June 21st marks the longest day of the year. Ruled by Gemini, June is named for the Roman Goddess, Juno, who the patroness of marriage and women. This is the reason why June has always been such a popular month for weddings. June's main holiday is called Litha, Summer Solstice, or Midsummer. One of the oldest in history, this is a day when the sun is at its peak and we celebrate strength, health, and light. The Sun reflects its inner power through us! Fireflies and toads are out each evening. Foxgloves, lavender, and other herbs are ready to be harvested and hung over doors and barns for protection. New life is everywhere you look! Broken eggshells lay all about, which is a great sign of prosperity - if you can find one. The birds are also molting their feathers, which can be great for magickal works, too! Celebrate this lovely month by waking before the dawn. Light orange candles with the wish that the Sun will light your year. Later on in the day, toast noonday with orange juice. Go to a favorite tree and leave a gift - pretty ribbons or beads - for the nature spirits that live there. At sunset, light more candles and meditate on each wondrous day!

Midsummer is the traditional time to find and make a magick wand. A wand is a very powerful magickal tool. It is used to direct energy, cast circles, invoke spirits, and charge objects, to say the least. They can be crafted out of any type of wood, depending on your preference. But remember to always ask the tree before you cut anything off it (remember Dorothy? How would you like someone to cut something off of you?), and always thank it afterwards for its generosity. My wand is actually a smooth piece of driftwood sent to me from the Sea, Herself! Elder branches can protect against evil spirits. Rowan heals and protects. Willows enchant and drowse. Hazel is for good luck and fertility. Hawthorn is sacred to the Fairies. Some wands can be made of metal or even crystal. You'll find those fancy, expensive ones plentiful in any New Age store. But don't get sucked into the notion that you need for spend a fortune on your magickal tools to be a "real witch". Feel free to use the leftover Halloween fairy princess wand, if that's what calls to you. You can personalize your wand with symbols, etched or painted, trimmed it with ribbons, seashells, feathers, beads, or whatever! As long as it feels right for you, then you made your wand just like a "real witch"!