"The days of the first harvesting of herbs as the Earth now begins to share her bounty. This time of the longest days is celebrated as a fire festival. The season between the planting and the harvest, June is also the "traditional" month for hand-fastings and weddings.

The summer solstice occurs when we experience the longest day and the shortest night of the year. This is the night for the Sun to stay out before his decline, his death.. Before his rebirth.., This is the beginning of the harvest,  and the Sun God starts to weaken as the first grains and fruits of the year's crop are cut.

Legend has it that this is also a time when the faeries and elves are about., playing and frolicking amongst the flowers. A time of celebration, a truly Magical Time". (Mike Nichols)

Summer solstice is the time of year when the feminine earth energies are at their height.  This time of  year is associated with fertility and sexuality.  June is the most popular wedding month.

The Goddess, who at Beltaine, wed her consort the God , is now pregnant with the fruits of that union. Even though this night the light of the sun begins to fade, that energy returns to the earth in the form of ripening fruits and grains. Though motherhood is important it is not the sole purpose of this Sabbat. For every every female energy, there is a male energy, Mother-Father. And so the sun is at his peak in the sky, the Sun God at the peak of his life, and we celebrate his approaching fatherhood.

This is a time of great celebrations, We see our crops blooming, food will be ready to harvest, Love is in the air, the Summer Sun has a magical affect on people. This is the time to honor your strengths. this day being the optimum for gathering herbs and for healing.

Shakespear, wrote about it in his famous play A Midsummers Night Dream. He captures the magick of this time with celebrations of the fae.

There is something definitely magickal about being outside, in the cool of the summers' eve smelling the newly bloomed flowers, as the air carries their perfume scent to us. Feeling alive, feeling that energy of the Sun. How it nurtures our passions. To know we are fully alive, with hopes and dreams among us.