Astrology News for Midsummer By Sarolta G. DeFaltay

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a good Memorial Day weekend! With Summer on our minds here in the Northern Hemisphere, I thought this would be a good time to send you my latest article on the Summer Solstice.

This article will also be printed in the Summer 1999 issue of SageWoman Magazine, as well as the Monthly Aspectarian in Chicago!

Check out our web page, for new DAILY HOROSCOPES, as well as New Moon Magic for every sign! There's a lot of NEW information on there!

To receive the DAILY HOROSCOPES in your e-mailbox, visit: http://www.i.am/Telepathic and sign up for their Daily Astrology list ... since I'm their current astrologer!

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Rituals of the Earth: Midsummer Summer Solstice, 1999

"Every planetary alignment holds an opportunity for growth and expanded awareness, and contains symbolism that can be universally shared and understood. By meditating on current planetary themes, we can tune in to the archetypal energy inherent therein, gaining a deeper understanding of our own personal myth, integrating the planetary energies experientially through personalized ritual."

The holiday of Midsummer marks the height of the waxing season; a time of peak fertility, when the Sun is honored with three days of joyous celebration!

This is the year's longest day; the Sun enters the nurturing sign of Cancer, and the season of harvest begins. We are now in the "Full Moon" phase of the year, when the waxing energies and magical potency are at peak intensity. Weddings, marriage proposals and baby blessings are lucky now, as are rituals of unity among families and communities. The cauldron is central to the rituals of Midsummer, representing the womb of the Great Cosmic Mother, the Cauldron of Regeneration symbolizing reincarnation within the womb of the Goddess. The season of sowing is at an end, and the blessed harvest begins! As we celebrate the Sun in all its glory and bask in the solar energy, we can give thanks to the abundance of nature, and pray for a bountiful harvest for all Mother Earth's communities. The waning year begins today, and so we must honor once again the descent into the dark mysteries of regeneration and rebirth.

The astrological charts of the Solstices and Equinoxes have been read by astrologers since ancient times for news of the upcoming season, especially as it pertains to the well-being of nations, their leaders, and the condition of the people. Ingress charts (as they are called) are drawn for the exact moment the Sun enters one of the four cardinal signs: Capricorn, Aries, Cancer and Libra (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn). Cardinal energy is initiating, and an excellent time for magickal workings, as practitioners of seasonal rituals have known for a long, long time.

Summer Solstice 1999 This year's ingress is exact on June 21, 1999, at 3:51 PM EDT Washington, D.C.

Planetary Themes This year's chart finds both the Sun and Moon very well-aspected, with lunar (receptive) and solar (projecting) energies working in celestial harmony in some interesting configurations, making this a perfect time to do a ritual designed to bring out your inner creativity!

The Sun now enters the nurturing sign of Cancer, and is in harmonious aspect with Vesta (dedication), Jupiter (expansion, abundance), and Mars (energy, determination); abundant energy is available now to project our ideas through the artistic forms of ritual, dancing, music or visuals.

The Moon is in the balancing sign of Libra, and is harmoniously aspected by Venus (Libra's ruler), Uranus (sudden changes, futuristic) and Pluto (deep transformation). The Moon is also in the 12th house of the Subconscious, allowing for creative ideas to come forth in sudden bursts of inspiration, and deep social and personal changes are possible as well.

Midsummer Herbal Lore

Cedar: Consecration, longevity (Fire)

Chamomile: Determination, loyalty; use in ritual bath, cup, or incense. (Fire)

Chickweed: Love herb, worn or imbibed to attract or enhance love

Elder: (Flowers) Clairvoyance, magic, divination. To contact devas and faeries, use in ritual cup. (Venus, Air)

Fennel: Confidence, courage, fertility. Use in cooking to protect all who imbibe.

Frankincense: All purpose solar incense, for consecration, spirituality and success.

Heather: Brings one in touch with inner beauty and divinity; dip a sprig in consecrated water and sprinklearound temple space to purify.

Holly: Represents the Waning half of the year, which begins at Midsummer.

Larkspur: (Delphinium) Flowers on altar symbolize generous, altruistic leadership.

Lavender: Love, harmony, domestic tranquility, and mental clarity.

Meadowsweet: Good luck, domestic tranquility, harmony. (Jupiter, Fire) Mugwort: Magic, longevity, clairvoyance, psychic empowerment.

