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Litha




Colors


Blue, Green, Gold, Tan


Other Names




Summer Solstice, Midsummer, Alban Hefine, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, Thing-Tide, St. John's Day.


Symbols



Fire, The Sun, Blades, Mistletoe, Oak Trees, Balefire, Sun Wheels, Faeries.


Deities



Father Gods, Mother Goddesses, Pregnant Deiries, Sun Gods.


Activities



Jumping Balefire, Gathering Herbs, Clan Gatherings, Well Dressing.


Taboos



Giving away fire away, Sleeping away from home, neglecting animals.


Animals



Robin/Wren, Summer Birds, Horses, Cattle.


stones



Emerald, Jade, Tiger's Eye, Lapis Lazuli, Diamond.


Plants



Oak, Mistletoe, Frankincense, Lemon, Sandlewood, Heliotrope, Copal, Saffron, Galangal, Laurel, Yang-Yang.


Meaning



Honoring of Sun/God at his power, Saying farewell to the waxing year, Preparation for harvest, Honoring the pregnant Goddess, Beginning of waning year.


Attunement Teas



(Individually or Blended)
Anise, Carrot drinks, Lemon, Nettle, Orange.


Ritual Oils



Heliotrope, Cinnamon, Sandlewood, Lavender, Orange, All Mint Oils, Lemon, Saffron.


Goddesses



All pregnant Goddesses, All young mother Goddesses, Most war Goddesses, Aine (Irish), Aestas (Roman), Atemis (Greek), Athena (Greek), Banba (Irish), Bona Dea (Roman), Cerd (Iberian), Chup-Kamui (Japanese), Dag (German), Damonan (Breton), Dana (Irish), Dia Griene (Scottish), Djanggawaul Sisters (Aboriginal), Elat (Semitic), Eos (Greek), Erce (English), Eriu (Irish), Freya (Norse), Gerd (Teutonic), Gokarmo (Tibetan), Grian (Irish), Hathor-Tiamet (Egyptian), Indra (Aryan), Isis (Egyptian), Jord (Teutonic), Juno (Roman), Kali (Indian), Keca Aba (Russian), Kou-Njami (Siberian), Kupulo (Russian), Mabd/Maeve (Irish), Marici (Tabetan), Mitra (Aryan), Nut (Egyptian), Olwen (Welsh), Robigus (Roman), Sekhmet (Egyptian), Shekinah (Hebraic), Vesta (Roman), Wurusema (Hittite), Xatel-Ekwa (Hungarian), Zoe (Greek).


Gods



All Sun Gods, Most War Gods, Most Thunder Gods, Apollo (Greco-Roman), Baal (Phoenician), Balder (Norse), Bochica (South American), Chacol (Mayan), Dagda (Irish), Donnus (Irish), Dharma (Aryan), El (Semitic), Hadad (Syrian), Helios (Greek), Hyperion (Greek), Ganges (Indian), Gwydion (Welsh), Legba (Voodun), Llew (Welsh), Lugh (Irish), Maui (Polynesian), Oak/Holly King (Anglo-Celtic), Orunjan (Yourban), Prometheus (Greek), Ra (Egyptian), Sol/Helios (Greco-Roman), Thor (Norse), Upulero (Indonesian), Xiuhtecutli (Aztec), Zeus (Greek).


Lore



Litha is practically the classic time two perform magick of all kinds. Healings, love magick and protections are especially suitable. Herbs can be dried over the ritual fire if you're celebrating outdoors. Leap the fire for purification and renewed energy.


Food



Fresh fruits are standard fair for Litha, such as summer squash, lemons and oranges.


Recipes




Buckeyes
(Makes 4 dozen)


1 pound melted margarine
21/2 pounds smooth peanut butter
3 pounds powdered sugar
36 ounces semi-sweet chocolate or chocolate chips
1 square of cooking paraffin

To make the insides:
Mix the margarine, peanut butter, and powdered sugar together in a large mixing bowl. It will be thick and heavy. Roll the mixture into small balls about 3/4 of an inch to 1 inch across.

Melt the chocolate (Chocolate chips melt best) in a double boiler with 1 section of paraffin. Dip the balls in the chocolate mixture 3/4 of the way so they look like buckeyes. Lay them out on wax paper and let them set long enough to harden before eating.


Zucchini Casserole
(Serves 6-8)


5 zucchini, grated
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup sour cream
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon ground oregano
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground rosemary
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup fresh or canned mushrooms
1 small chopped tomato
1/2 cup bacon bits or ham cubes
2 cups prepared croutons
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all of the ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Place the mixture in a lightly greased 9x13 baking pan and bake for 30 minutes.


Information was taken from
Edain McCoy's book "The Sabbats- A New Approach to Living the Old Ways"
and Scott Cunningham's book "Wicca- A Guide For The Solitary Practitioner".
If you are interested in buying these wonderful books, click here.


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