Greetings friends and welcome.
Welcome to this seasonal journey with the kitchen witch and her garden.
This series,
Similar to my New Moon series,
Is an invitation perhaps to pause in the year to notice the natural world around you and take a short and sweet journey somewhere in between meditation and story and reflection.
These little in-between places are where we may find a little magic perhaps.
So as always,
Take your time.
We're going to take just 10 minutes out of our day and I'll guide you through a few ideas,
Images,
Reflections on perhaps how the kitchen witch's garden may appear to us in this season.
Close your eyes and rest dear one,
For you have travelled far through the seasons and through the year.
It is time to celebrate because summer solstice,
Midsummer and litha are here.
In these warmer times there is a sense of revelry to our celebrations.
Of flower fairies and forest sprites dancing in sunbeams.
A sense that magic can be found as knowledge of the land,
The fae,
Their secrets and their ability to cross between worlds.
The kitchen witch's garden and the wild hedgerows are at their lushest and most spectacular in June.
Everything is blooming,
Especially fragrant roses,
Wild and cultivated.
Meadow sweet,
Wild strawberries,
Foxgloves all burst into colour in the hedgerows and bees buzz and hum as they feast on nectar and pollen rich blooms.
Honey from the bees may now be ready to collect and in gardens and farms we may see juicy berries and fruits like raspberries and strawberries ripening and ready to eat.
Their wonderful red fruits reflecting the heat and warmth of the season.
And there is something particularly magical and joyful about storing the sun's energy at midsummer with jams,
Pies and puddings made with these fruits.
The early mornings are light and bright and steeped with the jubilant dawn chorus of robins,
Blackbirds,
Wood pigeons,
Wrens and warblers.
This midsummer period is also the perfect time to gather and dry medicinal herbs for the year.
And many believe that witches adopted the same practice of gathering ingredients for their potions at midsummer and would meet up afterwards for their seasonal celebrations.
Here at the solstice there is a pause in the sun's journey,
A sacred pause.
A sacred pause to be celebrated and honoured.
Many still gather to watch the sun rise on this special day.
Bonfires might be lit,
Holy wells might be decorated with blossoms and herbs might be burnt to bless animals,
Homes and farms.
Summer is,
As you might imagine,
Connected to the element of fire and the energy of rising,
Joy and heat.
You can connect to this energy in many ways.
Walk barefoot on warm grass,
Swim in a sparkling river or sea.
Take your cue from the solstice sun and pause.
Be still.
Stand and be where you are,
With the sea.
Stand and be where you are,
With the season.
Feel the light and warmth.
Listen to the buzz and hum of the bees,
The chirp of birdsong and flap of wings.
Watch the dance of the butterfly through tall grasses.
Breathe in the scents of lavender,
Rose and honeysuckle.
The multi-sensory song of summer is here,
Resplendent in the bright light of sunbeams.
Listen,
Breathe and smile.
We are already at a turning point.
Every day after this will be a little shorter and winter will in time begin to beckon us from the distant wilds.
But not yet,
My friend,
Not yet.
Take your time to bath in this precious time of the summer solstice,
Mid-summer and litha.
And as we gently take our time to stretch and move,
And return to our day.
May you savour and celebrate this beautiful time of the solstice.
I thank you for joining me and look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thank you and namaste.
