Pagan Eye: London at Dawn - Sun Behind the Shard

This wonderful photo of London's skyline at dawn, with a view of the Shard, was taken from the Millennium Bridge yesterday by John Davies. He kindly let me share it on A Bad Witch's Blog and I think it is amazing.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

The photo is copyright John Davies

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2017/10/pagan-eye-red-sun-over-south-london.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/10/pagan-eye-wands-at-ready-in-central.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/01/pagan-eye-sun-dog-from-usa.html

Pagan Eye: Glastonbury Sunrise

This amazing photo is one of the loveliest images of Glastonbury Tor I have ever seen. It shows a sunrise one morning this week and was taken by Dave Phelan, who is lucky enough to live in the area.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Dave Phelan's photo is shared under Creative Commons: BY-SA

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2014/08/pagan-eye-last-weekends-supermoon.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/11/weaving-dreams-beneath-tor.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/01/glastonbury-tor-entrance-to-land-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/09/pagan-eye-warriors-call-at-glastonbury.html

Pagan Eye: Sunrise over Whitewall Creek

Mick, a friend with a lifelong love of boats, took this beautiful photograph at dawn near Whitewall Creek, on the River Medway near Rochester, and kindly allowed me to use it on my blog.

He first posted it on Facebook and said: "Taken at 05:30am. Wind and rain, boys and girls. At Whitewall Creek having coffee and toast."

You can read a bit more about the history of Whitewall Creek on the BBC Kent History website, I discovered. Very interesting.

My Pagan Eye posts show photos that I find interesting - seasonal images, pagan sites, events, or just pretty pictures. If you want to send me a photo for a Pagan Eye post, please email it to badwitch1234@gmail.com Let me know what the photo shows and whether you want your name mentioned or not. For copyright reasons, the photo must be one you have taken yourself.

Links and previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/05/the-rochester-catalpa-tree.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/02/pagan-eye-witchy-sunset-over-australia.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/10/ghostly-photograph.html

Summer Solstice Dawn Meditation on Glastonbury Tor

Here's another Summer Solstice event that I've just added to my regular listing:

Friday 21 June; Glastonbury Tor Summer Solstice Celebration at Sunrise. Location: Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8BH. A celebration of life with meditation and channelled messages. Bring shakers and instruments if you have them. Time: 4.30am to 5.30am. Free event, just turn up. All welcome. For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/401516226628185/

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/01/glastonbury-tor-entrance-to-land-of.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2013/06/pagan-events-midsummer-and-summer.html

Pagan Events: Midsummer and Summer Solstice 2013

Summer Solstice is on 21 June, which is a Friday in 2013. However, pagans often celebrate midsummer from the middle of June until the end of the month. The word Solstice comes from the Latin phrase sol sistere, which means "sun stand still" because the sun seems to stand still in the sky for a time on the longest day of the year. Afterwards, for the rest of the year, the days get shorter and the nights longer – although the hottest days of the summer are still to come and to be enjoyed.

Midsummer's day is magical, charged with the energy of the sun at its strongest, and that is what is celebrated at this time of year. Here are a few pagan events and open rituals in London and southern England that you can take part in to mark the Summer Solstice in 2013. For details of more pagan events, click on the events link at the top of the page.

Saturday 15 June; Midsummer: Custom, Magic and Lore. One-Day Workshop with Suzanne Corbie at Treadwells, 33 Store Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7BS. Time: 10.45am - 5.30pm. Cost £45, advance booking and deposit essential. Tel: 020 7240 8906 or email: info@treadwells-london.com. www.treadwells-london.com

Wednesday 19 June; Sound Healing and Gong Bath by London College of Spirituality. Free event as part of Mindfulness Week in the More London Fringe Festival with the London Spiritual Movement. Venue: The Scoop at More London, 2A Riverside, SE1 2DB. Start time 6.30pm. Free entry. For more details visit http://www.morelondon.co.uk/events_details.asp?ID=190

