Litha: Summer Solstice

It’s that time again…  And I’m off on the hunt for recipes and crafts to share with y’all.

From my Wheel of the Year post:

At the Summer Solstice the sun is at its highest and brightest and the day is at its longest. The Lord of Light has fought the powers of darkness, and is triumphant, ensuring fertility in the land. But in so doing so, He sows the seeds of His own death. The Wheel turns and the Dark God (the Holly King) begins to wax in power as the Light God (Oak King) wanes.

The Goddess shows Her Death- in-Life aspect, the Earth is fertile, and all is in bloom, the Goddess reaches out to the fertilizing Sun God at the height of His powers. At the same time She presides over the death of the God. The Goddess dances Her dance of Life and Death, the Sun God loves Her, and dies of His love. The Summer Solstice is a time of fulfilment of love.

Flowers are in bloom everywhere, i.e. in sexual maturity, ready for pollination, fertilization, yet once fertilized they die that the seeds and fruits may develop. At the same time, summer fruits appear, for a short but delicious season.

June was considered by some to be the luckiest month to be married in, and is the time of the mead moon, or honey moon. A tradition was for newly weds to drink mead daily for a month after their wedding, hence the post wedding holiday being named the honeymoon. Although the days begin to grow shorter after the Summer Solstice, the time of greatest abundance is still to come. The promises of the Goddess and God are still to be fulfilled.

This is a time of beauty, love, strength, energy, rejoicing in the warmth of the sun, and the promise of the fruitfulness to come. It seems a carefree time, yet in the knowledge of life, is the knowledge of death, and beauty is but transitory. We celebrate life, and the triumph of light, but acknowledge death, and the power of the Dark Lord which now begins to grow stronger.

At this time of year, our physical energy is generally at its peak, and we are active and strong. Games involving a show of strength, such as tug of war, wrestling, etc. are appropriate here, and are often staged at summer fayres. This can be considered a remnant of pagan customs involving the battle between the light and dark Gods.

Candle Magick

What is Candle Magick?

Candles have a unique place in almost every faith, creed, and nationality. Ancient Egyptians are credited with the inventive use of reeds soaked in animal fats to burn as “rushlights”. They began using beeswax to make candles nearly identical to what we use today as early as 3000 B.C.

Candles are embraced as a tool that links mankind to the divine, and they illuminate our messages, feelings, and wishes. There’s something very special about that solitary flame. The unique concentration of energy as it burns, the light and warmth it conveys, and the release of your message or wish taken up to the universal forces with the wafting of the dancing tendrils of smoke. Candle magick is one of the most basic forms of spellcraft, and is a simple way for the beginner to get a feel for working with the power of intent.

 

Effective Use of Colour

Colours are distinct energies in and of themselves. We may not think about this in our daily lives, as our physical bodies on a low vibration may only perceive them in their mundane forms and then move on in our train of thought.

Our visual perception of colour with the mechanics of the human eye may seem simple, but it is a very complex process that alludes to the magickal properties of each. It is a scientific fact that colour (and our perception of it) is not of a flat, lifeless thing. Every possible colour is a constant wavelength of energy, a vibrational entity. When we see a colour, we are actually perceiving a specific wavelength that occurs due to a signature of sorts; a unique reflection of light and energy with it’s own attributes. This signature, or entity, may go virtually unnoticed by the conscious mind as we go about our day to day routines. However, it is always perceived by the subconscious mind, and it can have such a powerful effect on the human psyche that it can have a dramatic effect on out moods. So much so that businesses have studied and incorporated those effects into their advertising and promotions. They are used in everything from street signs to decorative themes in restaurants. Colours invoke specific feelings and emotions within us, and can prompt specific behaviours as a result. Let’s broaden our understanding with a few practical examples. You can refer to your colour correspondence chart from the associations and correspondences lesson for specific properties.

Red symbolises conflict, danger, confrontation, and competition. It is also the colour of the root chakra, which enables our most primitive and instinctual reactions. What could be more appropriate for a stop sign or warning sign? The passionate attributes of red are utilised to convey such passion when red roses are given to a lover, but a sweeter, more endearing spiritual love and compassion is portrayed with pink roses.

