Summer is almost here...Litha Ritual

I wrote this a couple years ago and thought I would share with you all because summer is coming next week. Hope you all enjoy.

Welcoming Summer

Litha 2010

By Danielle O'Shaughnessy

Items needed: A blanket or a picnic table, Elemental Items: Mango Iced Tea for Water, BBQ Chicken or anything BBQ for Fire, Pasta Salad for Air, Potato Salad for Earth, Watermelon for Goddess, Potato Chips for God, Horseshoes, Frisbee, anything that you may play during a picnic, other picnic items.

Set up: Lay out your blanket or find a picnic table. Set your Iced Tea in the West, BBQ Chicken in the South, Pasta Salad in the East, Potato Salad in the North, Watermelon and chips in the center, everything else within reach.

PreRitual Instructions: Make sure you have everything you need for the picnic.

Circle Casting:

Start from the East and walk around the blanket or table 3x and chant:

Let the Ants Stay away

Let the bugs fly way

Let this circle I cast

Be free of all harm.

Let the Winds guide us

Let the Fiery sun keep us warm

Let the cool waters refresh us

and the Earth give us balance.

The Circle is now cast

and may this glorious day last

we are now protected from all

negative energies. So mote it be.

Corner Calling:

Stand and Face East and raise up your arms (Draw a pentacle with your finger) and say:

Spirits of the East

Lord and Lady of the Gentle Winds

We welcome you, as we welcome summer. So Mote it Be.

Face the South and Draw a Pentacle with your finger and say:

Spirits of the South

Lord and Lady of the Flaming Sun

We welcome you, as we welcome summer. So Mote it Be.

Face the West and Draw a Pentacle with your finger and say:

Spirits of the West

Lord and Lady of the cool refreshing waters.

We welcome you, as we welcome summer. So Mote it Be.

Face the North and Draw a Pentacle with your finger and say:

Spirits of the North

Lord and Lady of the Green Meadows and the Majestic Mountains of Earth.

We welcome you, as we welcome summer. So Mote it Be.

Invocation to Ra:

As the Summer sun Shines brightly down.

I call unto you, Sun God Amun-Ra

Let your Rays shine down

Make smiles instead of Frowns

Be with us now on this summer day.

As we feel the warmth of your summer rays.

So Mote it be.

Invocation to Bast:

Oh Beautiful Sun Goddess Bast

I call upon you queen of all felines and Ruler of Bubaste

Beautiful Goddess of the Summer Days, you who brings the fun and joy to us all. Queen of the Warm Sun Rays. I call unto you to be with us on this warm summer day to celebrate, to have fun, to bring lots of joy. So Mote it be.

Spells/Blessings/Charms/Meditations/ Whatever:

Now's the time to have some fun, bring out your stuff that you are going to be playing with and say this little blessing before you start:

Lord Ra and Lady Bast. Bestow this blessing unto us and let us have some fun together as family and friends. May we bond and grow closer together this summer day. Let everyone have some fun and to deeply experience joy. So mote it be.

Cakes and Ale (Picnic):

Say this Blessing over the food:

Oh Great God Amun Ra and Beautiful Goddess Bast, Please Bless this food that we are about to partake. We eat and drink in your honor. We offer some in return for the joy and laughter you bestowed upon us. Brightest Blessings to you both.

Energy Requests will now be made

Thanks to Bast:

Thank you Bast for Joining us to welcome summer.

Thank you for allowing us to celebrate with you.

You have brought so much joy to us. Again Thank you Bast

Hail and Farewell.

Thanks to Ra:

Thank you Ra, for allowing us to enjoy your warm summer sun

Thank you for joining us to welcome summer

You have brought plenty of smiles and lots of joy. Again Thank you Ra.

Hail and Farewell.

Releasing the Elements:

Face the North and say:

Thank you Spirits of the North

and thank you Lord and Lady of the Green Meadows and the Majestic Mountains. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy the bounty of the Earth on this summer day. Hail and Farewell.

Face the West and Say:

Thank you Spirits of the West

and Thank you Lord and Lady of the Refreshing cool waters.

Thank you for allowing us to feel refreshed and cooled with your refreshing cool waters on this summer day. Hail and Farewell.

Face the South and say:

Thank you Spirits of the South

and Thank you Lord and Lady of the Flaming sun

Thank you for allowing us to enjoy the warm summer sun on this summer day. Hail and Farewell.

Face the East and say:

Thank you Spirits of the East

and Thank you Lord and Lady of the Gentle Breeze.