Thursday 20 June; Meditation and Mindfulness with Wake Up London. Free event as part of Mindfulness Week in the More London Fringe Festival. Venue: The Scoop at More London, 2A Riverside, SE1 2DB. Start time 6.30pm. Free entry. For more details visit http://www.morelondon.co.uk/events_details.asp?ID=190

Thursday 20 June - 23 June; Gathering of the Elders from the Ecuadorian Amazon. Summer Solstice gathering at Caer Corhain Shamamic Development Centre of the Isle of Sheppey, North Kent. Starts Thursday evening. Cost £250. For more details and information on how to book, visit http://www.touchtheearthuk.com/

Thursday 20 June; PFL Litha Open Ritual by Tribe of Avalon. Venue: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn London. Time: 7.30pm for 8pm start. Ritual ends around 9pm followed by feasting until 10pm. Entrance: £6/£5 PF members. Please bring seasonal food and drinks to share at feast after ritual. For more details, visit http://london.paganfed.org/

Thursday 20 June-Friday 21 June; Stonehenge (pictured top), the 5,000-year-old megalithic monument on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, is the most famous place in England to celebrate the solstices. Entry is normally restricted although English Heritage, which manages the site, will be providing what it calls "managed open access" to Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice. English Heritage allows individuals and groups to conduct their own ceremonies and rituals during the opening times, from 7pm on 20 June until 8am on 21 June. No camping is allowed. There is a car park half a mile from the stones, but it is more environmentally friendly to use public transport to get there, buses run from Salisbury railway station. For details about access to the stones, visit: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/summer-solstice/

Friday 21 June; Drumming and Tribal Singing with the London College of Spirituality. Free event as part of Mindfulness Week in the More London Fringe Festival. Venue: The Scoop at More London, 2A Riverside, SE1 2DB. Start time 6.30pm. Free entry. For more details visit http://www.morelondon.co.uk/events_details.asp?ID=190

Friday 21 June; Summer Solstice on the Beach with Coven of the Bright Isle, at Joss Bay, Broadstairs, Kent. The Coven of the Bright Isle, a normally closed Wiccan group based in Thanet, is holding an open Wiccan Summer Solstice ritual to which all pagans are welcome. The ritual is timed to coincide with sunrise, at 4.30am. Meet at the car park on North Foreland Hill CT10 3PG before sunrise. Bring food and drink for yourself and join the group for breakfast round the fire afterwards – weather permitting.

Friday 21 June; Unveiling of Blue Plaque to Commemorate Doreen Valiente in Brighton. There will be an afternoon of events starting at noon and going on until the evening to celebrate Doreen Valiente. Meet at Steine Gardens, Brighton, at noon for the start of the programme. There will be a procession to Tyson Place, where Doreen lived, and the unveiling itself will take place at 2.30pm. Entertainment will take place later at The Green Door Store, Railway Arches. This is a free event during the afternoon, followed by evening entertainment from 7pm that costs £5. For full details, visit http://doreenvaliente.org/

Friday 21 June; Midsummer Meditation at Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Gathering at the Well Head at 12pm for celebration and meditation until 12.30pm, then gather on the lower lawn for quiet conversation. Free admission from 10am until noon, then normal price admission. For more details about Chalice Well, visit the website http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Saturday 22 June; Summer Solstice Open Ritual on Cooden Beach, Cooden Sea Rd, Bexhill TN39 4TT. Time: 2.30pm. This open ritual is free and all are welcome. Bring a picnic and wear suitable shoes for a stony beach.

Saturday 22 June; Hern's Tribe Midsummer open ritual in Richmond Park. Family friendly outdoor event. Bring your own picnic. For more details, visit http://www.pflondon.org/html/news_-_info.html

Saturday, June 22; Free and Open Gorsedd Summer Solstice Rite at Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire. Open Druidic style ceremony to celebrate the Summer Solstice. Meet at the Red Lion pub from Noon for ceremony at 1.30pm until 3pm. Free event - offerings of song, poetry, cake, mead are welcomed. There is no camping at Avebury this Saturday as Solstice camping is 20th and 21st only.

