In folklore, midsummer is a liminal time, when the veil between worlds thins. Which means it's often when stories of fairy encounters take place, and also traditionally a time when you can divine your future with the help of certain plants.
Researching midsummer folklore out of interest, I've come across some extraordinary beliefs and superstitions, some of which I'll share with you here in case you feel like trying them out, or (more likely) writing them into something.
Myrtle
In Household Tales with other Traditional Remains (1895), the writer Sidney Oldall Addy suggests you can use myrtle to determine whether or not to marry someone. Pick a sprig of myrtle on Midsummer's Eve and put it into your prayer book (yes, I know - I don't have one either so borrow one if you have to) on the page with the words of the marriage vows. Close the book and sleep with it under your pillow. If the myrtle has fallen out by morning, you'll marry that person, and if it's still there, you won't. Which all seems a bit risky to me - you'd probably have serious doubts about that person in the first place to try it.
Orpine
Orpine cut on Midsummer's Eve was believed to protect your household from lightning and disease. According to Tournefort's Complete Herbal (1719-1730), your animals won't be troubled by distemper either, as long as the plant remains green.
For marriage divination, you need two stems cut on Midsummer's Eve. Place the cuttings in clay on a shell, or fix them in a doorway. If overnight they both bend to the right, you will marry in the following year (if to the left, forget it). If they turn to face each other, the marriage will be successful and if away from each other, there will be discord. If either piece withers, that person will soon die. Doesn't bode well, does it? Probably best not to bother. You can always get a divorce if things don't work out.
Roses
For this method of divination, you need some patience. Cut a rosebud on Midsummer's Eve and wrap it carefully in cloth, and put it in a drawer until Christmas. If the rosebud still looks fresh at Christmas, your marriage will go ahead, but if it's gone brown and perished, it won't.
Can't help wondering how 'fresh' a rose could possibly look after six months in a drawer, but there must be some leeway here. or no one would ever get married...
Rosemary
Again, it's about marriage. I guess it's the time of year. Anyway, if you set a plate of flour under a rosemary bush on Midsummer's Eve, an initial will form of the man or woman you are to marry. Apparently.
Sage
Pick twelve sage leaves on Midsummer's Eve at midnight, and you will see your future spouse coming up behind you, either in bodily form or a vision. (Don't blame me if this one goes horribly wrong...)
Saint John's Wort
Last but not least, we come to the most potent of all - Saint John's Wort. For this you need to gather the plant ceremoniously before the first dew evaporates on Midsummer's Eve. As this date was taken into the Christian calendar as the feast of Saint John the Baptist, the gatherer should also be fasting. If so, such is the power of the plant, marriage is certain within the year.
Incidentally, if a woman wants to conceive, she needs to go out naked at this time to pick a flower of St John's wort - she should conceive within the year.
If you've got as far as this and you'd like to know how to become invisible, find treasure or become invincible, I wrote more about midsummer plant magic on my substack - here's a link if you're interested
Meanwhile, happy solstice,
Lu Hersey
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