Today is the second day of Lughnasadh for us in the Southern Hemisphere! ✨
🦋 Origin 🦋
Lughnasadh (Loo-Nas-Ah) is the celebration of the First Harvest. It is celebrated in the middle of summer to late summer, between Midsummer and Mabon. 🍁
It is a celebration of seeing what you’ve grown and cultivating it for the winter season.
This tradition came from Irish Celts and named from the Celtic Sun God, Lugh.
Lughnasadh comes from two origins of Lugh’s mythology. One is that Lugh wanted to a festival to honour his foster mother, Tailtiu (Tal-Chi-Uh). She had died clearing the Irish plains to prepare them for agriculture.
The other origin is that it was to celebrate Lugh’s marriage. It’s also a time where couples would make a “temporary marriage” which would be only for a year, until the end of the next years festival.
It is also known as Lammas in the Anglo Saxon tradition. Early Christians would take a loaf of bread to a priest to be blessed on August 1st. This loaf of bread was called loaf mass, which the where Lammas came from.
🍇 Celebration 🍇
Every source says that it was either a celebration of funerals or of marriage, but it’s always a festival of Lugh.
Ways that you can celebrate are:
Baking or buying a loaf of bread to celebrate the grain harvest. 🍞
Eating seasonal fruits / veggies. 🍒🍇
Putting colours of yellow, green, orange into your life or onto your altar. 🌻
Using crystals of red, yellow and orange. Carnelian, amber, citrine, and clear quartz for example. 🍓
Using symbolism of scythes, sunflowers, grain (which could be bread!) on your altar. 🌾
Gathering with friends for a potluck! Celebrate summers abundance and take this moment for rest! 🌼 Lughnasadh themed items include: bread, grains (like quinoa), berries, fruit, wine and beer.
Making corn dollies to hang around the home as an offering for a good first harvest, and asking deity (such as Lugh) for blessings. 🌽
References:
Mabon House. (14th July 2021). The History of Lughnasadh & Lammas.
Fall is a good time to tie up loose ends and let the dust settle. Things that have not yet been dealt with may be making a last hurrah so you can finally focus on the quiet healing the next seasons have to offer.
In the Witches Wheel, this time of year corresponds with a waning crescent moon, and evening as the time of day. These symbols all have the same energy of letting go and resolution. If you are planning spellwork to let something go and happen to miss a waning crescent, you can also use the energy of the evening and fall to assist you.
Gain insight on the year ahead! Starting at the next month I'll pull 12 cards for you with description of the overall theme of the year and Ill also pull a rune for you to give you any warnings, blessings and break throughs
The Year ahead is 40$CND and sent to you by the end of the month. Contact me if interested with your name and zodiac sign 🖤
It is so odd sometimes to realize that we are in a brand-new Turn of the Wheel of the Year. It blows my mind how much smoother the transition from the past Turn to this one is for me internally than the solar New Year has ever been.
Tuning in to these cycles, these naturally occurring flows of energy, was hands-down the best thing I ever did for myself. Not only did it help me smooth out the life around me, it allowed me to begin looking at things from a manifestation perspective. One where I now know when I should act, when I should rest, etc. Tuning into the Universe around me changed my witchcraft practice. Changed how I saw others around me, and changed how I carry myself through this life. Not as a witch in the broom closet with anxiety, but as a witch who knows her worth, her place, and wants to share and connect with others rather than hide away.
How will tuning in to the cycles change your life for the better?