Sunday 23 June; Greenman Walk organised by The Goddess Foundation. This is a family event that takes place every summer. Venue: Ashplats Woods, East Grinstead, near East Grinstead Town Football Club. It is an event for all of the family to celebrate Summer Solstice. Bring a picnic, go for a walk, watch the Summer Solstice Mummers Play and take part in a quiz. No charge, but donations greatly appreciated. For more details, contact The Goddess Foundation via its website: http://www.goddessfoundation.org.uk/

Sunday 23 June. Fairy Festival at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. For more details and to book tickets call 02392 598838 or visit http://www.butserancientfarm.co.uk/

Sunday 23 June; Midsummer on Primrose Hill with the Loose Association of Druids. Open ritual hosted by Jeremy Morgan, the Druid of Wormwood Scrubbs. Venue: The Hawthorne Grove, Primrose Hill, Regents Park, London NW1. Starts at 12.30pm, ends at around 2.30pm. Nearest tube: Chalk Farm.

Sunday 23 June; St John's Eve, Midsummer Crossbones Vigil to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard. Gather from 6.45pm in Redcross Way outside the Memorial Gates, SE1, opposite the Boot and Flogger, just north of the junction with Union Street. Nearest tubes Borough or London Bridge, 5 minutes walk away. The event is free. http://www.crossbones.org.uk/

Sunday 23 June; Summer Solstice. Evening service led by the Wheel of the Year Group at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel (pictured below), 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. http://www.rosslynhillchapel.com/

Happy Winter Solstice! Plus Things To Do Over Yule

As this post goes live, the sun will be just about to rise on the morning of the Winter Solstice. The pre-dawn twilight began at 7.24am and the sunrise is due at 8.04am to be precise.

Happy Winter Solstice to you all!

The actual time of the Winter Solstice itself is 11.11 am this morning - that's the moment when the sun reaches its lowest peak-day point in the sky for the entire year, before slowly starting to climb again. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, with 7.49 hours of daylight. Sunset is at 3.53pm today.

This morning, there was free open access at Stonehenge from about 7.30am until 9am for those wanting to watch the Solstice sunrise from the ancient site. The stone circle will close at 9am and re-open to paying visitors at 9.30am, so you could go and watch the actual Winter Solstice there if you fancy it. For more details, visit http://www.visit-stonehenge.com/

Here are other Winter Solstice celebrations and other pagan events taking place in London and southern England over Yuletide:

Friday 21 December; Winter Solstice at Chalice Well World Peace Garden, in Glastonbury. Gathering at the Well Head at 12pm for celebration and meditation until 12.30pm, then gather around the fire on the lower lawn for quiet conversation. Free admission from 10am until noon, then normal price admission. For more details about Chalice Well, visit the website http://www.chalicewell.org.uk/

Friday 21 December, 3 Magic Words - European Film Premiere at Odeon Leicester Square, London. Film screening followed by a panel discussion including Dolores Cannon, Michael Perlin and Maura Hoffman, then a World Peace Prayer. Watkins estoreric bookshop will be having a stall at the event. Start time 7.30pm. This will be followed an after party from 11pm to 2am. For more details and tickets, visit http://www.3magicwordslondonpremiere.com/

Friday 21 December; Saturnalia and Tales of Winter Magic at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. From 1pm to 5pm. For more details, call 02392 598838 or visit http://www.butser.org.uk/

Friday 21 December; Yule ritual at Brighton Arts Club, 43 Providence Place, Brighton BN1 4GE, doors open at 7.30pm, event begins 8pm. Tickets cost £10 which includes a free welcome drink as well as the ritual. For details on how to book, visit https://alternativexmas.eventbrite.co.uk/

