🔥 Litha: the solar sabbath that burns excuses
#NoFussWitchcraft #SummerMagic #InnerFire
Litha, for those who missed the seasonal mythology course, is the summer solstice sabbath .
The precise moment when the Sun is at its zenith, bombarding the Earth with light… and reminding us that it is entirely possible to melt physically AND emotionally in less than 24 hours.
It is the celebration of the longest day of the year .
And so, technically, from the beginning of the descent: from there, each minute of light nibbles away at a tiny bit of its splendor until Yule, the winter solstice.
But before you dive into your reindeer-patterned blanket: stop.
Today we are talking about Litha.
We talk about fire, passion, harvests to come, laughter too loud at dusk, flowers in hair, skin salted by the sun and promises that we no longer have the right to put off until tomorrow.
✦ Litha: a sabbath of harsh light
As much as Ostara is the sabbath of tender promises, of still timid seeds,
as much as Beltane is that of the fire of the flesh and of the desire which crackles…
Litha, for him, is the apogee.
No more excuses.
No more “I’ll see tomorrow”.
The sun is here. Bright. Undeniable.
And he gently burns your illusions in the process.
If you want a metaphor:
Litha is like the moment when you realize your “life projects” to-do list has been dormant since January and half the village is already dancing barefoot in the wheat fields.
It's now or never.
✦ Why celebrate Litha?
Because we need to remember that we are made of fire, even when we think we are extinct.
Because we need to see our projects take shape.
Because we need to celebrate—really, loudly, intensely—before we start harvesting again.
Litha is a paradoxical Sabbath:
It's the light at its peak... but it's already the beginning of the shadow.
It is the warmth that unites… but it is also the call of detachment.
We laugh, we dance, we bless, but we already know that it won't last forever.
And it's beautiful.
Because it's anything but fixed.
✦ How to celebrate Litha (without burning your balcony)
No need to summon a coven of 13 white-robed witches to the middle of Stonehenge (although, admit it, that would be sexy).
Here's how to celebrate Litha at home , with what you have, without the fuss or the budget worthy of a pagan festival.
🔥 1. Light a fire (even symbolic)
Traditionally, large bonfires were lit to honor the Sun.
Today you can do this:
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A gold or orange candle.
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A small fire pit if you have a garden.
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Candles on your balcony (watch out for the neighbors... and the cats).
While it's burning, think about what you want to amplify.
Blow your dreams right in his face.
🌿 2. Pick or offer solar herbs
Sacred herbs of Litha: St. John's wort, lavender, mugwort, thyme, chamomile, rosemary.
Make a small bouquet. Hang it on your door or give it to someone.
Simple magic: it attracts light and chases away shadows.
🐚 3. Bathe — even one foot
Litha is a sabbath where water and fire coexist.
If you can swim in a lake or the sea, do it.
Alternatively, just dip your feet in a basin of cool water. Visualize your fears dissolving.
🌸 4. Flower crown (or just one flower)
Flower crowns are a symbol of fertility and connection to the Earth.
Don't want to? Okay.
Pick a single flower. Place it on your altar or beside your bed.
Remember that it is fleeting, and so are you.
✨ 5. A Burnt Wish
Write down a wish you've never dared to make.
Burn it in your Litha fire.
Promise the Sun to take at least one concrete step in this direction this summer.
✦ What Litha teaches me, every year
Every year I tell myself I'm not ready.
Not ready to be seen, not ready to shine, not ready to receive what I have sown.
And then Litha arrives.
He lights my inner fire, even when I thought it was out.
He forces me to look at what I'm pushing away.
And to say: “Come on. That’s enough. Live now.”
We're never really ready.
But we are still alive.
And that's enough to dance around the fire.
✦ Litha and you: questions to light your flame
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What do you refuse to show for fear of burning?
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Which project finally deserves your full and complete spotlight?
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What can you offer the world this summer, without expecting it to be “perfect”?
Answer. Or not.
But let these questions sow their seed in you.
✦ In conclusion: let yourself be set on fire (just enough)
Litha is not a fixed celebration.
It's an invitation to become you again. Bigger. More vibrant. Riskier.
This is not a wise Sabbath.
It is a living Sabbath.
So this week,
barefoot dancing.
Laugh too loud.
Dare to say yes.
Dare to say no.
And above all, remember:
The Sun does not ask itself if it is disturbing when it shines.
And neither do you.
🔥
With love, light and a hint of sweet burn,
Lili.