Be you in the Northern or Southern hemispheres.
Let me tell you what, the Weather Deities are brining that summer heat this weekend. It's supposed to be in the upper 90's! Can't say that I'm looking forward to those temps. However I would love to go camping soon. Maybe next year, we'll plan ahead and book a site and invite some of our other camp-happy friends for a Solstice Party? Find a place with a swimming beach--there's one near us, too. I'm just not a big fan of crowds, especially if we're swimming with our kids. We'll figure it out.
My husband's not much of a camper, so maybe we can gather friends and/or family and rent a cabin near a beach? I haven't done the cabin thing since I was a teenager.
I'm just tired of being a homebody. I'm in my 40's now and I want to go camping, darn it.
Last night, on the Solstice Eve, I put out a fully enclosed queen-sized mosquito netting outside, and me and two of the kids spent some time in the cool evening. We watched the lightning bugs and gray tree frogs, and we laid back and looked at the sky. Lovely and protected from vampires.
Today I cut the grass, gave offerings to the Nature Spirits, and am preparing our after-ritual feast for tomorrow. We're having:
- Lemon Pepper Pork loin, with potatoes
- Gluten-Free Lemon Cake
- Walnut Brownies
- Lavender-Lemonade
Summer Solstice Ritual
By Foxlyn Wren
June 21, 2025
ADF COoR / Norse Hearth Culture
Pre-Ritual:
- Cleanse self before ritual.
- If outside, ask the Land Spirits if I may perform a ritual in that spot? Give cornmeal or milk offerings as thanks, with a promise to return the space as it was.
Ritual:
"Today marks the First Day of Summer, the Longest Day and the Shortest Night of the Year, the Summer Solstice! Today we honor the Norse Sun Goddess, Sunna! May Her rays warm our skins, revitalize our spirits, inspire our words, and illuminate our way!"
Honoring the Earth Mother:
"Nerthus, Earth Mother,
You stand solid beneath my feet,
Cold of rock, hardness of ice
Carry me on to Nott's next night
Support me well, Njord's twin
Vanir Mother, strong sea sister
Bring faith to fruit, Birch-bright one
Honor to you,your rhythms true
Hail Nerthus!" (8)
Give offerings of Silver into the Well.
Calling the Hearth Mothers and Spirits: "Hearth Mothers and Spirits, we honor you. Bring Your presence of the Living Flame into our home. Bless us with your gifts of light and warmth (3).
Hearth Mothers and Spirits, accept this offering."
Light candle and sprinkle offerings of salted flour/pantry herbs into the flame.Purification: "With my Spirit Stick, I purify this space. 3 Taps to Ground. 3 Taps to Clear. 3 Taps to Connect." 9 taps. "This space is cleared, connected, and protected!"
Inspiration:"Bragi!
Best of the wordsmiths and first of the skalds,
You with the tongue of gold,
Whose words are like the finest mead,
I ask you best of bards,
To inspire me and make my words mix well.
Bragi, let your inspiration flow!"
Give Bragi offerings of honey.
Let Us Connect to the Sacred Center:
With Kids: “I want you to close your eyes and take three deep, slow breaths, in and out. Imagine that your feet are tree roots. Grow your roots into the ground—jump if you want to! Now raise your hands up and imagine those are the branches and leaves of the tree. Reach up into the sky. Feel the Sunna’s warmth and see Her rays flowing into your finger leaves, arm branches, and tree trunk body. Do you feel the sun's energy flowing through you? Open your eyes.”
"The Waters support and surround us,
The Land extends about us,
The Sky stretches above us.
At our center burns a living flame.
May our worship be true.
May our actions be just.
May our love be pure.
Blessings, honor, and worship to the Holy Ones. (7)"Open the Gates: "We call now to Gatekeeper Bee! Guardian between our world and the Other. Bee Accept this offering and be welcomed in this rite!"
Folk: “Bee, accept this offering!”
Give offering of water into the cup.
"Gatekeeper Bee, I ask that you guide and protect us, joining your magiks with ours, and help us open the Gates!"
Touch the Deer Antler to the Candle.
