midsummer coven ritual
Hail to the Fey and the Solar Wheel
There’s an old folk tale that says if a person walks around a fairy mound three times on Midsummer night and then knocks three times upon it, they will be transported to the world of the fey. Bravely (or foolishly), I’ve tried this a few times myself. The fact that you’re reading this means I wasn’t successful. However, just because I’ve never been whisked away to the land of the fair folk doesn’t mean I doubt their existence. I believe wholeheartedly that there are magickal creatures and races out there, just beyond our mortal sight.
I wish I could offer you a Midsummer rite that promises a glimpse of the fey, but they only appear to people as they will. They can’t be commanded or forced to do anything. And before you even think of engaging with them, some sort of relationship should be established first. So instead of promising an encounter with the fair folk, this ritual is about establishing a relationship with them.
The fair folk can most often be found outdoors, and this ritual requires finding a spot where you feel as if they gather. If you don’t have a backyard or much green space, not to worry; relationships can be established with the fey at a local park or nearly any spot that has at least a little bit of green once or twice a year. In my coven (and yard), we honor the fey by our lemon tree. As the biggest tree in our backyard, it just feels like the spot where they are most likely to congregate, and it has an energy that one can feel when they are nearby. All of the coven’s libations are poured here, and we often leave gifts to the fey there too. If you can’t figure out where the fey might be in your yard or neighborhood based on energy, simply pick a secluded shady spot near a tree, bush, or body of water. If you leave them gifts, they are bound to show up!
This ritual calls for the gifts to the fey to be taken to “their spot” in your yard if you can. If your ritual is being done indoors, simply do this part after the ritual proper is done, either with the coven or alone. In addition, if you feel as if there are some fey in your home, you can reserve some of the honey and glass beads as an offering for those already in your house. Just be sure to put whatever you leave for them in a spot where they won’t be bothered by children or pets.
The quarter calls for this rite are all to the fey and are written in the form they are because all four of them are haikus! I’ve also opted to place them before the circle casting, breaking up the usual order of ritual in this book. As noted earlier, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to the order of those procedures, but since the fey are sentient beings, I wanted them to know that they are welcome before casting a barrier designed to keep a lot of energies out of the circle. In honor of Shakespeare, the circle casting in this ritual is also a sonnet.
This ritual also includes a solar wheel. If you’re like me, your partner probably won’t let you race a flaming wheel down a hill. Instead, you’ll want to make a simple circle shape that will burn easily. I suggest using grapevine, since it bends pretty easily while dry and is available at most craft stores. After you’ve fashioned the grapevine into a circle (figure 6), finish your wheel by adding spokes to it to form a Celtic cross. To do this, you can use a few strands of grapevine or even a couple of sticks, and tuck them into your wreath so they run across the middle of it. You’ll be tying little pieces of ribbon onto the grapevine, so have some shortish pieces of ribbon or yarn cut up and ready for the ritual. Also, many craft stores sell grapevine wreaths for just a few dollars fully assembled!
This ritual calls for the grapevine wheel to be burned during the ritual, so you’ll need a fire pit or barbeque grill. If the ritual is being done indoors, the burning of the wheel can be done after the ritual. If fire is a no-no both before or after ritual, the wheel can simply be buried in the ground or left in a secluded area to decompose naturally. Since you’ll be putting things you want to get rid of into the wheel, don’t leave it for the fey!
Figure 6. Solar Wheel Made of Grapevine
Many years ago I was given a large rock with a house painted on it. For many years I was unsure what to do with it, and then I read an article suggesting that many of Iceland’s fair folk lived inside rocks.60 Thinking it would make a fine gift for the fey, I dedicated it to them at one of my coven’s Midsummer rites, and that’s included in this particular ritual. Alternatively, one could build an entire fairy house for the fey, but a painted rock is probably a lot easier to put together for most of us.
Since cleansing with smoke is pretty traditional at this time of year, the cleansing in this ritual calls for it. I suggest white sage, 61 which is readily available in most Witch stores, but whatever appeals to the coven is fine.
Ritual Roles
• High Priestess
• High Priest
• Quarter callers (The fey are not “quarters,” but using this term seemed easiest.)