Saturday 22 December; Outdoor Yule (Mid-Winter Solstice) Open Ritual in Croydon, South London. A special ritual to mark the end of one Mayan cycle and beginning of another followed by a feast with home made bread, mulled wine and some woodland cooking. Meet at Coombe Lane tram stop in Croydon by 2pm to be collected for a short walk to the ritual site. For more details: http://www.pflondon.org/html/open_rituals.html#H-open-rituals

Saturday 22 December; Druidic ceremony to celebrate the Winter Solstice (Alban Arthan) at Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire. Meet at the Red Lion pub from Noon for ceremony around 2pm. The ritual should end at 3.30pm, then back to the pub. Overnight camping is allowed in the overflow car park on Friday 21 December.

Sunday, 23 December; Anderida Gorsedd Winter Solstice open ritual at the Long Man of Wilmington, Sussex. Meet near the car park between 1.30pm and 2pm for a walk up to the chalk hill figure at 2pm. Afterwards back to the Giants Rest pub in Wilmington for a social drink together.

Sunday, 23 December; Solstice. Yule and Christmas Vigil to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard, followed by carol singing and other seasonal songs. Gather from 6.45pm in Redcross Way outside the Memorial Gates, SE1, opposite the Boot and Flogger, just north of the junction with Union Street. Nearest tubhttp://www.crossbones.org.uk/es Borough or London Bridge, 5 minutes walk away. The event is free.

Sunday 23 December; Winter Solstice Celebration to Honour the Ancestors. Wheel of the Year ritual drawing from Celtic earth/pagan traditions at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, 3 Pilgrim's Place, London NW3 1NG. Time: 7pm. Tel: 020 7433 3267.

Links
http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en/united-kingdom/london/2012/december/21
http://pagancalendar.co.uk/

Tarot: The Sun - Symbolism and the Summer Solstice

As today is the Summer Solstice, when the sun is in the sky for longer than any other day of the year (even if you can't actually see it behind clouds) I thought I'd write about The Sun card in Tarot.

The Sun is one of the most positive cards in a Tarot reading. It indicates happiness and contentment, vitality, self-confidence and success. It generally represents good things and happy outcomes to any current struggles you might be facing.

I decided to photograph The Sun card from four different Tarot decks that I own, as you can see above. From left to right these decks are The Crystal Tarot, the Robin Wood Tarot,a Tarot deck from the early 1970s produced by Reiss Games and the Tarot Flamand, also known as the Bacchus Tarot, which was designed in the 18th Century.

The two middle cards show versions of The Sun that are very similar to those in the Rider-Waite deck, which is probably the best known form of Tarot. The deck's creator A. E. Waite suggested that this card is associated with attained knowledge. The pictures show an infant riding a white horse under a bright sun, with sunflowers in the background. The child symbolises young life. He holds a red flag, representing the blood of renewal and freedom. The sun itself represents accomplishment. The meaning is that the conscious mind can prevail over fears and illusions; through discovery there is renewed hope for the future.

The Crystal Tarot picture gives greater importance to the sunflowers. The book that comes with this set says these represent the adoration, nourishment and power that are the reward of efforts made under the influence of the sun. The child symbolises the joy of innocence. Children constantly look for new experiences and do not fear them. Like a child, you should avoid being too judgemental. Balance work and play for a happy and healthy life. The card recommends carrying an imperial topaz crystal to help manifest the energy of the sun.

The Bacchus Tarot shows a horse rider travelling from east to west, the direction the sun takes each day. His banner flies high and he represents victory and success in our endeavours.

In these troubled times I think we could all do with a bit of hope for the future and energy to see our plans through to success, as well as an open mind to new ideas. Perhaps the powers of the sun this Summer Solstice will shed light into the shadows and reveal our fears to be insubstantial, allowing us to see clearly the solutions to any problems we face and showing the way forward.

Enjoy the power of the sun this day and follow your inner child to joy and new discoveries.

