A Litha Rite – Copyright © 2011 – Christopher P.
Todd (Indigo) - 1
A Litha Rite
Litha celebrates the summer solstice, when the power of the sun is at its
maximum and the power of the Earth to sustain life is at its peak. From this
day until Yule, the days will become shorter, whereupon the cycle of light and
dark begins again. Litha is a time to celebrate light, life, warmth, fertility, and
abundant energy. . Litha also features the semi-annual battle between the
Oak and Holly Kings (a metaphor for the transition from day’s increase to the
gradual return of the longer nights). Litha, like Mabon and Yule, are
considered “lesser” Sabbats.
Preparing Sacred Space
For an outdoor ritual, the Celebrant shall plant four bamboo poles into the ground, oriented at the
appropriate compass direction to form a circle nine to eighteen feet in radius (this can be expanded for
larger gatherings). The poles should be adorned with streamers or pennants of appropriate color
(yellow/east, red/south, blue/west, and green/north). The Celebrant shall cleanse the area with sage
smoke and sweep away miscellaneous debris and litter as needed. A small rod of incense should be lit
near each of the four poles. The altar cloth should have patterns of red, orange, and yellow. Likewise,
the altar cloth could display a sun symbol.
For an indoor ritual, the sacred space can be delineated by four large pillar candles of appropriate color.
The floor/carpet should be clean. The Celebrant may ritually sweep the floor with a broom.
Covenors are encouraged to wear bright colors. Likewise, Covenors should do a ritual bath prior to
attending the service. Additionally, Covenors that are assigned quarter calls should be given a few
minutes to read/rehearse the relevant text.
Special Materials Needed
Magical Working: Enough citrines for each participant to receive one. These are yellow stones
that cost about a dollar each.
Oak and Holly King Storytelling: Two wooden swords (or similar non-edged weapons, as actual
bloodshed is not the goal); crown of holly (for the Holly King); crown of flowers (for the Oak
King).
Casting the Circle
The Celebrant may use a wand or Athame as the ritual tool for delineating the boundary of sacred
space. The Celebrant shall walk the perimeter of the circle three times, clockwise, starting from the east.
The first pass uses incense (can be an incense stick or a censer). The second pass utilizes a bowl of salt or
A Litha Rite – Copyright © 2011 – Christopher P. Todd (Indigo) - 2
finger chimes (if the latter is used, ring the chimes three times at each of the four directional points).
The third pass uses a wand or Athame. At the conclusion, the Celebrant draws an invoking pentacle in
the air.
Celebrant: "I cast this circle with power and love
From Earth below to Sky above
With shining Sun and glittering Sea
God and Goddess, blessed be
The circle is cast!"
Celebrant and Covenors: “So mote it be!”
Calling the Quarters
Elemental spirits and deities are called in sequence, starting with the east. The calls proceed in a
clockwise fashion. The appropriate candle is lit after each call.
Air/East
Guardian of the East, Spirit of Air
In love and thanks we invite you here
Hot winds blast across the bright blue sky
Blowing leaves and blossoms far and high
Clouds race by, so tall and white
Billowing, majestically in our sight
Guardian of the East, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Air, blessed be
Hail and Welcome!
Fire/South
Guardian of the South, Spirit of Fire
In love and thanks we invite you here
Brazier, candle, and campfire flame
Its cheerful brightness we acclaim
We lift our torches to the limitless sky
Into the night the sparks shall fly
Guardian of the South, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Fire, blessed be
Hail and Welcome!
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Water/West
Guardian of the West, Spirit of Water
In love and thanks we invite you here
Summer storms loom proud and high
And bring relief to a land parched dry
From sky to ground, to streams and sea
The flow of life is carried by thee.
Guardian of the West, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Water, blessed be
Hail and Welcome!
Earth/North
Guardian of the North, Spirit of Earth
In love and thanks we invite you here
The Earth is green with vines and tree
The spirit of life is flowing free
Corn and grains grow from the lands
Carefully tended by loving hands
Guardian of the North, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Earth, blessed be
Hail and welcome!
God
Father Sky, God of the Sun
In love and thanks we invite you here
The sun has reached its greatest power
Streaming light on tree and flower
Warmth and heat, light and love
Your radiance shines down from above
Father Sky, we give thanks to thee
God of the Sun, blessed be
Hail and Welcome!
Goddess
Mother Earth, Giver of Life
In love and thanks we invite you here
We give you thanks for life and love
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From seas below to peaks above
In tree and flower, corn and grains
Your blessings flow, you power reigns
Mother Earth, we give thanks to thee
Giver of Life, Blessed be
Hail and Welcome!
