June 20th was the first day of summer and also the longest day of the year. For us, in Arizona, it marks triple-digit temperatures until September. It also marks the start of monsoon, some fantastic thunderstorms as well as the dust storms.

The increase in air conditioning corresponding to the increase in electricity usage. It’s hard to think of anything pleasant outside all this upcoming heat. Yet, the summer solstice is more than just heat.

In Europe, June 21st marks midsummer. Litha in the pagan calendar, and was the inspiration for William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  

Midsummer sparks images of love, romance, and fairies. It is a day of magick and mystery. A time of endless possibilities and what-ifs.

In pagan lore, light and dark battle for supremacy throughout the year and that battle is fought between the Holly King (night) and The Oak King (light). The Oak King conquers the Holly King at the winter solstice or Yule, which is the shortest day of the year.

The Oak King then rules until the summer solstice or Litha, which is the longest day of the year. He fights the Holly King for supremacy but loses, and the Holly King now rules until the Winter Solstice, when once again light and day battle.

The Oak King rules light. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. It is when there is more darkness than light in a day. The day after the winter solstice though, we get a little more daylight each day. The darkness resides, and the daylight reigns.

The Holly King rules dark. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. It is when there is more daylight than darkness, but then in the following days, we lose a little light each day until the winter solstice, then the cycle begins again.

The ancients looked at those changes as a battle between the forces of light and dark. The darkness was a time of cold, snow, and a lack of food. It was a time when people got sick and died from the elements, while they waited until the sun or light returned.

The summer solstice also known as midsummer is the longest day of the year. It is when the Sun is at its most powerful and light rules.  It is also the celebration of the heat returning which to the ancients also represented life. It is also the day of romance when marriage vows are finalized and celebrated.

Myth has it that Lady Tatiana, queen of the fairies and Oberon, lord of the elves were loose upon the world as well. William Shakespeare’s inspiration for his play. It is well known the love story of Tatiana and Oberon, and how their love filled the world with magick and romance.

It is why the summer solstice is a time of dreams and mystery and most definitely of magic being in the air. It is a time of possibilities and what-ifs, and just because that day is no longer here, doesn’t mean the magick is gone.

As long as the Oak King rules, so does the light and in the heat of the summer, magick also rules. So, dream about the possibilities and what-ifs, but most importantly, celebrate your life and love, because magick is afoot!