E very holiday has its own themes, colors, and energy, and those things are used not only for spells and rituals, but also in choosing recipes to serve at our sabbat meals or feasts, in coming up with craft ideas, and inspiring us as we decorate our homes and altars.
You don’t have to celebrate with a large group, or even be out of the broom closet, in order to make use of some of these ideas. This is particularly true at Midsummer, when much of the decor or craft possibilities can simply be seen as getting into the swing of summer.
Midsummer Recipes
It can be fun to host a Summer Solstice picnic or barbecue and invite family and friends to enjoy it with you. After all, Midsummer is all about the celebration of summer, so if you are a solitary witch, you can have the best of both worlds by sharing the celebration with others, and then honoring the day with a private ritual of your own when everyone else goes home.
If you are fortunate enough to have some like-minded Pagan folks to observe Litha with, you can have a group ritual followed by a glorious Midsummer potluck feast. Invite everyone to bring their favorite summer-themed dishes, created out of the fresh fruits and vegetables so readily available at this time of year, along with some bread to represent the wheat in the fields. If you’re really lucky, maybe someone will bring some homemade mead or strawberry wine.
If feasting with others, please be mindful of food allergies and alcohol issues. For a larger potluck, ask each person to make up a card with the ingredients of their dish that can be placed near it. That way anyone with food sensitivities will know exactly what they can eat and what to avoid.
Summer Abundance Salad
Salads don’t have to be boring, and there is nothing better than fresh greens, ripe tomatoes, and other typical salad ingredients when they are moments out of the garden, still warm from the summer sun. If you don’t have a garden, try getting as many of your salad ingredients as you can from a local farmer’s market or farm stand. Organic is always best if you can find it and afford it. This salad has the added bonus of using many ingredients that are good for abundance and prosperity magick, so if you want, you can make this salad magickal by focusing on those Midsummer themes while putting the salad together.
Ingredients:
Lettuce and other greens, torn into bite-sized pieces
Fresh herbs—some of the best at this time of year include basil, parsley, mint, dill, and/or chives
Fresh fruit—strawberries, pomegranate seeds, peaches,
or melon
Sunflower seeds
Vinaigrette made with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or other salad dressings
Shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)
Gather lettuce and other greens including spinach, baby kale, and some arugula or mustard greens for a little extra bite. Sprinkle in fresh herbs from the options above. Remember that mint is strong and should be used sparingly. Add fruit to the salad, which gives a touch of sweetness that contrasts nicely with the slight bitterness of some of the greens and herbs. Just try to use fruits that are in season and available locally. Then, sprinkle sunflower seeds on top of your salad to add nutrition and interest, as well as the perfect representation of the sun. Finally, drizzle vinaigrette or salad dressing on top. If you like, add Parmesan cheese to finish the salad.
Couscous Celebration Salad
Cold dishes are wonderfully refreshing on a hot summer day. This one is extremely simple and easy to throw together, and is suitable for vegetarians and young cooks. Couscous is a tiny Middle Eastern pasta that cooks in five minutes. Once it cools, it can be fluffed with a fork and makes a fun platform for the fresh veggies and herbs. Other types of pasta can be substituted, especially if you can find them in fun, summery shapes.
Ingredients:
1 to 2 cups of dry couscous
1 to 2 cups of water
1 or 2 large tomatoes, chopped small, or ½ pound to 1 pound of grape tomatoes
2 small cucumbers, chopped into small pieces
Small bunch of fresh mint, torn or cut into small pieces
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon juice to taste
Cook the couscous according to the directions on the package. Make 1 to 2 cups of dry couscous depending on how many people you will be feeding. When the couscous has cooled, toss tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, and olive oil with it and allow the mixture to sit for at least half an hour for the flavors to blend together. If desired, add salt, pepper, and lemon juice before serving.
Summer Solstice Salsa
Salsa is extremely easy to make, and you can vary the ingredients to suit your tastes. It’s so simple, you might want to make one mild one and one that is hot to reflect the heat of the summer sun. The fresher the tomatoes, the better the salsa tastes.
