June
June is the month for marriage. Everyone has heard, "sweet as a June bride". This month, in addition to lore for June, I will also give some marriage lore.
Correspondences:
Celtic Lunar Month: Oak
Lunar Positions
3rd Quarter: 2 June
New: 10 June
1st Quarter: 17 June
Full: 24 June
Holidays:
Litha [Summer Solstice]
Full Moon:
Names: June 24 - Full Rose Moon, Full Strawberry Moon, Mead Moon, Moon of Horses, Lovers' Moon, Strong Sun Moon, Honey Moon, Moon of Making Fat, Dyad (pair) Moon
Zodiac Position: Capricorn
Elemental: Earth
Folklore:
Junes Namesake: The goddess of women, marriages and childbirth, and the wife of Jupiter, Juno.
June celebrates the Mother aspect of the Goddess and in a sense, things dealing with security, safety and the happiness of the household. The first crops, berries, are in season in many places. Life has gained a new pace. Usually for modern moms, its team sports, spring activities, and such. For those that have a foot in the agricultural world, its the time when roses are blooming, and the corn is about knee high. All looks good.
Now is the time to reflect and take account of the home and its preparations for general security. Do you have all your legal documents in order? Could you find a better insurance company? Do you have the right kinds of insurance? Do you have working batteries in all your clocks and alarms? Are all your magical security amulets and talismans doing well?
Home Protection Chant
My home has four corners
Four Elements protect them,
Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
Neither thieves nor charmers,
Nor those who do evil
May harm me or mine.
Add in your own special request such as:
"Especially those who travel away from home this day,
Keep them safe and secure in every way"
Then finish each chant:-
My home has four corners
Four Elements protect them,
Earth, Air, Fire and Water.
My home stands with the Goddess,
Surrounded by her love,
Protected from evil
Which would harm me or mine.
In the name of the Maiden,
And of the Mother and Crone,
So mote it be.
The original version was posted by dreamedofraven on an email list in July 2001
Once all that has been accomplished, its time for fun. Litha also brings the Fae out and about, revealing the thin veil that connects our world to theirs. Hold a feast in their honor. If you have any questions for the Fae, now is the time to ask.
As Litha is also the Summer Solstice, it is a good time to do any fire magicks, as the Sun is the strongest at this time. One "ritual" my family loves to do is to go out on a hill, the beach, or where ever and just watch the sun set in the western sky. Its kind of relaxing to feel its warmth and it kind of reminds us how nothing lasts forever.
Marriage Correspondences and Lore
Marriage, or hand-fasting, is said to be luckiest when held in June. There are also just as many different traditions around to keep the wedding lucky. Where a whole book could be written on marriage traditions, I have chosen just a few, from the well known, to hopefully a couple of obscure ones.
"Something old, something new; Something borrowed, something blue."
Of course, the tradition of throwing rice, breadcrumbs, and other edibles, at the newly wed couple have many different sources. Some sources say that the edibles were thrown to attract good luck. However, the reason most told to me, is that the edibles were thrown to distract evil spirits, thus preventing them from ruining the newly weds fun. Other methods for keeping evil and mischievous spirits away are the tying of cans, bells, and other loud noise makers to the car, cart, horse drawn carriage, etc.
For further reading, please visit this site: http://www.celtarts.com/WEDDING/traditions.htm She has done a most awesome job on the traditions and history of being married.
Marriage Poems
[Compiled from the Town & Country Farmers Almanac for the year 2000]
Married in Januarys chilling time,
Widowed youll be before your prime.
Married when Marchs winds shrill and roar,
Your home will be on a foreign shore.
Married neath Aprils changing skies,
A checkered path before you lies.
Married when bees over May blossoms flit,
Strangers around your board will sit.
Married in the merry month of June,
Life will be one honeymoon.
Married as Julys flower banks blaze,
Bitter-sweet memories in after days.
Married in Augusts heat and drowse,
Lover and friend in your chosen spouse.
Married in gold September glow
Smooth and serene your life will flow.
Married when leaves in October thin,
Toil and hardships for you begin.
Married in veils of November mist,
Fortune your wedding ring has missed.
Married in days of December cheer,
Love will shine brighter year after year.
For further planning of your Hand-fasting, please view these links:
http://www.pfne.freeserve.co.uk/handfast/handfast.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/mar_hand.htm
