10 Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice (aka Litha or Midsummer)

Wheel of the Year

Jun 12

Discover rituals, spells, and ways to celebrate Summer Solstice

When the sun reaches its highest point and the days are long, I feel the radiant power of Litha. Celebrated on the summer solstice (around June 20th–23rd), this sabbat honors the peak of light and the fullness of life.

The name Litha originates from the Old English language, referring to the period from June to July. While the exact term isn’t historically tied to the solstice, modern Pagan communities use it to connect with the seasonal rhythm. In Norse and Celtic traditions, midsummer festivals were marked with bonfires, feasts, and celebrations of fertility and abundance.

For our ancestors, Litha was a season of celebration and safeguarding. Great fires were kindled to honor and strengthen the sun’s power at its height, while herbs were gathered at their peak potency for healing and magic. Communities came together in feasting, dancing, and ritual, celebrating abundance and seeking continued protection for the months ahead. The extended daylight was seen as a blessing, filling the earth with vitality and ensuring prosperity for the harvests ahead.

Today, witches celebrate Litha with sun rituals, outdoor feasts, and spellwork tied to abundance, protection, and passion. It’s a moment to revel in the vitality of life, to honor the sun’s strength, and to gather energy for the months ahead.

Litha reminds us to shine brightly, to celebrate our growth, and acknowledge the turning point where light begins to wane and shadow slowly returns.

✨ Looking for a ready-to-use ritual and correspondences? Join the Blog Reward Program to download the free Litha Celebration Guidebook—part of my Wheel of the Year Series.

Here are ten meaningful ways you can celebrate the summer season:

1. Rise with the Sun 🌅

There’s something profoundly magical about waking up to greet the sunrise. The early morning stillness feels like a sacred pause before the world fully awakens. Step outside, stretch your arms wide, and breathe in the cool air as the horizon begins to glow. Watch the colors shift, from deep purples to fiery golds, as the sun slowly crests the earth. It’s more than just a natural spectacle—it’s a daily reminder that life continually renews itself.

Use this time to offer gratitude for another day, whisper a prayer, or set an intention you want to carry with you. By aligning with the rising sun, you invite clarity, motivation, and vitality into your own spirit. What begins as a simple practice becomes a sacred sunrise ritual, infusing your morning with light and vitality.

2. Make Sun Water ☀️

Sun water is a beautiful way to capture the radiance of the season and incorporate it into your magical practice. To make it, fill a clear glass jar with fresh water and set it outside where the sun’s rays can touch it directly. As it warms, visualize the light charging the water with energy, abundance, and joy. You can even add herbs or fruit, such as lemon, mint, or rosemary, for an extra infusion of vitality.

Once your water has been charged, there are many ways to use it. Sip it slowly to absorb the sun’s warmth, pour it into a ritual bath, or water your plants to bless them with the sun’s strength and protection. Every sip or splash becomes a reminder that you carry the sun’s energy within you.

3. Altar with Sunflowers 🌻

Transform your sacred space into a radiant reflection of solar energy by decorating it with sunflowers, golden cloth, and sun symbols. Sunflowers, with their tall stems and bright faces, naturally turn toward the sun, reminding us to seek light and growth. Pair them with yellow or gold candles, crystals like citrine or amber, and a sun motif to amplify your altar’s power.

When you sit before this altar, you are surrounding yourself with the essence of vitality, abundance, and joy. It becomes a beacon of positivity and a visual anchor for your magic. Each time you light a candle or meditate here, the warmth of the sunflowers reminds you to shine boldly and nurture your own radiant energy.

4. Harvest Herbs 🌿

Mid-summer is when many herbs reach their peak potency, making this the perfect time to harvest them. Step into your garden or go to the sunny windowsill where you keep your potted herbs. As you cut the stems and leaves, whisper gratitude for the plant’s gifts. Herbs like rosemary, basil, and mint thrive under the summer sun and carry its vibrant energy in their leaves. Dry them for winter use, or enjoy them fresh in teas, spells, and recipes.

Harvesting can be seen as a ritual of connection, where you infuse them with your magic from your own hands. By working with herbs you’ve gathered yourself, you’re aligning with the Earth’s cycles, honoring patience, and embracing abundance, which creates a deeper bond between you and the plants’ solar energy.

5. Outdoor Feast 🍇

There is no better way to celebrate the season than sharing fresh, seasonal foods under the open sky. Host a picnic or set a table outdoors with fruits, vegetables, breads, and herbs that reflect the harvest. Eating outside invites you to savor both the taste of the Earth’s bounty and the joy of community.

A feast outdoors is a living ritual of nourishment and celebration. This isn’t just a meal—it’s an offering of gratitude. As you laugh, share stories, and enjoy the warmth of the sun, you’re weaving together abundance and connection. Every bite becomes a reminder of the sun’s role in ripening food, and every smile reflects the joy of gathering.

6. Light a Candle 🕯️

Fire is one of the most direct ways to honor the sun. Whether you kindle a bonfire, light a single golden candle, or watch the glow of lanterns, the flame becomes a mirror of solar power. It symbolizes illumination, renewal, and the eternal cycle of day following night.

