For this Sabbat I wanted to do something a little different. I have collected some and modified some of the Litha rituals that I have done, seen done or wanted to do.  Here are a couple of things that you can do for both or either the day and night and will be calling upon the twin deities of Apollo and Artemis for these. You can do some of these yourself are do them with friends and family.                                  

                                              Litha / Summer Solstice / Midsummer   

                                              Northern Hemisphere – June 20th 

                                              Southern Hemisphere – December 20th  

Major Themes include – Celebrating the longest day; the Sun; celebration of the abundance around you and the power that all life derives from the Sun   

Solar Deities include:  (Gods) Ra, Apollo, Ngai, Agni, Freyr, Green Man, Holly King, Oak King  (Goddesses) Wala, Aine, Sol, Xihe, Bast, Green Lady   

Colours – Gold, yellow, orange red add greens if you are celebrating the Oak/Holly King theme   

Altar Decorations – All things the colours above; fruit and vegetables that are in season  

Food – All fruits and vegetables in season and anything you can cook over a fire; bright flavours   like lemon and orange 

Things to do for Litha during the day and night 

• Rise with the Sun, to honour the day in its entirety. 
• Write a gratitude list.  What have you manifested so far this year?  Spend some time re-visiting the past six months and bring into your consciousness all that you have to appreciate.  Give gratitude to the Sun for being the ultimate life-giver and enabling your journey! 
• Create a tree Midsummer Tree by writing things that you are grateful for on ribbons and tying them to a tree or plant; or buy a St. John’s Wort and tie them to that 
• Light a summer bonfire!  By making this a symbol of our Sun, we’re reminded of its constancy and power. Invite your friends to dance around it with you, and recognise your movements as mirroring the movements that our Earth makes each year around this awesome celestial body. 
• Get a St. John’s Wort plant; use it to make an oil infusion for protection against the evil eye; keep it and tend to it to promote good health and luck 
• Charge your tools or other solstice created things under the sun 
• Rise with the Moon, to honour the night in its entirety. 
• Have a bonfire and unite the power of the Sun under the moon 
• Dance 
• Hang fennel above your entry ways for protection of your home and family; you can also sprinkle water around the house, doors and window using the fennel then hang it above the entry way  

Midsummer God - Apollo   

• · Apollo favoured healers, musicians, psychics, diviners and mediums, good looking men, philosophers, Leos and all those that helped to protect and care for wolves 
• · He is represented by a Golden lyre, Silver bow, Tripod, Sun, Golden sword, Golden ribbons, Laurel crown, Eiresione (olive branches with fruits, olive oil pots and wool hanging from it) 
• · His twin was Artemis Goddess of the Hunt and the Moon 
• · Plants that represent him are St. John’s Wort, bay laurel, apple trees, mistletoe (especially if it is from an apple tree) and poplar trees 
• · Amber is the “crystal” to use 
• · He favours the number seven (7)  
• · Animals:  Crow, Wolf, Dolphin, Mouse, Locust, Grasshopper, Lion, Falcon, Rabbit, Reindeer, Deer, Ram, Snake and his chariot is pulled by swans 
• · Offerings to Apollo include: gifts of solar images, incense Bay, Laurel, Vine, Rush, Sunflower, Amber, Hyacinth, Frankincense, Olibanum, Aloe, Plane tree, Ash tree, Cypress, Locks of hair, Honey, Lupine flowers, Goats, Goat horns, Donkey and wine 
• · Motto is “Know Thyself” 
• · Ways to honor include: Put your core values into practice - don’t just preach it, live it; live life to its fullest; cultivate the arts by writing, drawing, painting, dancing, play an instrument, sculpt or support those who do; read philosophy, and try to think outside the box; learn and practice a form of divination meditate; live healthily;  exercise regularly; take an interest in what you eat and how it affects your body; visit the sick; donate time, or money if unable, to causes dealing with illnesses.  

Midsummer Goddess – Artemis 

• · Artemis favoured girls and women in general, lesbians, sailors and mariners, Amazons, female athletes, runners, swimmers and archers 
• · She is represented by a Silver bow and arrow, torch, Moon and deer 
• · Her twin was Apollo God of Light and the Sun
• · Plants that represent her are Cypress, Asphodel, Amaranth, Palm tree, Mugwort, Birch, Wildflowers, Walnut, willow, cedar, myrtle, fir, oak, wild fig and bay laurel 
• · Moonstone is the crystal to use 
• · She favours the number six (6)  
• · Animals: All Animals, Deer, Bear, Goat, Boar, Buteo Hawk, Dog, Horse, Fresh water fish, Ground dwelling birds 
• · Offerings to Artemis include:  Round honey cakes; Lunar images; Cypress, Asphodel, Amaranth, Palm tree, Mugwort, Birch, Wildflowers, Female goat, Toys (from girls before their wedding), Clothing (from women), Garlands, Statuettes of children (by their parents), Statuettes of soldiers, Clay masks (probably used in rites of passage), Moonstone, Mugwort, Frankincense, Port, Game meat 
• · Ways to honor include:  Clean up pollution, protect wildlife, donate time and money to ecological concerns. Get out into the wild, and experience the natural world. Go on nature walks, go for picnics, camp, hunt – get outside! If you eat meat, respect the animal that it came from. Be mindful of what the animal went through, and the intimate connection that exists between its death and your life. Hunt, if you can. Be respectful of personal space and privacy. Be supportive of people who don’t live according to culturally established norms.  