Ingredients:
4 to 6 large tomatoes (for a really colorful salsa, use some red tomatoes and some yellow and/or orange ones)
1 small sweet onion or red onion, chopped fine
1 small cucumber, chopped fine (optional)
1 to 2 cloves of garlic, mashed and chopped fine
1 small hot pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley or cilantro (cilantro
is traditional, but about 50 percent of the population perceives it to have a bitter or soapy taste, so if you’re not
sure everyone likes it, you may want to use parsley)
Salt and pepper to taste
Squeeze of lemon to add brightness
Peaches (optional)
Tortilla chips or homemade flatbread
Chop tomatoes into small pieces. Mix in chopped onion, cucumber, and garlic. Add chopped pepper. Use only a small amount of a mild pepper for mild salsa, or use a hotter pepper for really spicy stuff—the seeds contain much of the heat, so leave them out if you don’t want your salsa to have as much punch. Toss in the parsley or cilantro, salt, pepper, and lemon. If you like, add some cut up peaches for a touch of sweetness. Let the salsa sit for at least an hour. Serve with sturdy tortilla chips or homemade flatbread.
Ale for the Gods Bread
Ale is often used as an offering for some of the gods who are celebrated at Midsummer. Breaking bread together is also a tradition in many cultures. This is a fast and easy bread made with ale and only a few other ingredients. You can eat it with your meal, or pass it around the circle and have everyone pull off a piece during cakes and ale.
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
12 ounce bottle of ale
½ cup butter, melted
Dried dill (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all dry ingredients together and slowly add in ale, stirring clockwise. Put batter into three 6 inch x 3 inch loaf pans or two larger ones. Drizzle the butter on top of the loaf and sprinkle with dill if desired. Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out dry. (Adapted from Wood and Seefeldt)
Fruit Soup #1: Melon Madness
We rarely think to make soup from fruit, but there is nothing that celebrates the summer better than a chilled fruit soup. As an added benefit, there is no cooking when it is hot!
Ingredients:
1 mango, peeled and sliced
1 small melon (any kind except watermelon), seeded and
cut small
Juice from 1 orange (about ¼ cup)
½ teaspoon to 2 teaspoons sugar or honey
Fresh raspberries—about a cup
2 tablespoons Gran Marnier or any raspberry flavored liquor, such as Chambord (optional)
Edible flowers to decorate the top of the soup (optional)
Puree the mango, melon, and orange juice in a blender until smooth. You may need to do this in a few batches. Taste and sweeten slightly with sugar or honey if necessary. The soup should not be too sweet. Rinse blender and then puree raspberries and a small amount of sugar or honey. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more until it is at the desired sweetness. If desired, add liquor and blend. Place melon mixture and raspberries in separate bowls and chill for at least 2 hours. Serve either in one large bowl or small individual bowls by placing melon soup in bowl, then gently swirling raspberry mixture on top. Sprinkle with edible flowers if using. (Adapted from Wood and Seefeldt)
Fruit Soup #2: Cherries Jubilation
This soup is made with cherries, so if they happen to be ripe when you celebrate Midsummer, you’re in luck! This soup’s vibrant color and sweet flavor seem to capture the essence of summer in a bowl.
Ingredients:
2 ½ pounds sweet cherries, pitted
¼ cup honey or maple syrup
4 cups water
1 small lemon, juiced with skin zested and reserved
Whipped cream or sour cream
Combine cherries and sweetener in a pot with water, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 20 minutes. Let cool, then blend with lemon juice in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pour into a main bowl or individual serving bowls. If you want, you can add a few more cherries, chopped fine, or some of the lemon zest. Offer whipped cream or sour cream for people to dollop on top if desired. (Adapted from Johnson)
Bountiful Beets Baked with Orange
Root vegetables spend their growing time under the ground, pulling in nutrition from the soil and energy from the sun by way of aboveground leaves. Beet greens are edible, especially when young, so if you are buying fresh beets with the green tops still attached, don’t throw them away; eat them! Beets are perfect Midsummer feast food—they have all that earth energy stored up inside them, and their beautiful color is just right for a feast shared with friends.