Shades of orange are commonly utilised in the interior design of fast food restaurants. They not only embody success in businesses and investments, making you feel good about spending your money, but oranges also stimulate the sacral chakra, which opens up lustful, hungry feelings. The signature colour of my favourite mass merchandising “neighbourhood” store is the same shade of blue that is meant to convey trust, fidelity, sincerity, domestic harmony, organisation, and good fortune. Coincidence? Absolutely not. These decisions are far from random. A shopping mall would likely use colours that invoke calm and tranquillity, so that you feel comfortable staying longer. A casino or game room would incorporate colours that convey fun and excitement. Hospitals are always draped in neutral tones that portray balance, healing, and protection. And so on, and so forth.

In addition, the colours people choose to wear, or the colours they choose to decorate with in their homes provide us with subconscious assumptions about their personalities when we have little other information to go on. You probably expect a clown to wear vibrant colours, and a banker or doctor to wear neutral tones. How different would the effects be if those assumptions proved out of the ordinary? If the clown’s dress and makeup were in bland tones, or the doctor showed up wearing all hot pink, it could change the way you felt about the situation entirely.

 

Using Candle Magick

Let’s get started with an instructional format for a basic candle ritual. First, you should decide on an intent you wish to have manifest. Remember the implications of karma!

With candle magick, your need or intent could be nearly anything, but I will give you an example here so that you will have a general guideline. Let’s say I had a disagreement with my spouse, feelings were injured, and I wanted to quell the resulting tensions and improve the relationship. For this I would choose a pink candle, as it represents compassion, domestic harmony, love, and emotional healing. There are other colours that could work as well, but as I look through the correspondences, pink also represents romance and partnership….this harmony and healing that is needed is in regards to my spouse. Pink is the colour that I personally would associate, and that is what’s important for the purpose of effectiveness.

It would be best to perform this during a full moon, as I’m not really attempting to create nor banish anything. The full moon brings desires into fruition. I would gather a pen and paper, a fireproof dish, the pink candle, and a lighter or matches….and set up a sacred space by casting a circle at my altar. Once the circle was cast, I would light the candle and then meditate for a moment. As I focused on the flame I would think about having my need being met, which is achieving that harmonious relationship. I would visualise hard feelings dissipating, and mending our partnership so that we could get along as we did before any misunderstanding.

Take the paper and pen, and write the need or wish on the paper-exactly as you wish it to manifest- leaving no doubt or lack of solidity. As you craft a spell, it is important to frame it in your mind as being completed. You’re not just asking, hoping, or wishing. For this example, I might write something simple like “I will have a harmonious and healed relationship with my spouse.”

Take the paper and fold it up, mentally sealing in your intent, visualising it being a tangible thing that can be placed inside. Lay the folded paper on the dish, and use the flame of the candle to burn it. As it burns, continue to focus on the need at hand. I would make sure to iterate that I desire that my wish be granted in accordance with the greater good, and give thanks for guidance and assistance. After I felt that I’d sufficiently focused and meditated, I would then release the circle and allow the candle to burn out on its own, or for as long as safely possible before snuffing it out. Tradition dictates that you never blow out a spelling candle, as it scatters the intensity of the power you have generated.

 

What situations call for Candle Magick?

Almost every need you will have in a lifetime can be met by using Candle Magick. In fact, some practitioners use nothing else. The drawing or repelling of candles can cover almost every situation, as I will illustrate with examples now.

Drawing/repelling are terms used to describe a specific method of using candles to cause an effect, and the beauty of it is in its simplicity. It involves the use of two or more separate candles which represent objects, people, places, etc. These candles are moved towards or away from one another in order to “act out” your intent. This is called “sympathetic” magick. Sympathetic magick is based on the metaphysical belief that like affects like. Whatever you cause to happen to the objects in turn happens to their likeness. This is also the type of magick used when a practitioner creates a poppet (more commonly referred to as a voodoo doll).

For example, let’s imagine that I have a specific monetary need, such as fees for a medical copy that I must pay within 2 weeks. I need to break down every aspect of this situation into sympathetic terms, depicted as follows.

Since my need is financial, I would choose a green candle as a representation because money and physical needs are both associated with the colour green. I need to draw this to me, so another candle needs to represent me. I could associate myself (or any person) with a candle in a couple of ways….by using what I consider to be my (or their) signature colour, and also by inscribing the candle. Using a burin (or even a nail, so long as it has been consecrated) I would make inscriptions into the candle itself including my name and any symbols that I feel would imbue that sympathetic reasoning which would cause that candle to “be” me. The same could be done with the green candle, by inscribing the specific amount I need and/or symbols portraying the specific need. There are no limitations! The more specific a connection I make between the subjects of my spell and the candles can only create a stronger link.

