Litha Associations
Litha, also known as the Summer Solstice or Midsummer, marks the peak of the Sun's power and the longest day of the year. Celebrated around June 21st in the northern hemisphere, it is a time of abundance, growth, and vitality, honoring the strength of the sun and the fullness of summer. As the Sun reaches its zenith, Litha invites reflection, transformation, and the celebration of life, light, and nature's gifts. (More on the Wheel of the Year here
Here are a few associations to get you started on your Litha traditions and rituals.
Litha Crystals
Sunstone, citrine, and carnelian are great crystals to have on hand during the Midsummer season, but feel free to get creative with any crystal that reminds you of the sun or fire energy!
Sunstone
Sunstone, with its warm, golden glow, is a perfect embodiment of Litha. This vibrant crystal radiates joy, vitality, and confidence, mirroring the sun's life-giving energy at its peak. Just as Litha is a time of abundance, growth, and illumination, Sunstone encourages optimism, personal empowerment, and embracing one's inner light. It is often associated with leadership and motivation, making it an ideal stone for setting bold intentions and manifesting dreams during this potent time of the year. Like the fiery solstice sun, Sunstone fuels passion, creativity, and a deep connection to the warmth and magic of summer, perfectly aligning with the themes of celebration and transformation that define Litha.
Citrine
As a stone of abundance, joy, and manifestation, Citrine embodies the warmth and vitality of the longest day of the year, when the sun's energy is at its peak. Just as Litha is a time of growth, prosperity, and personal empowerment, Citrine encourages confidence, creativity, and the attraction of success. Its bright, sunlit essence helps to dispel negativity, uplift the spirit, and fuel motivation, making it an ideal crystal for harnessing the powerful solar energy of the season. Like the glowing summer sun, Citrine radiates positivity and possibility, making it a perfect companion for celebrating Litha's themes of light, abundance, and transformation.
Carnelian
Carnelian is known for its connection to vitality, courage, and creativity—qualities that align beautifully with the themes of abundance, strength, and personal power that Litha represents. Just as the summer solstice is a time of heightened energy and celebration, Carnelian ignites motivation, enhances confidence, and fuels the pursuit of goals and desires. Its warm, sun-kissed essence resonates with the life-giving power of the sun, encouraging joy, boldness, and a zest for life. As Litha marks a time of transformation and manifestation, Carnelian serves as the perfect talisman for embracing one's inner fire and stepping fully into the season of light and abundance.
Tiger's Eye
Tiger’s eye is a powerful crystal that perfectly aligns with Litha’s themes of strength, confidence, and vitality. With its golden-brown hues resembling the radiant summer sun, this stone embodies the fiery energy of the solstice, encouraging personal power, courage, and determination. Just as Litha marks the peak of the sun’s strength, this crystal enhances willpower and motivation, making it an excellent tool for setting intentions and pursuing goals with confidence. This crystal also offers protection and grounding, balancing the intense energy of the season and helping to maintain focus and stability. By meditating with tiger’s eye, carrying it during celebrations, or placing it on a Litha altar, one can harness its empowering energy to embrace transformation, abundance, and the fullness of life.
Litha Herbs
Litha is associated with St. John's wort, chamomile, and lavender.
St. John's Wort
St. John's Wort has long been associated with the magic and energy of Litha. This bright yellow herb, blooming in the height of summer, is deeply connected to the themes of protection, healing, and vitality—key aspects of the solstice's powerful solar energy. Traditionally used to ward off negative forces and invite positivity, it embodies the light and strength of the sun, making it a perfect plant for rituals of purification, renewal, and personal empowerment. Just as Litha is a time of joy, abundance, and transformation, this herb is known for uplifting the spirit, banishing darkness, and promoting inner strength. Whether used in charms, teas, or burned as an offering, the herb carries the radiant essence of Midsummer, reinforcing the themes of light, growth, and protection that define the season.
