Litha

Litha is the first harvest of your magical and medicinal herbs. Traditionally they are gathered by the light of the Moon - however any time during actual Litha is a great time for this. If you have a special herb you're going to gather you might want to plan it for the exact time that Sun enters Cancer (this year it's 2:06 p.m. est). Make sure you gather with respect, never taking more than 1/3 of the plant and caring for the plant as you are harvesting.

Since the Sun at Litha is entering Cancer, a water sign, this holiday is also a good one for gathering your magical water to use on your altar and in your spells for the coming year. As luck would have it we are supposed to get rain :-) and rain water is one of the best for magical use. The more electrical energy the storm puts out, the more energized the water is, so the fiercer the better! btw, avoid metal containers for collecting magical water. Adding shells, stones, and other 'sea' related items can make the water last longer. And, don't forget this is not drinking water.

If you are going to gather from a stream bring an offering of fruit or nuts, and 3 pennies or dimes (for prosperity). Also you might want to honor Water Goddesses by taking some jewelry as an offering. It can be simply a broken silver chain, a ring you used to wear, one half of an earring set, things like that. By doing this you don't have to worry about losing any of your "good" jewelry to a jealous Goddess when by water.

Blessings to You,
Sandy