herbs for the summer solstice - 6/19

i've been wanting to write more about alchemy and herbalism, but i also wanted to connect it to astrology !! so today i'll be talking about a few solar herbs and how they can be used to celebrate litha: 

• juniper: burn the leaves as a form of smoke cleansing, use the berries in your cooking
• marigold: plant one in your garden or keep on potted near your front door
• chamomile: use a candle or lotion with chamomile in it. you can also drink chamomile tea
• saffron: offer some on your altar or use it in your cooking
• rosemary: sprinkle some in a line outside your front and back doors to protect your space. use the essential oil as you clean surfaces
• sunflower: decorate the house with these or feed your local birds with some sunflower seeds
• bay leaves: writea wish down on a bay leaf and burn it
• st. john's wort: hang some near a window or put a little bit in a candle to anoint it

A FEW POINTERS:

• perform the ritual during a sun hour
• bathe the herbs in sunlight before using them
• make sure the herbs have been dried
• burn the herbs or involve fire in your ritual
• wear gold jewelry or yellow clothing while you do your spellwork
• use yellow paper or yellow ink for your spell petition(s)