The summer solstice also known as Litha or Midsummer is the time when the sun is at the highest point that it will be for the year. It embraces the longest day and shortest night of the year. The summer solstice will be on Friday June 20, 2025 at 10:41 pm Eastern time. The moon will be a waning crescent at that time. One of the activities in which you can engage on Midsummer includes lighting a bonfire which is magickal. You can experience the magick of dancing around a roaring fire at that time. But what if you don’t have a fire pit or grill? One thing you can do is light a candle. So many spells and rituals published focus on candles. What if you live in a place where you are not allowed to use flame and light a candle? You may think that you are sunk! But you still have options. Maybe there is a nearby park which has a fire pit or a grill. But what do you do if you simply do not want to use fire, there is no such park nearby, there is an all day rain or if there is a burn ban? You are still not sunk!
One item in our toolbox is the harnessing of electricity. Let us take a dive into the sciences of fire and electricity. Fire is a chemical reaction at the atomic level between a fuel and oxygen (normally, but not always) with byproducts of water and carbon dioxide (most of the time). Fire is the experience our senses have of this chemical reaction. We see its flame, hear it crackle, feel its heat and smell the smoke. To learn more about this chemical reaction visit https://youtu.be/i_tkAh-wnxU?si=VHaClt8GW8HVRhNg. I will digress and take this opportunity to give a shout out for old growth forests for the capture of carbon dioxide. Old growth forests are by far the most efficient form of carbon capture that we have per acre, and they need to be protected. We also need to plant new trees but not monoculture, rows of the same kind of tree. We need acres of a diverse population of trees, fungi and animals for a healthy environment. To learn more on a PBS episode of NOVA click https://youtu.be/Ya-1qxswcLI?si=VKad4sRbgNv8D8rm. Moving on . . . Electricity works essentially the same at the atomic level whether it is lightning in a thunderstorm, static electricity, a light plugged into the wall or a battery operated candle. It occurs through the loss and gaining electrons in atoms, and this imbalance creates a charged state. To learn the basics about electricity click https://youtu.be/ru032Mfsfig?si=adnZugPU2Jyl6MgO. To see a video with more advanced content visit https://youtu.be/3KePcASD0NQ?si=CkRakT1lf7jWZuP1. Although fire and electricity occur through different atomic processes, we harness and use both of them for similar purposes like heat, cooking, light and communication. Can you use battery operated candles for ritual and magick? Yes, you can. There are upsides to using battery operated candles. A difficulty with live flame is keeping candles lit when it windy. I like to practice outside, and there are days I just cannot keep a candle lit. But I can keep a battery operated candle lit. Battery operated candles are also safer than those with live flame. They cannot catch the curtains on fire. They can be safely left unattended. They are much safer around familiars or pets. I once created the boundary of my circle with battery operated tea lights, and my cat proceeded to play with one. It helps to have realistic looking battery operated candles. I like the ones with flames that flicker and dance. See the video below of three candles which you can get on Amazon. Videos help me decide what battery operated candles to purchase, so I provided a video for you. The white candle is Techlong. To order on Amazon click https://a.co/d/9ax8QTE. The burgundy taper candle is CozierGlow which comes in a variety of colors and styles. To find it on Amazon click https://a.co/d/1cKotE9. Sunflowers are a great motif for Midsummer. The candle with the sunflowers by Anygift is the third candle. To view it on Amazon click https://a.co/d/81SJ5zb. Luminara is another brand which you can find and are very nice but expensive. Unlit candles are another way to use candles without live fire. Some people use unlit candles on which to focus their intent. I also have candles that are wax sculptures and are not to be burned. One of them is a Venus of Willendorf statuette which I molded, and it is far too unique and special to burn. Another option is fairy lights which can be a win for setting a magickal atmosphere. Fire and candles are only a couple of tools that Wiccans, Witches, Pagans and those who honor the Goddess and/or God use, and there are many other options in our toolbox.
