Midsummer 2024

By S.F. Skyheart - June 20, 2024

Hooray! It's officially summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Midsummer, or Litha, the beautiful, magickal summer solstice, marks the longest day of the year, and the shortest night.

In Celtic and Norse lore, the summer solstice marks the clash between the Oak King and the Holly King, who represent the waxing and waning seasons and cycles of nature. According to legend, the Holly King defeats his brother the Oak King on this day. This was depicted in bygone celebrations that included battle reenactments using stalks of fennel or sorghum as "weapons."

Although the word Litha is considered a derivative of the Anglo-Saxon word for moon, many nature-connected spiritual paths believe it was the ancient name for the summer solstice. Midsummer and Litha have been used interchangeably since the late 1960s and early 1970s, as part of the counterculture movement in the United States, which included a focus on non-violence ideology, peace demonstrations, human rights and equality organizations, social activism, and free-thinking. People were open to new interests in folk music, yoga, meditation, communing with nature, natural health food and healing modalities, astrology, and earth-based spirituality like Wicca.

I mention the modern usage of Litha and how it spread in the U.S., because the quintessential depiction of a "hippie" is often with loose clothing and flowers in their hair--which were seen in the ancient, pre-Christian celebrations of spring and summer such as Beltane (May Day), Midsummer (Litha), and Lughnasadh (Lammas).

If you haven't seen the current social media trend of "Black men frolicking" in fields of flowers or tall grass... go search your favorite platform and prepare to feel my favorite embodiment of the joy of nature and connection with our inner child. It is pure bliss. Then find your own outdoor space to twirl, collect wildflowers, and bask in the warmth of the sun.

Happy Summer!

Do what lights you up,
Sadie

About the author

S.F. Skyheart

Author of The Recollection of Trees book series. Fifth generation intuitive. Kitchen witch. she/her.

My blog is meant for inspirational and entertainment purposes only.

Content is intended to be welcoming and respectful of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or spiritual beliefs.

I do not consent to or approve of the misuse of my content in association with white supremacy, racial elitism, nationalism, or any other form of extremism. Any such ignorance has nothing to do with my ancestors, my spiritual journey, nor any of my sources (historical, spiritual, cultural, archaeological). I condemn these divisive, harmful groups and their false claims about runes, ogham, or any other symbols discussed in my writings.