Ingredients:
12 medium beets (fewer if the beets are large—you can also use orange beets instead of red ones, to bring a more sunny color into the dish)
2 oranges
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh rosemary
Orange slices for garnish (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Clean beets and peel them (if the beets are organic, and have relatively thin skin, you can skip the peeling). Cut into slices. Grate the zest of one of the oranges, then juice them both. Lay the beet slices overlapping each other in an ovenproof pan or dish, pour orange juice over the top, then sprinkle with zest, salt, and pepper. You can either chop up a bit of rosemary and sprinkle it on top, or place the whole sprigs on top of the dish. Roast in oven for about 1 hour, or until tender. Decorate with orange slices if desired when serving.
Leg of Lamb with Herb Rub
Our ancestors almost always celebrated Midsummer with some form of meat, often roasting whole oxen, goats, or other animals, depending on the size of the crowd they were serving. This may seem cruel to some modern folks, but for those who lived on the land, death was simply a part of the cycle of life. The animals were often offered up as a sacrifice to the gods in thanks for the bounty of the season, and then every part of the animal was used, from the roast on the spit to the bones, which might have been carved into tools or decorations, or made into soup after the feast was over. If you are serving meat of some sort at your Midsummer meal (whether it is an entire roast or ham sandwiches), offer up a piece to the gods and eat it with gratitude and appreciation for the animal that gave up its life so that you might live.
Note: This herb rub is suitable for any strongly favored meat—if you don’t want to make lamb, it will work as well on beef or pork. The amount of garlic may seem overwhelming, but because the roast cooks slowly, the garlic is roasted until it is nutty and sweet. Fresh herbs are wonderful at this time of year, but you can use dried if that is all you have.
Ingredients:
Large or medium roast
1 tablespoon dried oregano (use double if fresh)
1 tablespoon dried rosemary or 1 large sprig of fresh
rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme (if you can find lemon thyme, it is especially nice) or 2 tablespoons if fresh
2 tablespoons sea salt (coarse kosher salt is okay)
Ground pepper to taste
12 cloves of garlic, peeled, smashed, and chopped small (if you’re doing the rub in a food processer, you can just cut into a couple of pieces, and the machine will do the rest)
¼ cup olive oil
Prepare the roast and place on a roasting rack if you have one. This can also be done on a barbecue rotisserie if you can keep the temperature low enough. Combine herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processer. Blend until you have a reasonably smooth paste, and then smear over the surface area of the roast.
For leg of lamb, cook in 325°F oven, allowing 35 minutes per pound (it may take longer if you are using bone-in leg). Meat should read 140°F on a thermometer for rare, 160°F for medium. The coating will have formed a lovely fragrant crust. Allow to sit for at least 10 to 15 minutes before slicing.
Rosemary Shortbread Cookies
These make a nice “cake” for cakes and ale, or a light desert at the end of a summer picnic. Rosemary is good for remembrance, so eat these on an occasion you would like to hold in your heart and mind forever, such as a handfasting or a wedding!
Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 cups flour (reserve ½ cup)
3 to 4 tablespoons finely chopped rosemary (use less if the rosemary is fresh instead of dried)
Preheat oven to 275°F. Cream butter and sugar together. Add 2 ½ cups flour and the rosemary. Mix well. Flour your workspace with reserved flour and turn dough out onto surface. Knead until dough begins to crack, then roll out until it is ¼ inch thick. You can cut it into rectangles, or cut out fancy shapes like suns. Bake on ungreased cookie sheets until lightly browned, about 50 minutes.
Chocolate Tomato Cake
No one will guess the secret ingredient in this cake, but the addition of green tomatoes (prevalent at this time of year) will give it a summery boost. The recipe also contains other Midsummer ingredients, including cinnamon and orange peel.
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups flour
½ cup cocoa
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¾ cup butter
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons grated orange peel (more to garnish, if desired)
2 cups green tomatoes, coarsely grated
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
½ cup milk
Powdered sugar or frosting of your choice
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine dry ingredients and set aside. Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time, beating in well. Stir in vanilla, orange peel, and tomatoes and mix with a wooden spoon. Add nuts, then add dry mixture to wet mixture, alternating with the milk. When well combined, bake in a greased pan for about one hour. Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn upside down onto serving plate.
To serve, dust with powdered sugar and sprinkle with orange peel, or top with the frosting of your choice.
