Lughnasadh

By Stephanie Small, Tariel Nimara Ebonwing

Northern Hemisphere: August 1

Southern Hemisphere: February 2

Lammas: August 1. This is the third holiday of the light half of the year. This is the time to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. This is the time of harvest. You should collect and store your seeds for next year. Harvest your herbs and hang them to dry. Burn a symbol of the god or sacrifice your negative emotions. Play games and have fun as you bless your bread and share it with your loved ones. Bless you foods and reflect on what a bountiful year it was and how much you've grown and changed.

Alternative Sabbat Names: First Fruits, Loafmas, Lá Lúnasa, Lughnasa, Lughnasad, Lughnassadh, Lùnasdal, Lùnastal, Calan Awst, Lugunassatis, hlafmæsse, Bilberry Sunday

Seasonal Element: Fire

Seasonal Direction: Southwest

Zodiac Date: Leo 15 degrees

You are now at the hight of summer where the days begin to shorten and the harvest begins to ripen and is getting ready to be collected. There are three harvest festivals the first of which is Lammas. Since Lammas is a lunar sabbat it is sacred to the goddess and it is a Greater Sabbat. Although many goddesses of harvest are sacred at this time, this particular ritual will be honoring her in the form of Goddess Epona. If you prefer a different goddess, you may instead honor Demeter, Diana, Ceres, Eratha, Gaia, Bridget or Bast. Even Christian churches sometimes give blessings on this day. Our group is very eclectic and promotes cross-cultural celebrations. Therefore, we shall also be honoring the Celtic God Lugh as well.

This is is also a time for the God to be honored primarily in his form as Priest-King and the dying-reborn god or lover. Some gods that are honored on this day are Horus and Lugh. The God's fertility provides us great bounty and it is his physical nature that drew in the goddess to create the circle of the wheel. This is the time to honor the fathers of the world as a symbol of the God, like a pagan Father's Day. Resistance and civil order, Government and education,death and healing, these are the situations, subjects and powers that are celebrated at this time. The god, who gives us discipline and responsibility is celebrated as we honor the growth and all the new inventions and ideas we have that make us grow mentally and spiritually into adults. It is also symbolic of our need to accept the responsibility of adulthood and recognize our need to evolve whether we resent it or not.

This event is also symbolic of the God's sacrifice. Whether it is a symbolic sacrifice of life to create or give fertility, or the sacrifice of working constantly to support a family. Lugh was a Celtic Sun God who was betrayed by his wife and killed by her lover. However, he is immortal and is therefore turned into an eagle. His uncle, Gwydion later restored him into his true form. This is a traditional God of dying and rebirth. Lugh was very skilled, so it is popular to do contests and play games to celebrate him. The concept of this sabbat was to sacrifice in order to receive a bountiful harvest. Lugh dedicated the festival to Tailtiu who was his foster-mother who cleared a great forest so people could work the land, then she died of exaustion.

Today sex roles have changed and now women often work as much as men. However, men show their love of their family by giving of their time, money and energy to provide and to keep their family safe. For those whose fathers seemed absent, part of that may be from the separation from the creation of children, specifically in the hospital. It could also be their inability to embrace their own responsibilities because perhaps they do not feel they've been properly honored, or perhaps it is because they have not yet embraced their inner Priest-King. Focusing on what your father did do right, or what the God can do in your life is the forward-thinking, positive view that is best to adopt for this ritual.

Feasting

Since this is a harvest festival, this ritual is to honor the rewards you will receive from the deeds you have done. Part of this is also to be thankful to those who have helped you and sharing your bounty. My family has always believed that feasting is the best way to share and in the medieval times large celebrations were often localized and people would gather their resources for some of the larger celebrations. Because of that, I have included a few foods that would be good to have at your feast. Because many of our coven members are hypoglycemic, we usually conduct our feast, do our ritual then refresh at libations to keep our energy up. Some traditions demand you not eat before rituals, called fasting. However, we are not from a tradition that follows that, and it doesn't make sense to me to fast in celebration of a harvest festival.

The first item you will want is bread. Sharing the bread is part of your sacred ritual and you can use it as your libations portion as we will be doing in this particular ritual. It is best to make your own bread, but if you are like me and you're terrible at it or don't have time, you can purchase frozen bake-it-yourself loaves (usually in the frozen section near the pasta or garlic bread). You can serve it with brie and jam (not traditional, but VERY good), seasonal fruits, cheese or butter.

