Seasons of Wicca: The Essential Guide to Rituals and Rites to Enhance Your Spiritual Journey - Ambrosia Hawthorn 2020
June Moon
Moon Celebrations (Esbats)
Rituals to Enhance your Spiritual Journey
Gregorian Calendar: The June moon is often called the strong sun moon, honey or mead moon, or strawberry moon. During this full moon, work on magic relating to protection, strength, prevention, and endurance.
Celtic Tree Calendar: The Hawthorn moon is celebrated until June 9 and the Oak moon is celebrated from June 10 to July 7. The Celtic name for oak is duir, pronounced doo-r. The Hawthorn moon is associated with protection, energy, connections, hope, and pleasure, and the Oak moon is associated with cleansing, strength, self-confidence, and optimism.
STRENGTHENING BATH RITUAL ESBAT
Strength is a common theme for the June moon because the days are long and the sun is strong during the time surrounding the Summer Solstice. This ritual combines the energy of the full moon with milk and honey to help you strengthen yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Ritual Setting
Kitchen (to prepare) and bathroom
Tools and Supplies
Wand or athame
Elemental representations
Deity representation
Offering of choice—food, crafts, flowers, or crystals
For the bath mixture
Small pot
1 cup water
1 cup honey
Wooden mixing spoon
2 cups milk
For the bath
½ cup sea salt
3 tablespoons baking soda
Bath mixture
1.Cleanse the ritual areas.
PRIOR TO THE RITUAL
2.In the small pot on the stove, bring the water to a boil.
3.Once the water is boiling, pour in the honey and use the wooden spoon to stir to dissolve.
4.Pour in the milk and stir thoroughly.
5.Take the bath mixture to the bathroom. Fill the bathtub and add the salt and baking soda.
PREPARING THE ALTAR
Place the elemental and deity representations in the corners of the bathroom.
THE RITUAL
1.Cast a circle of protection. Hold the wand or athame as an extension of your hand to gather and direct energy as you call upon the elements. Starting from the east and ending north, call upon the element of air for mental clarity, the element of fire for power, the element of water for fluidity, and the element of earth for stability.
2.Invoke the deities of your choice by saying something like: “I call upon the God and I call upon the Goddess; join my sacred space under the full moon.”
3.Add the bath mixture to the bathtub.
4.Step into the bath and breathe deeply. As you breathe, visualize strengthening energy enveloping your being. Bathe for as long as you desire.
5.When you have finished, thank the deities: “Great God and Goddess, I thank you for your assistance tonight.”
6.Release the elements in reverse order by beginning facing the north and ending east, thanking each element for their assistance and bidding them farewell. Then open the circle by saying: “I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
7.Drain the bathtub. Leave your offering in the ritual space overnight.
STRONG SUN BONFIRE ESBAT
This ritual focuses on building energy and harnessing the strength of the June (or strong sun) moon to honor the moon and deities of choice. In this ritual, you’ll create ornaments out of salt dough as an offering to deity. Making these ornaments is an opportunity to let your creativity shine.
Ritual Setting
Kitchen (to prepare) and outdoors under moonlight
Tools and Supplies
Wand or athame
Elemental representations
Deity representation
Firepit or outdoor bonfire area
Materials to start a fire (e.g., fire starter kit, petroleum jelly, wood, charcoal, lighter or matches)
Salt dough ornaments
For the salt dough ornaments
Large mixing bowl
Wooden mixing spoon
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup table salt
¾ cup warm water
2 large pieces parchment paper
Rolling pin
Cookie cutters
Baking sheet
PRIOR TO THE RITUAL
1.Prepare the salt dough ornaments.
EPreheat the oven to 300°F.
EIn the mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the warm water to the mixture in small increments. Continue stirring until the mixture begins to form a dough.
EKnead until the dough is soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
EPlace the dough between the pieces of parchment paper. With the rolling pin, roll the dough until it is about ¼-inch thick. Remove the top sheet of parchment paper.
EUse cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Peel away the excess dough and transfer the parchment with the ornament shapes to the baking sheet.
ERepeat the process to use up the excess dough.
EBake the shapes for 1 hour or until the dough has hardened completely.
2.While the ornaments are baking, shower or bathe, visualizing all old or unwanted energies leaving your being.
3.Find an outdoor space to use as a firepit or bonfire area. Cleanse the area.
PREPARING THE ALTAR
Place the tools and supplies on the outside altar. Place the elemental and deity representations intuitively around the altar space.
THE RITUAL
1.Cast a circle of protection. Hold the wand or athame as an extension of your hand to gather and direct energy as you call upon the elements. Starting from the east and ending north, call upon the element of air for mental clarity, the element of fire for power, the element of water for fluidity, and the element of earth for stability.
2.Create a small bonfire or dig a small firepit and ignite a fire. Invoke the God and Goddess or deity of your choice by saying something like: “Lord of the Summer Sun, Lady of the Summer Moon, I invite you to my sacred circle tonight.”
3.Spend 10 to 20 minutes dancing around the flames, meditating, or gazing into the fire. Let yourself be free—this is your time to celebrate as you wish.
4.Throw some of your ornament offerings into the flames and say: “Lord of the Summer Sun, Lady of the Summer Moon, accept this offering of love and devotion, bless me with warmth and energy, and share with me your strength and endurance.”
5.Thank the deities by saying: “Lord of the Summer Sun, Lady of the Summer Moon, I thank you for your presence tonight.”
6.Release the elements in reverse order by beginning facing the north and ending east, thanking each element for their assistance and bidding them farewell. Then open the circle by saying: “I open this circle and release the energy back into the earth.”
7.Safely extinguish the fire. If you have ornaments left over, you can use them to decorate your indoor altar or bury them as an offering to the earth.