Lemon Balm:
(Melissa officinalis)

Folk names: Bee Balm, Lemon Balsam, Melissa, Sweet Balm, Sweet Melissa, Tourengane, Oghoul
Gender: Feminine
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Love, Success, Healing
Magical uses: From Arabian herb magic comes the information that lemon balm can be used to influence love. Soak the herb in wine for several hours, strain and share with a friend. Or, carry the herb with you to find love.
It is also used in magical healing, and Pliny said that its powers were so great that if it was attached to a sword that has made a wound the blood would be immediately staunched. Though swordwounds are rare today, the lemon balm is still used in healing incenses and sachets.
It can also be used in spells to ensure success, and if you keep bees, rub this herb on the hives; it will attract new bees and keep the old ones there.

I really need to get over my fear of flying because I really would love to visit Stonehenge, just once, before I die.

There, of course, was a beautiful celebration Summer Solstice this year again at Stonehenge.

"Pagans and partygoers drummed, danced or gyrated in hula hoops to stay awake through the night, as more than 35,000 people greeted the summer solstice Sunday at the ancient stone circle of Stonehenge.

Despite fears of trouble because of the record-sized crowd, police said the annual party at the mysterious monument was mostly peaceful.

"It's the most magical place on the planet," said antique salesman Frank Somers, 43, dressed in the robes of his Druid faith.

"Inside when you touch the stones you feel a warmth like you're touching a tree, not a stone. There's a genuine love, you feel called to it," he said."

I keep telling myself, one day I'll walk on that sacred ground, one day...

Read more and see more photos

Blessed Litha! Today is the Summer Solstice! I hope to see the Sun today. We've really had nothing but rain for days and days lately.

I was supposed to attend a Litha celebration with the folks I met at Ostara - a pagan shop in a town near where I live. Unfortunately I missed the gathering.

We just began the huge project of finishing our basement. We want the kids to have a place to play and hang out while I work during the day. I also wanted to have a nice laundry room, so we are adding that into the mix.

I wish I hadn't had to miss the Litha celebration but I had to prioritize my goals. I will definitely try to make the next gathering.

Litha is the Summer solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere. This year it falls on Sunday, June 21st. On this date the Sun reaches its zenith in the sky. It is the longest day of the year, and the point at which the Sun seems to just hang there without moving – in fact, the word “solstice” is from the Latin word solstitium, which literally translates to “Sun stands still.”

The travels of the sun were marked and recorded. Stone circles such as Stonehenge were oriented to highlight the rising of the sun on the day of the Summer Solstice.

Interestingly, there's always been a question about whether or not Midsummer was truly celebrated by the ancients. While there's scholarly evidence to indicate that it was indeed observed, there were suggestions made by Gerald Gardner, the founder of modern Wicca, that the solar festivals (the solstices and equinoxes) were actually added later and imported from the Middle East. Regardless of the origins, many modern Wiccans and Pagans do choose to celebrate Litha every year in June.

In some traditions, Litha is a time at which there is a battle between light and dark. The Oak King is seen as the ruler of the year between winter solstice and summer solstice, and the Holly King from summer to winter. At each solstice they battle for power, and while the Oak King may be in charge of things at the beginning of June, by the end of Midsummer he is defeated by the Holly King.

This is a time of year of brightness and warmth. Crops are growing in their fields with the heat of the sun, but may require water to keep them alive. The power of the sun at Midsummer is at its most potent, and the earth is fertile with the bounty of growing life.

Source: About.com

Olivia has a 'best friend' - one she met in Pre-school and then went to Pre-K with. Her name is Mayzi. Mayzi's mom Cyndi and I became friends - which is a fluke because I am not that socializing type mom. I know, being a Libra and all, that doesn't seem to fit, huh? Well, I have my friends and that's that.

Cyndi and I hit it off - maybe because we just knew we had things in common - we both follow the same spiritual path. We both are raising our children in the same belief system. We both knew - and still know, that it's going to be tough as they get older because we're not Christian.

Mayzi is very unique and unfortunately, she gets picked on a lot - not for her spirituality, just for being her. She's a wonderful, outgoing child. She's had some trouble in Kindergarten this year with other kids, especially once she got glasses. She was supposed to go to the same Kindergarten as Livi but Cyndi and her husband moved a few miles away and so she goes to a different elementary school.

I am so glad Mayzi and Olivia are friends - we plan on spending lots of time with them this summer.

June's Full Moon is most commonly known as the Strawberry Moon.









Correspondences:

• Colors: Sun colors -- gold, yellow, orange
• Gemstones: Topaz, agate
• Trees: Oak, maple
• Gods: Isis, Cerridwen, Persephone
• Herbs: Parsley, mosses, skullcap, mugwort
• Element: Earth

Source: About.com

Allspice:
(Pimenta officinalis or P. dioica)

• Folk names: Eddo, Madere, Basheen, Kouroubaga
• Gender: Masculine
• Planet: Mars
• Element: Fire
• Powers: Money, Luck, Healing
• Magickal uses: Allspice is burned as an incense to attract money or luck, and is also added to such mixtures. Allspice is also used to promote healing.