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Midsummer
(circa
June 21)
Before
the rite, make up a small cloth pouch filled with herbs such as lavender,
chamomile, St. John's wort, vervain, or any of the Midsummer herbs listed in
"An Herbal Grimoire." Mentally pour all your troubles, problems,
pains, sorrows and illnesses, if any, into this petition as you construct it.
Tie it shut with a red string. Place this on the altar for use during the rite.
The cauldron should also be there or nearby. Even if you use candles to mark the
quarters, the red candle in a holder should also be on the altar. For outdoor
rituals, light a fire- however small-and drop the pouch into this.
Arrange
the altar, light the candles and censer, and cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite
the Blessing Chant. Invoke the Goddess and God.
Stand
before the altar and say, with wand upraised:
I
celebrate the noon of summer with mystic rites. 0 great Goddess and God,
All
nature vibrates with your energies
And
the Earth is bathed with warmth and life.
Now
is the time of forgetting past cares and banes, Now is the time for
purification.
0
fiery Sun,
Burn
away the unuseful,
The
hurtful,
The
bane,
In
your omnipotent power.
Purify
me!
Purify
me!
Purify
me!
Lay
the wand on the altar. Take up the herbal petition and light it in the red
candle on the altar (or, if outdoors, the ritual fire). When it is
Burning,
drop it into the cauldron (or some other heat-proof container) and say:
I
banish you by the powers of the Goddess and God!
I
banish you by the powers of the Sun, Moon and Stars!
I
banish you by the powers of Earth, Air, Fire and Water!
Pause,
seeing the hurts and pains burning into nothingness. Then say:
0
Gracious Goddess, 0 Gracious God,
on
this night of Midsummer magic
I
pray that you charge my life with
wonder
and joy. Help me in attuning with
the
energies adrift on the enchanted night air. I give thanks.
Reflect
upon the purification you have undergone. Feel the powers of nature flowing
through you, washing you clean with divine energy.
Works
of magic, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate
the Simple Feast.
The
circle is released.
Midsummer Lore
Midsummer
is practically the classic time to perform magics of all kinds.
Healings, love magic and protections are especially suitable.
Herbs can be dried over the ritual fire if you’re celebrating outdoors.
Leap the fore for purification and renewed energy.
Fresh
fruits are standard fare for Midsummer.
~From
Scott Cunningham's Wicca and the Solitary Practitioner
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