(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
Grmoire." 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.
O 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;
O firey 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 the Earth,
Air,
Fire and Water!
Pause, seeing the hurts and pains burning into
nothingness. Then say:
O Gracious Goddess,
O Gracious God,
on this night of Midsummer magick 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 magick, if necessary, may follow.
Celebrate the Simple
Feast.
The circle is released.