Another tool that has powerful energies from the Earth is a crystal. Crystals associated with fire, the sun and the summer solstice are citrine, sunstone and tiger’s eye. Both citrine and sunstone are joyful stones and bring a sense of optimism and vitality. Their golden color mirrors their mood. Both are igneous reflecting their fiery nature, although sunstone may also be metamorphic. Tiger’s eye with its golden and brown colored bands is a protective stone. It also radiates empowerment, and it can uplift the mood. Unlike citrine and sunstone it is sedimentary. There are many uses for crystals. They can be used on an altar. Crystals are generally associated with Earth, and usually they go in the direction of north on an altar. But depending on their properties, they may go in different areas of the altar. Tiger’s eye, citrine and sunstone with their fiery nature can be put in the southern portion of the altar. To learn more read my post Elements/ Quarters/ Directions. These stones can be cleansed, charged and then worn as jewelry. They can be used in container spells to give the spell a little umph! Tiger’s eye can be soaked in sun water to infuse the water with its protective and empowering qualities and is safe for drinking water. Sun water is like moon water only instead of charging water under the light of the full moon, sun water is charged in the light of the solstice sun. Sunstone has aluminum in it and not safe for drinking water and will lose luster if soaked in water. Citrine is safe for drinking water but it will lose its luster if soaked in water, especially salt water. So before simply dunking a crystal in water it pays to do your research.
Another tool we have is herbs. Some of the herbs associated with Midsummer are sage, rosemary and basil. I grow all three of these plants in pots in my apartment. All of these three herbs can be drunk as tea, censed, used in spells and are culinary. The kind of sage I grow is not white sage, but common sage which has many uses in magick and healing. White sage is a different species from common sage, and it has its ethical issues of cultural appropriation with over-harvesting putting its population in jeopardy. Common sage can be used to bring positive energies like luck and wisdom. Even though this post is about using tools without fire, it must be said that it is popular to burn sage to purify space. Personally I like burning rosemary for that purpose the best. I use ventilation when burning herbs. Also it is important to consider pets at home whose respiratory systems are delicate and can easily damaged by the smoke. Rosemary has properties which aids memory and is used when one wants to have sharp memories of an event like a handfasting or when one is studying for an exam. Rosemary is often used in a bridal bouquet and may be given as favors to participants in a handfasting. Rosemary is an herb of protection and is great to use for cleansing magickal tools like a wand or athame. Some of the magickal properties of basil are love, happiness, luck and peace. It could make a wonderful addition to a container spell for peace or self love. Basil is also used during an initiation and when one needs courage. Even though these three are common culinary herbs, please note that I am not an herbalist or a doctor. Please consult an herbalist or a doctor before using herbs.
As well as fresh herbs from the garden, you can use seasonal food and drink during your Midsummer ritual for cakes and ale or for a feast afterwards. Honey cakes would be grand along with mead or lemonade. Seasonal fruits like strawberries, blueberries and oranges may be considered. How about having roasted vegetables from your garden? Scandinavians use seafood like salmon, herring and shrimp in their Midsummer festivities. Have a cool, refreshing salad of fruits or vegetables. Celebrate the height of the sun with foods that are seasonal for your location.
Think about including movement and dance in your ritual. One traditional dance is the spiral dance or the grapevine. Even if you think that you are not a good dancer and are embarrassed by your moves, incorporate some moves that you feel confident doing. Or just invent some movement that reflects this season of growth and vitality. How about a chant, song or music to go along with your dance? Should the music be live or can it be recorded? That is up for debate in the Wiccan/Pagan community and is up to you. Even if you are unable to move your legs and your feet, you can dance with your arms. If you can move, you can dance.
Make a floral or solar crown to honor and celebrate your accomplishments or joy for the year. If you can find willow use it as the base of your crown. Otherwise use a good vine. Wrap it around your head to size it and secure it with wire or twine. Attach seasonal flowers to it. Look for flowers you can find growing in your location. Do not take all of the flowers from a given area. Leave some for nature. You can use some gold poster board and cut it into a shape that pleasing to you for a crown. You might cut a band and disk for the center representing the sun. Wear your creation in this heighten season of celebration with pride and joy. When you are done wearing your crown, place it on your altar. Whenever you need a reminder of the joy and pride it is there.
