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Abrahamic morality

☀️✨Summer Solstice and Midsummer Folklore

For many cultures midsummer’s eve is a time when fairies and spirits cross more easily into the human world. One famous piece of writing which describes this transitional time is Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream whose characters include both the king of the fairies, Oberon, and the fairy queen, Titania.

There are many old Anglo-Saxon names for the pagan festivals and months, including the name Litha for midsummer. Today, some pagans and witches use this name to refer to the summer solstice as part of the wheel of the year.

As far as traditional folklore is concerned, observing the time of midsummer and the solstice draws attention to the cyclical nature of life and time. The fairy lore and spiritual aspects allow people to see beyond these earthly bonds and into the realm of eternity and timelessness.
Of course, there was also a connected magical element to the fires lit on midsummer as they banished bad luck and evil spirits. The wearing of flowers in a persons hair and hanging garlands upon doorways was also a way to thwart bad luck.

In Celtic lore the cycle of life is often represented by turning, spinning and circular motion. There are many other variants of this custom of making wishes while walking in a circle. Sometimes people walked around a fire or a well but in other cases it might be a fairy tree or wooden pole. Another custom is ‘turning the pebble’ where a person would walk around the midsummer bonfire three times holding a stone in their hand and whispering a wish they wanted to come true to themselves. Then, after the last loop they threw the pebble into the flames.

In some Scandinavian countries a type of decorated Maypole is the central focus of the dancing and rituals. When you look at the mythology of spider-goddesses, spinning and webs you also notice these archetypal patterns.

Another circular motif used at this time of the year is a sunwheel. Depending on the place these may take the form of huge balls of straw or tangles of wood which are set on fire and rolled down a hill at sunset. The ashes of the sunwheel were then used to protect homes and animals from evil spirits. A similar fire custom which includes prophecy is jumping over the bonfire with your love. If you let go their hand during the jump the relationship was said to be doomed, though!

An interesting form of divination used in Northern Europe at midsummer is one where young girls float garlands containing wishes, either whispered to the flowers or written on paper, on the surface of a river or lake. Depending on how the garland moves or whether it sinks was said to predict the outcome of the request. Some versions of this custom say you are not meant to look at the garland or even go back to the offering as you are handing your wishes to the gods, goddesses and spirits to determine.

Fire, prophecy, fairies, ancestors and feasting are also motifs that run through all of the lore associated with this time of the year. There are also some similarities to the Bealtaine traditions here as both of these rituals are acknowledging the long, summer days, purification and the prospect of new life in all of its manifestations.

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Solstice 🌞

Midsummer

During midsummer (a period of about 4 to 5 days around the solstice) we celebrate that the sun is at its highest point. A festival that was celebrated all over Europe. We honor the energy and power of the sun on nature and on all living things. Without light there is no harvest and no life. A great time to toast together to the magic of life!

Fijne midzomerfeesten!

Midsummer Eve, c. 1908
by Edward Robert Hughes (1851-1917)

Teaching Children about the Natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their Lives.

The Tribe of the Fox made more than 100 video's about ancestors, naturespirits and deities. Dirkje and Martijn read about our ancestral spirituality and practice it. Trancejourneying is a major part of our spiritual life. Later this week we will publish the first of 5 video's ( Nearly 2 hours of material in total🙂) about the heathen Underworlds. Saying that trancejourneying the Underworlds is interesting is an understatement😄. Yes, Underworlds because there are many. Stay tuned, folks🦊. (picture: Diego Sanchez for the Ginnrunbok)