Songs of Fire, Magic,
& Divination
Midsummer (also known as Saint John’s Day and Litha) has long been a raucous, sensual, and beloved holiday across much of Europe. From Scotland to France and Scandinavia to the Baltics, the longest day of the year is celebrated with bonfires, divination, bathing in rivers and lakes, herb harvesting, and revelry! These traditions are alive in songs that send energy to the sun, honor summer plants, and recount summer romance and loss.
Immersing You in Animist Traditions
In this virtual weekend workshop, learn a delicious mix of traditional and new songs to connect you with this ancient celebration. Taking place on solstice eve and solstice day, we’ll learn folk songs and ballads from across Europe, with a healthy dose of modern chant mixed in! We’ll explore the folklore behind the songs and draw together the commonalities across cultures that show us the magical meaning of this time of year. During our last session, we’ll finish our time together with some song-centered ritual for Midsummer!
“Saro’s classes always seem to give me exactly what I need."
- Maclean, Student Fall 2025
What You'll Receive
֎ Three sessions of song, folklore and ritual focused on the traditions of Midsummer as it’s been celebrated across many parts of Europe
֎ Video recordings of all sessions
֎ Lyrics to all songs learned + audio recordings for pronunciation of non-English language songs
֎ Audio recordings for any songs with layered parts or harmony options (these will be provided after the weekend classes take place)
֎ A resource list of recommended articles, videos, podcasts and playlists to deepen your understanding of the authentic traditions of Midsummer
+ A Bonus PDF: Midsummer Herblore: Plants of the Summer Solstice by ethnobotanist Rebecca Beyer of Blood and Spicebush School of Old Craft
What You'll Learn
֎ A mix of chants, folk songs and ballads in a variety of languages that explore the themes and rituals of Midsummer. We’ll enjoy several easy-to-learn English-language chants and songs, sourced from or inspired by English and Scottish traditions, as well as songs created by Saro. These “home base” songs will be woven around non-English songs that will require more time and focus, drawing from (as time allows) Lithuanian, Ukrainian and French traditions.
֎ An introduction to the folklore of Midsummer: As we learn the traditions that surround each song, we’ll discover the continuity of many of the summer solstice traditions across Europe.
I stepped out into the world with a refreshed sense of connection- to the green, to ancestors, to myself. You're doing powerful work, and I'm really grateful I got to be part of it...Thank you for such needed offerings!
- Zoë Fay-Stindt
About the Instructor
Hi, my name is Saro Lynch-Thomason (she/her). I’m a song leader and folklorist living on the occupied lands of the Cherokee in what is now called Asheville, traditionally known as ᏙᎩᏯᏍᏗ (“Togiyasdi:” “The place where they raced”). For nearly 20 years, I’ve studied traditional songs of England, Scotland, Appalachia and beyond. I lead community sings and choirs, teach at music camps and have produced several albums. My song “More Waters Rising” has become an international anthem in the movement to combat climate change (and was praised in the Huffington Post!).
My people largely come from England, Scotland, & Ireland, and immigrated to what is now called the U.S. several hundred years ago. I have identified as pagan since a young age, and grew up with the privilege of participating in seasonal ritual that later inspired me as a young adult to design my own song-based ceremonies. My love for paganism and animism has motivated me towards more recent studies of pre-Christian traditions from the Anglo-Celtic Isles as well as other parts of Europe. Currently, I lead a pagan choir in Asheville, teach courses such as “Singing the Wheel of the Year” and create new songs inspired by old wisdom.
My approach to songs and history is scholarly and reverential as well as fun and accessible! I’m excited to explore the shared folklore of Midsummer with you!
Who is this for?
֎ Anyone who wants to connect to the ancient celebration of the summer solstice through the embodied joy of song!
֎ Anyone who likes to learn exciting folklore or who likes to sing
֎ Anyone who yearns to celebrate Midsummer in community with others
֎ Anyone who has learned a little bit about this holiday and wants a deeper, authentic dive into its traditions
Our Schedule
Our workshop takes place in three sessions over two days.
Video recordings of all sessions will be made available to registrants.
Saturday, June 20th/ Midsummer Eve:
֎ Session 1: 10:00am-12:00pm EDT / 7:00am-9:00am PDT / 3:00pm-5:00pm GMT
֎ Session 2: 3:00pm-5:00pm EDT / 12:00pm-2:00pm PDT / 8:00pm-10:00pm GMT
Sunday, June 21st/ Midsummer
֎ Session 3: 3:00-5:30pm EDT / 12:00pm-2:30pm PDT / 8:00pm-10:30pm GMT
Cost
֎ Base Price (One-Time Payment): $72 + fees
BASE PRICE: PURCHASE HERE
֎ Pay it Forward Option (One-Time Payment): $94 (+fees) Purchase the class and give a little extra to support to our scholarship program!
PAY IT FORWARD OPTION: PURCHASE HERE
All sales are final and there are no refunds.
***PLEASE NOTE: The additional fees can be high, especially for those in Europe. If you want to purchase the course, but are finding the fees prohibitive, please contact Saro at sarosingssongs@gmail.com! ***
Some partial scholarships are available. You can inquire by writing to Saro at sarosingssongs@gmail.com. You can also help make our scholarships possible by making a “Pay it Forward” purchase of the course above.
Learn songs in community that connect you to this holiday's animist lineage of fire, water, divination, & plant magic, and feel the high power of the Summer Solstice!
FAQ
Q: What if I can’t attend live? Will recordings of the classes be provided?
A: Yes, all classes will be recorded and links to the videos will be provided by the end of the weekend.
Q: Will I always have access to the class recordings?
A: Yes. All class recordings and lyrics will be available to students forever. You can learn at your own pace and review material whenever you want.
Q: I took your Singing the Wheel of the Year course- are you going to teach songs I already learned in that course?
A: With the exception of one song, this class contains entirely new material to celebrate this holiday! Think of it as an expansion pack for your Midsummer repertoire!
Q: Will we receive sheet music or chord charts for the songs?
A: In this weekend workshop we will primarily learn songs using sing-and-repeat methods and lyrics. One or two songs may have accompanying notation. For any non-English songs, Saro will also provide audio recordings after the weekend to practice pronunciation. For any songs with layers or harmonies, Saro will provide audio recordings once the weekend is complete. Chord charts are not provided.
Q: What if I think I don’t have a nice voice or that I “can’t sing?”
A: All of us are meant to sing- especially in communal ritual and celebration! All voices are welcome in this class, from the beginner to the seasoned practitioner. However, please note this is not a class on vocal instruction (though we will have warmups) so students should generally feel confident carrying a tune or singing without instrumental backup. Some songs will be easy and quick to learn, but do expect for our non-English songs to be a bit more of a challenge. This class will equip you with the tools needed to continue to get these more challenging songs into your bones over time!
Q: Are there refunds available?
A: There are no refunds available for the course and all sales are final.
Q: Will I have to sing in front of other people?
A: You will not be asked to sing in front of other people. As a student, you will be muted during our sessions, meaning you’ll be able to hear your own voice as well as the voice of the instructor, but no one else will hear you. Students can volunteer to unmute and sing back a line they’re learning, but sharing your voice is not required.
Q: Is this a virtual or in-person course?
A: This is a virtual course, using the Zoom platform.
Ready to Connect to the Song Traditions
of the Summer Solstice?
֎ Base Price (One-Time Payment): $72 + fees
BASE PRICE: PURCHASE HERE