Sit quietly in front of the fire and reflect on what you want to bring into the light. Speak your intentions aloud, whisper gratitude, or release old worries into the fire. Watching the flame dance is a reminder that even the smallest fire carries the essence of the sun, offering warmth, clarity, and strength to your spirit.

7. Craft a Solar Charm 🧵

Solar charms capture the essence of sunlight in a physical form you can carry. Using golden or yellow string, create a braided bracelet, a knotted cord, or a small embroidered talisman. With each twist, knot, or stitch, breathe in sunlight and breathe out your intention—whether it’s for strength, joy, or abundance.

Once complete, your charm becomes a portable spell. Wear it daily, keep it on your altar, or carry it in your bag. Each glance at the thread reminds you of the sun’s radiance and your own inner resilience. It’s a beautiful way to weave solar energy into your everyday life, keeping magic with you wherever you go.

8. Journal Gratitude 📓

Set aside time to write about the abundance already present in your life. Reflect on the people who support you, the opportunities you’ve been given, and the small joys you experience each day. Even something as simple as the warmth of sunlight on your skin or a favorite meal can be a source of gratitude.

By recording these blessings, you shift your perspective toward appreciation and positivity. This practice opens the door for more abundance to flow into your life. Gratitude journaling during this season aligns your energy with the sun’s generosity, turning your written words into a magnet for joy and prosperity.

9. Go Outside 🌳

One of the simplest yet most powerful ways to honor the height of the sun’s power is simply to be out in it. Choose your favorite outdoor activity—whether it’s a long bike ride, a walk through the woods, a lazy afternoon at the beach, or simply sitting in your garden. As you spend time outside, notice how the sun feels on your skin and how its warmth seeps into your body. Breathe deeply and let the natural world remind you of the abundance that surrounds you.

This ritual is about presence and embodiment. By being mindful of how the sunlight touches you, you connect directly with the life-giving force that sustains the Earth. Allow yourself to soak in the season’s vibrancy, carrying that vitality and joy back into your daily rhythm.

10. Meditate on Fire 🔥

Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and imagine a flame glowing within your solar plexus. This fire represents your inner strength, creativity, and life force. With each inhale, watch it grow brighter and stronger; with each exhale, feel it spreading warmth throughout your body.

This meditation reminds you that the sun’s radiance is mirrored within you. By nurturing your inner fire, you strengthen your confidence and align with your true purpose. Practicing regularly helps you embody resilience and vitality, carrying the sun’s light forward in your thoughts, actions, and spirit. It’s a simple but transformative way to reconnect with your own brilliance.

Bonus: Acts of Service 🌟

The Summer Solstice radiates abundance and light. Here are a few ideas:

Clean the land. Join a river, park, or beach cleanup.
Support youth. Volunteer at a camp, library, or outdoor program.
Share the harvest. Gift garden produce to neighbors or food banks.
Offer companionship. Take someone outdoors who doesn’t often get the chance.
Back sustainability. Support renewable energy or eco-friendly projects.

Every generous act at Litha becomes a sunbeam carried into the community.

Along with rituals and traditions, you can also work with materials—crystals, herbs, and colors that align beautifully with this sabbat.

💎 Crystals for Summer Solstice

Crystals can amplify the height of solar power at the Summer Solstice. My favorites include:

Sunstone – joy and success
Citrine – abundance and clarity
Amber – protection and vitality
Carnelian – confidence and energy
Tiger’s Eye – strength and grounding
Clear Quartz – amplification and focus
Ruby – passion and courage
Peridot – growth and light
Garnet – grounding and power
Rose Quartz – love and harmony

🌿 Herbs for Summer Solstice

Herbs amplify power and abundance at the height of the sun. My favorites include:

St. John’s Wort – protection and vitality
Chamomile – peace and solar blessings
Rose – love and abundance
Sunflower – strength and joy
Lemon Balm – clarity and energy
Honeysuckle – prosperity and sweetness
Mugwort – dreams and intuition
Mint – refreshment and strength
Rue – protection and healing
Vervain – magical power and connection

☀️ Summer Solstice Themes

Spiritual Focus: illumination, strength, abundance, fulfillment, clarity
Magical Focus: solar power, protection, prosperity, success
Suggested Workings: sun rituals, crystal charging, prosperity magic, energy work

Colors of the Season:

Gold – success, illumination, wealth
Yellow – creativity, joy, vitality
Orange – strength, courage, warmth
Blue – healing, truth, clarity
Green – growth, fertility, balance

✍️ Journal Prompts for the Summer Solstice

What am I most proud of achieving so far this year?
How can I celebrate abundance and joy in my life?
Where am I ready to shine more boldly and share my gifts?

✨ Summer Solstice Sun’s Balance Ritual

Rise early to greet the sun. Hold a crystal to the light, charging it with solar power. Speak an affirmation of strength and joy, then leave fresh herbs in water outside to steep into a solar elixir.

📚 Bringing It All Together

Litha is radiant power—an invitation to celebrate vitality, joy, and the sun at its peak. However you observe, let it shine on what you’re celebrating, what you’re affirming, and the strength you’re carrying forward.

✨ Want to keep the magic close? When you join the Blog Rewards Program, you’ll get instant access to my Litha Celebration Guidebook—a printable mini grimoire filled with correspondences, rituals, a tarot spread, recipes, and journal prompts.