Setting Up Your Litha Altar: Celebrate the Summer Solstice
Litha, the summer solstice, is the time to honour the Sun at its peak, bask in nature’s abundance, and embrace transformation. Here’s how to set up a stunning altar to channel this powerful seasonal energy.
For the Southern Hemisphere, Litha falls on December 21st to 23rd, while in the Northern Hemisphere, it is celebrated from June 20th to 22nd.
Altar Cloths
Begin with a vibrant altar cloth that reflects the essence of Litha. Colours like gold, red, and green are ideal for capturing the Sun’s energy, the fire element, and nature’s vitality. Choose fabrics adorned with floral patterns or solar symbols such as the Floral Wheel Of The Year Altar Cloth for an added magickal touch!
Crystals
Crystals are essential for enhancing the energy of your altar. For Litha, opt for:
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Diamond: For purity, strength, and illumination
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Tigers Eye: To channel courage and vitality.
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Emerald and Jade: For growth, abundance, and transformation.
Arrange them in a circular pattern to represent the Sun and the cycles of life.
Symbols and Decorations
Adorn your altar with items that symbolise Litha’s themes of fire, rebirth, and abundance. Popular choices include:
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Sun symbols like sun wheels and sundials.
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Branches from oak, birch, or fir trees.
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Seasonal flowers such as sunflowers, lilies, and roses.
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Bowls of summer fruits like strawberries and citrus.
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Feathers, Witches’ ladders, and seashells.
These items create a vibrant, meaningful space to work your magic.
Candles
Candles are a must-have for your Litha altar. Choose gold or red candles to represent the sun and its fiery energy. Place them in holders made of sunstone, copper, or other warm-toned materials. If fire safety is a concern, LED candles can also work while maintaining the symbolism.
Herbs and Oils
Incorporate herbs and oils to infuse your altar with the divine energy of Litha. Some traditional herbs include:
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Lavender: For calm and love.
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St. John’s Wort: For protection and luck.
Enhance your rituals with oils like orange, sandalwood, and rose, or use them to anoint candles and tools.
Tools
Dig into your witches tool kit and include the seasonal tools on your altar to enhance your Litha rituals. A copper bowl for burning herbs, a wooden athame, or a cauldron for fire magic are perfect for this sabbat. Symbols of transformation, such as swords or feathers, can also be added to align with the season’s energy.
Celebrating Litha
Once your altar is set, it becomes the heart of your Litha celebrations. Use it as a space for meditation, intention-setting, or rituals like protection spells and transformation magic. Light your candles, burn herbs, and let the Sun’s energy guide your practice.
We've created a brand new Litha Sabbat Ritual Kit to help get you in the seasonal spirit, check it out here.
Check out our blog on Litha Rituals to do your own at home here.
Happy Litha and blessed be! ✨
