This ritual is a rewrite of the original found at About.com by the amazing Patti Wigington. You can see it here. The following contains rewrites and original content by myself. Enjoy.
The Summer Solstice, known to some as Litha, Midsummer, or Alban Heruin, is the longest day of the year. It’s the time when the sun is most powerful, and new life has begun to grow within the earth. After today, the nights will once more begin to grow longer, and the sun will move further away in the sky.
Here's How:
Confirm altar is prepped with necessary herbs, candles, athame, wand (if being used), chalice, cakes and ale, any other offerings to be made and the salt, water and incense for the purification. Allow some time for breathing and centering. Light all candles from candle(s) burned on the day of the Solstice to introduce its energy into the space.
Begin this ritual by preparing the wood for a fire, without lighting it yet. While the ideal situation would have you setting a huge bonfire alight, realistically not everyone can do that. If you're limited, use a table top brazier or fire-safe pot, and light your fire there instead.
Purify your ritual space with the Blessing of the Bath or with smudge and blessed water.
Say either to yourself or out loud:
"Witches gather tonight to celebrate the Midsummer, Alban Heruin, the time of the High Sun, sacred to our Mighty Dead. The Earth as the Mother is pregnant and the God is at His peak. In the presence of those elements our ancestors held holy, the Sky above our heads, the Earth warmed beneath our feet, and the Sea who's embrace holds Us on all sides, we honor this and begin our dance between the Worlds with the lighting of our sacred fire."
At this point, start your fire. (Obviously)
Call in the elements using traditional callings or ones special for this occasion.
"Hail to you, Guardian of the Watchtower of the (East/South/West/North),
Powers of (Appropriate to the Element Called).
I do summon and stir you up
To bear witness this rite and to protect this circle.
(wait for the element to respond)
Hail and Welcome."
Repeat for each quarter. Include Above, Below and Center if desired.
Cast your circle using the following liturgy or your own.
"I conjure thee, Oh Circle of Power,
To be a boundary between the world of the Living,
And the Realm of the Mighty Ones,
A rampart and protection against all harm
To preserve the power raised within.
Wherefore do I bless and consecrate you
By every sacred name of the God and the Goddess."
"The Circle is open. We are between the worlds, in a place not a place, in a time not a time. Hail and welcome."
Build up the fire even more, so that you have a good strong blaze going.
If you wish to make an offering to the gods, now is the time to do it.
Say:
"Alban Heruin is often a time of rededication to the gods.
At all times the triple goddess watches over me,
And she is known by many names.
She is the Morrighan, Brighid, and Cerridwen.
She is the washer at the ford,
She is the guardian of the hearth,
She is the one who stirs the cauldron of inspiration.
It is she we call first into our circle
By all names known and unknown.
(include any invocation of all goddesses by name here)
The Lady is not without her Consort.
His names are also many and his power now at its peak.
He is the Horned One,
The Oak King,
The Hunter, The Lover.
When his horn sounds, the fabric of reality shudders.
It is he we call now into our circle
By all names known and unknown.
(include any invocation of all gods by name here)
Magickal Working - Burning Away Poverty Mind
A rite to pull in all positive energies associated with the Sun to burn away poverty mind that holds us captive and creates a mire we struggle through. By invoking the Sun and allowing it to burn away those limits in our lives we open ourselves to prosperity. During this rite the offerings will be charged with those limiting ideas and then offered in exchange in the ritual fire.
"We give honor to you here,
And make our requests to you now.
As the Wheel turns for the next year and a day
Grant us wisdom, blessings upon our endeavors,
And all that we desire.
As the ever-present Sun turns around us in the next year
May your faces never be far from our call.
I make this offering
To show my allegiance,
To show my honor,
To show my love,
To remove all that holds me back from achieving prosperity,
To You.
Cast your offering into fire."
Cakes and Ale
Take a few moments to reflect upon what you have offered, and what the gifts of the gods mean to you. When you are ready, if you have cast a circle, dismantle it or dismiss the quarters at this time.
Allow your fire to go out on its own.