Links and previous related posts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sun_(Tarot_card)
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/10/review-crystal-tarot.html
Robin Wood Tarot Deck

Arctic Sea and Sky

More photos that I've taken over the past couple of days around the coast of Norway. This is the time of year when the sun returns to this part of the world within the Arctic Circle.

This is a very important occasion for people who live here because for two months of the year, from November to January, the most daylight they get is a couple of hours or so of twilight - the sun never rises above the horizon.

The pictures show the dawn, daylight and dusk sky over the sea and fjords.

Happy Winter Solstice Eve!

Tonight is Solstice Eve and tomorrow the sun rises on the Winter Solstice. This midwinter festival, one of the most important festivals of the year for pagans, is also called Yule or Alban Arthan. The moment when the sun reaches its turning point of the winter is 5.30am, according to the online pagan calendar, but you might prefer to get up a bit later and greet the dawn, which takes place at 8.04am.

I am travelling to Avebury stone circle, in  Wiltshire, to celebrate it, and I intend to take lots of photos. I hope I'll be able to get an internet connection while I'm there - otherwise I'll be posting them on my blog as soon as I can.

Happy Winter Solstice Eve!

Links and previous related posts.
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html?n=136&month=12&year=2011&obj=sun&afl=-11&day=1
http://pagancalendar.co.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/what-to-do-at-yule-if-youre-pagan.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2011/06/review-avebury-cosmos.html

Pagan events for the Winter Solstice

Tomorrow, December 21, is the Winter Solstice. It is the time of the shortest day and longest night of the year. It is also the turning point in the sun's decline, meaning that the days will now slowly start to get longer. This is something that people have celebrated since the earliest times.

This December 21 there is also a full moon and a full lunar eclipse to celebrate too!

Here are some of the wonderful pagan events taking place over the Winter Solstice and the following week or so:

Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 December: Tales of Winter Magic at Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hants. For more details, call 02392 598838 or visit http://www.butser.org.uk/

Monday 20 December; Saturnalia, with Sacred Songs, Holy Humour, Divine Dances, & Mystical Mummery, at pagan forum Secret Chiefs. Venue: Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2R 3JJ. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8.30pm. Admission £2. http://secretchiefslondon.wordpress.com/

Monday 20 December to Tuesday 21 December; All-night bonfire vigil at Hollingbury Hillfort, Ditchling Rd, Brighton, Sussex, to mark the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and the centre of the galaxy all being in total alignment. In the middle of Hollingbury Hillfort there will be a bonfire vigil from 9pm on the night of the 20th to watch the full moon cross the sky. Bring warm, waterproof clothing, blankets and firewood. Also bring any tales or words to say for the Sun, Earth, Moon or Galactic Central Point. All welcome, come along any time for as long you want, or just come along a 6am to witness the eclipse or the 7.45am Sun/Galactic Centre Pointrise. For more details, visit http://www.onbrightsky.co.uk/

Tuesday 21 December; Full Luna Eclipse and Sunrise Yule Open Ritual at Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire. At 8.18am the full moon zenith and the maximum totality of the lunar eclipse will coincide with sunrise. This is a very rare event especially coinciding with the Yule festival, a moment of absolute balance, and the start of a very special 24 hours which culminates in the Solstice Sunrise on the morning of the 22nd. To mark this occasion there will be a formal but public ritual. Camping is available on the nights of December 20 and 21 in the overflow car park. Meet at the southern entrance to the henge for a prompt 7.30am walk to the ritual site in the West Kennet Avenue, which should give a clear view of the setting moon in totality, and the sunrise. For more details, call 07746365980.

