Midsummer Nights Rituals

On midsummer witches work to capture the power of the sun as this is the longest day of the year, and we must hold the power as the length of the days dwindles. To do this we set the midsummer altar with a flat round mirror about the size of a dinner plate, surround it with a wreath of summer flowers from your garden tied with white ribbon then place a white candle in the center. As you begin your ritual light the candle and see the sun filling up the mirror.
This is a good time to ask the blessings of the goddess Fortuna, luck in money, love, work , healing. Be sure to give her thanks when your need is answered. You will want to serve a light berry wine or if you prepared early you could serve May wine.
May wine is made by first collecting in early spring quite a lot of wild violet blossoms, take two cups of rinsed blossoms and drop in two cups of boiling water with two cups of sugar disolved in it. Stir constantly while it boils a minute or two, then turn it off and let it cool. Strain out the blossoms in a collander and pour the syrup into a jar , seal and refrigerate. When you are ready to make may wine, get a large pitcher, two bottles of sweet white wine, the jar of syrup which is warmed to room temp, a few sprigs of sweet woodruff if desired. Pour the wine in the pitcher and pour in the syrup and stir, when the syrup is dissolved pour in a tablespoon of lemon juice and put in the woodruff, stir a bit and watch the magick as the mixture turns from blue to lavender. It tastes heavenly. Serve this with honey and poppyseed cakes topped with a candied violet if you wish. Breathe in Summer. At midnight watch for the trooping fairies and be blessed.