take up this symbolic role in a sparring battle. Be sure to clearly delineate and state that these two people are taking up the mantle for the symbolic fight, and divest them of this mantle afterward. If you enjoy choreographing combat, this can be a fun and enjoyable option for getting into the energy of it. Ultimately, the Oak king concedes to let his brother take up guardianship for the dark half of the year. The great breathing cycle of the wheel continues, and Holly takes up the mantle as the sun begins its slow and inexorable journey further from this hemisphere, and the harvest season begins. May you have a Blessed Midsummer.
