Ushering in the joys of the harvest season is Lammas or Lughnasadh, the first of the Harvest Festivals, marking the first grain reaping. In Ireland, it was considered bad luck to harvest grains before Lughnasadh. Doing so meant that the previous year’s harvest ran out too early and there is a risk that this year’s crop may do the same. Lughnasadh or Lammas is the mid-point celebration between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox and falls on August 1st this year. Some pagans like to extend the celebrations up to a week. Although they share largely the same traditions and significations, the two festivals developed separately, but now are often used interchangeably in some neo-pagan practices.

Lughnasadh’s Celtic Origins

Lughnasadh is specifically an ancient Irish Celtic festival, although Scotland and Wales have similar versions as well. The name means “Commemoration of Lugh”, the Celtic Sun God. Although the festival is named after Lugh, it also celebrates his foster mother, Tailtiu, who introduced agriculture to Ireland. The Lughnasadh festival features the ritual cutting of the first grain harvest. These grains would be used to make the first loaves of bread to be enjoyed with the feast. The Sun is venerated on Lughnasadh: in addition to allowing crops to flourish, the Sun gives humans our vitality, and as such Lughnasadh celebrations include many athletic competitions to showcase the power of the Sun over our spirit.

Christian Roots of Lammas

Lammas literally translates to “loaf mass”. It is the Christianized version of the pagan harvest festivals celebrated around this time, and the holiday incorporated many of the same aspects. On this day, the first loaf made from the first grain harvest would be taken to the local church to be blessed by a priest. Now, Lammas has been reclaimed by many neo-pagan practices like Wicca. 

Keeping with the same theme of the grain harvest, modern pagans bake cakes and bread to be eaten with any feasts in celebration of Lammas. They decorate their altars with symbols of the season, such as scythes, apples, and corn. If performing magical rituals, ingredients might include mint, blackberries, blackberry leaf, and of course, any grain.

Celebrating as Modern Pagans

This festival is about reaping the fruits of seeds we planted in Spring, literally and metaphorically. What projects are you reaping for yourself at the moment? What would you like to come to a close, or possibly start anew? Lammas is the perfect time to reflect on the past year and to begin the process of finishing, closing, and renewing as the witch’s year comes to an end. We can also start preparations for the dark half of the year, whatever that may look like for you. Take stock of your magical tools and ingredients, and store up your spiritual and physical harvest to get you through the barren months. Our Lammas Sabbat Box has the perfect collection of tools to aid you in this process, including an herbal tea blend, ritual oil, and ideas for seasonal rituals and spellcrafting. 

That being said, let’s not forget to celebrate in the last moments of Sunlight. Host a feast with delicious seasonal foods, make offerings to a Sun god of your choice, and decorate your altar and home with the colors and symbols of the season. Our store provides all the tools and supplies you may need for your Lammas celebrations. Join us in celebrating the first harvest festival of the year.

The July Sabbat box is dedicated to Lughnasadh/ Lammas, usually celebrated on August 1 to honor the first harvest of the season. This is the halfway point between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox.

Lughnasadh is the Gaelic name for this celebration and means 'Lugh's Gathering'. Lughnasadh sources from a combination of the Irish god Lugh, wise warrior hero/God of light/sun, and 'nasad' which means 'gathering or assembly'. Lammas is the Anglo-Saxon name for the festival and is a contraction of the phrase 'loaf mass' celebrating the first harvest of grains.

Before the Wheel turns to the darker months, we can take time to appreciate the warmth and sunlight and how they support this season of growth. By celebrating Lammas as a harvest holiday, we honor our ancestors and the hard work they had to do to survive and secure our lineage. 

Colors of the Season

Green for growth, fertility, health, and abundance.

Every shade of sun and harvest, from yellow to gold to deep orange for solar energies, happiness, and communication. 

Plants of the Season

Flowers, fruits, grains, and vegetables represent the fulfillment and potential of the harvest.

All Grains wheat, barley, oats, and rye, all representing both fulfillment and potential.

Meadowsweet, Queen-Of-The-Meadow, Bridewort, and Bride of the Meadow. Sacred herb of the Druids, often worn as a garland for Lammas celebrations and a traditional herb for wedding circlets and bouquets at this time of year.

