SUMMER SOLSTICE AND SOLSTICE DAY 21 JUNE

NEEDS

Golden/yellow/orange flowers - Red summer fruits - Honey cake and cider - Yellow ribbon - Incense of rose - St.Johns Wart - Birch/oak/ash

Tarot 7 the chariot

THE RITES OF DAWN AND MIDDAY

1)Consecrate water etc, charge up wands etc and cast circle
2)Face north and greet the sun as it rises and dance sunwise round the circle saying:
"We bless Bel the sun Lord to bless the earth
With warmth and light so the crops may grow
And that we may have a good harvest
We know that half the summer has gone
But we still ask for warm weather
Until or beyond Lammas".
3)Give each person a yellow ribbon which should be worn all day.
4)At midday return to the circle
Congratulate the sun at its full strength and give a speech for the longest day
5)Stand in the Goddess form and everyone then holding a sprig of wood
dedicates this rite to Puck the Old One saying:
"This rite is for the good of the land".
6)One at a time all recite what they feel about this time of year.

THE SUNSET RITE

1) Place cauldron in middle of circle along with the honeycake and cider
2) At the center everyone kneels touching fingertips over the cauldron concentrating on the rite to come
3) Each person then swaps their ribbon for a piece of fruit from the priestess
4) All walk sunwise
5) The priestess then walks round and collects the flowers in the cauldron
and then places them in the middle.
6) State the purpose of this gathering:
"We are gathered here today as our Lord Bel has reached his full strength
He works together with mother earth, who can be seen in her gown of shades
of green
We see her in the raindrops and rainbows.........".
7) The bowl of fruits is passed round take two one for yourself and one for an offering
8) Move the fruit to the south and ring the bell three times each say a line:
"Cease all sorrows
Cease all strife
This day is for living
This day is for life".
9) Eat drink and be merry, and do any magical workings
10) This Rite is Ended.