The Wheel of the Year turns, the weather gets warmer and upon us is the Season of Litha. Otherwise known as the summer solstice, this is when the Green Man or also known as the Oak King has culminated his show of strength in the longest day of summer when the Sabbat of Litha takes place, June 21st.
I enjoy all things Green Man and if you are a fan of British-Irish pagandom like me, across the Altantic Isles at every church can be found the face of the Green Man who was thought to be the embodiment or soul of Nature during the summer season. It is a sabbat like Beltaine strongly associated with life and the element of fire which consumes that life.
The Fae and its most famous dark variation, the Banshee, frequent the wilds of the earth at this time and Fairy magic is strongest during the Litha season.
This is why during Litha I begin to catch up on summer readings on my favorite summer ritual topic “An Asairliochta” or the Occult of Ireland. The Gaelic realm is perhaps one of the strongest magic focal points in the natural world. It is here on the Emerald Isle in the Season of Summer on the Sabbat of Litha when fae folk can safely come out of hiding to gather among the humans who celebrate the season with fire dances and great feasts from the plentiful harvest.
Working with the Green Man and the Oak King can be a seasonal reminder to stay present while enjoying the fruits of summer and its warmer weather. Here is the time to anchor to life, family, friends and even foe and become fully sorted in the warmer blowing winds that continue to turn the Wheel of the Year forward.
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