Oak: Represents the Waxing half of the year, which ends at Midsummer.

Rose: Love, compassion, beauty; an aphrodisiac attributed to Venus.

St. John's Wort: Courage, confidence, magic, success (Sun, Fire)

Vervain: love, magic, aphrodisiac, consecration (Earth, Venus)

These herbs can be utilized in ritual by making an incense, or annointing candles with essential oil. They can be sewn into a charm bag and consecrated (dedicated to a single purpose), and worn or carried when needed.

Ritual Bath: Fennel, Heather, Lavender, Mugwort, Rose petals. Place any or all herbs in cheesecloth and tie well; run under tap. You can also make a strong tea from the herbs: bring pure water to a boil, and allow to cool a few minutes before pouring over herbs; strain into bath.

Light 2 gold candles, one representing the Waxing year (surround it with Oak leaves) and the other the Waning year (surround it with Holly leaves). As you pour the herbs over your body, imagine yourself purified by an aura of golden light. Meditate on the symbolism of the Waxing year: as it dies at its height, the dark cycle is born, reminding us that within the light there is dark, and within the dark there is light. Think about what has been planted, and what remains to be gathered, distributed and assimilated, and how the symbolism pertains to your personal creative cycles. Affirm your determination to do all in your power to assure a plentiful harvest in harmony with all of nature.

The Altar: Place the altar in the South, the direction representing Summer, the Sun at High Noon, and the element of Fire. Decorate your altar and home with Roses of many colors, Delphinium or Heather. Bring the gold candles to your altar, and place a cauldron (or large bowl) filled with water on the altar, and place some flowers in the cauldron as well.

You will need four candles: silver, green, red and brown.

Ritual: Cast the circle by visualizing white light encircling you in a clackwise motion. Honor and invite the four elements into your circle: East for Air, South for Fire, West for Water, and North for Earth. This Solstice corresponds to the ripened energies of the Mother Goddess (Isis, Ceres, Demeter, Ishtar, Innana) and can be honored with thanks and offerings at this time of the year. Incense: Cedar, Cinquefoil, Frankincense, Lavender (flowers or oil), Mugwort, Oak Bark, Rose petals or oil. Bring any or all of the above ingredients into your ritual circle and add each ingredient one at a time, while grinding by hand with a mortar and pestle and focusing on the properties of each herb as it is added. Consecrate your incense by dedicating it to the Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess, and once the incense is prepared, burn some on a charcoal as you focus in on your ritual.

Candles: The silver candle represents the Moon in aspect to Uranus and Pluto. Visualize yourself accessing deeper parts of your owm subconscious, and affirm accessing new wells of creativity that lie within, to bring you creative inspiration.

1.Write down how you'd like to see this accomplished, or what your wish may be, and place the slip of paper under the candle. 2. Light your candle as you say your goal aloud, or meditate on its meaning.

Repeat with the following:

The green candle represents that new inspiration being channeled through you with the blessings of Venus, bringing beauty and balance to yourself and your surroundings. (repeat steps 1&2)

The red candle represents the Sun in Cancer trine Mars in Libra. Be sure to nurture your inner self in order to gain access to your more sensitive, creative nature. In what ways do you need to nurture yourself, to replenish your creative energies? (repeat steps 1&2)

The brown candle represents Ceres in Cancer in harmony with Saturn in Taurus, representing focus and discipline combined with dedication and nurturance . This is where you ground the energies of your ritual. In what area of your life do you need to refine your focus, and renew your dedication? How can you nurture this potential and keep it vibrant? (repeat steps 1&2)

Spend some time meditating on the themes of your ritual, and when you feel the ritual is complete, thank the Mother Goddess, and burn each paper as you focus once again on the intention of the goal, releasing the energy to the wind and elemental helpers. Thank the nature spirits, deities or elementals, and close your circle, allowing the candles to burn all the way down, or instead, burn them for a little while for the next few days, letting them burn all the way down on the third day. Blessed Be. ====================================

Sarolta G. DeFaltay is an astrologer and tarot consultant, and teaches classes in Solitary Magic in Chicago. She works with clients to create personal rituals based on individual needs and astrological cycles. She is a regular contributor to SageWoman magazine. Check out the New Moon Magic Ritual for your sign at her website: http://www.enteract.com/~deepky/