Litha in Tasmania 2024
- glispa2
- Dec 11, 2024
- 6 min read
In the Southern Hemisphere Litha/Summer Solstice is celebrated from the 21st to the 23rd of December. Its actual date for 2024 is Saturday, December 21st at 8:19pm. The Northern Hemisphere will be observing the Winter Solstice. This Sabbat is the longest day and shortest night.
It is worth mentioning that at this time in Tasmania we experience the dry and at times, the stifling heat of summer and in the Northern area of Australia, Litha falls on the hot wet season.
While you bask in the heat of the sun, the solar (divine masculine) yang energies provide passion, willpower and courage. It is this energy that you can harness to try something new and different – especially if it’s out of your comfort zone!
You tend to feel more alive during the warmer months, feeling refreshed, renewed and energised. Socialising, celebrating and connection brings people together. Nature calls more than ever and you can enjoy it well into the evening. The landscape fills with families, friends and travelers picnicking by the beach, river or lazily lying under the welcome shade of the trees.
It is this time of the year that I continue my reign as queen of mosquitos a role I would love to retire from! Mosquitos, sand flies, blue bottles, jackjumpers all come out in full force across the state, freely giving opportunities to learn lessons of being observant of your surroundings.
Lady bugs are out in full force, hanging around the silver birches at home, observing the feast that will soon be before them. They are now in full leaf and playing host to aphids (lady bug food) that sit and sway on the leaf stems.
The luma apiculata hedge is coming back to life after a frightening HEAVY prune and will host its summer flowers very soon – their soft fluffy white flowers breaking up the fresh green foliage. It is a versatile plant with its lemon scented leaves that can be used in casseroles and soups and in Autumn, dark edible purple berries appear.
The vegetables are in full swing and I have strawberries, tomatoes, green and yellow beans, snow peas, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, celery, and spinach. The insurgence of genetically modified food is a call to action. Growing more herbs for medicinal use are on agenda as well as utilising the beds for more winter growing. Making my own salves and syrups for Winter will keep me busy over the coming months!
The summer wild flowers are a delight to see. They are carpeting the earth and swaying in the breeze. Waratah and red gums are giving us a fabulous show of bright red flowers. The willow myrtle – one of my favourite trees, are displaying their cascading white flowers
Plovers are out and about giving their young a tour of their domain, whales are showing themselves not far off the coastal waters. The urban legend of Neal the Seal is reaching celebratory status! The coastal seabirds are breeding, wombats breed all year round, so their babies will be out and about, and snakes are at their most active.
Summer hosts the festival season with events all over the state. The longer days are ideal for honouring the moons cycles – all year celebrating is observed but not as comfortable! The beaches are a great host for celebrations, rituals, dance and of course labyrinth walks
Most ancient cultures celebrated Litha with the lighting of bonfires, herb gathering, making sun wheels, feasting and dancing. As it coincides with bushfire season, statewide fire bans usually in place by the end of the year, celebrating with fire is not observed in Tasmania.
Litha – the Summer Solstice is a celebration of the Goddess and God who are now at the height of their power. They reign over the fertile earth as Queen and King of the land.
Having grown together since their rebirth, their love is a mature love. Their combined energy ensures the success of crops. The Goddess is at the pinnacle of fertile energy and is heavily pregnant, mirroring the abundance seen across the land. The God is the living depiction of the Sun King, whose solar energies nurture and protects the Goddess.
The Sun God of Litha is the Oak King, God of the light half of the year. At the height of his power there comes a challenge for power and leadership. The Holly King – God of the dark half of the year, is born on the Summer Solstice.
This is a bittersweet time for the Goddess. With the birth of the Holly King, the Oak King/Sun King will weaken into the cycle of death as the days begin to close in and the Holly King builds in energy to reign over the darkened earth until the Sabbat of Yule/Winter Solstice.
Everything is growing and expanding. Work with the Solstice energy to expand or grow your dreams and desires. You may wish to invest in areas of your life such as a home business or expand a home business into bricks and mortar.
Energy for growth, empowerment spells or intention work, divination and healing are very potent at this time. Create your altar with representations of the Goddess and God. You can incorporate symbols like the sun, sunflowers, bees, butterflies, birds – robin/wren and snakes.
Include colours gold, green, yellow, red, orange, and blue. Herbs and flower choices are: St john’s wort, chamomile, calendula, lavender, fennel, hemp, mugwort, rosemary, thyme, meadowsweet, verbena, sage, mint. Add crystals such as: amazonite, rose quartz, orange calcite, red jasper, sunstone, carnelian, citrine, and moonstone.
Celebrating or honouring the Summer Solstice might look like:
Gathering herbs and flowers, make a nature mandala, create a prayer tree, do something positive for the earth, charge your magical tools with the solar energies, watch the sun rise or set, gather with friends or family for a meal, create a sun wheel, or join a community activity.
The manifesting energy is potent during the solstice. This requires a combination of shifting energy, focused actions and detach yourself from the outcome. This is a time where enormous quantities of energies and light codes will be coming onto the planet. Therefore, you may need to energetically support yourself by having more quiet time and relaxing. Spend time in nature, walk the beach or have a swim. Salt water is incredibly cleansing - a simple and effective energetic support when you are feeling bogged down with the happenings of life. If you can’t come at swimming in the ocean, draw yourself a bath with a few handfuls of salt. When you are done, lie in the bath, visualising stagnant or blocked energy being washed away with the bath water. If you don’t have a bath at home, use a salt body scrub – it is still effective.
Astrologically, Pluto has entered Aquarius and will remain there for the next 15 years. Pluto will uncover many hidden societal constructs, awakening us and show us the dept of deception in our world. This will have have a massive impact which will make profound changes in consciousness that will elevate the trajectory of life for humanity.
You wouldn’t be wrong in thinking it’s been a hard year or four. Gaia’s ascension has caught many of her inhabitants by surprise and perhaps trepidation. The pantomime playing out is the third dimension in its death throws, the terrible twos and hormonal teenage years all at once.
It has been an emotional roller coaster of trying to maintain being an observer of the pantomime without becoming caught up in the casting selection. Consciously or unconsciously, you ARE integrating higher energies. You ARE expanding your heart. You ARE exactly where you need to be.
Each decision you make to choose a higher vibration response or action solidifies the light within you. You are participating in creating a world with a future unlike we have known since the last Golden Age of Atlantis. Our ascension cannot be stopped. It is irreversible. And those holding the puppet strings are well aware of it.
Hold the line – hold the Light. When you need to - reach out to those who support you. Communities of healers, teachers and leaders – all with open hearts are forming. Practice compassion, embrace an attitude of gratitude. Practice opening your heart centre and ground yourself in the 5th dimension every day.
There are specific mantras often used on the Solstice that you might find helpful. These include: OM SO HUM (I am that)
or OM SHANTI (I am peace)
There is no right or wrong way to honour or celebrate the Sabbat of Litha/Summer Solstice. How ever you do so, is up to you and what feels right – is right for you I look forward to seeing and connecting with you in 2025!
May the Light forever Dance across your Path - Emma
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