Mint, another revered herb of the Druids, magical properties are both protective and healing at this time in the year. Also represents abundance and prosperity. 

Traditions and Symbols

Lugh Celtic Sun King and God of Light. Feasting, market fairs, games, and bonfire celebrations were held in honor of his mother Tailtiu with Circle dancing and community gatherings.

Grain Mother, Harvest Mother, Harvest Queen. Demeter, as Corn Mother, represents the ripe corn of the harvest, and Her daughter Kore/Persephone represents the grain - the seed which drops into the earth, is hidden through the winter and reappears in the spring as new growth. 

Suggestions of ways to celebrate.

Going outside to enjoy some sun and green magic. Breathe in the scents of the season with mindfulness of the beginning of the harvest season.

Gather flowers and food from your garden. If you do not have a garden visit one or your local farmer’s market.

Collect seeds for next year.

A traditional Lammas activity is baking bread which can be a fun activity for the entire family. An alternative is to buy a whole loaf from a local bakery. (See Recipe for a simple Irish Soda Bread)

Create an altar with the items in your Sabbat Box.

Use the Lammas oil and anoint each item and then yourself with a dab on your wrists and the middle of your forehead. As you prepare the altar, think about the bounty that fills your life. What are you getting ready to harvest? What have your intentions grown into? How are you preparing to shift into the darkness of the coming months? Do you need to let go of something that just did not make it? Every plant does not survive. Letting go allows you to be fully present in the now and ready to take the next turn of the wheel.

Place a piece of bread and a cup of tea on your altar as an offering. Eat a piece of the bread yourself (add honey and butter if you wish) and wash it down with your tea. Offer your thanks for the abundance of the coming harvest. You may want to handwrite a blessing for continued prosperity and abundance.

When you are ready go outside and give your offering of bread and tea to the woods, garden, balcony, potted plant, or even a safe street corner. Share with the land the harvest it has given to you, thanking the light for the bounty, and welcoming the cooler, shorter days knowing you have abundance in your life. Bury or burn your handwritten blessing. Offer thanks to the gods and goddesses associated with the sabbat or those you work with through your practice.

Have a Happy Lammas! Blessed Be. 

Blessed Bread

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

1 ½ cups buttermilk

Combine flour and baking soda thinking of the harvest, sun, and land as your stir them together.

Gently stir the buttermilk into the mixture until you have a soft and lumpy ball of dough.

Form the dough into about a 6 in circle rounded at the top and about 2” thick in the middle.

Place the loaf on a slightly greased and floured baking sheet.

Take a knife and mark an X into the top of the loaf thinking of the protective forces that sustain the earth and yourself.

 Say a short prayer for blessing using your own words.

Midsummer Magic: Traditions Across Different Cultures

We are fast approaching the Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the year's longest day. Humans have recognized this important day across cultures since our ancient inception. Celebrated under names such as Midsommar, Litha, and Alban Hefin, the Summer solstice unites us in embracing the warmth of the earth and the beauty of sunlight.

Symbolism

Midsummer marks a time of flourishing crops and flowers, a fast-approaching harvest season, and the start of the waning Sun. For some, it is a celebration of the Oak King, who rules over the summer months, before giving over to the Holly King on the Winter solstice. For pagans worldwide, the summer solstice is an important point in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth symbolized by the wheel of the year. Many cultures make a point to watch the sunrise and sunset on the solstice, as with Simmer Dim in Scotland. 

Folk magic and divination are said to be more potent on the Summer solstice, hence many witches plan rituals and spellwork around this time. In Northern and Central Europe, it is believed that sleeping with a bundle of herbs and flowers under your pillow would bring prophetic dreams of love, abundance, and joy. Powerful herbs for solstice spellwork would include St. John’s Wort, vervain, mugwort, and tansy. 

In China, Midsummer is reserved for honoring the feminine ‘yin’ energy and the earth. On this day, women exchange colorful fans and perfumes as gifts. Prayers and offerings are made to ensure a good harvest, and ancestral worship is common on the Summer solstice as well. 

