Lughnasadh/ Lammas August 1st The first Harvest of Grain, Celebrating Abundance

Transcription

1 Lughnasadh/ Lammas August 1st The first Harvest of Grain, Celebrating Abundance It is high summer, and the sun in in full blast in many parts of the world, the crops are coming into fruition which is clear by the ripening that can be seen everywhere. Traditionally the fields would be blessed on this day, and offerings would be given to ensure that the crops would continue to ripen. It was also an auspicious to be to be handfasted in the traditional year and a day, meaning that if after that time the couple wished to part ways they could, or they could continue on if they chose to. it was a sort of a trial marriage if you will. Lughnasadh is known as the feast of bread and this time of year marks the very beginning of the harvest season, which has always been a time of community and family gatherings, weddings and general feasting on all the bounty high summer has to offer. The word Lammas literally means "Loaf-mass" referring to the harvesting of the first wheat and making of bread, which is a traditional thing to do at this time of year. Whereas the word Lughnasadh, pronounced Loo-na-sah, refers to the sun god or solar deity Lugh, pronounced Loo. "Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the noticeable descent of the Sun into the darkness of winter. From the connection between the Earth (female principle) and the Sun (male principle), the marriage of the Sky Father (Sun God) with the Earth Mother we celebrated at Bealtaine, emerge the fruits of the first harvest of the year. Lughnasadh is a time of joy about the first fruits. It is also a time of tension, because the dark days of winter are coming nearer, and most of the harvest is not brought in and stored away yet." ~ 1 ~

2 The Traditional celebration of Lughnasadh always includes the ritual cutting of the first grain, and then the breaking of the first bread, sharing and feasting and sometimes a fire and dancing after. Grain is always at the heart of any Lammas celebration, as it celebrates both the harvest and the sacrifices we make each year, as well as the sacrifice of mama earth as she continues to hold and nourish us with her body. Symbols of the season are wheat of course and bread, sickles and scythes, ivy and grapes and corn, flowers, dried grains, and early autumn foods like apples and sweet potatoes. The Puck Fair is a three-day affair held each year in early August in Ireland, it dates back as far the 16th century, and is believed to be a survivor of a Lughnasadh celebrations. At the beginning of the festival a wild goat is brought into the town and crowned 'king', and a local girl is crowned 'queen'. There is lots of traditional music and dancing, a parade, arts and crafts workshops, a horse and cattle fair, and a market, storytelling and so on making it a big tourist draw each year. During this time lots of protection magic was practised where by horses and cattle were driven into rivers as a means of purification, as water sources are considered to be sacred by the Irish. The first fruits of the harvest also play a big part in the celebrations are were traditionally offered to the divine spirits of the fields or ceremonially eaten. Pot lucks and large feat like gatherings were traditional along with fertility rites such as dancing and hanging long garlands of fertile flowers everywhere! One custom was to take a loaf of hallowed {sacred} bread with a symbol of the cross on top and break it into four pieces which were then crumbled into the four corners of the barn as a magical protection charm intended to invite blessings and feed any fae that might be up to mischief. A Harvest Ritual: This ritual is a very common pagan one and was adapted by me. Also the readings here were not written by me, and sadly I was also unable to find their source, so I am assuming like much earth based rituals they common pieces used over and over again and shared around in the old ways of oral stories and sharing... ~ 2 ~

3 What you will need: A handful of wheat berries, corn or wheat stalks if you can find them. A loaf of handmade bread, preferably one with whole grains and seeds. Either an indoor or outdoor alter or shrine dedicated to this ceremony. Hold the wheat or corn in your hands and think about what they symbolize: the power of fertility and earth, the fact that they have been harvested means that the coming of winter will soon be upon us, and the need to plan ahead for this. Ask yourself: What do I need to prepare for myself and my family right now? Are there things that need letting go of before I enter into this next season? What have I reaped/learned from this current season, that I wish to carry forward? The Wheel of the Year has turned once more, and the harvest will soon be upon us. We have food on our tables, and the soil is fertile. Nature's bounty, the gift of the earth, gives us reasons to be thankful. Mother of the Harvest, bless us with abundance and plenty. Rub the stalks or berries between your fingers so a few grains of wheat fall upon your altar or if you are outside allow a few to fall on the ground as a gift to the earth and say: The power of the Harvest is within me. As the seed falls to the earth and is reborn each year, I too grow as the seasons change. As the grain takes root in the fertile soil, I too will find my roots and develop. As the smallest seed blooms into a mighty stalk, I too will bloom where I landed. As the wheat is harvested and saved for winter, I too will set aside that which I can use later. Now tear off a piece of the delicious bread you brought and as you pass it around the circle say: I pass to you this gift of the first harvest. Once everyone has a piece of bread, say: Blessings to us all, may we always have food to eat and sweet water or wine to drink! If you have sweet water or mead or wine or something delicious to wash ~ 3 ~