• Circle caster
Materials Needed
• Regular altar setup
• Grapevine (for the solar wheel)
• Small pieces of ribbon or yarn
• Glass beads or shiny pebbles or stones in a bowl (The fey like sparklies!)
• A bowl half-full of spring or rainwater
• Honey with a honey dipper or spoon
• An empty bowl to collect the honey
• One large rock, preferably with a house painted on it
• Cakes and ale
• Fire pit
• White sage
The Ritual: Hail to the Fey and the Solar Wheel
The coven should assemble in a circle around the altar and/or fire pit. If it’s possible to do this near the area where you will be leaving gifts for the fey, all the better. I also like to cast my circle large enough to include the area where the gifts will be left. The fire pit should all be set up and ready to go, as the ritual opens with its lighting.
Opening, Cleansing, Statement of Intent
High Priestess: We light this fire in honor of the sun! May its light, heat, and smoke convey to us the same blessings the sun does to the earth below it. (Lights fire.) Hail the sun!
High Priest: We celebrate the longest day and shortest night, and we do so by honoring the sun above and those seen and unseen who dwell in this world alongside us. As the sun begins to wane, we shall use its power to remove what is negative in our lives. But before we begin, all must be cleansed and prepared for our rite.
The High Priestess grabs an herb bundle of white sage from the altar and lights it using the fire that was just started.
High Priestess: I light this sage from our sacred fire. May its smoke clear from you any unwanted or negative energy. So mote it be!
The High Priestess walks around the circle and cleanses all the participants. If there are a lot of folks, the High Priest can light his own bundle and cleanse half the circle too.
High Priest: And now that all are blessed, we begin this rite! Hail Midsummer!
Calling the Fey/Quarters
If desired, candles can be lit at each of the four quarters.
High Priestess: We now call to those seen and unseen, the fey who would willingly join us in our rite.
East Quarter Caller: Fair folk of the east,
Keepers of breeze, wind, and air,
You are welcome here!
South Quarter Caller: Fair folk of the south,
Keepers of flame and passion,
You are welcome here!
West Quarter Caller: Fair folk of the west,
Keepers of rain and ocean,
You are welcome here!
North Quarter Caller: Fair folk of the north,
Keepers of mountains and plain,
You are welcome here!
Circle Casting
The circle caster picks up a sword or athame and, beginning in the east, casts the circle, walking around it three times.
Circle Caster: Three passes with my magick sword I make.
First that we all might meet in sacred space,
In a land where Goddess and God lie awake,
Where the Mighty Ones bless all with their grace.
Second to keep out those that wish us harm,
Those without perfect love and perfect trust.
Third I cast with magick glamour and charm,
To hold our energy this circle must.
In the names of the Lady and the Lord,
I have cast this circle with will and sword!
So mote it be!
Calling the Goddess and God
High Priest: We call to the Great God this night of longest day. Join us as the sun, fiery Lord of the Heavens, blesses our land with the sunshine that makes our world grow! Join us as the Horned God runs wild and free in the summertime woods. May your purifying light and fire bless us this night and drive away all that is negative in our lives. Be a part of our rites as you are a part of our lives. Hail and welcome!
High Priestess: We call to the Great Goddess this day of shortest night. Join us as the moon, cool orb of the nighttime sky, lights our way and adds to our magicks! Join us as the Great Mother brings forth new life from the eternal womb! It’s your touch that makes the blossoms bloom and the crops ripen with grain. May that same touch reach us this night to drive away any sorrow and sadness that doesn’t contribute to our lives. Be a part of our rites this night as we celebrate your gifts of love and summertime. Hail and welcome!
The Working
High Priest: The sun has long been revered among Pagans and Witches. The sun was seen not just as one of the forces that gave life to the world but as a source of truth and justice. One of the most common depictions of the sun was as a solar wheel. The wheel represented the constant presence of the sun in our lives and how no one could escape its eye or that of its driver, the goddesses and gods of the sun. Long after the new religion pushed aside the beliefs of the folk, people continued to celebrate Midsummer with the solar wheel!