Midsummer Fruited Wine
There all sorts of beverages you can serve at an outside picnic or feast, but few are as summery as sangria. Sangria is a typical Spanish and Portuguese treat made from wine, fruit, and some form of sweetener, sometimes with a bit of brandy added as well. Americanized versions sometimes replace the brandy with some kind of bubbly soda, such as ginger ale, Sprite, or 7UP. (Personally, I suggest you reserve that for the kid’s nonalcoholic version.) You can experiment with the ingredients until you find a combination you enjoy. I like to think of sangria as the perfect libation to offer the gods on Midsummer because of its combination of wine and fruit. If you are eating outside, you may want to put a small amount in a bowl for the faeries as well. This is just their kind of thing.
Ingredients:
1 bottle of red wine (a good medium table wine is best for this—nothing too sweet or too dry)
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
½ cup strawberries, sliced
Honey to taste (don’t make it too sweet)
Freeze some fruit in ice trays ahead of time (cut up fruit
or berries in a small amount of water, and/or lemon
or orange peel) (optional)
Grape juice, for a nonalcoholic kids version (also good for any guests who are avoiding alcohol, or the designated drivers) (optional)
If possible, use a clear pitcher for this, so people can see how beautiful it is. Pour wine into the container, add sliced fruit, and add honey to taste. If using fruited ice cubes, add those right before the sangria is put out on the table. A nonalcoholic version can be made with grape juice instead of wine. Make sure you use bright purple juice, not white grape juice, which doesn’t have the same jewel tones.
Midsummer Crafts
Whether you are celebrating Midsummer by yourself, with friends, or with your children, crafts are one way to add a fun element to the holiday while also focusing on the themes and traditions that go along with the season. Many cultures had particular crafts and activities associated with the Summer Solstice, and these are a few easy updated versions to get you in the Midsummer mood.
Sunshine Wreaths
Wreaths were traditional in a number of different cultures and were usually created by women. The wreaths were either worn like crowns on top of the head or thrown into lakes, streams, or oceans. In one country, women would make wreaths and then watch the sun come up while looking through them. Men occasionally wore wreaths made from oak leaves, too.
You can either make a wreath to wear, to hang up as a decoration, or to toss into water, if you happen to have some nearby. How you are going to use your finished product may influence your choice of wreath base, but everything else will remain the same. Remember that if you are throwing your wreath into water (other than your own swimming pool, at least), all parts of it should be rapidly biodegradable. You will need the following supplies:
• Wreath base—this can be grapevine (thinner if you will be wearing it, thicker for decoration) or florist’s wire (this is a coated wire this would work well for a circlet) or any flexible natural vine/supple branch (like willow). If you are really good at weaving together flower stems, you can even dispense with a base altogether. You can often find a wreath base in the craft section of stores. Just make sure you are using natural materials (no Styrofoam, for instance).
• Flowers—you can use all one kind, or various different types and colors. The focus here is on rayed flowers that represent the sun, such as daisies, marigolds, sunflowers, carnations, and such. You can also use roses, chamomile, St. John’s Wort, and even ferns for accents. For a truly wild look, add dandelions. Try for bright yellows, oranges, and reds.
• Ribbons—you can use whatever thickness you like; you will probably want thinner ribbons to wear and thicker ones for hanging wreaths. Again, you can choose one color, but it will be fancier with a few different ones. Try to get ribbon that goes with the colors of your flowers, although you can also add white, gold, or any other summery accent colors. The length of ribbon will depend on how you are using it, and how big the wreath will be, but you will probably need at least a yard or two of each color, maybe more.
• Scissors
• Glue or tape (optional)
Wreaths are quite simple to make, although it may take some fiddling to get yours just right. Wind the grapevine or wire into a circle that will fit your head comfortably (if wearing), or about the size you want for a decorative piece, remembering that it will look larger once you have added the flowers. Wind the material around itself so it stays in place, or fasten it together with ribbon or glue. Tuck flowers in one at a time, winding the stems in and out to keep them in place. If you want, wind ribbon(s) in and out around the circle of the wreath as well. Try to make the finished piece look balanced (alternate colors, for instance) and neat, but don’t worry too much about perfection! If necessary, you can use a dab of glue here and there to keep things in place. If desired, you can dangle a number of ribbons from the back (circlet) or bottom (decorative).