Thank you for bringing your gentle winds on this summer day.

Hail and Farewell.

Opening the Circle:

Going in the opposite direction of where you started. Walk around your blanket or table and say:

The circle is open, but never unbroken.

All negativity stayed out and all Positive energies stayed in.

So Mote it Be.

Ritual Ending:

Our ritual has ended, but the fun continues.

Go in Peace and Love

So Mote it Be.

Post Ritual Instructions:

Make sure you throw all garbage into the garbage can. Put all your picnic stuff away. Then continue to have fun on this day.

Recipes:

Mango Iced Tea:

1 ½ quarts cold water

6 tea bags

2 cups Mango Nectar

sugar

¼ cup Fresh Mint Leaves

Thinly sliced Mango

1. Bring water to a boil, turn off heat. Add tea Bags and steep until Tea is dark, about 5-10 minutes
2. Remove Tea Bags, Add Mango Nectar and add sugar to taste. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Place in pitcher and add mint leaves. Pour over ice and garnish with mango slices.

Potato Salad:

8 medium Potatoes, peeled and cubed

3 eggs

1 small onion or 6 green onions, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

¼ cup sweet pickle relish

¾ cup mayonnaise or miracle whip

1 Tablespoon prepared mustard

1 Teaspoon salt

pepper to taste

Cover Potatoes with water in a large saucepan. Cook until tender. Drain. At the same time the potatoes are cooking, put eggs in a small saucepan and bring them to a boil. Boil at least 5 minutes for hard boiled eggs. Remove from heat, cool in cold water. Peel eggs and chop. In a large bowl, combine cooked and cooled potatoes, chopped eggs and all remaining ingredients. Mix Well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Macaroni Salad:

3 cups of cooked elbow macaroni

½ cup of mayonnaise or miracle whip

1 Stalk of celery, finely diced

1 green pepper, finely diced

1 tsp prepared mustard

1 tsp salt

1/3 cup sweet pickle relish

Combine drained macaroni with all ingredients, mix well. Refrigerate until ready to serve in order to blend flavors.

*both recipes come from the book: 365 quick, easy, & inexpensive Dinner Menus by Penny E. Stone

Iced Tea Recipe comes from Woman's World Magazine 

Samhain is almost Here and day 14/44 of witchiness; What is a favorite Pagan Holiday I like to celebrate

5 more Days until Samhain and 5 more days until I turn the Big 40..woot woot. So I'm gonna say that as part of the 44 days of witchiness, I'm gonna add this one as Day 14/44- What is a favorite Pagan Holiday I like to Celebrate? Well duh its obvious. This year is especially good because it falls on the year we have a party for the kids or teenagers now, I guess. So its gonna be like a 40th birthday party, except with teens...lol. The house is getting decorated, the pumpkins will be carved probably tomorrow, I have to bake and cook and clean, and make sure the movies are working properly by Saturday...UGH time to get the kids on board I think. So anyhow for Samhain (pronounced Sow-in), I like to set up an extra plate for those ancestors who have passed on and make a dinner in honor of our ancestors. Here's the Menu:

Appetizer; Bannock, which is a Native American Quick Bread, made for my native american Ancestors
2 1/2 cups of Flour
6 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 TBSP Sugar (optional)
1/3 cup shortening
2 eggs (optional)
1 cup of water or more
Method: Combine the first 4 ingredients, add shortening, rubbing it in to form fine crumbs. Combine Egg with water (if using an egg), and add to flour mixture, stir to form a soft dough, and knead briefly, If using a frying pan, grease the pan then dust with flour, place about a quarter of the dough in the pan and heat. Bake until the bottom is lightly brown, then flip. Bake about 10 mins on the opposite side. Bake remaining dough in similar fashion. If baking in the oven pat down into greased pie plate. Bake in 400 degree oven, for about 20 minutes, or until cooked in the middle. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top while still warm.

Salad: Caesar Salad; this is a Family favorite and very simple to make; Romaine Lettuce, Caesar Salad Dressing, Croutons and some parmeson cheese, then mix it all together.

Main Dish: Varenki, Made for my Russian Ancestors

Dessert: Apple Crisp, made in honor of my Norwegian ancestors, Okay not exactly a norwegian recipe, I made Apple Cake once also known as Eplekake, but this year I'm making things simple and buying some Apple Crisp.

Beverage: Apple Juice for the Girls and a glass of wine for me.

So what are the Activities we plan on doing; Well going out getting candy for one, then I have a special Ritual I like to do to remember my loved ones, I'll add that on Later, maybe tomorrow