Lughnasadh

[kyst]

Lughnasadh

For the sunset on July 31st to the sunset on August 2nd, the first corn harvest, a festival of willing sacrifice, arbitration, contracts and justice.

Animal Stag

Tree Alder

Herbs and incense Cedarwood, cinnamon, fenugreek, ginger, heather, myrtle and sunflower.

Candle colour Golden browns or dark yellows

Crystals Tiger’s eye, fossilised woods, amber, rutilated quartz, or dark yellow and brown stones,

Symbols Use a straw object as your focus, such as a corn dolly, a corn knot or a straw hat, perhaps decorate with poppies or cornflowers, or a container of mixed cereals.

Lughnasadh rituals focus on justice, rights, partnerships (both personal and legal), promotions and career advancements, and the regularising of personal finances. With corn and corn dollies a feature of the time, fertility is also favoured.

Personal Activities 

• Use corn or dried grasses to create corn knots and Corn Mother figures(a featureless head, arms, body and legs) tied with red and blue threads; hang them in the home through the winter to bring protection, and them on the fist Monday after the Twelfth Night or on the Spring Equinox fires.
• If you make a Corn King (also known as John Barleycorn), you can burn him at Lughnasadh; scatter the ashes in your garden or on indoor plants to bring abundance to the home during the winter.
• Make bread with mind on Lunghasadh Eve, a tradition that become associated with the Virgin Mary. As you stir the mix in turn with friend and family, make wishes for abundance and the harvest you wish to reap during the coming months. At dawn crumble the bread to share with friends and family, and leave offerings of crumbs for the wild birds.
• If you feel you have been unjustly treated and cannot put matters right, knot dried grasses, one for each injustice, and cast them on the waters or bury, planting late-flowering seeds or autumn flowers.
• Arrange journeys to see, or write to and telephone, friends and relations, making plans to meet, as this is a time tribes get together before the long winters. 

Source The Modern-Day Druidess by Cassandra Eason

[kyst]

Lughnasadh (Lammas)

On August 1st, it will be Lughnasadh, or simply Lammas. These are the dog days of summer before the Autumnal Equinox. It is the time for reaping what has been sown throughout the past few month and begin to recognize that the bright and warm summer days will be soon coming to an end. 

Originally posted by woodcommalithia

Rituals and Ceremonies

Depending on the path that you follow, there are many ways to celebrate Lammas. Typically the focus is on either the early harvest aspect or the celebration of the Celtic God Lugh. 

Originally posted by archiemcphee

Lammas Customs and Tradition

The Festival of Vulcanalia: In ancient Rome, every August 23rd was the celebration of Vulcan (Volcanus) the God of fire and volcanos. 

Corn Myths and Magic: Corn is a grain that has been part of our diet for some time. It is hardy and a versatile grain, and because of that there have been numerous legends, myths, and folktales surrounding the grain.

The Final Sheaf: Harvesting the finale grain, in many counties, was cause for celebration. They celebrated by making corn dolls, which represented the spirit of the grain. These dolls could be full size, made with the last stalks of corn and decorated with ribbons and articles of clothing. Ivy is a symbol of rebirth, and it wasn’t unusual to put an ivy headdress on the doll.

Originally posted by te-ragyogtatsz

If you are living in the Southern Hemisphere, you are actually celebrating Imbolc. Spring is right around the corner for you guys. So hold on a few more weeks. 

Source:oneofmanypaths