4 the bread down allow each person to speak a blessing to the season or each other--savouring the bread and drink... Once everyone has finished their small feast of bread and wine/water etc... Ask everyone to take a moment to really feel the blessings that they earth has bestowed upon us at this time. Speak or meditate on the deep gratitude you feel for the friends and family in your life Think about the cycle of life, death and rebirth and how it applies to your own life - physically, emotionally, spiritually, and how these seasons have changed you, moved you and taught you new things... Once you feel done you may choose to write these blessings o a piece of paper to place on your altar, or simply hold them in your heart. Once you are done celebrate! Either light a fire if outside or sit down to a grand feast, or perhaps play some music and dance--whatever moves you in your heart! Months ago, we planted seeds, and through the summer watched them grow. We have tended the fields in our lives, and now we are blessed with abundance. The harvest has arrived! Thank you, goddess of the harvest, For the gifts yet to come. We eat this bread, grain transformed by fire, in your name, and honor you for your sacrifice. Foods of the Season: Magical Strawberries: Strawberries show up in European folk lore as the fertility-inducing, love prone fruit beloved of goddesses such as Venus and Aphrodite., and one can see why, as the image of someone feeding their beloved a chocolate dipped strawberry is one of the most well known and popular images used to invoke a feeling of love and sexuality today. In face most if not all ~ 4 ~

5 honeymoon suites have strawberries and champagne in them for this reason! Strawberry is a member of the Rosaceae family, also known as the Rose family, known for their love-inducing properties and I owuld venture to say that red roses would also be found in most honeymoon suites as well! In many Bavarian folk traditions, strawberries were gathered and hung in baskets on the horns of cattle to pay the local nature spirits in trade for healthy calves and cows to produce an abundance of milk. It was also said that if a pregnant woman carried strawberry leaves in her pocket they would relieve the pains of pregnancy and this not far off, especially if she also adds the leaves from a raspberry bush to her tea! One of the most interesting thing about strawberries is that they reproduce through sending out runners from the mother plant, which gives of herself until all of her young plants are well established. She is also capable of sustaining those young plants, too, should the ground be immediately unsuitable for growth. Strawberries emerge early in spring and then proceed to both blossom and fruit at the very beginning of the season as she shuck's off her winter s sleep in exchange for early spring s fertile rush in return for the love of the sun's warmth. Interestingly enough strawberry seeds grow on the outside of the fruit and can germinate even when soil isn t present proving the versatility and strength of the simple strawberry plant. The best kind of strawberries are the small wild ones that tend to concentrate their energy and healing properties more intensely in small fruits rather than their cultivated cousins who are large but do not have nearly as much flavour and healing properties. We can take a lesson form the simple strawberry here, as she shows us a simple and yet powerful way to be in the world. In Astrology, strawberry is considered a feminine plant and is governed by Venus. Strawberry s element is water. Image by Lavender and Lovage Elder Flower and Strawberry Cordial: Recipe by Lavender and Lovage The magical combination of fragrant elderflowers and fresh strawberries make this cordial/syrup extra special. Serve with sparkling water, soda water ~ 5 ~

