The Goddesses Hearth

Barbara Meiklejohn-Free
Jun 1
5 min read

The Sacred Spring Within: A Midsummer Journey to Self-Love Theme: Self-Love and Sovereignty

There was a time I searched the world for meaning, connection, or anything to fill the aching space within me. I stood beneath the sun in South America, danced with spirits in the Outback, and whispered prayers beneath ancient Egyptian skies. I was a seeker of sacred truths, a gatherer of rituals and relics. But still, I did not find her—the one thing I truly longed for: myself.

It wasn’t until I returned home to England, heart-weary and soul-deep in questions, that I moved to Buxton, Derbyshire. And there, in the murmur of sacred waters and the hush of the ancient grove, I met Arnemetia—the goddess of the healing spring. She did not ask me to prove myself. She only invited me to remember.

This Midsummer, may you stop searching in others for what has always lived within. Self-love isn’t found in foreign lands or distant faces—it is drawn up like sacred water, deep within your soul.

Midsummer: A Mirror of Light and Shadow

Midsummer, also known as Litha, marks the longest day of the year when the sun reaches its peak, bathing the earth in golden brilliance. It is a celebration of abundance, vitality, and illumination. But beneath the season's joy lies a deeper invitation: to pause, reflect, and witness yourself in the whole light of truth.

The summer sun shines upon all things—our radiance, doubts, courage, and fears. Self-love at this time means standing in that light and not turning away. It means choosing to see yourself clearly, without shame or distortion.

Midsummer teaches us that we must honour our cycles just as the sun slowly wanes. Growth comes from doing and being, from allowing space for stillness, softness, and soul-deep care.

As the ancients lit bonfires at the Solstice, so too can we tend the fire within, rekindling the parts of ourselves we’ve dimmed or forgotten. This is the heart of self-love: to return, again and again, to your sacred flame.

Seasonal Signs: Nature’s Mirror of Self-Acceptance

June sings in birdsong and blooms. Wild roses open unapologetically. Bees move with intention, not haste. Elderflowers burst like stars in hedgerows, scenting the warm air. Nature is not waiting for permission to be itself—neither should you.

Let the rhythm of the season remind you: you are allowed to rest, to bloom, to feel deeply, to rise fully just as you are.

Reclaiming the Divine Mirror: Goddesses, Gods, and the Healing of Old Stories

To truly embrace self-love, we often need to unlearn the stories that made us doubt ourselves in the first place.

Many of us were raised with tales that suggested we were somehow flawed or unworthy. One of the oldest stories—the tale of Adam and Eve—has long been used to symbolise the beginning of guilt. But what if it was never about shame? What if it were a story of awakening, seeking wisdom and stepping into one’s power?

Across the world’s cultures, goddesses and gods have constantly reminded us of our inner worth.

Divine Reflections: What the Deities Teach Us About Self-Love

Self-love is not a modern invention—it is an ancient truth. Through time, goddesses and gods have offered us mirrors to see ourselves more clearly and recognise our worth, not through the eyes of others but through the sacred lens of the soul.

Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, teaches that love begins within. Her grace reminds us that honouring our bodies, desires, and reflection is not vanity but devotion.

Brigid, Celtic goddess of fire and inspiration, lights the inner flame of creativity. She teaches that expressing our truth, however softly, is a powerful act of self-respect.

Freya, Norse goddess of love and strength, shows us that vulnerability and power are not opposites. She invites us to embrace the fullness of our emotions without apology.

Arnemetia, guardian of sacred waters and groves, offers a quiet healing sanctuary. She teaches us to stop running and be still—to drink from our well and find wholeness within.

Isis, the great Egyptian mother, restores what has been lost or broken. Her unconditional love reminds us that even in our fractured moments, we are worthy of love and light.

Among the gods, we also find wisdom:

Radiant and truthful, Apollo encourages us to live in alignment with our inner light.

Pan, untamed and joyful, reminds us to delight in the present moment and honour our instincts.

Dagda, the generous father of the Celts, teaches us to receive and to trust that we are enough.

Veles, keeper of hidden depths, walks us through our shadows and shows us their beauty.

These deities remind us that we do not need to earn love. It is already within us, waiting to be remembered.

Midsummer Self-Love Rituals for the Longest Day

Midsummer is a portal. A golden doorway of light where you are invited to pause and connect—not with the world's noise, but with the sacred whisper of your soul. Below are four gentle rituals to align with the sun’s journey and your inner radiance:

Sunrise – Awakening Worth

Step into the light. Hand on heart. Whisper:

“I rise with the sun, renewed and whole. I am worthy of love, especially my own.”

Midday – Honouring Power

Write three things you love about yourself. Say:

“I honour my light. I walk in truth, without shrinking, without shame.”

Sunset – Releasing Comparison

Let go of who you think you should be. Burn or bury your comparison list. Say:

“I release the need to compare. I am enough as I am.”

Twilight – Returning Home

Gaze into a mirror or bowl of water. Hold rose quartz. Whisper:

“I am love. I am light. I am whole.”

June’s Apothecary: Oils, Flowers, Herbs & Crystals for Self-Love and Solstice Magick

Let nature guide your rituals this month. These allies carry the energy of sunlight, heart healing, confidence, and inner peace—perfect for your Midsummer altar or self-love spellwork:

Oils:

Rose, Neroli, Lavender, Orange, Frankincense

Flowers:

Wild Rose, Elderflower, Calendula, Jasmine

Herbs:

Lemon Balm, St. John’s Wort, Chamomile, Basil

Crystals:

Rose Quartz, Citrine, Carnelian, Moonstone, Sunstone

Scatter petals on your altar, anoint your body with oils, sip herbal infusions, or place crystals near your mirror or pillow. Let these living allies walk beside you this month as reminders that the Earth supports your self-love journey in every way.

The Full Moon of June: Strawberry Moon

This month’s Full Moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, ripens after Midsummer. It calls us to sweeten our inner dialogue, to harvest the fruits of the self-love we’ve been planting. It is a moon of nourishment, asking:

What are you ready to receive from yourself now?

Journal Prompts for June’s Inner Work

Where in my life am I still waiting for permission to love myself?

What old story about my worth am I ready to rewrite?

If I treated myself the way I treat those I love… what would change?

A Midsummer Spell for Self-Love

By fire and sun, by flower and tree,

I reclaim my soul, I set it free.

I am enough, from root to crown

I rise in love, I will not drown.

Closing Blessing

May the light of Midsummer guide you back to your heart.