This is what my Wheel of the Year looks like (my Sacred Year actually has more holy days than 8):
- Midwinter - Feb 1st - https://substack.com/home/post/p-155668258
- Spring Equinox / First Day of Spring - March 20-23 - https://substack.com/home/post/p-158712101
- Midspring - May 1st - https://substack.com/home/post/p-162285589
- Summer Solstice / First Day of Summer - June 20-23 - https://hearthfoxoracle.substack.com/p/my-sacred-wheel-summer-solstice
- Midsummer - August 1st - https://substack.com/home/post/p-167149117
- Fall Equinox / First Day of Fall- September 20-23
- Midfall - November 1st
- Winter Solstice / First Day of Winter - Dec 20-23
July 15, 2025:
Good almost August, yall. Midsummer is nearly upon us once again! Summer’s…not actually flying by for me, even though it’s been busy with kids and their friends, ADF meetings and magikal studies, watching vampire flicks and writing fanfiction, nursing a broken finger and patiently waiting to hear on about passing the rest of my Dedicant Path Essays. Capturing pictures of tree frogs and moths and tiger bee flies, and feeding a pregnant black cat who showed up out of nowhere on the full moon (what a very witchy cliche, eh?).
The kids have about a month left of break, then I’ll officially have a 7th grader, 6th grader, and 2nd grader. A month left to gather their school supplies and new clothes and shoes. A month left until I can get back to my regular seiðr practices without the kid chaos.
There’s still time for lake swimming and grilling with friends! Maybe some end of summer camping, too?
But in the middle of that and in the middle of this season is August 1st—my Midsummer, which I also affectionately call Honeysweet.
Back in 2021, I think, Honeysweet was created by Serendipity Wyrd and Kee Reiter of the Wyrd Sanctuary. A group for spiritual people, pagans, witches, psychics, curious, whatever—made up of many different kinds of people—it was a beautiful inclusive, safe, and healing space where we uplifted each other. Honeysweet happened after a summer of shadow work, Serendipity and Kee decided that we all need a month of joy and sweets.
Thus Honeysweet was created! It was a ritual celebration of gratitude and realistic goals—things that we wanted to attract and work towards. Things that brought us joy.
We celebrated Honeysweet twice, I think, before the group fizzled out, and the website isn’t up anymore, so I can’t provide the link. But I continued it, because I loved it so much. I put my own spins on it, like
Honoring Bee Entities and Spirits, such as the Minoan/Hellenic Melissae—Bee Priestesses of Ariadne, Artemis, Persephone, and Demeter.
Honoring Agricultural Entities and Spirits.
Honoring Ethical Beekeepers and wildlife educators.
Sometimes Honeysweet focuses on things we want to attract in our lives.
Sometimes it focuses on our griefs and “whispering them to the bees” (bees are psychopomps, too).
Sometimes it’s all about gratitude.
Sometimes it’s about prepping for the dark half of the year and having support through it. This is done through gratitude jars in the shapes of hives or boxes. In times past we’ve put our joys, good memories, favorite quotes, things we’re grateful for, goals, prayers, poems whatever are either written on origami bees or hexagonal shapes into these hives. Like bees feed on honey to survive through the winter, when one is feeling depressed, sad, or struggling, they can draw a honeysweet to help lift their spirits. Back in 2014-15 when I was suicidal, I started using Gratitude Jars and they really helped me out. Today, I no longer suffer from suicidal ideations, but I still have bouts of SAD and depression from time to time, and still use them.
The Gratitude Hive that I crocheted.
Something funny, fun, or other types of awesome happens, I write it down, take a picture, clip it, and put it in the hive for a rainy day.
Honeysweet is always about family/community, healing, support, and joy.
It just depends on what we need, or whatever the Bee Spirits want me to focus on for that rite.
This is one of my favorite rituals in my Sacred Wheel. I love bees, pollinators, and healing work. Healing can be so very heavy, but it can also be light and happy. Joy is an important part of recovery and life.
Honeysweet Correspondances:
When: August 1st (Midsummer) or August 17th (World Honey Bee Day). I usually have other August 1st rituals to attend, so I may celebrate Honeysweet on the 17th instead.
Bee Entities: Bee Spirits, The Melissae, Persephone, Demeter, Artemis, Ariadne, Beyla, Nantosuelta, Austėja…
Agricultural Entities: Freyr, Thor, Sif, Dionysus, Persephone, Demeter, Ceres, Nature Spirits…
Flora and Fauna: Summer flowers and pollinators.
Foods: Honey, Goat’s Milk and Cheese, Mead, Grape Wine, Grape Juice, Fairy Milk, Olives, Berries, Potatoes, Grains, Rice, Chicken, Beef, Grilled Corn, Sun Tea, Lavender Lemonade; foods harvested from local gardens and farms, your favorite summer foods. One year we had an abundance of honeydew and watermelons that we shared with attendees at a public rite.
Divination Tools: The Bee Tarot by Kristoffer Hughes is a favorite, I always let the Entities of the Occasion pick the divination tool(s) They want to use.
One year I made a set of lots using mini bees—each bee had either an Elder Futhark Rune, Witch Rune, or Womanrune on the belly. Attendees drew a little bee from the hive pouch and got to keep it. Activities:
Hymns
Honey harvesting
Mead making
Honey/Beeswax Magiks
Make Beeswax candles, poppets, etc.
ArtsnCrafts Yourself a Bee Stuffy / Gratitude Hive
Make Origami Bees
Divination
Drumming
Dancing—learn the Waggle Dance and how you can incorporate it with your magik.
Make Ribbon Wands and Rings.
Have a fire.
Spell weaving
Learning about Bees and other pollinators, as well as honey, entities,
Doing fun arts and crafts, we’ve made Bee Hive mobiles and bee garden decorations from recycled materials
The picture is by Laura Tempest Zakroff, I used it for inspiration for the Queen Bee cut out from a milk jug. Three little origami bees made with my kids. Renew the Gratitude Jar/Hive
Ask for blessings over livestock, fields, and apiaries; over gardens and containers for summer and fall
Celebrate Ethical Farmers and Beekeepers
Learn how to be an ethical farmer and keeper
Learn about native local plants in your area that are best for bees and pollinators.
PLANT them, if you’re able.
Offerings: Fresh Water (is best for wild bees—not sugar water, fruit, or honey).
Books We Have, an Article I’ve Read, and a Prayer that I read for every Honeysweet ritual:
Ashley, Elizabeth. Meeting the Melissae: The Ancient Greek Bee Priestesses of Demeter. 2023.
Barton, Bethany. Give Bees a Chance. 2017. Childrens.
Bowman, Travis. Bee Prayer. I originally found this image on a google search a few years ago, so here’s a picture of it from a Pinterest page: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/451274825158436459/
Hunt, Will. Pioneer Works Broadcast: Telling the Bees: There’s one insect that humans, since ancient times, have entrusted with death. 19 January 2023. https://pioneerworks.org/broadcast/will-hunt-telling-the-bees
Neye, Emily. Honeybees. 2002. Childrens.
Ransome, Hilda M. The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore. 1937.
Watt, Fiona. That’s Not My Bee. 2018. Childrens.
There you have it, a bit about how I celebrate my August 1st on the Sacred Wheel of the Year.
Thanks for all of the Hearts, Follows, Subscribing, Purchases, Bookings, and Recommendations. I really do appreciate the support.
Trust in Sunna. Trust in Joy. Follow the Bees…
~ Priestess Foxlyn