High Holy Day:
Summer Solstice, June 21st, 2022
The Summer Solstice, also known as Litha in Neo Pagan circles, is the high point of the summer. The longest day and shortest night is important in the Northern hemisphere, as it marks the slow slide down to the Winter Solstice, when we have our shortest day and longest night. Reading up on this holiday has been an adventure, as I have been part of many different kinds of groups and traditions, who view this with different deities, etc. My particular hearth is Irish Pagan, specifically centered around the worship of Brighid, and it doesn’t factor in as important, other than some historical/archaeological interest. A site in Carrowkeel, Co Sligo, has many neo-lithic cairns, where at least one has a “roof box” that lines up with the midsummer sun. Whether this was to mark it for religious significance, I cannot say, but it does show that the ancients were aware of the marking of the middle of the year.
Currently, I don’t normally celebrate equinoxes or solstices, as they don’t “speak” to me in the same way that Imbolc, or Samhain, do. Part of this year long study is to find ways to incorporate these holy days into my own practice, so I can better serve those who come into my life.
As I am married to a military (U.S. army) chaplain, I am obliged to move frequently. We are currently at our second duty station in Germany, and unfortunately there is not an Open Circle the way there was in Virginia. I am basically on my own at this time, with the help of my wonderful husband. So, when celebrating this holy day, I wasn’t expecting any kind of audience.
The day was beautiful: sunny, warm, with a strong breeze. I had picked out a site near our apartment building on base, a gazebo with a cement block “oven”. It wasn’t large, and the oven was in the East, which was a bit annoying, but we work with what we have. I set my altar up (a small two tier table) facing the East, and placed my icon of Brighid on the actual oven. I used the small bowl I use as a Well on my indoor altar, and my altar candle as my Fire. My Tree was the walking staff I decorated with ribbons, and placed to the North. I used cornmeal, lemon and ginger herbal tea for sweet herbs, and olive oil from Italy that my friend brought with. I also had filtered water, but because of the wind, was unable to light incense.
I followed the Core Order of Ritual, using Rev. “Skip” Ellison’s version from The Solitary Druid as my basis. I only changed a few things, such as not using the binary for the patrons of the day, but otherwise I found it to be easy to follow. I called upon Danu as Earth Goddess, Oghma as my Bard, Manannan mac Lir as my Gatekeeper, and Brighid as the “deity of the occasion”. All the presences were felt in different ways, such as solidity for Danu, confidence with Oghma, the movement of place with Manannan, and as always the warm comforting presence of my Lady.
I did not have much memorized, but had hand written out the bulk of it into a notebook that I intend to use for this year journey. It went relatively smoothly, but as I had two “newbies” there, I didn’t just do the ritual, but explained each part, and whom I was calling, etc, as I did it. When I asked them about it afterwards, they both said it was very helpful, and didn’t feel like it interrupted the flow at all. It really helped me as well, as this was my first ritual, by myself, in a long time, and I was reassured that this was a good start.
I am still having some trouble with the omen I took. I used the Ogham sticks I created a couple of years ago, and pulled Uileann (reversed), Ruis, and Duir. The impression was one of neutrality/positivity, so I took it that way. I have been wanting to dive into using the Ogham more, so this might be the nudge I need. Overall, it was a positive beginning, and I am glad I started on the longest day with my Path.
Alyssa Johnson-Glassel
