Wood Spirit Litha Flame

The ruby sun of the sunset burned in the treetops. And in the forest depths, black shadows were already sheltering, hiding what was happening from outside eyes. And the Wood Spirit understood: the time had come.

Here and there in the green fern thickets around the Wood Spirit, fires began to dance. Small spheres of light blinked into being, lighting the forest with a reddish gleam. Some settled in the great antlers of the ancient keeper of the festival. And in the unearthly light of the fires, the Wood Spirit Litha Flame hurried toward the forest celebration in honour of the Summer Solstice.

The longest day of the year and the shortest night — in which there is much to be done. Litha Flame, as he has for many thousands of years, will carry out the ancient rite. He will light the bonfire of the Summer Solstice, and all the forest dwellers will gather around the festive fire. They will sing songs, leap over the bonfire and weave garlands for the lake water spirits.

Among people there are rumours that the wondrous fern flower, which blooms only on the night of the Solstice, is guarded by forest creatures who will not let a human find it. The Wood Spirit is the keeper of the fern flower. In his paws this forest treasure blazes red-gold all night long. Litha Flame has kept his vigil since the time when the forest was still very young.

Each year on the Solstice night he goes out to the glade where the beloved flower sleeps among the ferns and sits beside it — a silent and faithful guardian. The fire spirits who have made their home in his antlers flicker in time with the heart of the forest: quietly and steadily, until dawn comes.

The Wood Spirit himself resembles a ball of fire: long bright fur, a mask like flame frozen in wood. And the branches of his antlers weave themselves into a Sun. They say whoever meets Litha Flame on the night of the Solstice will have fortune accompany him all year, and an invisible light of the summer bonfire will warm his home.

Among the forest sprites there is also one who honours the fire of Midsummer night: the Forest Sprite Fire Spirit — a small guardian with three fire spirits on his head and a fern flower in his paws. A younger brother in flame.