Guided Meditation
Place your body in a comfortable position, with your feet touching the floor and your spine straight.
Close your eyes. Take three deep, slow breaths. Breathe in… breathe out… breathe in… breathe out…
We are leaving this place. Your awareness travels somewhere else entirely. You arrive in the middle of a
desert plain. The dunes are dozens of feet high and sand drifts in the wind making a soft, rasping sound.
Thin, translucent clouds spread out across the sky. They are high and thin, and they do not obscure the
sun’s vast power. The sun is at its maximum potency. It shines down with a brilliant light and intense
heat. The air shimmers in the dry, hot desert. Brittle shrubs and ancient cacti stand against the wind and
sand.
You had expected to be uncomfortable, but you are not. In this place, you are fully acclimated to the
ecology. The sun does not burn you; it empowers you. The heat does not wither you; it enlivens you.
Draw energy from the sun and wind, for both are potent forces – limitless and eternal. Your senses
expand and you realize that the desert is not sterile at all, merely different. Here, in the land of sun and
heat, all manner of life abides – insects, reptiles, rodents, birds, grasses, cacti. They thrive here – just as
you are thriving here.
You walk across the hot sands towards a patch of green in the distance. Birds of prey circle overhead,
waiting for a hapless rodent to let down its guard. The sand blows in your face and you shield your eyes.
The wave of abrasion passes and you find yourself at the edge of a clear pool. All around you, the desert
stretches to the horizon in all directions, but here there is water and trees and an intensity of life not
found on the dunes. The sunlight shimmers on the water’s surface. The lake is deep and transparent to
the bottom. Colorful fish swim about. Birds peck about the edge of the lake and drink of the clear water.
You follow suit. The life-giving water is pure and life-giving. It cools your face and rinses away the dirt
and grit.
Here, in this place, is the intersection of powerful forces – sun and wind, water and earth, heat and
coolness. You feel the forces within your own body come into balance as well.
You take a final drink of water before leaving this place. You walk away from the oasis, with satisfaction
and gratitude. The wind kicks up again and you close your eyes against the sand. You feel yourself
leaving this place of sun and wind and sand. Remember the power of this place. Use it for directing your
will.
Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out…
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When you are ready, open your eyes.
The Oak and Holly Kings
For this storytelling, there will be parts for the Narrator, the Oak King, and the Holly King. The two Kings
can wield wooden staves or prop swords. The Holly King is dressed in green and black and wears a
crown of holly and bells (something reflective of Yule/Winter) and the Oak King wears a crown of
flowers and oak leaves and dressed in the colors of spring.
Narrator: Since the beginning of the world, the forces of summer and winter battle twice each year for
supremacy over the land. The Oak King, the lord of spring and summer, presides over light and warmth.
While the Oak King rules, the land is fertile, the days are long, and the winds are clement. The Holly King,
lord of autumn and winter, has the power of darkness and cold. His winds are brisk and bracing. The
fields are harvested under his watch and then stand barren. Twice each year, at the winter and summer
solstices, the Kings meet in battle to determine whose power shall prevail for the next six months.
Oak King: I am the lord of summer. See my works and rejoice! The night is all but banished, and the
sun’s power is supreme. The air is hot; the winds whip across the lands and blow dust devils in the
midday heat. Buzzards and falcons alike fly on warm thermals, empowered by the sun. The flowers
bloom, the insects buzz, and the trees are lush and green. All is as it should be. May summer last
forever!
Holly King: No, my brother! It is time for your reign to end. Yes, the long days are wonderful, but night
must return. The dark starry sky of winter is just as beautiful as the midday sun in summer. The green
grasses and flowers are a wonder to behold, but so are pristine white snow drifts, glittering icicles, and
ice-covered lakes. And while your crops are tall and proud, and your orchards are heavy with fruit, the
time of the harvests will soon begin. Your reign must end. Autumn must come!
Oak King: My brother, if you seek to rule the land, then you must take it from me by force. Let us be
joined in battle!
Holly King: Yes, my brother. Autumn must arrive, and so I will do as I must. Let us battle!
The two kings begin mock battle. At first, they are evenly matched, but the Oak King briefly appears to
be winning.
Narrator: And so they fought, brother-against-brother, as they have done so since the land first formed.
Oak King: See! I hold the power of the sun, the power of summer. Yield to me, and I will spare you!
Holly King: Never! I must bring back the power of the night, the power of winter. I will not yield!
The Holly King falls to the ground but then rolls away from a sword blow and regains his stance. Now he
appears to have renewed purpose and determination.
