A Harmonious Celebration of Nature's Bounty
As the golden rays of the sun reach their zenith on the longest day of the year, we are drawn to celebrate the Summer Solstice with joy and reverence. This magical time, steeped in ancient traditions and natural wonder, invites us to embrace the bountiful gifts of nature. At MamaSeed Naturals, we believe in the power of nature medicine and herbal healing, and the Summer Solstice provides a perfect opportunity to honor these practices. Let us take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of the Summer Solstice, the birth month of my daughter, the Celtic meanings and home rituals, Saint John’s Day in Portugal, and the enchanting Herbs of Joy used in these rituals.
The Birth Month of My Daughter
June holds a special place in my heart, not only because it heralds the Summer Solstice but also because it is the birth month of my daughter. This personal connection to June enhances my appreciation for the season's vibrancy and life-affirming energy. The lushness of our garden for cultivating medicinal herbs, where we nurture plants that support natural wellbeing, mirrors the growth and blossoming of my daughter. Watching her grow alongside our garden is a beautiful reflection of the harmony and balance that nature provides.
Saint John’s Day in Portugal
In Portugal, Saint John’s Day (Dia de São João) on June 24th is a vibrant celebration that coincides with the Summer Solstice. This festival, deeply rooted in pagan solstice traditions, has evolved into a joyous occasion filled with bonfires, dancing, and the playful tradition of hitting each other with garlic flowers and soft plastic hammers.
Saint John’s Day is also a time for herbal rituals. People collect aromatic herbs such as lemon balm, rosemary, and fennel to create bouquets known as "manjericos." These Herbs of Joy are believed to bring happiness and protection. At MamaSeed Naturals, we incorporate these traditions into our offerings, blending the festive spirit with the healing power of herbs.
Herbs to Celebrate the Summer Solstice
The Celtic Summer Solstice, also known as Litha, is a time of profound spiritual significance. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and the abundance of the Earth. Celts believed this was the day when the Oak King, representing the waxing year, was at the height of his strength before yielding to the Holly King of the waning year.
Herbs of the sun promote vitality and health and often they resemble the brightness of the sun: calendula, chamomile, and St. John’s wort are wonderful examples of herbs that flower bright yellow like the sun and are at their peak during the summer solstice! The sun is correlated with the heart, our solar center in medical astrology traditions and some Sun herbs have an affinity for the heart like angelica.
Sun herbs bring equilibrium back into our lives and are tonics for overall health. Energetically, they can bring us confidence and the courage to rise as our most authentic self. They help us shine as our brightest light! Working with them on the summer solstice is a powerful spell of double dipped magic!
St. John’s Wort: This Solstice herb is at its flowering peak during this time! It is often used to dispel negativity and evil spirits, protect the home, and ward off illness. Medicinally, St. John’s wort is widely known for its uplifting and mood supportive quality. It has also been shown to relieve nerve pain, ease irritability and stress, and support proper immune function. St. John’s wort can interact with some medications, however it is safe to use topically as an oil or in homeopathic preparations.
Calendula: This herb is optimistic and full of vitality with her sunny yellow and orange flowers! Calendula attracts success in all matters, especially for health. This plant brings light into our lives and often is used to bring comfort after a family member has passed. Medicinally, calendula is a skin superhero topically as well as internally to support an array of skin conditions as well as cuts, burns, and wounds. It can also be useful in many digestive conditions for its soothing inflammation-modulating effects.
Chamomile: Has been worked with in folklore for herbal hand washing to attract money. In Egypt chamomile was a sacred incense for vitality and longevity of life, it is also one of the nine sacred herbs of the Celts. If you put chamomile under your pillow, it was traditionally used to drive nightmares away, especially for children. Medicinally, chamomile can be supportive to sleep, stress, and is wonderful for gently soothing digestive upset and nausea.
Orange Peel: Oranges have been known since ancient times for offering happiness, peace, and a feeling of wellbeing. People utilize orange for attracting positivity and vibrancy. Medicinally, orange has an affinity for oral health and is great addition to an herbal mouth wash. Its carminative properties can ease gas and calm digestion overall.
Juniper: Juniper is a plant of vitality and exuberance! It is a symbol of fertility to the Syrian goddess Asherah and a symbol of angelic protection from the Bible. Medicinally, juniper is a stimulant, diuretic, carminative, and antimicrobial. It is often utilized for urinary system support and can aid digestive upset with its bitter quality.
Rosemary: In folklore this herb was placed in amulets for courage and confidence and the oil was and is still burned or diffused for memory and mental focus. Rosemary brings clarity to the mind and vivaciousness to the spirit! Medicinally, Rosemary is full of volatile oils which give it such a potent scent and make it a great ally against infection. Rosemary is a circulatory and nervine stimulant and moves blood to the brain. It can be helpful in neurological conditions and can fight free radical damage.
Other notables: Sunflower, celandine, angelica, frankincense, and mistletoe.
To incorporate these herbs into your own solstice rituals, consider making a Solstice Herbal Honey Elixir. This delightful and powerful elixir combines the healing properties of various sun herbs to create a potion that embodies the essence of the solstice. Here’s how to make it:
Sun Potion Recipe: Solstice Herbal Honey Elixir
Ingredients:
1/4 cup fresh orange peel
1/4 cup dried or wilted fresh calendula
1/4 cup fresh St. John's wort
1/4 cup fresh rosemary
1 quart of water
2 cups of honey
Brandy or bourbon
Directions:
Combine rosemary and water in a pot, cover, and let simmer until liquid is reduced to half its original volume.
Add remaining herbs and let steep on low for about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, and strain out herbs.
Add honey to warm liquid and stir until fully dissolved.
Add ¼ cup of brandy/bourbon for each cup of liquid that is left.
Transfer liquid to bottle and use within a year (longer, if refrigerated).
This elixir is perfect for celebrating the Summer Solstice with nature medicine and herbal healing. At MamaSeed Naturals, we are dedicated to the practice of nature medicine, using the bountiful herbs from our garden for cultivating medicinal herbs to create remedies that enhance natural wellbeing. The Summer Solstice is an ideal time to reconnect with these practices.
Solstice Intention Ritual
To further enrich your solstice celebration, consider performing a solstice intention ritual. Meditate on your solar intention, whether it’s for a personal goal, or for one of collaboration. Sit with it and embody the energy of the Sun—bright, shining, ecstatic, and full of life! Infuse this energy into your Solstice Herbal Honey Elixir for added potency.
Want more plant magic? See our Ritual Blog on Flower Essences.
Explore our shop for herbal remedies and supplies to enhance your solstice rituals.
Embrace the Magic of Summer Solstice
The Summer Solstice is a time to celebrate the height of the sun’s power and the abundance of the natural world. By embracing traditions from around the world and incorporating Herbs of Joy into our rituals, we can connect more deeply with the Earth and ourselves. At MamaSeed Naturals, we invite you to explore the wonders of nature medicine and herbal healing, finding harmony and joy in the simple, profound gifts of the garden. Celebrate this solstice by nurturing your body, mind, and spirit with the natural wellbeing practices that have been cherished for generations.
Visit our shop to discover a range of products that can support your journey to natural health and happiness.
May the light of the Summer Solstice bring you joy, health, and abundance. Thank you for being part of our community.
With nature's blessings,
Jaya
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