Hot Witch Summer - What REAL Witches Do During the Warmer Weather of the Summer Season

Oftentimes, fairer weather is categorized as a reawakening of all living things, from botany to the Divine Feminine, which is in part truth and exaggeration.

The truth is that nature does indeed awaken. Trees and flowers are in full bloom. Pollinators return as gardens begin stretching toward the sun.

The exaggeration comes from the notion that practitioners somehow disappear during the colder months only to magically reemerge when the weather improves and vice versa.

Meaning no offense to the pumpkin-spice enthusiasts among us, but for the better part of six months (September through February), many of us are especially visible simply because the season itself becomes associated with our aesthetic. We don't wear the same shit year-round, and we certainly do not walk around dressed as decorative gourds.

So, yes, the styles vary; the mantra does not.
"So mote it be."

Whether spoken beneath an October moon or a blazing July sun, the sentiment remains the same.

Beltane – On the first of May, serves as a reminder of this.

Rather than viewing the season as an awakening from dormancy, perhaps it is more accurate to view it as a recharge gathering momentum. The warmer seasons serve as a stockpiling of warmth, sunlight, strength, inspiration, and rejuvenation that can later be carried into the darker half of the year.

After all, what good is summer if not enjoyed to the fullest?

Now let us not pull punches: What adventures are calling your name — like, what parts of yourself are ready to stretch beyond their winter confines? What deserves your attention?

These are the questions Beltane places upon the table. Invitations, though.... Not as demands.

The season ahead offers longer days, warmer nights, blooming gardens, sun-drenched porches, fresh produce, open-air cooking, beach strolls, floppy hats, oversized sunglasses, flowing caftans, and every excuse imaginable to spend more time outdoors.

So, what do you intend to do with it?

Beltane
Marks the first turn of the key. The engine has not yet reached full speed, but it has started. The windows are down. The road lies ahead. And Hot Witch Summer is officially underway.

Wardrobe:
Get free! Loose, flowing fabrics, big ass shades and straw hats. Daytime play: casual-bohemian-hippie-sexy/cool-sleek and chic. Remembering to anoint oneself with crisp scents. Hygiene is always a must but during the summer it’s best to always bear in mind that FRESH, PREEN, CLEAN AND GROOMED is first and foremost.

Abode :
Again airy, think very FENG SHUI, very minimalist, Space saving and airy. Favor more floral for décor and scent. Potpourri, bathwater, even in your hair! And lest we forget good ol’ Citronella oil and candles – naturals that work best for insect repellent. (And a vinegar-water solution [equal parts, with a little witch hazel])

The Summer Solstice

There’s a lot of people that disregard the Summer Solstice as not having much bearing in their lives. I mean, to many, It just drags out the day, but, every year, the sun climbs higher to its apex making the day stretch longer almost lingering as if it’s in no particular hurry to end. Trees burst with leaves so green they almost look artificial, and wildflowers seem determined to bloom in every forgotten corner of the world.

We get dandelions up here. Resembling little disks of suns within the grass. A lovely contrast. Food for deer beneath the warm embrace of sunlight.

But, to be fair, life is noisy. Money to make for all these bills to pay, errands to run, notifications to answer, deadlines to meet, a household to maintain, and like hundreds of advertisements reminding us that happiness can be purchased. Or buy into a gimmicky product of some kind. YAWN! Many of us are so over the rat race monotony and are just looking forward to the mid-year festivities.

Nature quietly puts on one of the most spectacular performances of the year. . .

The Summer Solstice marks the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. The Latin word solstice means "sun stands still," referring to the point when the sun appears to pause in its yearly journey before gradually beginning its return.

Cultures around the world have celebrated this turning point for thousands of years. Bonfires and feasts were held. Communities cared and gathered, formulating regular exposure to sunlight thus supporting cardiovascular health, wound healing, and immune function.

Today, we have the opportunity to do exactly the same thing. And no elaborate ritual is required nor are any expensive supplies needed. Even the smallest fluctuations in solar output should suffice.... But it’s recommended to get as much as you can (throughout this day in particular).

Just attention. Like real, no-cellphone-in-hand attention.

The kind that appreciates the contrast between emerald treetops and a cloudless blue sky invoking
blessed thoughts for blessings bestowed in kind. The same type of contemplation that appreciates the way sunlight filters through leaves and scatters across the ground in shifting patterns. The kind that loves how grass feels beneath bare feet.