"Sacred Fire, holy woods
Warm light to fill the hall
Nine realms are known
With my words this night
Let all realms hear the call
Light fires within, warmth to the True
Fire's flame burns to form the garth
Woods kindle well, with the fire of the hearth.
As I call the Kindred forth
I kindle the sacred fire in wisdom, love, and power. Sacred fire, burn within me." (8)
Touch the Deer Antler to the Cup.
"Holy Well, waters deep
Three streams strong gathers the flow
One of Wyrd, shining ones know
Another yet, icy, serpent-safe
Last of wisdom, many eyes to see
What is, what was, what will be
Watching sisters of örlog, three
Many eyes look on, watching well.
As I call the Kindred forth…
In the depths flow the waters of wisdom. Sacred waters flow within me."
(Wyrd is pronounced "weerd"; örlog is pronounced "oar'-lahg") (8)
Touch the Deer Antler to the Woodblock.
"Mighty Tree, middle of all
Nine realms full its branches make
Much knows Har, High One hung;
Ygg's steed hight, ever green stays.
Serpent below, eagle above
Squirrel between, Nith-hewer gnaws
Ash-wood tall, wet with white dews
Strong-standing true, I seek shelter
As I call the Kindred forth…
From the depths to the heights spans the world tree. Sacred tree, grow within me." (8)
Fire, Well, and Sacred Tree
Flame, Flow, and Grow in Me!
Bee! Let the Gates Be Opened!"
Folk: "Let the Gates Be Opened!"
Open Hands.
Inviting the Kindreds Three:
"Who invites the Ancestors?"
"Ancestors old, Heroes renowned
Blood of my veins, Strength in my soul,
Grandmothers, Disir, Wise watching women,
*Weal-bringing warders, I offer you welcome.
Grandfathers, Alfar, light-alf, dark-alf, black-alf,
Weal-bringing warders, I offer you welcome.
Great heroes of eld, might-memory knows,
Your valor shines still, I offer you welcome.
O Ancestors of blood and heart, I call you forth!" (8)
Give offerings of whiskey.
"Ancestors, accept our sacrifice!"
"Who Invites the Nature Spirits?"
"Land spirits, Keepers of place,
Wise with weather, Your knowledge runs deep.
Luck and prosperity, Your blessings fall,
Honor to you, I bring this night.
Landvaettir great, Ancient as earth,
Boulder-homed, Water-homed,
Land wights old, Guardians true,
Your strength strong still, I offer you welcome.
O Spirits of the natural world, I call you forth!" (8)
Give offerings of cornmeal.
"Nature Spirits, accept our sacrifice!"
"Who invites the Shining Ones?"
"Aesir, Vanir, Shining Ones all,
On Itha Plain met, Many moons past,
Of Ask and Embla, My ancestors first,
Many things made, Of the gods we all come.
None of you gods, is not mighty indeed,
Of soul, sense, and being you have given us well,
Taught us of runes, of faith and troth,
Of right-mindfulness, and honor true,
O Shining Ones of magic and might, I call you forth!" (8)
Give offerings of Rose Wine.
"Shining Ones, accept our sacrifice!"
Deity of the Occasion: "I invite now Sunna! A Norse Goddess of the sun. A Timekeeper, Illuminator, Nurturer, Protector, Keeper of Balance and Order. A Giver of Life and Warmth. A Giver of Death and Heat. A Giver of Healing and Energy. A Giver of Joy and Light!"
"Hail to Sunna, bright-clad rider in summer skies,
drawn through thickening clouds by faithful Shining-Mane,
your favors fall freely upon us until day’s end.
Golden light-bringing goddess, your least glance warms us,
melts the last firm-packed snow within the darkest wood,
drives off the frost, turning crisp white grass green once more.
Brilliant Sunna, fair sister of grey-cloaked Mani,
at Midsummer dawn of old were great bonfires lit
to honor you and bring your blessings to the land.
On this longest day we gather here, O Sunna,
giver of life and of might. On this strongest day
we ask for your blessing.
Hail Sun-maiden–Hail Sunna!" (2)
Give offering of Lemonade.
"Sunna accept this offering!"