High Priestess: In many places, solar wheels were created and then lit on fire and hurled down mountains and hills. If the wheel made it safely to the end of its journey without falling over, all would be well with the coming harvest. The wheel falling over, however, was a bad omen, but thanks to the power of the gods, this rarely happened. Tonight we will not be sending wheels down a hillside, but we will be honoring the solar wheel and harnessing the power of the sun.
High Priest: While the days are long and summer’s power is all around us, today also begins the waning of the sun. We can use that energy to make changes in our own lives. We’ll use the sun’s waning energies and the Midsummer fire to burn away those energies that no longer serve us. One by one, I want you all to come up to the altar and take a piece of ribbon. Pour some of your own personal energy into your ribbon and envision yourself leaving that which you wish to be rid of behind you.
Everyone can go up to the altar and take a piece of ribbon, or the ribbon can simply be passed around while the High Priest is talking.
High Priestess: Into our solar wheel we place our troubles and cares. We cannot roll them away, but we can cast them into our fire and be done with them. We now pass our solar wheel around the circle. Tie your ribbon onto its vines. As you tie your ribbon, say with one word that which you wish to be rid of.
The solar wheel is passed around, with people tying their ribbons/pieces of yarn onto it. After each ribbon is tied to the wheel and an exclamation is made, follow with “So mote it be!” as a group. Words have power and can add a great deal to the spell. The High Priest should be the last person to receive the wheel.
High Priest: We have shared and we have passed along all that we wish to get rid of this night. May that which we wish to be rid of leave us this night, cleansed by the sun and the Midsummer fire! Chant with me simply, “Away! Away! Away!”
The coven chants and the intensity builds.
I now cast this solar wheel into the flames! Take these burdens from us! So mote it be!
Coven: So mote it be!
High Priestess: As Midsummer is one of the most sacred times of year for the fey, we honor them so that we might know them better. Fair folk, those who exist just beyond our line of sight, we call to you this night. We call to you not to ask a favor or a boon but to offer you gifts. We realize that our stewardship of this world is often lacking, but we wish to live with you, not to drive you away.
High Priest: We offer you several gifts this night. First we offer you shiny baubles and cool spring water.
A bowl is passed around with stones, pebbles, beads, etc., and each coven member takes one.
High Priest: Within these baubles we place just a little bit of our energy so you might know us and who we are.
High Priestess: Grasp your stone (or pebble, bead, etc.) with your dominant hand and place a little bit of yourself inside of it. Feel your energy going down through your body and into the stone.
The High Priest picks up a bowl with spring or rainwater in it from the altar and carries it around the circle, allowing each coven member to place their stone in the water.
High Priest: As you place your stone in the water, verbalize your intention and say who it is meant for. To the fey, we offer these things in love and friendship.
Everyone should say “for you” or “to the fey” as they place their stone in the water. Once the bowl has been around the circle and everyone has added their stone, the High Priest should take the bowl to where the offering will be given (or place it upon the altar). As the High Priest pours the contents of the bowl onto the ground, the High Priestess asks that the fey accept the gifts of the coven.
High Priestess: Fair folks, hidden friends, accept these gifts! Blessed be!
After the bowl is emptied or set down and the High Priest returns to the circle, the High Priestess picks up a bowl of honey along with the honey dipper/spoon.
High Priestess: We realize that relations between mortals and the fey have not always been good. Our kind often tramples upon your special places, with no regard for your needs or that of this earth. We, though, are the Wise Ones, those who practice the Old Religion and want you to know that we are different. We do hear you, and we do care about you and this world. In order to know us better, we’d like to introduce ourselves to you.
The High Priest picks up the empty bowl for the honey and stands next to the High Priestess. She puts some honey on the honey dipper and places it in the bowl held by the High Priest. While doing this, she introduces herself to the fey.
High Priestess: I am (Name) and I wish you no harm and offer this honey in love and friendship. Blessed be!
The honey is passed around, with everyone repeating the actions of the High Priestess. The High Priest follows the honey around the circle carrying his bowl, collecting the offerings of honey for the fey (and preventing a huge mess!). Finally, the honey should come back around the circle to the High Priestess, who takes the bowl being held by the High Priest and gives him the honey and honey dipper, allowing him to introduce himself to the fey. The High Priest then walks the gift of honey over to the spot set aside for the fey as the High Priestess asks them to accept the coven’s offering.