Brazen souls have stripped themselves topless and barefoot with tonic and herbal supplements on hand.

If you have not stood barefoot in the grass lately, chop, chop. Not because it is trendy. Because it’s energizing. And timid persons need not apply being that they’re on the shy side (and sometimes, some people just don’t want to be on grass). To you all, I suggest the beach.

Yes—walking barefoot on sand at the beach is a valid and effective grounding practice, especially because the beach environment enhances both the physical and spiritual aspects of grounding. It’s a simple, accessible way to reconnect with Earth’s energy and deepen your sense of balance and presence. Plus, there are no obtrusions between you and the Sol at the beach!

So, yes, somewhere beneath the responsibilities, schedules, worries, and endless scrolling, there is still a feral appreciation for the outdoors that taps into our spirituality. Into the wildness within. The Summer Solstice offers an invitation to reconnect with that person.

A wildflower does not demand validation before blooming. Nature simply exists, and in doing so teaches lessons that many of us spend years trying to learn.

Science Times states that seasonal sunlight exposure also influences serotonin levels, helping reduce depression and improve mood.

The Summer Solstice is not only a celebration. It’s a celebration of presence. Of stepping outside long enough to remember that the world is beautiful without trying. Of noticing with appreciation and allowing yourself to absorb something other than materialism for a change.

That is where the season peaks.

Not in a ritual. But in one deep breaths beneath an open sky. Preferably barefoot; and in good company. This isn’t the movies, stay vigilant.

Lammas: The First Harvest

Hot Witch Summers are so chillax that before you know it, August 1st arrives!

Lammas.

Or, if you're feeling particularly brave, Lughnasadh.

Personally, I gravitate toward Lammas because every time I attempt to pronounce Lughnasadh, I sound less like a witch and more like I'm trying to summon something sinister from beneath the Earth's crust.

Lammas marks the first harvest festival of the year. The blazing exuberance of midsummer begins to mellow. Gardens overflow. Fields ripen. Farmers start taking stock of what has grown and what still requires tending.

Spiritually, Lammas asks a simple question:

"What have you cultivated?"

Not only in the garden. In yourself.

The intentions planted during Beltane and nourished beneath the Summer Solstice now stand ready for evaluation. Some goals have flourished. Others may have withered. Both outcomes offer valuable lessons.

Unlike the explosive energy of spring, Lammas carries a more mature wisdom. It reminds us that abundance is not measured solely by what we gain but by what we learn through the process of growth itself.

So, ingest your tonics. Share a meal, drink, and share some laughs. Count your blessings. Reflect on your progress. Give thanks for what has come to fruition and make peace with what did not. When this recharging season is done energizing your charisma, you’ll garner a ‘Live and let live’ persona. Guaranteed.

The harvest belongs to both successes and failures. Because both fed you.

Note: Personally, I am in no way, shape or form, any kind of outdoorswoman to be out here telling the difference between trees. I'm from the city so I damn sure don’t expect others to know offhand either. That said, it would be good to remember:

Evergreen — Any tree that stays green year-round instead of dropping its leaves in autumn.
Cypress — The tall, skinny one that looks like a green exclamation point.
Palm Tree — The unofficial ‘vacation tree’ with its signature leaves sprouting only from the top.
Cedar — A sturdy evergreen with dense, fragrant foliage.
Pine — The one with the pinecones.
Eastern Hemlock — The soft, wispy evergreen with flat needles kinda like stiff blades of grass.

AS FOR WORKING WITH EVERGREEN BARK:

Evergreen bark offers more than symbolism; it provides practical materials that can be incorporated into magical practice throughout the year.

Protective Sigils: Thick sections of pine or fir bark can be carved with runes, symbols, or protective marks and placed near entrances or windows.

Floor Washes: Pine and cedar bark can be simmered in water to create an aromatic wash for porches, thresholds, and floors. The resulting liquid combines physical cleaning with symbolic purification.

Spell Foundations: A small piece of evergreen bark placed at the bottom of a charm bag or spell pouch is often viewed as a stabilizing force, helping the working endure over time.

***A Summer Solstice Reminder:

The Summer Solstice celebrates abundance, growth, and life at its peak. Yet the evergreens offer a complementary lesson.

-Flowers bloom brilliantly and fade.

-Leaves emerge and eventually fall.

