LITHA
A SAXON MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION
As everyone gathers for the festival they are greeted by the Mead Bearer with goblets of mead.
The altar is set up in the North and covered with a cloth.
The ceremony begins with a hammer-hallowing. The circle is invoked with Thor’s Hammer [a symbol in the shape of an inverted T], consecrating the place of ritual. First the circle is drawn on the ground with the hammer, and must be big enough to contain all the celebrants. It is usual to start in the east and work clockwise around the circle. A branch dipped in water is then used to sprinkle and purify the circle.
The quarters are then invoked with the hammer by the gothi [priest]. Beginning at the east the cardinal points are invoked:
EAST: I invoke Austri, guardian of the east. Welcome Odin and Frigga. Welcome spirits of the winds.
SOUTH: I invoke Sudri, guardian of the south. Welcome Thor and Sif, Baldur and Nanna. Welcome spirits of fire.
WEST: I invoke Westri, guardian of the west. Welcome Heimdall. Welcome spirits of the rivers and sea.
NORTH: ‘I invoke Nordri, guardian of the north. Welcome Frey and Freya. Welcome Erce. Welcome spirits of earth.’
Priest [goes to the center of the circle and place the hammer there]: ‘ I create here a link to Yygdrasil and the nine worlds. Welcome here all gods. Welcome here all spirits. Welcome here all men and women. Let no one disturb this sacred place hallowed with Thor’s sign and now under the protection of the Thunderer. ‘
Priestess: I welcome the spirits of this land here on Midsummer Day to celebrate the time of Baldur’s brightness. [She pours an offering of mead on the ground for the local spirits of the land.] Now is the time of greatest light, when winter and hunger are banished. The land is green and fertile. The harvest time approaches, the bounty of the sun and earth, fruit of their sacred marriage. The corn, which we call in poetic fashion Sif’s golden hair, will ripen in the light of the sun.
The drinking horn is filled with mead and passed around the circle with the blessing:
Mead Bearer: ‘Let all drink, and as they drink add their blessings.’
All drink and as they do they add an extempore blessing.
Priest: We too shall harvest the rewards of our actions, be they good or ill. Now is the time to reflect on our works, our thoughts and our plans as the year turns from waxing to waning.
The drinking horn is filled and passed again. As each person drinks they may say something in praise of the season.
Priest: Thor the Thunderer, give us your protection.
Priestess: Sif the golden haired grant blessing on the ripening grain.
Priest: Frey grant blessing on the beasts of the field.
Priestess: Freya grant us love and gentleness.
Priest: Odin our father, grant us knowledge and justice
Priestess: Frigga, our mother, grant that our lives may be fruitful.
Priest: All goodly powers grant us blessing!
Priestess: Let us take this take this honey cake made in the shape of the sun. It represents the sun’s powers of health, power, wealth and joy. As we eat of it let us partake of the blessings of this Midsummer’s Day!
Priest: The rite is over. Let the feasting begin!