High Priestess: Fair folk, we of this coven introduce ourselves to you and give you this gift of honey. May our interactions ever be sweet! Blessed be!
The honey is poured out upon the earth by the High Priest or placed on the altar to be shared later. Once the High Priest has returned to the circle, the High Priestess picks up the large rock with a house painted on it.
High Priestess: And finally tonight we offer you this small representation of a house to let you know that all who come to us with good intentions are welcome. To those who would happily dwell among us in this place, we say welcome!
The rock house is passed around, with each coven member saying something about the fey being welcome in this place. I like to intentionally add that this welcome goes only for those who would do us no harm. You don’t want a member of the fair folk who hates humans living next to you!
After everyone has handled the rock house and spoken to the fey, the High Priestess places it in the area set aside for the fairy folk to receive their gifts. As she places the rock house in their area, the High Priest asks the fey to accept the coven’s gift.
High Priest: We place this house here for your use. Know that those who come here in good faith are wanted and welcome. Blessed be!
Alternatively, the fairy rock can be put on the altar and moved outside later.
Cakes and Ale
High Priest: On this the shortest night, I call to the powers of the moon to be with us and bless our food and drink.
High Priestess: On this the longest day, I call to the powers of the sun to be with us and bless our food and drink.
The High Priestess picks up her athame and the High Priest the cup full of wine, beer, or whatever it is you’re using for cakes and ale. She places the athame in the cup while saying:
High Priestess: As the sun is to the day,
High Priest: And the moon is to the night,
High Priestess: May their blessings ever pour down upon us.
Both: So mote it be!
The High Priest presents the High Priestess with the cup, and she drinks deeply from it before handing it back to him. After drinking, he then passes it around the circle The High Priestess now takes her athame and touches each cake with it (all the better if the athame still has a bit of wine on it), blessing them before offering the plate to the High Priest, who then eats one before passing them back to her. The cakes are then distributed to the rest of the coven, making sure to add some cake—along with some wine—to the libation bowl.
Goodbyes to the Gods
High Priest: We thank the Great God for being with us this night. As you sink now beneath the trees and hills, we thank you for your presence in our lives. As you set in the sky upon this enchanted night, take away those things we burned in the sacred Midsummer fire. Our solstice celebration is near its end, but you walk with us both within and without the circle. Hail the God! Hail the sun! Hail the summer! Blessed be!
High Priestess: We thank the Great Goddess for being with us for our Midsummer rite. You are the Mother of us all, human and fey, and as your children, we honor you on this the shortest of nights. May the relationships we’ve begun tonight prove beneficial for all involved. Our solstice celebration is near its end, but you walk with us both within and without the circle. Hail the Lady! Hail the moon! Hail the summer! Blessed be!
Taking Down the Circle
The circle caster picks up their sword or athame and, beginning in the east, walks around the circle widdershins three times, releasing the circle.
Circle Caster: Three passes with my magick sword I made.
First that we all might meet in sacred space,
In a land where all would stand unafraid,
Where the Mighty Ones did show us their face.
Second to keep out those that wish us harm,
In this task our circle has served us well.
That I cast with magick, glamour, and charm,
And we return to where we mortals dwell.
In the names of the Lady and the Lord,
All is now released by my will and sword!
So mote it be!
Goodbyes to the Fey/Quarters
East Quarter Caller: From the east you came,
Fey of air, breeze and whisper,
Thanks for your blessings.
South Quarter Caller: From the south you came,
Fey of fire, stirrers of souls,
Thanks for your blessings.
West Quarter Caller: From the west you came,
Fey of water, sea and spring,
Thanks for your blessings.
North Quarter Caller: From the north you came,
Fey of earth, soil and mountain,
Thanks for your blessings.
High Priestess: The time of waning is now at hand. The days grow shorter, but the summer is just beginning. With the blessings of the Lord and Lady and those seen and unseen, we leave this place with joy and full hearts. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again! And may the gods preserve the Craft!
FIN