Tips for Living Wicca: Get Your Midsummer -- or Midwinter -- Plans Going!

Litha is upon us here in the Northern hemisphere; the Summer Solstice when it is the noon of Summer. 

For our friends down under, you should be getting ready to enjoy the Winter Solstice festivities.

I am of the school of thought that it's very important as a Wiccan to recognize the sabbats. To us, the Sabbats are more than just holidays. They're more than just an excuse to take off work and party.

Some of Wicca's most profound teachings come from our Wheel of the Year, and the meaning behind the cycles of the season. 

Sure, there's always stuff going on in our lives. A full-blown ritual celebration is not always possible. But even if you're working and busy with mundane things, you should still try to observe it in some way. This may be as simple as saying a blessing before your meal, or taking a moment to notice the sun riding high when you're walking through the parking lot to your car. 

Also keep in mind, we celebrate a season, and what that season represents, rather than commemorating a specific day. I know at least here in America the Summer Solstice falls this year on Father's Day, so a lot of Pagans might have family obligations, such as traditional outings with dear old dad who still doesn't know you're Wiccan. It happens.

So if you have to push your Sabbat to the nearest convenient date, don't feel guilty-- it works.

My Tip for You Today: Try to plan something for your Sabbat over the next couple of weeks.

For those celebrating the Summer Solstice, you might find inspiration in my latest hub: Magic for Midsummer: Simple Spells, Potions, And Other Magical Inspirations  As the week goes on I plan to put up a couple of more articles for Midsummer, so keep check. 

I've written a lot of hubs for the Winter Solstice, too, which can be found at Wicca for Beginners: Wheel of the Year Resource Guide

The point is, you should really start thinking in advance. The season isn't a moment in time-- there's a waxing and a waning period that works up to it and winds down. Making plans is in itself an activity, even if it's just a decision to buy a tin of Pillsbury biscuits to throw in the oven and slather with honey that night, or to spend five minutes outside meditating under the moon before you go to bed. 

Try to come up with something-- anything -- to keep yourself attuned to the cycle of the seasons, no matter how minor it may seem.

What are your Solstice plans?