Chamomile
Chamomile, with its delicate golden blossoms resembling the sun, is a perfect symbol of the warmth and vitality celebrated during the Midsummer holiday. Known for its soothing and protective properties, chamomile embodies the themes of peace, prosperity, and well-being that align with the height of the Sun's power. Just as Litha is a time of abundance and solar energy, chamomile has been traditionally used in spells and rituals for luck, purification, and attracting positive energy. Its calming essence helps balance the fiery energy of the solstice, promoting harmony and relaxation amid the season's vibrant celebrations. Whether brewed as a tea, used in ritual offerings, or incorporated into charm bags, chamomile radiates the gentle yet powerful magic of the sun, reinforcing Litha's themes of light, renewal, and the nurturing forces of nature.
Lavender
Lavender, with its soothing fragrance and vibrant purple blooms, beautifully aligns with the themes of Litha. As a plant associated with protection, purification, and peace, lavender embodies the balance between the fiery energy of the solstice and the need for spiritual and emotional harmony. Just as Litha is a time of abundance and transformation, lavender is known for attracting positive energy, enhancing intuition, and promoting restful sleep after long summer days. Its strong connection to both the sun's warmth and the cooling energy of relaxation makes it a perfect herb for Midsummer rituals, whether used in cleansing bundles, spellwork, or offerings. With its ability to bring clarity, love, and tranquility, lavender serves as a powerful symbol of the joy, renewal, and magic that define the essence of Litha.
Litha Element: Fire
Fire represents the Sun's immense power, fueling growth, passion, and transformation—key aspects of this vibrant season. Just as Litha marks a time of abundance and strength, fire symbolizes vitality, creativity, and the burning away of negativity to make space for new beginnings. Bonfires are traditionally lit during Litha rituals to honor the Sun's energy, encourage protection, and ignite personal empowerment. This element also embodies courage, willpower, and the spark of inspiration, making it a powerful force for manifestation during the solstice. As the world is bathed in golden sunlight, fire's presence in Litha reminds us to embrace our inner light, pursue our desires with confidence, and celebrate the warmth and magic of life.
Litha Symbols
Here are a couple of other symbols that are often associated with Litha.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers, with their bright golden petals and ability to follow the sun, perfectly embody the themes of Litha, the Midsummer holiday celebrating the sun at its peak. As a symbol of vitality, joy, and abundance, sunflowers reflect the energy of the longest day of the year, when the light is at its strongest and nature is in full bloom. Their connection to the sun makes them a powerful emblem of personal growth, positivity, and manifestation, aligning with Litha's themes of expansion and transformation. Just as the solstice is a time to embrace warmth and gratitude, sunflowers remind us to soak in the blessings of the season and radiate our own inner light. Whether used in altars, offerings, or decorations, these sun-kissed flowers serve as a reminder of the sun's life-giving power and the magic of Midsummer.
Solar Wheels
Solar wheels, or sun wheels, are ancient symbols representing the Sun's power, cycles, and eternal movement through the seasons. Often depicted as a circle with spokes or a cross, they have been used in various cultures to honor solar deities and mark the changing of the year. The design of the solar wheel reflects the turning of the Wheel of the Year, emphasizing the balance between light and darkness as the Sun reaches its highest point during the summer solstice. In many traditions, solar wheels were associated with fire and protection, sometimes even set ablaze and rolled down hills during Midsummer celebrations to symbolize the sun's journey across the sky and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
During Litha, the Midsummer holiday, the sun wheel takes on special significance as a representation of the Sun's peak strength and life-giving energy. This is a time of abundance, growth, and illumination, when the Sun's influence is at its most powerful. The solar wheel's connection to fire aligns with the bonfires traditionally lit on Litha night, reinforcing themes of purification, passion, and transformation. Just as the solar wheel turns, so too does the Wheel of the Year, reminding us that even as the Sun stands at its highest, the days will soon begin to shorten. This sacred symbol serves as a reminder to embrace the warmth, vitality, and opportunities of the season while honoring the ever-turning cycles of nature.