Tuesday 21 December; Winter Solstice and Full Moon: Reflection, Storytelling and Celebration from 7pm-9pm. Celebrate the shortest, darkest day and share your inner light with meditation, chanting and listening to an ancient Winter Solstice tale. Venue: The Healing Studio, Creek Road, Greenwich SE10 (opposite Cutty Sark DLR station). Tickets are £10 in advance or £15 on the night. To book contact Doug Buckingham on 07979 750291 or email doug@dougbuckingham.co.uk. http://www.dougbuckingham.co.uk/

Thursday 23 December; Cross Bones Vigil and Ceremony to honour The Goose and the outcast dead of Cross Bones Graveyard. Gather from 6.45pm in Redcross Way outside the Memorial Gates, SE1, opposite the Boot and Flogger, just north of the junction with Union Street. Nearest tubes Borough or London Bridge, 5 minutes walk away. The event is free and starts at 7pm. http://www.crossbones.org.uk/

Monday 27 December; Secondhand book sale at Treadwell's, 34 Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London. Time: Noon to 7pm. Email info@treadwells-london.com or call 020 7240 8906. Website: http://www.treadwells-london.com/

If you know of any pagan events and want them listed on A Bad Witch's Blog, email me at badwitch1234@gmail.com or leave a comment below.

The photo above shows sunset on the Winter Solstice 2009 and the picture was taken from the big wheel at the Winter Wonderland festival, in London.

God of the Week: Maahes

With the Summer Solstice in just a few days, I have chosen Maahes, the Ancient Egyptian god of midsummer, protector of the barque of the sun and guardian of sacred places, as The Bad Witch's God of the Week.

Maahes is depicted as a lion or a lion-headed man carrying a sword or knife, and is a rather warlike deity. According to the website, wepwawet.org/wiki, common epithets for Maahes include Lord of Slaughter, Manifester of Will, Avenger of Wrongs and even The Scarlet Lord, because he was rather partial to bloody sacrifices.

Ancient Egyptians saw Maahes personified in the heat of the midsummer sun, which can be pretty deadly in hot, desert countries.

However, he isn't all that bad. In his guise as a god of war, Maahes fights the enemies of the god Ra, battles evil, defends the innocent, protects initiates and guards magical places. He is also called Helper of the Wise Ones and can be called upon to guard magic rites.

I do hope our sacred places and solstice rituals don't require any warlike protection this year, but it is worthwhile remembering that not so long ago a battle did take place just outside Stonehenge stone circle, in Wiltshire, in the run-up to the Summer Solstice.

On Saturday, 1 June, 1985, Wiltshire Police clashed with several hundred new agers, travelling as The Peace Convoy, on their way to the 11th Stonehenge Free Festival at Stonehenge. The incident became known as the Battle of the Beanfield.

English Heritage, which manages Stonehenge and was worried about potential damage to the ancient monument, had been granted a four-mile exclusion zone around the stones. However, the police were accused of using extremely heavy-handed tactics when they tried to enforce this and stop people arriving at Stonehenge to celebrate the Summer Solstice.

Eye-witness accounts said that officers beat unarmed people on the head with truncheons, including women and children, and used sledgehammers to trash travellers' coaches. Many travellers were arrested when they tried to escape through a beanfield, which gave the incident its name, The Battle of the Beanfield.

A court judgement six years later found the police guilty of wrongful arrest, assault and criminal damage.

After many years of negotations between pagan groups and English Heritage, people were once again allowed to worship at Stonehenge at the Summer Solstice. This year, from Sunday, 20 June, to Monday, 21 June, English Heritage will provide what it calls "managed open access" to Stonehenge to honour the sun on the longest day of the year. There will also be a one-night free festival near the stones.

For details about access to the stones, visit http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/explore/summer-solstice-2010/ For more details of the festival, visit http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/stonehenge/2010/.

For details about other Summer Solstice events, visit http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/06/summer-solstice-open-rituals-and-events.html

The picture above shows sunrise over The Valley of the Kings, Egypt, and was taken by myself, The Bad Witch, from a hot air balloon while I was on holiday there in 2003.