The time frame can be represented here as well. Minutes can stand in for days, so I would complete the ritual over the course of 14 minutes, not including the time I take for grounding, centring, and casting the circle. Don’t forget to set up where you can see a clock without leaving the circle! As shown below, I would begin with each candle on opposite ends of my altar, “drawing” each candle towards the other at set intervals. Every minute I would move each candle a little closer to the other until they meet, representing my need coming to me within the necessary time frame. Once finished, I would allow the candles to burn out on their own if safely possible, or let them burn as long as I could before snuffing them.

 

Start O o o o o o o o o o o o o o O END O o o o o o o o o o o o o o O Start

Sometimes, more than two candles may be necessary to portray the right situation, for example- love or sex magick. In this case, I would need a candle to for each party involved and another to embody the essence of of my intention between the two. Imagine for a moment that I simply bound the two people to one another without specifying the intent. I may draw someone to me regardless, but if I do not specify that it is with love, passion, sexual attraction, or some other positive emotion, I leave that joining together open to the possibility of being subjected to any emotion. In order to do this correctly, I would place need to place my “person”candle on one end, and an intent candle along with the other “person” candle on the other end, drawing them towards my candle until all three meet in alignment.

 

Start (self) O o o o o o o o o O

O o o o o o o o o O Start (intent)

O o o o o o o o o O Start (person 2)

End all candles align at finish

This type of spellcraft can also be used to repel, or get rid of something. That something could be a health condition, a problem at work….the possibilities here are limited by nothing but your own imagination. For repulsion, the technique is simply opposite. The candles are moved away from one another in the same manner.

 

General Guidelines

1) Any type of candle can be used as long as it is cleansed and consecrated beforehand, though beeswax is preferable because energy flows more freely from natural substances.

2) Some candle Magick, if the need is of a dire nature, needs to be done over a period of days to get the proper personification. No matter how long you intend to perform the spell, be sure to set up in a place that there isn’t a risk of them being disturbed.

3) If your spell is to be done over a matter of hours or days or you are leaving the candles to burn out, you need not stay within the circle the entire time. Ensure that your intent has been solidified in the representations, meditate and visualize for what you feel to be an appropriate amount of time, and then leave the candles to do the rest.

4) Choose an area where there will be no interference of energy from a television or radio, and where there is no traffic. And of course, be careful not to light any candles near curtains, bedding, or anything else flammable.

5) Tie in associations on your altar along with the candles themselves. Try to time your need with the corresponding day and/or moon phase. Burn a corresponding type of incense.

6) You should choose a candle colours that correspond to that need or wish, if it’s at all possible. However, in a pinch you can always substitute white for any other colour (except black, as the opposition of that polarity is not meant to be overcome). White is pure, and it is also a reflection of all colours, so it can represent any other colour if necessary so long as your intent is clear.

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Candle Color List

 

 

CANDLE SPELLS & CASTING THEM

1) At sunrise light a light-blue candle, do every morning for 7 days, this protects against evil influences, promotes harmony in a love relationship and is an antidote to quarreling.2) For good luck and to restore good fortune, burn 1 yellow and 1 brown candle.3) To attract great financial luck, burn 3 candles, 1 brown 1 yellow, 1 orange.

4) For luck in love, burn a red candle.

5) To start a favorable week, burn 1 orange and 1 blue candle, the combination is a powerful one.

6) To avoid scandal and malicious gossip, burn a silver candle.

7) To break up a love affair, burn 1 green and 1 black candle, this negative combination is powerful.

 For good fortune to come to you, burn 1 orange and 1 blue candle on a Monday.

9) To attract success, fame, honor and power, burn an orange candle each morning on waking.

10) During the night, burn a turquoise candle if a decision concerning the future is about to be made. This will ensure peace and optimism.

11) To keep financial problems from your door, burn 3 pale orange candles, every day for 3 days, missing one day, will invite a bad day.

12) To prevent rape/violence, burn one yellow and one violet candle before sleep.

13) To prevent robbery and assault, burn a green candle at sunset every day.

14) Maximum protection against violent crime, burn a lime green candle at sunset every night.

15) To help prevent financial loss and disaster, burn a green and red/gold candle, it also helps prevent disloyalty in a love relationship.

16) To restore harmony and stability if domestic turmoil erupts, burn one green and one purple candle.

Source: Various and tried

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Elemental Ritual

This lesson takes the form of a practical ceremony to the Four Elements. Unless you have previous experience, make sure that you have worked through the previous lessons and exercises before commencing with this ceremony.

Prepare your ritual space, on your altar place a representation of each of the elements.