6 or lemonade, or for a very special occasion, serve with champagne for a champagne cocktail which is bound to wow any party or large gathering! Directions Step 1 Place 20 to 25 elderflower (heads) shaken free of insects and 2 large lemons that have been sliced in to a large container, preferably one that has a lid. Step 2 Add 1.5kg of caster sugar and 50g of tartaric or citric acid, then pour 2 litres of boiling water over the elderflower and sugar mixture and stir. Step 3 Allow to cool slightly before adding 450g of hulled and halved strawberries and give it all a good mix. Press the strawberries against the sides of the container to squash them slightly, then cover and place in a cool, dark place for 3 days, (72 hours) stirring at least twice a day. Step 4 When you are ready to bottle the cordial/syrup, strain the mixture in batches through muslin and a sieve and then pour into clean (sterilised) bottles. Seal and store in a cool, dark place for up to a year. Blessed corn Bread: This bread is most fun when made in a corn shaped cast iron pan, but also easy in a simple square pan. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Mix: 1 cup flour 1/2 cup corn meal 1/4 cup of sugar 3/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 eggs 1 cup milk 1/4 cup shortening Sift dry ingredients together, add eggs, milk, and shortening, and beat until smooth. Pour into molds and bake for minutes. ~ 6 ~

7 Bake a pie or cake to share: If you have a neighbor that you have been meaning to connect with or perhaps you noticed might be lonely, or perhaps they raked your leaves for you one day or otherwise helped you out in some way, now is a great time to pass on that generosity and good will. Working with the idea of abundance begin baking a cake or pie using ingredients that are in season and you can find lots of such as a berry pie or crumble and pour all of the love, joy and friendship into the creation of it. Once it is done take it to someone who could really use a pick me up and give it to them telling them that this is the season for giving and sharing the abundance of nature. Harvest Corn Divination: Harvest celebrations the world over often revere the corn as a symbol of abundance, especially in Canada, Mexico and the United States, where corn has a long history of wonderful folk stories and traditions behind it. This divination technique can be done in two different ways although the second way I am going to speak about hails specifically from Mexico. Begin with a cob of dried corn, I love the painted corn that comes out at harvest time, usually found in farmers markets and local farm shops. Shuck the corn into a small bowl and reserve about kernels for your divination work. Begin with a question for which you would like a simple answer to, a yes or no answer. Once you have your question and corn kernels in begin by grabbing a small handful--however many you can pick up with your fingers. Taking your handful place them on the table beside the bowl {you no longer need the bowl or the remaining kernels} ~ 7 ~

8 Working with the handful of kernels you originally picked up, begin making piles of four. Once you have used all of the kernels up place any remaining kernels that do not fit into piles to the side. Reading your divination: Now count your piles, if you have an even number of piles and an even number of left over kernels, the answer to your question is yes. if you have an odd number of piles and odd left over kernels the answer is no. If you have an even number of piles and an odd number of kernels, or vice versa, the answer is not so clear and will require further forming, or a deeper exploration of the question. The second way to divine using Corn hails from Mexico and is more often used when looking at the body. What you will need is a bowl of clear water, a small piece of cheese cloth or thin fabric and a handful of corn kernels. Take a small handful of corn kernels and place them into a small piece of cheesecloth and place the kernels inside of it. Now taking a bowl os clear water begin to swish the loosely tied cloth back and forth int he water. When you feel this is done gently pull the cloth out and open it laying it flat on the table. How to read the divination: What you are looking for here are any bunches of kernels that are all together, as this is a sign that there is a bunching or blocking on that area of the body, so it is important before you begin to decide what end of the bowl is the head and feet arms legs etc... This should never take the place of medical advice, but it may help to see if someone needs to pay special attention to a specific part of their body. ~ 8 ~

9 Getting Crafty: Make Beeswax Candles, Make a Sun Cake, Tie a Corn Dolly, Go Berry picking, Play with Wheat, Make a Wreath, Bake Bread and Share with Friends, Make offerings to your Shrine, Go outside and Forage for wild Edibles, Turn Bread into a Goddess, Smudge your Home, Make berry Jam, Make a Sun Wheel, Make a Seed Mandala, Have a big Corn and the Cob Feast, Toast the season with a cup of Pale Ale and offer some to mama earth in thanks, Make smudge wands with lavender, sage and dried rose petals, Make Rose Jam, Harvest seeds for next year, Make a crystal Sun Catcher, Weave a Giant Sun, or make a Sun shaped Corn Wreath... Lammas Blessings of the Season to you! ~ 9 ~