Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh is just around the corner on August 1st. This Sabbatt is especially meaningful for me as it completes a full turn of the wheel in my journey as a Wiccan. I've come so far and learned so much and am looking forward to continuing my journey with the turn of the wheel for the coming year.

Lughnasadh is the first of three harvest festivals. It is a time to celebrate the fertility of the Earth and the abundance she provides. It is a time to honor the Sun God in all his glory as he starts now to make his decline.

I spent a considerable amount of time putting together my altar. As I took down my Midsummer altar and put things away, I gave thanks for all the blessings that have come during this time. I spent time contemplating each item I placed on my Lughnasadh altar making it a spiritual journey into the meaning of Lughnasadh and what it means to me personally. Listening to my intuition yielded some great additions, like the Vanadinite crystal I've been working with.

I enjoyed taking the time to set up my altar for Lughnasadh and I'm looking forward to celebrating the Sabbatt with fires blazing!

Have a Blessed Lughnasadh!

Lammas . . .

Today is Lammas, or Lughnasadh, the Sabbat where many Wiccans and Pagans choose to celebrate the beginnings of the harvest. This Sabbat is about the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth; the grain god dies, but will be reborn again in the spring. Lammas begins at sunset on July 31st and ends at sunset on August 2nd, although traditionally it is celebrated on August 1st.

Summer is nearing it's end and soon the leaves will begin to change. However, the sun is still bright and the days hot. You can celebrate Lammas by creating an altar using a combination of summer and fall colors; the yellows and oranges and reds of the sun can also represent the turning leaves to come. Add some browns and greens to celebrate the fertility of the earth and the crops being harvested. Cover your altar with cloths that symbolize the changing of the season from summer to harvest time, and use candles in deep, rich colors - reds, burgundies, or other autumn shades are perfect this time of year.

You can also include symbols of the harvest fields on your altar. Sickles and scythes are appropriate, as are baskets. Sheafs of grain, fresh picked fruits and vegetables, a jar of honey, or loaves of bread are perfect for the Lammastide altar. Corn dollies are also a wonderful addition to the alter as are grapes and wine, ears of corn, iron - such as tools or weaponry or armor, fall flowers, such as cornflowers or poppies, straw braids and onion garlands.

A Lammas Ritual
Written by Joanna at Sea Gypsy Magickals

My Gratitude and Blessings upon this day
The Seasons change upon this Spiral Path
Honoring the Bounty of the coming Harvest

At this harvest time
Blessed be Mother Earth
Blessed Be Father Sun
Blessed be this circle of life, death & rebirth

Here I stand, A child of this Earth before you now
Teach & Guide me with your gentle wisdom of light and dark
For there can not be one without the other
Blessed Be the Corn Mother
Blessed be the Grain God
Blessed be the Harvest and bounty of my life.

I honor and respect all living beings, creatures, plants & winged ones
Of this Earth
You and I are One upon this path-as it is, as it always shall be
Blessed be the Mother Ocean
Blessed be the Father Sky
Fire be Flame, The Well be Water
The Mounds be Earth, the Wind be Air
Blessed Be the Harvest
Every seed, every grain is a record of ancient times
May the Ancients Bless me this Lughnassadh
And So It Is.