Midsummer is the Summer Solstice, the high point of the sun. This is a wonderful time of the year to begin a new, get a fresh start and leave your troubles behind. It is also a time to celebrate the elements of fire and water, because Midsummer falls on the cusp of Cancer, (a prime water sign) and Leo (a prime fire sign).
The following ritual can be performed indoors or preferably outdoors, near a lake or river, if possible. Adapt to your surroundings and find a way to perform a ritual that will be fun for everyone involved.
Have everyone write on a sheet of paper what it is that they wish to put behind them and fold the paper as many times as they wish to. If young children are involved, tell them to think of something they would change, if they could, and have them draw or scribble on the paper something to represent what they are thinking.
Next, hold the paper between your hands and visualize yourself as the better person you'll become once you put your problem(s) behind you. Children can continue to focus on what they'd change while they hold the paper.
For the next part, you'll need a bowl or plate of sand or dirt from anywhere, and a bucket or bowl of water, preferably from a lake or river (tap water will do otherwise), and light a floating candle of your choice in the bowl or bucket of water. As you light the candle say:
Take the folded up piece(s) of paper and light it/them with the candle (one at a time) and have each person say:
Then drop the burning paper onto the sand/dirt. To join Fire with
Water, push the burning candle below the surface of the water to
extinguish the flame and say:
Dip your fingers into the water and sprinkle a bit in each of the four directions and say:
Then have everyone dip their fingers in the water and sprinkle each other with the water and say:
The last step is to have everyone take a turn in mixing the paper remains into the sand/dirt and return it to the earth where taken from. Here your problems can heal and give life to new adventures within Mother Earth.
Finish off Midsummer's Day by going swimming or building a bonfire in the evening. Bonfires are tradition for this day, in fact you can adjust this ritual to incorporate a bonfire by throwing your papers into the fire. Be creative and celebrate however you can. It's the celebration that is important, not how you do it.