Rabbit is a traditional food for this time because they were usually trying to get the rabbits away from the food as they harvested it and they didn't want to waste meat. It can be purchased through fine grocery stores or special ordered if necessary. It usually runs between $7-$10 US dollars, but you can also purchase it online if necessary. I think it is best served stewed with potatoes and vegetables in ale. You can also serve it in empanadas (Galician meat pie) or as a paella (Spanish Dish). It is recommended that you soak it in salted water for a few hours first. Seasoning it with some of the herbs of the season like basil or mint. Corn, berries and squash are good side dishes.

For drinks and desserts, get creative with some of the local ripe fruits and drinks. Strong red wine is the traditional way to honor the god and goddess and will be what is used in libations (so you can save it for the ritual). However, for regular drinks, try an ale, cider or local drinks that are featured at your local stores. It is ideal to use this time as an opportunity to make toasts celebrating accomplishments and thanking those who have helped you. For dessert try pies, pastries and cookies made from local, ripe fruits. Gingerbread men, symbolic of Lugh the Sacrificial king and Sun god, are traditional and can be used in place of the bread in your libations if you prefer. If you have children, they also make excellent entertainment by decorating them.

Spell Ideas

Honor the Father (spells or offerings that honor your father or the Priest-King God)

Sacrificing a Poppet (take a poppet symbolic of the god and burn it, throw a sickle at it or remove a piece of straw until it is destroyed, then return the remains back to the land to contribute to bring fertility back to the land)

Forgiveness and Releasing (forgiving your father for wrongs or perceived wrongs, or releasing your own negative emotions surrounding specific situations, feelings or ideas or healing past wounds)

Thanks (Giving thanks to the sacrifices others have made for you)

Activities

Harvesting your Plants

Collecting, Labeling and Storing your seeds and cuttings for the coming year.

Taking your fresh herbs and drying them for future use

Blessing and Sharing your bread or a feast

Blessing your vegetables, grains and fruits

Blessing your dried herbs, especially the ones augmented by the holiday such as goldenrod, heliotrope, hops, rye, wheat or yarrow.

Thinking of what you have accomplished and how you have grown through the year

Games and poetry readings

Horse racing

Community Gathering

Blessings to keep Cailleachan or "Storm Hags" from damaging the crops

music, the arts, performances

handfasting/marriages

make jam or preserves

Decorations

It is great to decorate in the seasonal colors of gold, yellow and orange for the God and red for the goddess. Natural items such as corn, hay, gourds, sunflowers and other harvested foods is a great way to adorn your altar and sacred area. Many of these natural plants are in the seasonal colors which will compliment the ritual. Symbols of the sun and wheat sheaves are excellent additions. Since we will be invoking the assistance of Epona and Lugh, you might have some symbols of their power nearby. Epona can often be symbolized by a mare, horse, woman riding a horse, cornucopia or symbol of Macha, Demeter, Rhiannon or other similar goddess. Lugh can be symbolized by a sun symbol or eagle. Corn and wheat dolls are excellent additions and you can decorate with gingerbread men.

Lughnasadh Ritual

Tools Needed:

Athame (you can use your finger instead)

Besom (Optional)

Altar (decorate it with the above items to help get “into the spirit” of the season and honor Epona and Lugh specifically)

Tools you will need for any personal spells if you perform them on Sabbats

A Stone (the seasonal ones are Adventurine, Citrine, Peridot, Granite, Lodestone, Moss Agate, Rhodchrosite, so choose one that works best for what you are seeking to do)

Supplies Needed:

Candles (in the colors you'll need for your personal spell, altar and an additional white candle)

Supplies for any other spells you will be casting

Something to mark the directions is handy (such as a blue candle in the west, ect), or even a symbol, totem or other item to help you remember which direction is which.

Garb (gold, yellow and orange for males and red for females if you want to be in seasonal theme)

Incense (Rose or Sandalwood)

A list of things that you are thankful for that you have received in the last year (this may take a couple of days to prepare)

Directions:

Begin this Sabbat's ritual by clearing and releasing all the excess energy from yourself. Next, stand in or near the place you first wish to cleanse for your sacred ritual or where your altar has been set up. You may invite any of your Spirit Guides or your higher self to help lead you in this ritual. I like chants to be short, easy to remember and catchy with a bit of the magic in the words. With that in mind, you are welcome to change the wording as you see fit.

First, your priority is the make sure your ritual area is clean of negative influences and promotes a healthy, positive atmosphere for your magical workings.

Start by focusing on cleansing and purifying the area, then say: Epona and Lugh

Behold, I do cleanse this place

Keeping pure this sacred space

I send negativity to the Mare

To recycle for something fair

Visualize cleansing, white shining flames filling the room until it is simply pure, white light filling the area. You can see it as black “dust” and you can see the white light pushing it out of the area, back to the Deity where it can be used for other, more positive purposes.