Bonfires
Bonfires are a central symbol of Litha. During the summer solstice, when the Sun reaches its peak, lighting bonfires honors the Sun's power and celebrates the abundant energy of the season. The flames represent purification, burning away negativity, and making way for new growth, while also symbolizing vitality, passion, and the warmth of the sun. These fires are often seen as a way to connect with the sacred element of fire, which is associated with strength, creativity, and courage. Bonfires also serve as a communal space for celebration, encouraging unity and joy among those gathered. As the flames flicker and crackle, they remind us to embrace the fullness of life, reflect on our personal transformations, and celebrate the magic and power of the summer solstice.
More on Litha
Now that you have your Litha celebrations and traditions ready to go, do you want to explore more about the summer solstice?
Introduction to Litha
Litha, also called Midsummer or the summer solstice, is a pagan holiday celebrated on the longest day and shortest night of the year, marking the peak of the sun’s strength and the fullness of summer’s abundance. This festival honors the life-giving power of the sun, the fertility of the earth, and the balance between light and dark as the Wheel of the Year begins its slow turn toward autumn.
Traditionally, Litha is a time of joy, passion, and vitality, when bonfires are lit to symbolize protection, purification, and renewal. It is also a time to connect with solar deities, express gratitude for nature’s gifts, and celebrate the energy of growth, transformation, and abundance. Whether through fire rituals, herb gathering, or simply basking in the warmth of the sun, Litha invites us to embrace the light and honor the powerful forces of nature.
Here's more about Litha.
Litha Meditation
Litha is a powerful time for meditation because the sun’s peak power enhances clarity, vitality, and inner strength, making it ideal for setting intentions and embracing personal growth. The longest day of the year offers a chance to reflect on the balance between light and dark, both in nature and within ourselves. Meditating at Litha allows us to absorb the sun’s warmth and energy, fostering a deeper connection to the cycles of life and the abundance of the season.
Litha Meditation: A guided meditation for the Midsummer season
Litha Journal Prompts
Litha is a perfect time to journal because the height of the sun’s power encourages self-reflection, goal-setting, and gratitude for the abundance in our lives. With the energy of growth and transformation at its peak, writing down intentions can help solidify personal aspirations and harness the sun’s vitality for motivation. Journaling at Litha also allows us to capture the joy of the season, celebrate achievements, and reflect on how we can carry the light of the solstice forward in our journey.
Litha Journal Prompts: Journal prompts to use during Litha
Aine and Midsummer Celebrations
Áine is a Celtic goddess of the sun, sovereignty, and love, deeply connected to fertility, abundance, and the mystical realms of the Otherworld. As both a solar deity and a faery queen, she bridges the physical and spiritual worlds, bringing warmth, vitality, and enchantment to those who honor her. Áine is often associated with midsummer celebrations, particularly Litha, when the sun's power is at its peak and the land flourishes under its golden light. She is a goddess of passion, joy, and empowerment, encouraging us to embrace our own radiance, honor our desires, and celebrate the beauty of nature. Whether as a guiding force for personal sovereignty or a protective spirit of the land, Áine’s presence is a reminder to live with courage, love, and an open heart.
Aine and Midsummer: How the Irish goddess Aine relates to Litha
How to Celebrate Litha
Litha is a time to celebrate the sun’s power, embrace abundance, and honor the natural world at its peak of vitality. One of the most traditional ways to celebrate is by lighting a bonfire, symbolizing the sun’s strength, protection, and purification—gathering around the flames to dance, sing, or set intentions can enhance the magic of the night. Spending time outdoors, whether through sunbathing, watching the sunrise or sunset, or going on a nature walk, helps connect with the warmth and life-giving energy of the season. Creating a Litha altar with sun symbols, fresh herbs, flowers, and candles can serve as a sacred space for reflection and gratitude.
Other ways to celebrate include harvesting herbs, making solar-infused water, preparing seasonal feasts, or meditating on personal growth, all of which honor the spirit of Litha and the vibrant energy of summer.
How to Celebrate Litha: Watch the sunrise, set intentions, try Litha rituals, and feel your power
The Litha Companion
You can also celebrate Litha by checking out our new book!
