Midsummer Night has always been a special time. It marks the longest day of the year and the shortest night in the northern hemisphere. When we were living more in harmony with the course of the year in our world, special festivities were celebrated on Midsummer Night or Midsummer Eve. They are still widespread in Scandinavia to this day. So far in Germany this has mainly been done by neo-pagan groups or clubs that also like to organize a medieval festival or something similar.
However, our need to connect even more closely with nature is growing. This also includes an ever deeper awareness of natural cycles. The respective times of sowing, growth, flowering, fruiting, harvesting, and resting all deserve conscious appreciation. And naturally, the course of the year in general. After all, we ourselves are part of nature!
Midsummer night is a real highlight. For it is not just about the current position of the sun, but also about our awareness of the amazing power of light and heat. It also connects us to our ancestors and descendants: we are all pearls on an infinitely long necklace.
Strengthening the metaphysical aspects of our being
I think, it’s extremely important to celebrate midsummer night together again. Especially if you consciously dedicate yourself to connecting with nature together. Because just like Twelve Days of Christmas in winter, the summer solstice also strengthens our awareness of the metaphysical aspects of our being. As individuals, but also as a community.
For those of you who want to celebrate this day in a special way for themselves, I have developed a little ritual here. This is for inspiration only. Please improve, change and supplement according to your own needs. For a ritual is only really alive and effective if it carries real power for the participants. This power is developed through your own participation and conscious execution. Take, what seems right to you and discard the rest!
The flow of consciousness must be clear
Those who celebrate together with others should be aware that a group ritual unites everyone in a group energy. If not all group members have an equally pure intention and their consciousness is clouded by drugs or alcohol, for example, the whole “soup of consciousness” that is emerging can be polluted. So, you have to be able to trust each other.
In addition, the synergies that arise during group rituals are often diverted by certain authorities. For example, churches are architecturally aligned so that the combined energies flows to the altar: we all know the power that is generated by praying together.
Generally, I’m a huge fan of connecting with others in the light. But if this is not guaranteed, I recommend that everyone do it primarily for themselves – in their direct contact with creation, with God, with life … Everyone does it at the same time and together. In short: each for him/herself and all together. It is a matter of personal instinct, how far you want to go into connecting with others.
Possible ingredients for a midsummer night ritual
Creativity is also required here. It is important that it is important to everyone involved and does not interfere with the positive experience of the ritual for others. Those who like to throw rose petals into the fire should be allowed to do so. Those who, on the other hand, absolutely have to listen to Heavy Metal should only celebrate with absolutely like-minded people …
Fire design
Of course, it includes everything that is needed for a big fire. Wood, paper, lighters…Including all security measures. Like a fire extinguisher or buckets of water or sand, attentive ritual participants, and enough distance at all times. Synthetic clothing should be avoided: it is not wise to sit by the fire in bikini or swimming trunks. Because polyester burns much faster than cotton or other natural materials.
Incense
Everything that our nature has to offer works there. There is plenty of information on incense online. Certain herbs support certain aspects of change more than others. Everyone can do their own research. But in the end our intention is decisive. Classics would be sage, rosemary, hawthorn, juniper, and frankincense. But pine needles can also create a lovely scent and energy.
Paper, pens and small stones
Paper and pens – pieces of recycled paper and thick pencils or felt-tip pens are ideal.
Pebbles or small stones around which a small piece of paper can be wrapped. Because if you want to burn your transformation paperslip, it is sometimes difficult to place it well in the fire without burning yourself. The paper can easily be carried away by the rising heat. So, it has proven convenient to wrap the paper around a little rock and with that extra weight, the paper safely ends up in the flames. You can thank the stone beforehand for its willingness to support the change. When the fire has burned down and the ashes have cooled down, the stones can easily be taken out and returned to nature.
Food and beverages
Enough to drink, and perhaps nourishment for oneself. Transformative work always means an energy expenditure, which sometimes manifests itself in thirst and hunger.
The build-up of energy
The summer solstice is a sun festival and is traditionally celebrated with a large midsummer fire. So, it makes sense that sun and fire are central elements in the design of the ritual.
Even collecting wood (together) and setting up the fireplace can be done with a conscious intention. For example, one can focus on the fact that today everything that wants to be changed can also be changed. And you can establish a heart connection with the sun and her transformative powers.
The opening of the Midsummer Night
The one who is ready to kindle the fire can do so with this phrase and intention. So, while he or she kindles the match or the gas lighter and holds it to the fire, he or she can say out loud:
“We thank the sun and nature here for their blessing presence. And we ask them and all positive forces for their support and protection of our midsummer feast today. We also invite the souls of our ancestors and our descendants to celebrate with us in their way. May this fire now serve to change everything that can and wants to be changed now, here and today. For our wellbeing, the wellbeing of our world and the wellbeing of all beings! Thank you! And so be it. “
Then everyone can applaud or repeat “So be it”. Or otherwise utter a call of consent, such as “Áheo”, as shamans often use. The original German call would probably be something like: “Heil!”. But we understandably have certain feelings of annoyance due to the distortions during National Socialism.
Preparing for inner change
Then ideally a phase follows in which the readiness for change is created on the soul- and psychological level. Besides song and dance you can also make wreaths or put flowers in your hair our buttonhole – simply appreciate the abundance of summer! 