Alternately, if your flowers have long enough stems, you can simply wind, tuck, or braid them together. This is especially nice if you are going to be tossing the wreath on the water.
Viking Boats
In some cultures, Midsummer is celebrated by making small boats, filling them with offerings, and placing them on lakes, streams, or the ocean. If you want to get fancy, you can go online and find fairly easy instructions for making origami Viking boats. But there is also a way to make a little raft-type boat that is simple enough to do with even the smallest child. If you don’t have a body of water nearby, you can float these in a pool or a large bowl. You will need:
• 9 wooden Popsicle sticks (you can find these in the craft section of many stores)
• 1 tall stick, 8 to 12 inches long (a wooden barbecue skewer works well, or you can actually use a thin, lightweight stick)
• Piece of colorful paper (any kind) to use as a sail
• Small piece of cork (cut off the bottom of a wine cork, or look for cork rounds that protect floors from being scratched)
• White glue
• Lightweight flowers or flower petals
• Marker or pens (optional)
The idea here is to make a simple boat that you will place your offerings on and “sail” into the sunset (or dawn, if you prefer). For kids, it is probably enough to just make the boat. For adults, you may want to add the magickal touch of writing your wishes for the season on the pieces of Popsicle stick—prosperity, healing, love, etc. If you’re doing this, write your words before you start assembling the boat.
Take six of your sticks and lay them out next to each other, so they look like a small raft. Glue the remaining three sticks across two ends and the middle of the raft, to hold them all together.
Once these have dried, turn your raft over so the support sticks are on the bottom. Glue your piece of cork to the middle of the boat.
Cut a piece of your paper into a triangle (the sail) and glue it to the top edge of your stick. Then push the bottom of the stick into the cork or clay, using glue if necessary to hold it steady.
Your boat is now finished. You can place the flower petals on it and set it on the water, sending it out into the Midsummer dawn or dusk.
Cinnamon Brooms
Cinnamon’s spicy fragrance and flavor are probably why it is considered an herb of the sun and fire, sacred to many of the sun gods. Magickally, it is used for healing, divination, love, protection, and it is said to raise spiritual vibrations in general. You can add cinnamon to your Midsummer foods or use it in incense. For something longer lasting, you can make this simple Summer Solstice cinnamon broom and use it to cast your ritual circle, decorate your Litha altar, or hang it up in your home to keep a little bit of summer’s warmth around to lift your spirits in the darker months to come.
As with most craft projects, you can make this broom as simple or as fancy as you like, and add or change things to suit your tastes or the purpose for which you will use it. You will need:
• A small broom or whiskbroom (make sure you use one made of natural materials, not plastic). If you really want to get fancy, you can make your own broom from scratch.
• Newspapers
• A small paint brush
• White glue
• Powdered cinnamon
• A plastic or paper bag (large enough to fit the broom into)
• Ribbons in summer colors (yellow, orange, red, also possibly green and/or white) to decorate your broom with—the length you need will depend on the size of the broom you are using and how far you want them to hang; about a yard of each color should do
• Cinnamon essential oil (not fragrance oil, which is artificial) (optional)
• Dried summer flowers (roses, lavender, chamomile, daisies, sunflowers, asters, etc.) (optional)
• Cinnamon sticks or oak leaves or anything else you wish to add (optional)
• String or thread (you can use something fancy, like gold, or white is fine)
To make the basic cinnamon broom, place the broom on some newspapers or some other safe surface and use the brush to spread glue over one side of the broom. Sprinkle with cinnamon and place inside of bag overnight. If desired, you can repeat the next day with the other side.
Once you have your broom spiced up, you can add any decorations you want. Summer flowers can be hung from their stems (so that the flowers hang toward the bottom of the broom) and tied on with your thread or string. You can also hang additional cinnamon sticks or add a few drops of cinnamon essential oil for a stronger-smelling broom. If using oak leaves, glue or tie them on. Then tie the ribbons around the broom handle where it meets the broom itself, so they dangle down over the front of the broom.
If you want, you can set the broom out under the noon sun on Midsummer to catch the sun’s energy and the blessings of the sun gods.
Gifts for the Birds
Midsummer is a celebration of the glories of the natural world, and the summer birds are part of that beauty and abundance. So why not share the party with our feathered friends by making up these simple treats that also do double duty as decorations for your yard. This is another fun one to do with kids.
You will need:
• Pinecones
• Apples
• Ribbons
• Peanut butter
• Birdseed
• Knitting needle or skewer to poke hole in apple (optional)
You can use either the pinecones or the apples as the base for your natural bird feeder, or both. If you are using the apples, you will want to poke a hole up through the middle using a knitting needle, skewer, or something like that. Start by tying a ribbon around the top of the pinecone or through the middle of the apple. Tie a large loop in the ribbon so you can hang it over a tree branch or hook.
Roll the pinecone or apple in peanut butter, and then roll in the birdseed until coated. (If you use the apple, the birds can eat that, too!) Then hang your decorative bird gifts where the birds can find and appreciate them.
Herb Crafting
Midsummer is also a time for herb craft of every kind. Herbs gathered on Midsummer are supposed to be at their most powerful, both for medicinal and magickal purposes. Here are some variations on traditional forms of herb crafting. Remember, just because something is natural doesn’t mean it is safe. Be aware that some people are allergic to even the most common, mild herbs, such as lavender.
Herb craft doesn’t have to be complicated. You can cut a sprig of rosemary and use it to sprinkle water during a ritual, or toss it on the bonfire for remembrance. Lavender is also thrown on the bonfire to honor the gods. Sage smudge sticks are wonderful for clearing away negative energy, and the scent of roses makes almost everyone think of love. For magickal crafts that are a little more involved, try one or two of these, either on Midsummer itself, or in the days leading up to it, so you can have them ready to use on the day.
Love Sachet
This is a simple love sachet to draw love into your life. When you create it, you can concentrate on the kind of love you want, but try not to limit yourself to any one specific person or idea. After all, you never know what the universe might send if you leave the door open.
You will need:
• A square piece of cloth, about 3 inches by 3 inches, made out of some natural fabric (silk, cotton, etc.). Since this is a Midsummer sachet, you might want to use summer colors, instead of the usual pink.
• Either a ribbon to tie it with or a needle and thread
• Rose petals
• Lavender flowers
• A chunk of coal from a Midsummer bonfire, if you have one, to add extra power (optional)
• A small tumbled stone, such as rose quartz or amethyst or malachite (optional)
If possible, do this outside at noon on the Summer Solstice, when the heat of the sun can add to the power of the sachet. Otherwise, make it ahead of time and charge it under the sun.
Place your cloth on the grass or any flat surface, and place the flowers (and coal or stone if using) in the middle. If you are sewing it, then fold in half so you have three open sides and sew them shut starting at the bottom left and moving around to the right. Otherwise, gather the cloth together and tie it into a bundle with your ribbon.
Ask one of the love goddesses of Midsummer to bless it—Aphrodite, Venus, Astarte, Inanna, or Ishtar would all be good choices—and leave it out under the sun for a while if you can.
Sweet Dreams Pillow
Many cultures believed that if you used a particular charm on Midsummer Eve you would dream of love or your future husband. Various items were used, including oak flowers, mugwort, ash leaves, yarrow, and more. For this easy dream pillow, you will use a few of the herbs associated not only with divination and prophetic dreams, but with peaceful sleep as well. Hopefully, this will lead to sweet dreams. Maybe even dreams of true love.
You will need:
• A small drawstring bag or a square of cloth
• Needle and thread or a piece of ribbon
• Lavender flowers
• Calendula flowers (marigold)
• Chamomile flowers
• Rose petals (not necessarily used for sleep or dreaming, but they smell sweet, and will add the element of love to the pillow) (optional)
You can use either fresh or dried flowers for this. If you use fresh flowers, be aware that the moisture in the flowers will probably mean the pillow can only be used for a few nights before the flowers become vulnerable to mold. Dried flowers won’t smell as nice, but they will last longer. If possible, pick the flowers yourself, out under the summer sun. If you can’t, you may want to leave them on your altar, if you have one, for a night or two, or place them someplace where the sun will shine on them.
If using a drawstring bag, simply place all the items inside and close. If making a pillow, place the herbs in the middle of the cloth and either fold the cloth in half and sew from the bottom of one side, up and over and down the other, or tie it with the ribbon.