Links
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/maahes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maahes
http://wepwawet.org/wiki/index.php?title=Maahes
http://bulfinch.englishatheist.org/b/pantheon/God-List-M.htm
http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/egyptian-mythology.php?deity=MAHES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Beanfield
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/06/midsummer-question-of-dates.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/06/doing-your-own-solstice-thing.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/06/midsummer-and-solstice.html

Doing your own solstice thing

Many of us will be just doing our own thing next weekend to celebrate the summer solstice rather than taking part in an organised ritual, if those who voted on my summer poll are anything to go by. You can see the result of the poll by scrolling down to the very bottom of the page.

With the summer solstice falling over a weekend this year, and the weather predicted to be fine, it does seem like a great idea to get out, enjoy the sunshine and do what you want.

However, I may be having a quiet solstice at home this year - although I have been invited to a few celebrations, including a heathen blot - a feast with many toasts to the sun, the gods and ancestors, intended to go on until the sun has risen or everyone falls unconscious. That sounded fantastic, but sadly I can't leave my elderly mum, who is recovering from a broken wrist, alone for long.

Instead, I will very likely be having a quiet, personal time of reflection, possibly getting up before dawn to watch the sunrise.

Normally, getting up at around 4am would seem impossible for me, but at the moment my mum is waking me up several times in the night - by ringing a wire-free doorbell - so I can help her to the loo. I've seen the dawn several times over the past couple of weeks because of this, so I should be able to manage it on the solstice.

After tucking my mum back in bed, I have watched out of the window at that early hour, with the sun just rising, and seen the garden behind my house transformed into a magical place. I have seen a mother vixen and her cub playing on the lawn in the pre-dawn half-light, watched rays of sunlight stretch across the dew-sparkled grass, heard the dawn chorus of birds and felt quite at peace with the moment, before returning back to my own comfy bed for a few more precious hours of sleep.

One easy thing to do at the summer solstice is to use the power of the sun to charge a bottle of water with solar energy. Leave the item in a sunny spot from the eve of the solstice, right through the longest day, until the sun has set once more. You can then drink the water, irrigate plants or use it as an offering at another ritual. Crystals, wands or amulets can also be charged with solar energy in the same way.

A great thing to do on your own is a guided visualisation, such as the Visualisation on the element of fire I posted on A Bad Witch's Blog last summer. Find a lovely sunny spot where you will be undisturbed and let the visualisation take you on a personal journey, even if you cannot actually get out yourself.

In folklore, midsummer is considered a good time to harvest herbs if you grow them and want to use them for magical, healing or culinary purposes. In particular, this is a good time to harvest St John's Wort, as 24 June is St John the Baptist's Day as well as being traditional midsummer.

If you want to do a short solitary ritual, then there is a lovely and unusual one on the pagan website Pagan Magic, which is called Everything From The Sun. For this, you fill a bowl with sunflower seeds, yellow and orange sweets or other little things that remind you of the sun. Put them in a sunny spot, or on your altar with a lit a gold or yellow candle, and say:

"Helios and Lugh,
Amaterasu and Sekhmet,
I thank you for your many gifts.
Let me learn to be as generous as you."

Then you can take a few charged items in the bowl yourself and keep the rest to offer to friends, relatives or anyone who visits your home.

The Sun & Moon Brass Sundial pictured is available from Amazon for £21.99.

Links:
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/06/what-to-do-this-summer-solstice.html
Sun & Moon Brass Sundial
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/06/visualisation-on-element-of-fire.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/06/midsummer-and-solstice.html
http://www.paganfed.org/pagan-heath.php
http://pagan-magic.co.uk/shop/litha-everything-from-ritual-a-845.html?ad=badwitch

Solstice sunrise

The sun rose this winter solstice day before 8am over the east coast of England and at 8.02am in London.

It is midwinter, or Yule.

Twelve days of partying, giving gifts, visiting friends and eating too much seem the right thing to do at this bleak time of year to celebrate that from now onwards the days start to get longer.

I do feel much more in the party mood than I have for the past week or so. And that is just the way it should be.

For more information on yule:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule