This is the full script from the Three Sisters Temple Litha ceremony on June 19, 2021
Jump to our programs and handouts at the bottom for more ideas!
Gathering ~ Daria
Opening song plays: Do You Know by Just A Tourist
Welcome and Opening Prayer ~ Daria
Hail Summer Sun
Riding high in the sky, longest day of the year
And yet a paradox
A tipping point
Light turns to dark, slowly at first, then pouring faster and faster as the wheel turns
So drink in the light
Dance in the light of the fireflies
Under the Cancer Mother's Moon
Revel in the gifts of maidenhood, cavort with your brothers and sisters
For soon it will be harvest time
Harvest of fruit to feed us
Harvest of children to succeed us
Can you feel the womb of the world, growing heavier with life?
Welcome friends, to our Litha celebration.
Creating Sacred Space ~ Ann
We call upon the powers of the East;
Powers of air, where the Sun rises in the morning
Powers of wonder and imaginations, clarity and communication
Laughter, music, birds singing, breezes blowing, bonfire smoke
Blessings of all creatures on the wing
We invite you to join us
Hail and Welcome!
We call upon the powers of the South;
Powers of fire, where the Sun is high in the midday sky
Powers of passion and determination, courage and transformation
Light, energy, heat and warmth, flames leaping, fires burning
Blessings of all creatures of fang and claw
We invite you to join us
Hail and Welcome!
We call upon the powers of the West;
Powers of water, where the Sun sets and our ancestors dwell
Powers of love and dreaming, compassion and healing
Womb, tears, oceans flowing, rain falling, lemonade and sprinklers
Blessings of all creatures of fin and those who swim
We invite you to join us
Hail and Welcome!
We call upon the powers of the North:
Powers of Earth, where the mystery lives
Powers of fertility and creation, rebirth, strength and manifestation
Seed, mountain, crystal and core, forest knowing, fields growing
Blessings of all creatures of fur and paw, hoof and horn
We invite you to join us
Hail and Welcome!
We now call upon the center…above and below…within and without
Spirit that joins and unifies all elements
And connects all beings
We honor you and ask that you be with us today
Lesson/Education ~ Barbara
The spiritual path of the Wheel of the Year comprises eight sacred days, also known as sabbats, that are evenly spaced throughout the calendar year, resembling spokes on a wheel. Each sabbat, or holy time, corresponds to an important turning point in nature’s journey through the seasons. When we follow the Wheel, we become aware that the Earth moves through a predictable cycle of slow, quiet restfulness in the darker, colder months, through a rising awakening as the warmth and light increases and new life returns, into an exuberant burst of growth and abundance, the harvest celebrations of abundance follow, and then things begin to settle down, shut down, or die off as the darkness and cold return. And then the Wheel turns and the cycle begins again.
By following the Wheel of the Year, we can attune ourselves to the energetic cycles of the seasons and listen to nature’s divine guidance remembering that we are part of the truth that All is One and All is Her Love. Each time of the year has its own particular energy which dictates the general theme of the holiday and the magickal work that is most supported. The sabbats are also portal times, when all beings have direct access to the sacred energy of the cosmos. For instance, at Imbolc, the energy is quiet and preparatory - waiting for the land to awaken. At Ostara, the Spring Equinox, the energy is bubbly and hopeful as new life springs forth. And now at the Summer Solstice, also known as Litha and Midsummer, the energy is just that - energetic - the sun is at its zenith and the Earth is bursting with growth and vitality. And so we have the themes of abundance, growth, fertility, and increase of every kind. It is a good time to work on prosperity and anything positive that you want to continue to grow.
Litha is the original Anglo-Saxon name for this month, and it falls midway between the Spring Equinox and Fall Equinox, when the power of the cycle is at its peak. There is more light than there will be at any other time along the Wheel, and the energy will never be higher. This is the time for activity and forward movement. Earlier in the year, we planned for things we wished to work on and planted seeds for things to come to pass, and now is the time to DO instead of think. Midsummer is your signal to go, go, go,...just like the fledglings leaving the nest. Set your plan of action and get into motion. Use the power of the energy around you to motivate you to achieve things you’ve set out to do. You may find yourself staying up later or getingt up earlier,...for the days are longer and have more sustainable energy.
Litha is a solar festival, a fire festival. It is a celebration of nature and all that is growing around us. At this time we focus on fertility, abundance, prosperity, success, and good fortune - mirroring the enthusiastic growth surrounding us. The sun has reached its
zenith and is at the height of its power magically as well. As we know the only constant is change, and we are now at a tipping point, the energy will soon begin to wane as we move into the dark half of the year. So revel in the energy of this time, dance with it, move with it, welcome it into your magickal work.
Being the longest day of the year and the shortest night, the Summer Solstice has been observed in virtually every culture in the world. The Greeks, Romans, Celts, Norse, Aztecs, and Jews all celebrated this day in their own ways. Empowerment, increase, abundance, love, and joy have been themes of Midsummer in many cultures throughout the world for thousands of years
Traditionally people stayed up all night on Midsummer's Eve to welcome and watch the sunrise. Bonfires were lit on tops of hills, by holy wells, at places held sacred, to honour the fullness of the Sun. At Litha the bonfire really represents a reflection of the Sun at the peak of its strength. The chosen wood would often be Oak and aromatic herbs were scattered into the fire. People danced around the fires and leapt through them. Blazing herbs from the sacred bonfire were used to bless the animals. Blazing torches were carried sunwise around homes and fields. Coals from the Midsummer fire were scattered on fields to ensure a good harvest.
Tree worship has always played a large role in Midsummer festivities and trees near wells and fountains were decorated with coloured cloths. In Celtic traditions, June is the month of the Oak - a symbol of strength and vitality. In Pagan mythos, the year is split between the old and wise Oak King, who rules from the Winter solstice to the Summer Solstice, and the young, energetic Holly King, who is supreme from Midsummer to Yule. The Celtic name for Oak is 'Duir' which means 'doorway' - we are crossing the threshold, entering the doorway into the second, waning part of the year.
The rose is the Goddess’s symbol at this time of year. Roses bloom abundantly in June, and we can take joy in their sweet scent and beauty. But roses also have thorns. They remind us again, that wherever we are, we know nothing lasts forever. We do not live in the unchanging twilight realm of Faery, but in the living, dying, fading, and growing realm of Earth. Whenever something is completed we must let it go. And so this tipping point of the summer solstice is also a time to practice giving things away, letting go of what is completed and done. Letting go of something doesn’t mean just getting rid of it. When we let go, we also allow someone, something to change and grow and become different.
The Wheel of the Year also explores the different ways we see the Goddess and the God at each season; for they have many different manifestations, personalities, and much wisdom and many lessons to share. At the Summer Solstice, the Goddess is the generous Mother, Gaia, Frigg, Flora… she who gives life and fruitfulness to all her children. Everything in nature is generous… the apple tree makes hundreds of apples every year, when only one seed in one apple would be enough to reproduce the tree. Bees make honey so that the hive can survive the winter, but they keep on working all summer long, storing enough to share….and the Goddess keeps making new forms of beauty - a rich diverse tapestry of biodiversity. The Goddess at Midsummer gives us not just what we need but extra. We can feel close to her by being generous, giving more than we’re asked to give, doing more than our fair share. That way we make abundance for all.
The triple goddess, who can manifest as Maiden, Mother, or Crone, is in her Mother aspect at Litha, pregnant with the child of her consort, the God. The God is strong and virile at the peak of his power, reflecting the glory and power of the sun above. He is the partner of the Goddess, bringing abundance to all of nature. He is Lugh, the Sun God, and he is the ancient power of life who was known simply as the Good God, Keeper of the Crops, provider for his people. And soon he will sacrifice himself so that the land will flourish and crops continue to grow. For everything and everyone who fulfills their purpose must change. He teaches us not to carry the dead in the branches of our tree, to release our historical baggage so we might live fully in the present and revel in the power of now.
At Litha, in the Northern hemisphere there is more daylight than any other time; a direct counterpoint to the darkness of Yule. We welcome and honor the gods and goddesses from around the world that are connected with the sun and sacred fire. We invite all your support, wisdom and blessings into every part of our lives, that all may be healed, transmuted and uplifted by divine light and love.
Dear Amaterasu, help me shine my light and beauty fully in the world, in radiant blessing to all.
Dear Uzume, let me laugh and revel with all my heart, and make joy my way of being and my gift to the world.
Dear Hathor, help me balance giving and receiving and enjoy harmony and balance in all ways.
Dear Sekhmet, empower me to live in my strength, power and light, inspiring others to do the same.
Dear Hestia, bring warmth, joy, love, bounty and light into my home and hearth.
Dear Brigit, light my creative spark and help me share my gifts with courage and confidence.
Dear Pele, let the raw, primal passion within me erupt forth in my life, clearing the way for lush and vibrant new life.
Dear Freyja, show us how to live the shining truth of self - to live love and magic, struggle and triumph - to risk love in each heartbeat, to trust and accept ourselves.
Please, share with us the story of your sacred necklace...
Sacred Story ~ Daria
Hail Freyja the Norse goddess of Love, War and Magic
She is the Wild one (unTamed)
She is mixed and merged with Frigg - the Mother of All, Lady of hearth and home, the ideal wife
Are they the same? No one knows for sure…
This is the story of...
Freya and the Necklace
Once upon a time, just a moment ago,
Freyja crossed the Rainbow Bridge from Asgard, realm of the divine, to earth, her former home
She sees the most beautiful necklace - oh!
She MUST have it, nothing else will do
The magical golden necklace, Brisingamen, dwarf-crafted
It is hers and hers alone
What is the price she will pay?
Anything!
Giving of her self, her love, her secret place - to not one, not two, not three, but FOUR dwarves - creatures of the underworld, working beneath the earth, taking (without asking) of Her gifts...
Well, now they ask. And in her desire she says Yes.
And she loves them, and allows them inside of her, 1, 2, 3, 4 (earth, water, fire, air)
Gifts for gifts - a fair exchange
And then it's hers - the necklace, the chain fastened around her neck
And she is in ecstasy
Her husband Odin, All-Father, He who knows the secret language of runes; hung on the tree of life...
He wonders at this newfound joy, and he questions her
Loki the trickster whispers the truth - she gave of her secret self to the lowest of the low
Earth-dwellers
And her husband feels betrayed
That husband for whom she crossed the rainbow bridge, world to world
Letting go her history, her people, her life
To be with him and his people, to be their lady.
How could he be betrayed? When her self is her own, always?
Who can control or own another one, without their permission?
And yet she is tricked, by other men, whom she also loved and who loved her
For the sake of being held and chained by them, she lost her necklace
Spellbound… she is stunned… trollabundin...
Interlude Music - Trollabundin, by Eivor
YET, in the loss, what else?
A chain no longer around her neck
She is free to give herself
Untethered
Free to breathe in love, to wholeness, to loss, and to wholeness again
She moves in the pumping breathing spiral of the ebbing flowing life of earth
love and loss
love and loss
love and loss
And in her belly, in the empty space
Over the rainbow bridge, linking the worlds of heaven and earth
A new love takes hold
Her son, Baldr
And in his birth she too is created anew
Maiden turns to Mother as the Wheel turns
She yields her solitary life to one of linked love
A necklace, returned at last
Dis-enchanted
Found and lost and found again
Bound and freed and freed and bound
A chain which can never be broken, or stolen, or lost, or tricked away
For Mother and Child are one forever
No matter what illusion of separation may come
Life, Death, Rebirth
And as a Child is born, so too is a Mother
Frigg, Beloved, All-Mother
Freyja, Lady, Queen of Magic
Can we doubt they are one and the same
Any more than any of us who wear her many faces?
Mother, Daughter
Lover, Whore
Sister, Priestess
The Goddess shows us all our beautiful selves - and how they swirl and merge together
All is One
And All is Her Love
Blessed Be
Charms, Amulets and Talismans ~ Ann
Freyja offers love in exchange for the necklace. It’s part of her being, part of who she is, she’s the goddess of love. Freyja offers “war” / strife which we overcome again and again in exchange for the necklace. This too is part of who she is; she’s the goddess of war. She is also the goddess of magic - through magic, Brisingamen, becomes a talisman of integration, of transformation as Freyja reclaims her worth and sovereignty.