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  Midsummer Apollo Power Incense   

*** CAUTION! DO NOT MAKE THIS IF YOU ARE PREGNANT; MAY BE PREGNANT OR TRYING TO CONCEIVE! *** 

*** IT CAUSES UTERUS TO RELAX AND CAN INDUCE CONTRACTIONS! *** 

*** DO NOT TOUCH IT, DRINK IT OR EVEN BURN IT IF YOU ARE BREASTFEEDING! *** *** DO NOT INGEST ANYTHING WITH HERBAL OR NOT WITHOUT CONSULTING A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL ***  

• · Crush together with a mortar and pestle one (1) part of each dried Mugwort, Wormwood, Yarrow and St. John’s Wort 
• · Burn on a hot charcoal disc; you can add a resin if you like, Frankincense is a good pairing 
• · Use as an offering to Apollo or add to a carrier oil for anointing your candles and tools        

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 Apollo’s Divine Oracle 

Once upon a time, this system of divination, known as “aleuromancy,” was available if one made a donation at Apollo’s shrine. The ancestor to the fortune cookie, it is easily reproduced at home. Whether this oracle tastes good or is even completely cooked depends on whether your plan to eat the oracle once you have received your answer.

You can use tin foil instead of dough to do make these oracles. 

1. Make very simple bread dough, from approximately one (1) cup of flour, one (1) egg and one quarter (1/4) cup of water; or your favourite bread/bun recipe or tin foil 
2. Write your choices, alternatives or what you are grateful for on slips of paper 
3. Place each within a ball of dough or foil, each ball must appear reasonable identical
4. If using dough, bake them to your desired doneness but until they are sufficiently hard 
5. When they cool off, you may request Apollo’s blessings by leaving them on your alter for a while 6. Select an Oracle as needed  

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  Midsummer Artemis Mojo Bag   

1. You can crush the following or leave them intact: Combine in a mortar a pinch of all or some of the following dried herbs: Mugwort, Wormwood, Sweet Annie, Desert Sage, Southernwood and Tarragon b. Crush or bruise them if desired 
2. Place herbs into a drawstring bag or medicine pouch 
3. Add a moonstone and/or a chalcedony crystal 
4. Add a piece of silver, any kind of little charm is fine but a tiny silver dog, dragon or moon is perfect 
5. Anoint with a drop of tuberose essential oil or night-blooming jasmine and carry with you during psychic journeys for added magic power and protection     

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Artemis Dream Incubation Spell   

Dreaming can be an adventure but sometimes you are looking for more. Sometimes we need our dreams to be a source for specific information that we are unable to obtain any other way. A dream incubation spell requests a specific dream. It can be difficult at first but with practice it will become easier. Dream incubation spells is an ancient technique that was used to receive a specific dream. The dreamer knows exactly what dream or what type of dream is needed. So if you were looking for a healing you would want to dream of either being healed or directions as to what to do regarding this ailment.    

1. Build an altar for Artemis within sight of your sleep area 
2. Decorate it with images of the moon and the animals she loves, especially dogs, wolves and deer 
3. Light a silver and/or white candle (use birthday candles in sand so it won’t be burning too long) 
4. Use a blend of Jasmine and Sandalwood essential oils to help with the psychic connection, facilitate sleep and connect to the vibrations of the moon a. If you can tolerate straight use of these essential oils, then wear one (1) drop of each when you are ready to sleep 
5. Describe the type of dream you need to Artemis; be as open, honest and specific as you can 
6. Go to sleep   If you don’t get the dream the first time, keep trying. Should you receive your dreams, Artemis accepts gifts of toy animals, your old childhood toys, living Artemisia plants, and moon shaped cakes lit with candles.     

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Artemis Dream Prophecy Spell   

If the dream you are seeking is more prophetic in nature:   

1. Build an altar for Artemis within sight of your sleep area 
2. Decorate it with images of the moon and the animals she loves, especially dogs, wolves and deer 
3. Light a silver and/or white candle (use birthday candles in sand so it won’t be burning too long) 
4. Use a blend of Jasmine and Sandalwood essential oils to help with the psychic connection, facilitate sleep and connect to the vibrations of the moon. If you can tolerate straight use of these essential oils, then wear one (1) drop of each when you are ready to sleep 
5. Put some Bay Laurel leaves under your pillow or in the underside of your pillowcase.  If they poke you or scatter to much you can pin one (1) to each corner of your pillow or place them in a drawstring bag and then in underside of your pillowcase or you could also put them on the alter if you don’t want them in your bed