Bonfires & Ancient Monuments

Fire is universally important to Midsummer celebrations. Like those lit on Beltane, the bonfires purify towns and homes and bring abundance and good luck to those participating in Midsummer festivities. In Austria, people light large bonfires just after nightfall all over the mountaintops, making it look like the Alps have been consumed by fire; this tradition dates back to the Middle Ages. Norway, Finland, and Sweden include maypole dancing and fire jumping in their celebrations. For these northern countries, the Summer solstice marks the official end of winter. 

Many neolithic structures across the Northern Hemisphere are tied to the Summer solstice. Stonehenge, for example, is a famous stone circle in England, and at sunrise on the solstice, white-robed Druids perform a ritual when the sun is perfectly aligned with the ‘hele stone’. Similarly, in Central America, a festival is held at the Mayan ruins of Tikal, where temples were built specially to showcase the light of the solstice. Although we don’t know exactly why, the great pyramids of Egypt were built to align perfectly with the Midsummer sunset, and many travel from across the world each year to witness this phenomenon. 

Celebrate At HomeGiven that so many cultures around the world observe the Summer solstice, you feel compelled to start your own traditions and rituals. Midsummer is a great opportunity to harvest magical herbs and flowers while their powers are potent; use them to decorate your home or altar, or prepare them for spellwork. Bringing fire into your practice will emulate the power of the solstice sun and boost any magic performed on this day. If you need more inspiration for Summer solstice rituals, you can find it inside one of our Midsummer Sabbat boxes, complete with a ritual candle, tea, oil, and incense, all handpicked for Midsummer spellwork. You can find our Sabbat boxes and other supplies in our Asheville shop or online store. Join us in celebrating the warmth and abundance of Midsummer this June.

The Wheel of the Year turns this month on the Summer Solstice,  June 20th.

Celebrated on June 20 or 21st this is the longest day, shortest night of the year. Litha or Midsummer is a Celtic holiday celebrating fertility, and fire. The height of the year before the wheel turns towards fall. On this day,  honor the sun and everything it rules over: warmth, light, creativity, fire, action. Bonfires are lit, honey cakes are shared, and love is in the air.

Colors of the Season. Yellow, orange, gold and green

Plants of the Season. Fruits and vegetables that are in season. Oak leaves, flowers associated with the sun, are sunflowers and marigolds or any orange or yellow flower. Other plants associated with the sun are St. John’s Wort, Fennel, Rue, Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Mallows and Ferns. The lore of Midsummer is that herbs gathered at dawn have special magical and medicinal uses.

Litha/Midsummer Symbols. Objects and items that represent the sun. Stones associated with the sun such as citrine and carnelian. You may want to add drawings or artwork representing the sun.

Suggestions for ways to celebrate.

Traditionally people stayed up all night on Midsummer's Eve to welcome and  watch the sunrise. Bonfires were lit to honor the fullness of the Sun . A reflection of the Sun at the peak of its strength. The wood for fires would often be Oak and aromatic herbs were scattered into the fire.

People dance around the fires and leap through them.

Herbs are lit from the bonfire and used to bless the animals.

Blazing torches are carried sunwise around homes and fields.

Coals from the Midsummer fire are gathered and scattered on fields to ensure a good harvest.

Midsummer Ritual

If you can set up a bonfire or fire pit for this ritual wonderful, if not use candles or a heat resistant container to simulate one.

Begin by brewing yourself some of the Midsummer tea. This is a solar holiday so you may want to brew a solar tea by placing the tea blend in a jar with a lid, adding cold water and placing in the sun for several hours. Save a cup for an offering.

While your tea is brewing set up an altar space. You may want to set up your altar outside in a sunny location or indoors by a sunny window. If you plan to stay up and watch the sunrise, set up your altar somewhere you can watch the sun move over the horizon.

When you are ready to begin your ritual go to your altar and anoint candles and any other items you have with Litha oil. Add a pinch of Midsummer herbal tea mix to a muslin bag and holding in your hands let it absorb your troubles, sorrows, illnesses, problems, and pain. Tie it with the red string and place on your altar. Light the candles. Cast a circle using a Midsummer Incense.

You may now want to sing, read a poem, or say a few words that reflect the Sabbat and your personal intentions.