Final Sacrifice: "Kindreds and Spirits All, Accept this offering!"
Give final offering.
"We have given you praise and honor! A gift calls for a gift, and We pray to you as we offer up these sacrifices. Accept them, open our hearts, and give to us of your blessings." (8)Omen: "Entities, do you offer us Messages or Blessings?"
"Ancestors…"
"Nature Spirits…"
"Sunna…"
"Are the omens good?"
"Do we accept them?"Hallowing the Waters: Holding the Drinking Horn.
"[Kindreds and Spirits All] We have praised you and received your blessings. Hallow these waters and give to us of your power and inspiration and vitality. Behold the Waters of Life!" (8).
"Drink deep and know you are blessed!"The Work: Summer Throw Blessing by Sunna for joy, love, hugs, beauty, vitality, and healing.
Image Credit: Wyrd Designs (10)Thanking the Kindreds and Spirits: "Sunna, Kindreds and Spirits All! We thank you for attending this rite and lending us some love, protection, and guidance. Hail and Farewell!"
Closing the Gates: "Now by the keeper of the gates and by my magic I end what I began." (8)
Touching the Deer Antler to the Tree.
"May Yggdrasil be but a woodblock."
Touching the Deer Antler to the Well.
"May this cosmic well be but a cup."
Touching the Deer Antler to the Flame.
"May this cosmic fire be but a candle flame."
"May the Gates be closed!”
Close hands.
Dismissing Bragi: "Bragi, we thank you for attending this rite. Hail and Farewell!"
Dismissing Hearth Mothers & Spirits: Hearth Mothers and Spirits–Hestia, Vesta, Vestals, Frigg, Loki, Disir, Guardians, Tomten, and Nisser, we thank you for attending this rite. Hail and Farewell Hearth Mothers and Spirits."
Blow out the candle.Dismissing the Earth Mother: "Earth Mother, we thank you for your support this day and everyday. Earth Mother to you we return all that is unused, that you may use it as you see fit.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
Our Thanks and Blessings, Earth Mother!"Ending the Rite: "I have done as my ancestors have done, and as my children [may] do, and the Kindreds have answered. I go now, a child of the Earth, in peace and blessings. This ritual closed." (8)
© 2025 Hearth Fox Oracle
Resources
Ar nDraiocht Fein: Our Own Druidry. 2024. https://www.adf.org/about
Fieldstones. Hearth and Field Prayers to Heathen Gods: To Sunna. May 12, 2013. https://heathenprayers.wordpress.com/tag/sunna-2/
Franklin, Anna. The Hearth Witch's Year. Llewellyn Publications. 2020. Page 22.
Heath, Cat. Elves, Witches & Gods. Llewellyn Publications 2021. Pages 289-293.
Serith, Ceisiwr.
Stone Creek Grove, ADF. Standard Liturgy. November 22, 2021. https://stonecreed.org/rituals/standard-liturgy/
Three Cranes Grove, ADF. Ritual Scripts. https://threecranes.org/category/ritual-scripts/
Thompson, Anthony R. A Solitary Norse Ritual Template. 15 May 2019. https://www.adf.org/rituals/norse/general/sol-template-art.html
Whitehurst, Tess. Live Your Magic: 22 Summer Solstice Quotes to Inspire You This Midsummer. (I don’t see a publish date on the post). https://tesswhitehurst.com/22-summer-solstice-quotes-to-inspire-you-this-midsummer/
Wyrd Dottir. Wyrd Designs: A Prayer to Sunna – The Norse Goddess of the Sun. June 19, 2020. https://wyrddesigns.wordpress.com/2020/06/19/a-prayer-to-sunna-the-norse-goddess-of-the-sun/
* "At one time, weal and wealth were synonyms; both meant “riches” (as in “all their worldly weal”) and “well-being.” Both words stem from wela, the Old English word for “well-being,” and are closely related to the Old English word for “well.” " - Merriam-Webster: Weal Definition & Meaning. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weal#:~:text=At%20one%20time%2C%20weal%20and,welt%20in%20its%20painful%20application. *
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Trust in Sunna. Trust in Joy. Follow the Bees…
~ Priestess Foxlyn