The "Sea Witch" book is a fantasy novel written by author Sarah Henning. It is a standalone novel that was published in 2018. The story is set in a magical kingdom called Evillend, which is ruled by a powerful sea witch named Ursula. The main character of the book is a young girl named Evie, who is best friends with a prince called Nik. Evie has a secret: she possesses a powerful and dangerous magic that she cannot control. She is haunted by the memory of a tragic accident that took place years ago and is determined to discover the truth behind what happened.
Stir all ingredients together in a small bowl. Wash your hands, then scoop the mixture into your palms and rub gently into your hands and fingers. Leave on for 10 minutes, then gently wash clean. The mixture will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a few days.
T here s always room for a raucous solstice party that lasts all night, but personally, I m partial to a quiet, chill evening, a glass of mead or rosé while watching the sunset, and some restorative summer solstice rituals. Of course, there is also the Shakespearean version of the solstice which appears in A Midsummer Night s Dream, a tale of magic, mischief, and fairy folk.
She is haunted by the memory of a tragic accident that took place years ago and is determined to discover the truth behind what happened. As the story unfolds, Evie learns that the sea witch, Ursula, might hold the key to unlocking her magic and discovering the truth that has been hidden from her. She sets out on a quest to find Ursula and seek her help.
The Summer Solstice is a time for celebration!
Historically, the summer solstice has had a firm place amongst most cultures and religions. A time to celebrate the longest day and the gifts that mother nature blesses us with. In fact, some cultures take the summer solstice with as much celebration as Christmas and birthdays!
When is the summer solstice?
This question also sits in with ‘what is the summer solstice?’ in many ways! Firstly, the day is not fixed to a specific date. The summer solstice is when the sun has reached its northernmost point from the equator. Typically, this happens in mid-June around the 20th, 21st, or 22nd of the month. This year, 2023, it rests on the 21st of June.
What does Solstice mean?
Fascinatingly, the word solstice comes from the Latine word solstitium. The literal translation is the sun – sol, standing still – stitium. This standing still of the sun is a reflection of the feeling the never-ending day that the longest hours of sunlight brings. Likewise, we also have the winter solstice of the shortest day! This is a reflection of the sun feeling like it stands still in the sky and hardly rises at all!
So, what can you do to celebrate the summer solstice?
You will be glad to know you won’t have to become a pagan or druid to celebrate the summer solstice! There are plenty of ways that you can get involved! In almost all cultures the thing that unites their celebrations is giving thanks to the earth and gratitude for nature. With that in mind, there is an almost endless way that you can enjoy the longest day. Here are our top 5 ways to celebrate the summer solstice.
Start the Day With the Sun
One of our favourite ways is to rise with the sun. Starting the day early and getting out into nature is the best way to begin any day but on the longest day, it feels even better! Firstly, connecting to the rhythms of the day allows us to feel more connected to the earth. Secondly, it creates this magical time where your day hasn’t really begun yet giving you plenty of time to take your morning slowly. Make a cup of tea, take it out and sit somewhere you can listen to the bird song get louder as the sun gets higher. in 2020, the sunrise for the summer solstice will be at an early bird 4.46 am but first light beginning around 3.30 am!
Spend the Whole Day Outside
This is actually something we don’t do very often. Even for those of us that love the great outdoors and being in nature rarely commit to a full day outside unless we are camping! Honestly, it takes a little bit of preparation beforehand. Start by creating a picnic basket of delicious goodies and pack a bag with everything you may need for your adventure. See if you can spend the whole day out and about, walking, sitting, watching, and listening.
Give Gaia an Offering
The solstice is celebrated across almost every religion and culture in some way, even if it is historically. In most of these traditions, mother nature is celebrated and offerings are made! Some use it as a time to dedicate their meditations and prayers to the earth, others spend hours singing and chanting in hopes for abundance as they transition to the shorter days. For some, physical offerings are made, and gifts are given. You could create a small shrine in your home using leaves, sticks, and flowers or create a mandala in your garden using the gifts of nature around you. Whatever you do or dedicate, do it with love for the earth.
Get Creative, Get Connected
In Sweden, the summer solstice is known as mid-summer and is one of the most celebrated times of the year. Families and friends gather together for feasts and fun, dancing, singing, and creating. Gather your loved ones and enjoy a (sensibly socially distanced of course) al fresco lunch together! A beautiful tradition in Sweden is the creation of flower crowns. Starting the day with a walk to pick wildflowers they then create beautiful flower crown to wear for the remainder of the day!
Watch the Sunset
Who doesn’t love watching the sunset!? For the 2023 summer solstice, the sun will set at 9.22 pm but the last light won’t be until nearly 10.30 pm! That gives you plenty of time to enjoy the day especially if you also woke up for sunrise!
How to Celebrate Summer Solstice in 2023
We will be celebrating the Summer Solstice in Santorini this year, if you want to experience the longest day of the year while watching a stunning sunset – then this is the place for you!
Traditionally in the UK, thousands of people have flocked to festivals and sites like Stone Henge to dance and unite in celebration. Check out the links below to some upcoming Summer Solstice events in the UK.
If you have joined one of our retreats before you probably already know that we love to spend time outdoors and celebrating the gifts of mother nature! Join us on one of our retreats in the UK or yoga holidays abroad and embrace our love for adventure with us!
During the day before, day of, and day after the solstice, the sun appears to stand still, setting in the exact same spot on the horizon each day. This is especially noticeable in the far northern reaches of the world, where the midnight sun never seems to set, which contributes to the romantic and enduring images of a Swedish midsummer.
Along the way, she encounters pirates, mermaids, and other magical creatures. The "Sea Witch" book is a reimagining of the classic tale of "The Little Mermaid," but with a twist. It explores themes of love, friendship, betrayal, and the choices we make. The book has received positive reviews for its storytelling, world-building, and strong character development. Overall, the "Sea Witch" book is a captivating and enchanting read that will appeal to fans of fantasy and fairy tales. It offers a fresh and unique take on a beloved story and will keep readers engaged until the very end..
Reviews for "The Allure of the Sea Witch: Exploring their Cultural Significance in Literature"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Sea Witch" as I love books about mermaids and underwater adventures. However, I was incredibly disappointed with this book. The plot was slow and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional. I found myself constantly waiting for something exciting to happen, but it never did. Overall, I couldn't connect with the story or the characters, and it left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Liam - 2/5 stars - "Sea Witch" was a huge letdown for me. The writing style was flat and lacked any depth, making it difficult to stay engaged with the story. The author failed to create a compelling world or interesting characters, and the plot was filled with cliches. I was hoping for a unique and captivating tale of mermaids, but instead, I got a boring and uninspiring book that I struggled to finish.
3. Sophia - 3/5 stars - While "Sea Witch" had its moments, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. The concept of the book was intriguing, but the execution left much to be desired. The pacing was uneven, with long stretches of monotony followed by rushed and unsatisfying resolutions. The characters lacked development, and their relationships felt forced. Although there were some exciting scenes, they were not enough to salvage the book for me.
4. Benjamin - 2/5 stars - I have read a lot of fantasy novels, but "Sea Witch" was by far one of the most disappointing ones. The story lacked originality and felt like a rehash of other, much better books in the genre. Additionally, the pacing was incredibly slow, and it took forever for anything interesting to happen. I was hoping for a captivating and magical read, but unfortunately, "Sea Witch" failed to deliver.