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Narrator: Will summer last forever? Or will the Holly King be victorious?
The Holly King’s combat prowess increases and the Oak King starts slowly retreating under the Holly
King’s relentless blows.
Oak King: No! Summer must continue!
Holly King: There must be balance, my brother!
The Oak King is now obviously running out of energy. Under the barrage of blows, he drops to one knee,
and then collapses to a heap on the floor. The Holly King stops swinging his weapon and holds his
sword/staff at the ready position, aimed at the fallen Oak King.
Oak King: I yield. I am defeated. But I ask of you, my brother, that you spare me.
The Holly King extends a hand to the Oak King and raises him to his feet.
Holly King: Of course I shall spare you, my brother. You are need just as much as I am. The land must
have balance between light and dark, warm and cold, waking and sleeping. Take your rest now. And we
shall meet again at midwinter.
The Oak King bows respectfully to the Holly King and exits.
Holly King: Let the night return. Let the days grow shorter. May life force return beneath the earth and
rest. So mote it be!
Narrator: And so the balance of power shifts from light to darkness. From now until midwinter, the days
shall shorten and the sun shall diminish in power. All is as it should be. Blessed be.
Magical Working
The magical working involves empowering citrines with positive energy. The Celebrant(s) and Covenors
each receive a citrine stone. Each person spends a brief period visualizes his/her stone being charged
with positive energy or a positive blessing. After an appropriate period, the stone is passed clockwise to
the next Covenor. This progression repeats until each Covenor has had a chance to empower every
stone and that the each Covenor has his/her original stone returned.
The Celebrant then seals the spell:
Celebrant: “With these words, the spell shall seal / Thought and Will to make it real / So mote it be!”
Covenors: “So mote it be!”
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Cakes and Ale
If there are two Celebrants (Priest and Priestess), the Priest shall distribute the bread/cakes and the
Priestess shall distribute the cup of wine/ale/juice.
Priest or Priestess: “The celebration of bread and wine is not unique to Wicca. Many religions in many
cultures have venerated the bounty of grain and vine. Bread and wine sustain the body and bring us
together as a community. In the Wiccan tradition, these gifts also bring us in communion with the God
and Goddess. And so we bring you these gifts so that we may be united with one another in spirit.”
Priestess: “With the cup, we are one.”
Covenor: “Blessed be”
Priest: “We are one people, we share one bread.”
Covenor “Blessed be.”
Releasing the Quarters
The elemental spirits and deities are released in the opposite order in which they were called. The
relevant altar candle shall be extinguished following each dismissal.
Goddess
Mother Earth, Giver of Life
We give you thanks for coming here
In our minds and hearts you dwell
In sea and river, forest and dell
Rocks and trees, and mountain range
Your spirit brings growth and life and change
Mother Earth, we give thanks to thee
Giver of Life, blessed be
Hail and Farewell!
God
Father Sky, God of the Sun
We give you thanks for coming here
We feel your power shining bright
The radiant fullness of summer’s might
And now year has turned midway
We soon shall see a shorter day
Father Sky, we give thanks to thee
God of the Sun, blessed be
Hail and Farewell!
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Earth/North
Guardian of the North, Spirit of Earth
We give you thanks for coming here
Return to the mountains, return to the plains
To forest green and amber grains
Gourd and root, tuber and tree
The crops are growing bountifully
Guardian of the North, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Earth, blessed be
Hail and Farewell!
Water/West
Guardian of the West, Spirit of Water
We give you thanks for coming here
Return to the lakes, return to the streams
Where the water is clear and life still teems
Return to the seas and oceans deep
Where deeper secrets are yours to keep
Guardian of the West, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Water, blessed be
Hail and farewell!
Fire/South
Guardian of the South, Spirit of Fire
We give you thanks for coming here
Return to the Litha fires so bright
That gives us vision throughout the night
And to the candles and torches bold
A cheerful light for us to behold
Guardian of the South, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Fire, blessed be
Hail and Farewell!
East/Air
Guardian of the East, Spirit of Air
We give you thanks for coming here
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Return to the clouds, return to the sky
Where insects buzz and eagles fly
We thank you for the cooling breeze
That blows across the plains and trees
Guardian of the East, we give thanks to thee
Spirit of Air, blessed be
Hail and Farewell!
Releasing the Circle
The Celebrant discharges the circle using his/her wand or Athame, starting from the east, and walking
counter-clockwise (widdershins) around the perimeter of the circle.
Priest: “May all spirits attracted to our light return to your realms in peace, harming none.”
Priestess: “The Circle, now open, remains unbroken. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!”
Celebrants and Covenors: “Huzzah!”