We too can work magick - To live the shining truth of self - to live love and magic, struggle and triumph - not conservatively and not waiting for a better day but now and in each moment; to stand in our power, to trust and accept ourselves.
We can co-create the magickal tools to help us do just that....
What is a charm, an amulet, a talisman?
There are, no surprise, many interpretations - - here is how I work with them.
A charm is an object infused with magickal power for a specific purpose or benefit. You wear it or carry it or place it in a relevant location. As with much of magick, this work involves a manifestation of your own powers and abilities.
In this sense amulets and talismans are both charms. (Charms were originally spoken or sung. But eventually were more commonly replaced by objects… )
So then, what is the difference between an amulet and a talisman?
An amulet provides protection. It can be natural material, like an animal's tooth or a semi-precious stone or you can choose man-made objects, like medals, bells, keys, coins or even a photograph. Even the ground under your house…Knots make effective amulets because they bind the negative.
A talisman is used to attract a particular benefit and enhance the power you already carry within you. Talismans require additional focus to “wake up” and direct latent energy. They are often created at times that are spiritually or astrologically significant to the selected purpose. Like amulets, any material can be used but they are frequently made from stone, metal, wax or paper as these substances can easily be inscribed with words or pictures to add additional focus.
You can make a charm anywhere or any time you need to. For example, you can draw a pentagram on a piece of paper, invoke protection and a sense of safety and then place it where you need, or carry it with you or you can create a sigil and leave it on your pillow for restful sleep. The activation process does not need to be elaborate. It should not be left behind if you leave the place where you made it unless you deactivate it.
Charms, amulets, and talismans carry the power of their inherent essence and then you get to put your own energy into them. The activation process involved cleansing, consecrating and charging – a process that can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. Anything can be used. Your selection represents your intent by its color, shape or source. The initial objects may find you when you need them or they may come to you as a gift. Always thank the spirits of the place if you take something from nature and leave a gift behind, such as a strand of hair. You can incorporate objects that hold special significance – such as one that has been given to you or one that you find serendipitously, such as buttons and coins. (or a spiral on the street). Often numerology or correspondences are used in making a selection. You can embellish something you decide to work with. Drawing a symbol on a candle, stringing beads together in a symbolic pattern or knotting cords are all examples of adding your own energy to an object. You can also add your energy to a charm made by someone else by holding it in your hand with intention, or by drawing on it or adding something to it.
This work creates a link, making your charm your own. You make exactly what you want and need. Making your own charms provides a way to combine your creativity with the materials that have come to you to co-create sacred, purposeful, supportive energy.
The general steps for creating a charm, amulet and especially a talisman are:
Determine what your purpose is. Take your time because you are focusing that aspect into your charm throughout the entirety of its creation.
Determine the proper timing of your work.
Choose the object you will imbue with purpose.
Cleanse the object on an energetic level to disassociate past frequencies so it can attune with your energy.
There are many ways to cleanse an object. You may choose to use one or more of the elements:
Burn a cleansing incense like palo santo, run the object through the smoke.
Bury it in the earth for a while, or in a bowl of salt or dirt.
Soak it in salt water or hold it under running water.
Pass it quickly through a candle flame.
Consecrate the object to elevate its purpose to a spiritual one through some act of blessing. Remember this - once consecrated, the item is sacred, and should be treated accordingly.
Some ways to consecrate an item include:
Say a prayer over it, dedicating the object to the intended purpose.
Anoint the object with oils that are consistent with the purpose.
Consecrate it by Air, Earth, Fire and Water in a blessing ritual: run it through incense smoke, sprinkle salt on it, pass it through flame, sprinkle water on it.
Charge the object to empower it with your energy. This is the act of focusing and raising your own energy level and then directing it into the object.
There are many ways to charge an object:
Perform a small ritual to raise energy and intent to invest in the item.
Dance, chant or meditate to raise power, pour that energy into the object.
Using visualization to transfer your energy and intent to the charm, then release it to perform its function in the world.