You can also play music – either live or canned. Modern technology now makes it possible without any problems. Of course, it’s even nicer to sing and dance around the fire together. This also strengthens the strength of the group and increases the energy. Incidentally, the transformative power of fire is steadily strengthened by the projection of the group.
Meanwhile everyone thinks about what he or she wants to have transformed today. When the intention is clear enough, it can be formulated as a sentence and written down for burning. Then you put the note in your pocket for a while or hold it tight until it feels “ready to be burned”. In the meantime, you can continue singing and/or dancing for a while …
Conscious burning
Finally, there comes the point at which one has the impulse to entrust this intention to the fire energy for transformation. Then you take a stone, wrap the paper around it and look for a good place to throw it. Then you take a deep breath and, with a strong exhalation, throw the stone into the fire and formulate the corresponding releasing intercession, either loudly or softly.
If there are only a few participants and they want witnesses, this can be done openly and loudly. If there are a lot of them or if you want to keep it to yourself, you do it silently and within.
It may be that more than one intention develops over the course of the hours. Then you repeat the whole thing again. However, you have to be able to integrate it well afterwards. So, depending on the intensity of the intention, I recommend repeating the ritual a maximum of three times. However, everyone is responsible for themselves! Some love “turbo washes”. Others prefer to do several passes over a longer period of time. Everyone is to act in harmony with himself. This is not about performance, but about maximum truthfulness and self-sincerity!
Examples of possible transformative intentions
Everything that you would like to be liberated from is written on the easily combustible paper. This piece of paper is then thrown into the fire, accompanied by the inwardly or loudly spoken releasing intercession. For the old that was released, should now be replaced by something good and concrete. Here some examples:
Slip text: All programs in me that have arisen out of trauma, fear and pain and have unnecessarily harmed me and other people.
Releasing intercession: May my relationship with myself and with others be shaped and carried by love and joy in life from now on. I am ready for that now. Thanks. And so it is.
Slip text: All of my beliefs that still keep me in fear and lack and prevent me from feeling and being able to live my healthy abundance consciousness.
Releasing intercession: May I now be free from fear and lack and joyfully unfold in unconditional abundance on all levels. I am ready for that now. Thanks. And so it is.
Slip text: All my health complaints, illnesses and all their conscious and unconscious causes.
Releasing intercession: May I be free from old disaster programs and now I can enjoy a life in conscious health more and more on all levels. I am ready for that now. Thanks. And so it is.
Group intentions
Of course, you can also formulate a joint request for change. First of all, you agree on intention and text. One of them writes the text on a piece of paper. Then he wraps this piece of paper around a stone and everyone who feels addressed and touched by it takes this stone in their hand and confirms the intention for themselves. The person who wrote the note or the person who last held this request for change now throws the stone into the fire and everyone says the request for a solution more or less at the same time. It is best to formulate them together first and read them out again for everyone after they are burned. Then everyone repeats.
Examples for group intentions
Of course, you can burn more than one group intention. All should agree on this or rather those who want to join in an intention!
Slip text: Everything that hinders and has prevented us from living the healthy sides of our German culture with strength and love.
Releasing intercession: May we now live our being German in a healthy way in love! Thanks. And so it is.
Another, more contemporary, group proposal would be:
Slip text: The burdens and cloudings that have arisen in people’s consciousness as a result of the corona crisis and that prevent and disrupt the development of health and freedom.
Releasing intercession: May all human beings become freer and healthier. Thanks. And so it is.
Or
Slip text: All the harmful mechanisms and patterns that lead people to be played off against one another and making wealth consist in having more than others.
Releasing intercession: May all people find joy in constructive togetherness and live and enjoy their personal wealth and generously grant others theirs. Thanks. And so it is.
Integration
The intention is now burning in the fire and has been reinforced with the request for a solution. So that the new can take its good place, it is good to integrate this with the 
help of happy celebrations. In the awareness that the new can now be unlimited and already is a reality! For this, singing and dancing are recommended! The more exuberant and life-affirming, the better. A maximum feeling of gratitude and the active idea that the wish is already a reality are very helpful.
Music and singing
Unfortunately, we have lost many old solstice songs from our own culture. But it is certain that more and more new ones will emerge. In the meantime, you can use songs from Scandinavia or of course from other cultures. (You can find a lot on Youtube). You can also enter “sun songs” or “sun music” into a search engine…
There are also various mantras that can be used. But also, all kinds of round songs (canons), folk songs in general or songs that as many as possible know. Since this can no longer be taken for granted in our culture, I would recommend printing out a few song sheets that people can read while singing. Some are also gifted at teaching others a few simple songs or even spontaneously inventing them. There, too, are no limits to creativity!
Conscious closure of the midsummer night
When you leave the Midsummer Night celebration, it is important to thank the place and the fire again personally for their hospitality. Also express your gratitude to the sun, nature, all the ancestors and descendants that were with us for their support and protection. It also important, that you vow to make the best of this gift for yourself. For your own good, for the wellbeing of our world and for the wellbeing of all being!
When the ritual is over it is important to put the place back to as good a condition as possible. All rubbish should be picked up and disposed of. The remains of the burned 
down fire are to be extinguished and the ashes scattered or buried. The hot stones are either cooled by water, redistributed, or buried – depending on the environment. All this with an attitude of gratitude towards the support of nature and the request that all nature spirits may restore the place to its healthy state.
I wish everyone a blessed Midsummer Night with maximum light-filled transformation. Whatever way you design it for yourself!
Elisabeth Karsten