-But the Evergreen endures.

In the heat of summer, trees feel less like background scenery and more like quiet infrastructure for survival. Standing close to them, you notice how the air shifts—cooler, heavier with green life, as if the leaves are filtering out the sharpness and noise of everything else. Whether or not you think of it in scientific terms, there’s a clear sensory difference: the scent, the shade, the stillness all seem to soften what the sun intensifies. It’s frustrating how often that natural clarity is disrupted by human interference, pollution and chemicals that defile what should be clean and untouched spaces. And still, trees remain. They endure in a way most living things don’t—rooted through decades, even centuries, absorbing what comes at them and continuing anyway.

Unlike flowers that bloom briefly and fade, trees build time into their bodies; they become memory, structure, and presence. There’s something almost unsettling about their quiet resilience, the way they stand together, communicate in ways we barely understand, and persist without asking for attention. In a world that so easily damages what it depends on, trees remain one of the few steady, living reminders that endurance can be graceful.

Yeah, it’s definitely safe to say that they can serve to remind us that true strength is not found in fleeting beauty alone—it is found in persistence, resilience, and the quiet power of remaining rooted no matter what.

It is also worth mentioning that many followers of Lucumí traditions find themselves especially active during the warmer months as well. Community drummings (tambores) become more frequent, offerings are brought to rivers and oceans, cleansing rites are performed, and feast days honoring the orishas fill the calendar. Practitioners gather at the shores for Yemayá, beside rivers for Oshún, celebrate Elegguá in June, honor Oggún in July, and look ahead to Oshún's great feast in September. The season itself encourages participation. The outdoors become the temple. The drum becomes a pulsing heartbeat. The community gathers, celebrates, heals, and remembers that spirituality was never meant to exist entirely behind closed doors.

At this point, you’ve survived Beltane, are going to bask beneath the Summer Solstice, and will collect enough bark to alarm your neighbors.. Hopefully, you’ll remember to drink tonics and water along the way. Remember, sisters, the point of all this isn’t about perfection because you don’t need an elaborate altar, or the ability to identify every tree within a twenty-mile radius. Frankly, I couldn’t do that either. What matters is participation. Willing participation in your own life. Don’t be a NPC. You are the star of your life.

Step outside. Feel the sun on your skin. Sit beneath a tree. Visit the beach. Plant something. BBQ. Wear the ridiculous oversized sunglasses. Buy the floppy hat. Anoint yourself with NATURALS that smell fantastic. Romanticize your existence a little. Why not?! Go be a Hot Witch!

The warmer months always offers chances to reconnect—not only with nature, but with yourself. To shake off stagnation, gather experiences, absorb some sunlight, (I CAN NOT STRESS THAT ENOUGH) and remember that spirituality does not always have to be solemn, or medieval. Sometimes it looks suspiciously like enjoying your life. Who knew!

So whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or someone who only recently wandered onto the crooked path, consider this your official permission slip to embrace the season. Go outside. Touch some grass. Wear the caftan. Collect the bark. And if anyone asks what you’re doing? Tell them you’re having a Hot Witch Summer. You don’t have to lie, my love.

One other important thing to remember, especially when exploring eclectic occultism, is not to become spiritually overextended.

There is a tendency—particularly in spaces that blend multiple traditions, seasonal rites, folk practices, and personal experience—to feel as though everything must be integrated, studied, performed, and perfected all at once. But that is not the point, and it quickly becomes overwhelming rather than meaningful.

A practice should not turn into pressure.

There is no singular rulebook here, no rigid hierarchy of “correct” engagement. One of the strengths of an eclectic path is precisely its flexibility—the ability to move between systems, symbols, and seasonal observances without losing your grounding in everyday life or common sense.

Take what resonates. Leave what doesn’t and return to what calls you later. Spirituality, especially in the context of seasonal living and Hot Witch Summer energy, is meant to enhance your life—not suffocate it under intellectual or ritual overload. There is space for seriousness, discipline, and devotion, yes, but there is also equal space for laughter, rest, indulgence, and simply being human without constant metaphysical scrutiny.

And you are absolutely allowed to enjoy the summer without turning it into a second job.

If you're celebrating Beltane, Lammas, the Summer Solstice, honoring the Orishas, or simply trying to survive the heat without melting into a puddle, the lesson remains the same: get outside, get rejuvinized and live a little.

Or a lot.