Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, is Gaelic for “commemoration of Lugh” and is the first harvest of the year. It is often celebrated by the calendar date August 1st or by the moon cycle which will be on August 3rd (Which is a full moon this year). As it was in Celtic tradition, our celebrations involve making loaves in honor of the god Lugh, the Irish solar god of craft and skill, by thanking our sun for the gift of light through the seasons beforehand. We also celebrate mother earth, our own skill, and the fruits of our hard works. Lughnasadh reminds us that we are in partnership with our divine, without that partnership our harvest will not rise.
Lughnasadh is a time of honoring the harvest in both a literal sense and a more internal sense. In the times of our ancestors, a farmers knowledge and skills could very well be the pivoting point between whether a nation thrived or perished. However, in today’s society many of us can no longer relate to that life, and so we turn inward to reflect on what Lughnasadh means to us. We think about our accomplishments in the past year. Some of us have started new careers, started school, have a new home, a new car, or finally went on that dream vacation. Some of us have let go of old relationships and made new ones, or have worked to better their health. Some of us are still working on manifesting our goals. This is a time to look back on our vision boards and ask ourselves, “What have I accomplished? What do I still need to work on? What did I think I needed but really don’t?” or the hardest question sometimes “What next?” It’s up to you.
Something to think about while preparing for your Lughnasadh ritual is prosperity and generosity. While tools and visuals are great, don’t forget that your intentions must be true.
Lughnasadh correspondence includes:
Colors: Orange, yellow, brown, and green
Tools: Sacred loaf of bread, harvested herbs, bonfires, Harvest offerings
Gods: Lugh, Gran, the Green Man, John Barleycorn