Create a sun-catcher or a representation of the sun. With materials like tissue paper, craft glue, black construction paper, contact paper or waxed paper and Mod Podge you or your children can make beautiful sun-catchers. You can also create sun-catchers out of materials like beads, wire, markers, glue, paint, plastic container lids, glass rocks, glass from a picture frame, inks, clear glue, coffee filters, old CDs and food coloring. Whew, those are a lot of options! Make use of materials that you have or can easily obtain. YouTube has many videos with great ideas for making your own sun-catchers. I used permanent markers and transparency film. Hands are difficult to draw so I printed out a free line drawing from Shutterstock to trace. You can make a representation of the sun using materials like gold poster board, old tin cans or oven bake or air dry clay. The ideas are endless! You can make a sun wheel. To learn more about making a sun wheel using yarn, raffia and sticks see https://www.flyingthehedge.com/2018/06/diy-summer-solstice-sun-wheel.html. I used thick yarn for mine. Crafts involving the green world and flowers are wonderful, too. For even more activities, information and thoughts about Midsummer check out my previous posts The Summer Solstice, Midsummer and Litha and Midsummer: Time of Growth & Fulfillment.
What I listed are options for ritual work. But some Wiccans, Witches, Pagans and those who honor the Goddess and/or God like to burn things like petitions, affirmations and spells to activate them and send them to the Universe. But there are other methods. The most common answer would be to bury them. Just make sure what you are burying is biodegradable. Another way is write on a strip of cloth and tie it to the branch of a tree, making sure that it tied loose enough the branch will be able to thicken as it grows. I also put spells and affirmations in spell jars. If you let your message go in a waterway, think about where it will end up. These are some ideas for ritual and magick without fire.
Have a glorious and blessed Midsummer! To my friends in the Southern Hemisphere have a wondrous and happy Yule!
Auburn Greene
Suggested Investigation
Beattie, Rebecca. The Wheel of the Year: Your Rejuvenating Guide to Connecting With Nature”s Seasons and Cycles, 2022, Elliot and Thompson Limited. To get on Amazon click https://a.co/d/5jEI8oE.
Beyerl, Paul. A Compendium of Herbal Magick. Phoenix Publishing, 1998. To get on Amazon click https://a.co/d/cogopMj.
Beyerl, Paul. The Master Book of Herbalism. Phoenix Publishing, 1984. To get on Amazon click https://a.co/d/80WCjdK.
Brink, van en, Seb. “What Is Electricity – Electricity Explained.” Into the Ordinary, YouTube, 7 years ago, https://youtu.be/ru032Mfsfig?si=ZGCf2zfFTaRJawOt.
Cosgrove, Jenna. “The Powers of Sunstone.” High Priestess: A Magazine for Witches and the Witch Curious, June 27, 2024, https://highpriestess.com.au/the-powers-of-sunstone/
Cox, Elizabeth. “Is Fire a Solid, Liquid, or a Gas?” Ted Ed, YouTube, 6 years ago, https://youtu.be/YV8TT9LRBrY?si=dLlGrmxp-YE2BP4c
Domingo, Nathan Santo. “The Science of Lightning.” Science with StormTracker 9, YouTube, 5 years ago, https://youtu.be/eDZqNDI5MzA?feature=shared. As a weather geek, I just had to include a resource about lightning.
Evans, Paul. “How Electricity Works – for Visual Learners.” The Engineering Mindset, YouTube, 5 months ago, https://youtu.be/3KePcASD0NQ?si=CkRakT1lf7jWZuP1.
Grandma. “Spellwork Without Fire: Alternative Ways to Cast Spells Without Candles or Smoke.” Grandma’s Grimoire, February 18, 2025, https://grandmasgrimoire.com/alternative-ways-cast-spell.
Lochhead, Jamie. “Secrets of the Forest.” NOVA, April 16, 2025,
https://youtu.be/Ya-1qxswcLI?si=3PB8qhaE_HCHo5ew
Three Twentysix. “The Chemistry of Fire.” YouTube. 2 Years ago, https://youtu.be/i_tkAh-wnxU?si=VHaClt8GW8HVRhNg.
Wigington, Patti. “Rosemary Magic & Folklore.” Learn Religions, October 1, 2024, https://www.learnreligions.com/rosemary-2562035.
Willow, Autumn. “DIY Summer Solstice Sun Wheel.” Flying the Hedge: A Modern Approach to Hedgecraft, June 7, 2018, https://www.flyingthehedge.com/2018/06/diy-summer-solstice-sun-wheel.html.
My Inner Wiccan 