An important part of being responsible for a charm is to know about deactivation. Your charm will serve you faithfully, and the properties you imbued into it will last forever. This is not always desirable and, once your goal has been achieved, you might want to de-activate it usually by destroying it. Create your own ritual and always thank it sincerely for helping you.
Burn it, if it can be burned.
Break it, and bury it in the ground or release it in water, if it can’t be burned.
If the talisman is made of a valuable substance, such as gold or silver, remove the magickal properties by thanking it and releasing it for three days in a row.
MAKING MAGICK - a talisman to empower self-worth and sovereignty
You will need:
An object that holds special significance (a stone, a bead, a mala, etc)
Salt / Incense / Candle / Water
Hold your object in your hands as we meditate for a few moments on the purpose. Just as Freyja’s necklace symbolizes her power, her integration of self to declare her worth and reclaim her sovereignty, your selected item will be imbued with purpose to empower you. Know that as you walk in your power, those around you are transformed.
Raise your object to the sky to be cleansed by the power of this summer solstice sun. Feel it flowing into your hands. Visualize past energies being burned away. Say:
“By the divine light and heat of this solstice sun, powerful sun of the longest day... all past associations are burned away, cleansed and purified, ready to receive my energy and my intent.”
We will consecrate it by Air, Fire, Water and Earth in a blessing ritual.
Light the incense, pass the talisman over the smoke, then turn to the East and say:
“Spirits of air, spirits of the East, power of knowing, I ask you to activate this talisman with the energy of life giving breath. I know my worth.”
Light the candle, turn the talisman over the flame, then turn South and say:
“Spirits of fire, spirits of the South, power of doing, I ask you to activate this talisman with the energy of the sacred flame. I act as a passionate sovereign being.”
Put 3 drops of water on the talisman, face West and say:
“Spirits of water, spirits of the West, power of feeling and release, I ask you to activate this talisman with the vital energy of the source of life. I release all falsehoods and feel my power.”
Sprinkle salt on the talisman, turn North and say:
“Spirits of the earth, spirits of the North, power of being, I ask you to activate this talisman for protection with the abundant, living energy of the earth. I am a proud and confident being. “
Your talisman is now a magical tool.
Hold your talisman to your heart and say: “So mote it be”
Thanks to Richard Webster ~ Thanks to Wormwood Bleiberg ~ Thanks to Jeanine Malec
Releasing The Circle ~ Ann
We thank you Spirits of the North, Elements of Earth, of fertility and manifestation. Stay if you will, but go if you must. May there be Peace in the North. Hail and farewell.
We thank you Spirits of the West, Elements of Water, of compassion and healing. Stay if you will, but go if you must. May there be Peace in the South. Hail and farewell.
We thank you Spirits of the South, Elements of Fire, of courage and transformation. Stay if you will, but go if you must. May there be Peace in the East. Hail and farewell.
We thank you Spirits of the East, Elements of Air, of wonder and imagination. Stay if you will, but go if you must. May there be Peace in the West. Hail and farewell
We stand in the center…above and below…within and without
with Spirit that joins and unifies all elements
And connects all beings
May there be Peace throughout the world.
The circle is open but never broken
Go in peace and love
Blessed be.
Closing Prayer and Blessing ~ Daria
I’d like to close with a poem that one of my couples recently included in their wedding ceremony. I think it’s perfect for this season of union and sovereignty; of love and marriage; and of the Goddess’s eternal promise that all is as it should be, always.
This is:
To Love Is Not To Possess, by James Kavanaugh
To love is not to possess,
To own or imprison,
Nor to lose one’s self in another.
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able
To be who we really are
No longer clinging in childish dependency
Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,
It is to be perfectly one’s self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another--and to one’s inner self.
Love only endures when it moves like waves,
Receding and returning gently or passionately,
Or moving lovingly like the tide
In the moon’s own predictable harmony,
Because finally, despite a child’s scars
Or an adult’s deepest wounds,
They are openly free to be
Who they really are – and always secretly were,
In the very core of their being
Where true and lasting love can alone abide.
Blessed Be, Blessed Be, and Blessed Be once more
Thank you for joining us.
Departure ~ Daria
Closing song plays: Litha, by The Recipe
Litha Handouts and Ceremony Program PDFs