Burning incense for Air
Red Candle for Fire
Bowl of Spring Water for Water
A Bowl of ground for Earth

Make sure that you will not be disturbed, switch your phone off and take a few deep breaths.

Cast a circle, purifying it first. Then invite each of the Elements into your circle :

Air in the East, Fire in the South, Water in the West and Earth in the North.

Now take your incense and observe the rising smoke. Observe the patterns the smoke makes as it rises, smell the sweet smells and become aware of Air, which is all around you.

Next, meditate for a few minutes on the burning candle. Watch the flame, feel the heat that it is producing. Become aware of the powers of Fire in Nature.

Now, take your bowl of water. Smell the water and touch it. Feel the sensation of the water and become aware of the qualities of Water. Its place in Nature.

Lastly, take the bowl of Earth. Smell it and touch it. Feel the sensation of the Earth and become aware of the qualities of Earth and its place in Nature.

Now it is time to say farewell to the Elements – starting with Earth in the North, then Water in the West, Fire in the South and Air in the East.

Open your magick circle and ground yourself by eating some food, bread or cakes are particularly good (i.e. carbohydrate rich foods)

Invoking/ Inviting the Quarter Guardians

 

“Calling the Quarters”

 

Having meditated on the elements and experienced them more in your life, you will want to be able to invite them to join you and bring their qualities into your celebrations and rites.

In Wicca, the invocation of the elements is performed after casting your circle.

As you call the element raise your arms in the blessing position. The elements are usually called starting in the East, place of Air and new beginnings. You then turn deosil (clockwise) to the South to call Fire, then to the West to call Water and to the North to call Earth, finally turning back to the East to complete the circular motion.

The traditional Wiccan way of calling the elements, which is published in many books on Wicca is as follows:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth; I do summon call and stir you up, to witness our rites and to guard the Circle

As a solitary I tend not to use this form, as I feel it is preferable to invite the elements rather than command them, as commanding implies dominance and power over rather than power with, but again it is entirely up to the individual on how you will do this and as you gain confidence and experience, you will discover what’s best for you.

Here is an example of how we may invite the Elements:

Powers of Air, I call to you and invite you to join us in this rite, to share your qualities with us; In Love and Truth, we bid you Hail and Welcome!

Powers of Fire, I call to you and invite you to join us in this rite, to share your qualities with us; In Love and Truth, we bid you Hail and Welcome!

Powers of Water, I call to you and invite you to join us in this rite, to share your qualities with us; In Love and Truth, we bid you Hail and Welcome!

Powers of Earth, I call to you and invite you to join us in this rite, to share your qualities with us; In Love and Truth, we bid you Hail and Welcome!

Obviously when you have finished your rite you say farewell to the elements, starting in the North with Earth and moving widdershins (anticlockwise) to Air in the East. This is done before opening the circle, as the closing of a rite is done in reverse order from the opening. Banishing energies and departures are usually performed in a widdershins direction. (anti-clockwise)

Here are the corresponding words to the above invocations:

 

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the North, ye Lords of Earth; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the West, ye Lords of Water; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the South, ye Lords of Fire; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East, ye Lords of Air; I thank you for attending my rite; and ere you depart to your fair and lovely realms, I bid thee Hail and Farewell.

Again, my way of saying farewell is slightly different, i.e.:

Powers of Earth, I thank you for joining me and sharing your qualities with me in this rite, and with love and joy and thanks I bid you Hail and Farewell.

Powers of Water, I thank you for joining me and sharing your qualities with me in this rite, and with love and joy and thanks I bid you Hail and Farewell.

Powers of Fire, I thank you for joining me and sharing your qualities with me in this rite, and with love and joy and thanks I bid you Hail and Farewell.

Powers of Air, I thank you for joining me and sharing your qualities with me in this rite, and with love and joy and thanks I bid you Hail and Farewell.

If this is done in a group, you would see “We” rather than “I” and “us” rather than “me” when performing the calling and the farewells, and any other people present should all chorus “Hail and Farewell” after you have said it. You can also change the words for each of the quarters, or write your own. To begin with it is a good idea to use standard words which you can memorise or read for your ceremonies. This is important so that you can both gain confidence and experience of how it is done, and so that you can gain a better understanding of how it works. When you have done this a few times you will better understand of what to include and what not.

 

An exercise to do if you wish

 

a)    Practice inviting/invoking and thanking / banishing the Elements in a magick circle. Write down how this changes your circle experience and what you feel when you invoke each in turn.

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