Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are cardinal signs. They are at the beginning of each season. 

Whenever the Sun arrives in Cancer, the Summer Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. 

Astronomically, it’s the longest day. 

Astrologically, it marks a moment of total peakness before the Sun’s light and power start to decrease.   

In this text, I focus on the energetic impact of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere. 

To do so, I rely on astrological concepts. I also mention practices from Wicca. They are adapted from the books Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner and The Magical Household: Spells & Rituals for the Home. Scott Cunningham wrote both books. 

This is the table of contents: 

1. Facts About Cancer Season and the Beginning of Summer 
2. Leo and Virgo as Summer Zodiac Signs 
3. Litha or the Celebration of the Summer Solstice
4. 3 Rituals to Celebrate the Summer Solstice

Let’s go. 

Facts About Cancer Season and the Beginning of Summer 

• Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac. Its season invites you to nurture your needs and those of your loved ones.    
• It’s a cardinal sign, which means it is at the beginning of a season and is linked with moving forward. 
• It’s a Water sign. This element is connected with feelings, emotions, intuition, spirituality, the arts, and deeper meanings. 
• Its ruler is the Moon. Since this astral body moves quickly, ciclicity and fluctuation are two characteristics of the zodiac sign of the crab.      
• Nutrition, needs, gestation, care, and feeling at home are part of its realm. 

Leo and Virgo as Summer Zodiac Signs 

When Cancer season is over, it’s time for Leo season. 

Leo is a fixed sign. This means that the energetic qualities of the summer are already established when the Leo month occurs. Its element is Fire, which is connected with vitality, extroversion, brightness, exploration, independence, and risk-taking.

Leo is a very sociable and fun season. During this period, you can connect with your loved ones to party or bask under the Sun. You can have heart-to-heart conversations and be generous. 

Lughnasadh, roughly coinciding with Lammas, is the Leo festival in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. This event occurs about halfway between the Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox.  The beginning of the harvest season is celebrated. 

Related: Lughnasadh or the Middle of the Summer

Then comes Virgo season. The party ends, and it’s time to clean up the mess left behind. Virgo is an earthy, mutable sign. 

Virgo occurs at the end of the summer. Therefore, it has elements of both summer and fall. The analytical skills of Virgo allow us to separate the chaff from the wheat. During this time of the year, we can choose what activities we want to carry over into the new season.  

Litha or the Celebration of the Summer Solstice

Litha, also known as Midsummer, is one of the eight holy days of the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.  

It falls around June 21st, when the Sun enters Cancer. Nature is at its highest peak. The manifestation of the fertility of the God and the Goddess covers the Earth.   

Any similarity with the date Saint John’s Day is celebrated is definitely NOT a coincidence. The celebration of the summer solstice for pagans was Christianized as Saint John’s Eve and Saint John’s Day. 

Litha, or the Summer Solstice, occurs on the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. After this moment, the days will get shorter and shorter. 

The fact that days will get shorter won’t be noticed immediately. Only in Leo season, you’ll get the sense that the Sun is less powerful. 

Litha is a celebration in which the Sun has the utmost power. But it’s also the beginning of the decline of its ability to provide light and warmth. 

Change is the only constant.  

NOTE: If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, you must reverse the sabbats. For example, the Winter Solstice occurs in June rather than December. The celebration for you now is Yule, and here’s the text you should read: Yule and the Winter Solstice

3 Rituals to Celebrate the Summer Solstice

Watch Midsommar: If you like horror films, you may have already watched Midsommar. This movie, directed by Ari Aster, shows some of the traditional components of a midsummer festival in Sweden. But then the plot thickens. I won’t say much, you have to watch it or re-watch it! If you want to connect even more with the social vibe of the sabbat, organize a watching party with friends. 

Have a picnic outdoors: Summer is the season to be outside. So why not do it with a basket full of delicious food and a group of friends? Bask in the light, my dear! It won’t last forever. Fresh fruits should be available to honor the traditional summer harvests. If you want to do a witchy ritual with your peers, you can do so while having a picnic. Each of you should grab a piece of paper. On it, write what you need to see under the light before the end of the summer. Write those areas of your life where you could benefit from having clarity. Then, burn it. In Wicca, the fire represents the Sun (God), while writing about your feelings represents the Moon (Goddess). 

Stimulate prophetic dreams: The night of the summer solstice, magic is in the air. It’s a prime moment to stimulate prophetic dreams. You can do so by collecting nine wild flowers and placing them under your pillow. Lay down, relax, and sleep. Wiccans say this works! Another option is to hang mistletoe above your bed. With or without herbs or flowers, your dreams on the summer solstice night will be relevant. Write them down because they could offer a message. 

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere and are looking for winter solstice rituals, check this text: Yule and the Winter Solstice

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I hope you have a fantastic Litha celebration! May the power of the Sun shine bright for you and your loved ones. 

Thank you for your time, and until the next post!