If you have a besom and you would like to use it in the ritual, you can visualize the white like emanating from the besom and you begin sweeping counterclockwise (tuathail). You sweep out the black “dust” that is tainting your holy space by starting form the inside of your sacred space, then outwards.

As you sweep, you can chant:

This circle I cleanse with this broom

May no evil now enter this room

Next, visualize the white light that has filled the room, filling now with a pure blue light and take your athame and draw a circle around you deocil, starting in the east, or walk the circle if its large.

Draw the circle three times and as you do so, chant:

I do hereby bless this space

Blessed be to Epona's grace

From the mundane I cut away

To enter the realm of Gods and Fae

As you cut yourself form the mundane world and enter into the “magical” world, see the cut of the athame turning into brilliant blue flames and the blue light that was filling the room is now bolstering the blue flames, creating a powerful shield.

Now you call the quarters. You begin by letting brilliant alabaster light fill the circle. Start at the east and raise your athame and say:

Eastern Guardian, Air's eagle

Mind and Intellect so regal

Being of Lugh, I call to thee

Protect this circle from negativity

Visualize a column of light rising up and as this is for the Lammas, you could envision a mighty golden eagle. Eagles are symbolic of the form that Lugh was in before he took his true form. They are regal and powerful protectors with both masculine and feminine aspects. Step to the South, raise your athame and say:

Southern Guardian, Fire's eagle

Passion and action so regal

Being of Lugh, I call to thee

Protect this circle from negativity

And visualize a glorious eagle of flames rising up like a phoenix to join you in the ritual. Step to the West, raise your athame and say

Western Guardian sacred water

Epona's emotional daughter

Being of water, I call to thee

Protect this circle from negativity

Envision a glistening horse, white like sea foam and perhaps with eyes like the cobalt sea, or her legs like a hippocampi's (a mythical creature like a mermaid but the top part is a horse instead). Step to the North, raise your athame and say:

Western Guardian of earth's love

Integrating below and above

Being of water, I call to thee

Protect this circle from negativity

See a fine sorrel mare the red color of dirt, or her back and whithers like a grand mountain, or her mane the grass of the plains....Now, go stand in front of your altar and raise your Athame skyward and say:

Epona and Lugh guiding and full of love

I ask for your protection from above

Since this is a Sabbat of the rebirth of the Sun God, Lugh, that means you will “sacrifice” to pay for the harvest. Decide what you have received are to be honored today. You should make sure you have given what you need to give to make up for what you have received this year. This is a time to reflect on what you have and count your blessings.

To make up for the good things that have happened to you and to spread the joy, decide on a few things that might be done to make up for your good fortune and planning. They don't have to be tied to the boon you received. Some suggestions are:

Reading to children or illiterate people

Teaching a volunteer class

Cleaning or picking up litter

Helping a friend with some chores

Give a donation to a charity

Volunteer for a cause you feel strongly for

Once you have decided on a few ideas, take a piece of paper and inscribe on one side the bounty you have received and on the back record what you would like to do to make up for your boon. If it has been a favorable year, you might want to limit your list to those wonderful things which you feel happened through spiritual means. Try to decide on three major events. As you write these down, think of how wonderful you felt and how thankful you truly are. Do this with all three things.

Make sure you display the vows you have made and recognize that you have dedicated them to the God and Goddess. To promote boons for the upcoming year, ensure you carry out the sacrifice.

Next, you will want to conduct Libations and honor the god and goddess by taking in their gifts of the season. Begin with the bread you made (or cooked, or the gingerbread man). Pick up the bread and focus on it, visualizing the earth and all that went into creating it. See the seed, held by the soft soil of earth, fed by the water, lit by the light of sun and nourished by the air to make it grow. Hold up the bread and Say:

Sacred grain, nourishing to me

We honor you, so, Blessed be

Partake of the bread and as you consume it, visualize it filling you with holy energy. If you are in a circle, take a bite, hand it to the next person clockwise. Say “Blessed Be.” If you are in a group, you will be saying this to the person you hand it to. Pick up the chalice and focus on it, visualizing the earth and all that went into creating it. See the vine (honey, apples or whatever it is made of), held by the soft soil of earth, fed by the water, lit by the light of sun and nourished by the air to make it grow. Hold up the bread and Say:

Sacred liquid, nourishing to me

We honor you, so, Blessed be

When you are done casting your spell, hold aloft the white candle of the full moon and say:

Take these offerings as true and fair

By witness of fire, earth, water and air

Free will to all and harm to none

as I do will, my will be done

Now it is time to thank the guardians of your circle. Begin in the east and raise your Athame:

Elemental of Air, I thank you,

If you are going, I bid adieu,

Stay, if it be your will, and remain