Hold the pillow in your hand before you go to sleep and think about what you wish to dream about, then tuck it under your pillow.
Wooden Wand
Midsummer is the perfect time to make yourself a simple magickal wand. You can use any of the types of wood associated with the Summer Solstice, such as oak, birch, hazel, or rowan. Apple, ash, elder, maple, and willow are also good. This is not the time to make a fancy or complicated wand—what you want is something that captures the elemental energy of the holiday. If possible, try to go out at or before dawn on the day of Midsummer.
Find a piece of wood, about the length of your forearm, or from the tip of your middle finger to your elbow. It should appeal to you both visually and spiritually, and feel right in your hand. You can use a piece that has already fallen from the tree. If you must cut a piece of wood off a living tree, ask the tree’s permission, say thank you once you have done it, and bury a small gift at the foot of the tree.
If the piece of wood still has bark on it, you can either chose to leave it or peel it off with care and then polish lightly with sandpaper. The wood may be shaped with a knife or left as is. If you wish, you can carve or draw a few simple symbols onto the wood, such as a sun, a spiral, a snake, or some other sun or fire symbols.
Hazel Divining Rod
Midsummer is said to be one of the best times to collect hazel for use as a divining rod. It is sacred to the faeries and tied to the sun. Find a hazel tree or bush (there are many different species, but they will all work for this tool) and cut a forked piece with two prongs of equal length. There is no need to do anything else to it, unless you wish to bless it under the sun.
Divining rods are used by holding on to the two prongs, with the longer single piece held out in front of you. Hold the wood loosely, and walk slowly. The rod should dip to indicate the presence of water (or treasure, if you’re lucky).
Decorating for the Solstice
Along with special foods and crafts that celebrate the holiday, another way to get into the mood is through decor. Whether this means adorning your home with holiday-themed decorations or setting up a special Midsummer altar, there are numerous options that fit in with the colors, symbols, and energies of the Summer Solstice. After all, most of us decorate the house for the Winter Solstice (Yule/Christmas), so why not do the same for its counterpart?
Whether you are adding to your regular altar or creating one specifically for Midsummer, here are some suggestions for things you may want to have on your Summer Solstice altar.
• Summer flowers, especially the rayed flowers that represent the sun, such as daisies, chamomile, marigold, asters, and sunflowers. These can be for decoration or as an offering to the goddess.
• Sun symbols—this also includes circles, spirals, disks, and wheels, as well as actual suns.
• The colors yellow, orange, red, and/or gold, as well as white or green. It is nice to have an altar cloth for the holiday that contains the sabbat colors, and if you use one it should definitely be “summery” feeling; bright and cheerful, perhaps with flowers on it.
• Incense that has a Midsummer-themed aroma, such as rose, lavender, cinnamon, lemon, or any of the others listed in the correspondences at the back of the book.
• A small cauldron to represent fire (you can put a candle in it, or just leave it empty).
• An “eternal flame” (in this case, a battery-powered light, since you won’t want to leave a candle or actual flame burning when you are not present).
• Statues of any god or goddesses you worship at Midsummer.
• Fresh or dried oak leaves or acorns.
• Animal totems for the holiday, such as bees, butterflies, birds, etc.
• Gifts or offerings for the faeries.
• Gifts or offerings for the gods.
Anything else that seems appropriate to you. After all, it is your altar, and you should follow your heart when you decorate it. The same goes for decorating your home. If you are someone who goes all out, you may want to hang garlands of fresh flowers, change your regular tablecloth for one in a Midsummer color, put up a Midsummer-themed banner or flag (there are a number of these available online or at Pagan shops, and they can be quite beautiful), place bright yellow candles on various surfaces, and string up paper lanterns or flickering lights to represent the glow of the sun or the dance of fireflies.
If you are someone who prefers things more low-key, it may be enough to hang up a poster of Stonehenge or a carved wooden sun, and put a few extra items on the altar or mantelpiece. You may just pick some flowers and put them in the middle of the table. You may not decorate at all, choosing instead to simply go outside and enjoy the bright summer day. And that’s fine too, since Midsummer is really about the glories of the natural world and the power of the sun overhead.