When you are ready pick up your pouch and say something to the effect of,” Now is the time for purification. I allow the sun to burn away the hurtful and the bane”. Light your pouch and when it is burning drop it into the fire or your fireproof vessel. Say something to the effect of “I banish you by the powers of the Sun, I banish you by the powers of Fire.” Watch the bag burn and visualize the thoughts and energies you put into the bag burning away.

Meditation. Close your eyes and visualize your self being filled with the bounties and warmth of the summer season. Allow yourself to connect to and receive messages from the deities, ancestors, and other energies you work with in your practice. When you are ready say something to the effect of “Litha fires, Midsummer night, I thank and honor you. May the sweetness of life and the warmth of the sun fill me. May the bonfires burn bright for all my beloved and friends. Hail Litha, Hail Midsummer night! So, mote it be”.

Extinguishing the candles. You may leave the altar up overnight it you chose. Any objects on the altar may be carried with you or kept on your home altar.

References

Midsummer, MAY 2015 BY LLEWELLYN, DEBORAH BLAKE

Green Witch, Garden Witch, Herbalist, whichever term you choose, people have cultivated plants for their magical properties for thousands of years.

Getting started growing herbs and plants to use in magic does not have to require a lot of time, space, or money.

Tips for Magical Gardening

Many magical plants and herbs will happily grow on a windowsill or small balcony.

Everyday household containers can be repurposed into growing containers. Be sure to add holes in the bottom for drainage.

Growing plants from seeds is less costly than plant starts and offers more varieties. Easy-to-grow seeds include lemon balm, catnip, clary sage, and mugwort.

Growing plants from seed develops a deeper relationship with the plant, which enhances and strengthens the magic you perform when using them in mojo bags , spell bottles, or infused into tea.

Before planting your seeds charge them by holding in the palm of your hands and telling them the magical intention for their use.

Plant the seeds in the shape of a sigil or symbol related to their magical use. Mugwort seeds in the shape of a moon for dream recall, Clary Sage in the shape of an eye for clear vision to heighten divination and channeling.

Water your plants with moon water.

Press flowers and leaves from your plants to add to your Book of Shadows.

Harvest seeds from your plant to grow next year.

Invite the energy of magical plants into your life by growing them in or around your home. You are casting a spell with long lasting effects.

 The month of May begins with the ancient fire festival, Beltane. This Celtic celebration marks the transition from Spring to Summer, encapsulating the rebirth and fertility of the earth. Though this festival can be traced back thousands of years, many traditions remain unchanged today.

The Celtic Origins of Beltane

Beltane is one of four Celtic fire festivals, and the name translates to “the fires of Bel”.

The festival is dedicated to the ancient Celtic god Belenus or Bel, a sun god and a healer.

In central and northern Europe, the festival is known as May Day, but many of the traditions and significations are the same. Some pagans celebrate Beltane on or around May 1st, while others look for the blooms of the May tree, or Hawthorn,  as their sign that Beltane has arrived. For many, the celebrations can last up to a week. 

The mythology surrounding Beltane is the marriage of the May Queen and the Green Man, signifying the start of the fertile season. Most cultures have some version of this story: a God and Goddess are joined together in marriage to welcome the warm growing season. Thus, fertility, sex, and sensuality are core themes of the festival, and matchmaking and marriages were common activities during Beltane. 

Fire is the most important element of Beltane. It represents passion and fertility and also serves as a means of purification. Farmers would have their livestock run between two bonfires to cleanse the livestock and ensure fertility. The same was done for individuals as well as couples, who would jump over the fires to receive the same benefits.  Another well-known Beltane ritual is dancing around a maypole or may tree with ribbons attached at the center. Communities would come together to perform these rituals alongside lavish feasts with plenty of music and dancing. At the end of the night, families would take home a flame from the Beltane bonfire and light their hearths at home.

Beltane in Modern Practice

Beltane continues to be a part of pagan traditions across the world. Beltane is one of the eight Wiccan sabbats and special rituals are performed at this time of year. Cities throughout Europe still hold public festivals for Beltane or May Day, one of the largest festivals being in Edinburgh, Scotland. Many of the ancient rituals are still performed in modern celebrations. 

Fire remains the central theme of this festival, so be sure to include this element in your rituals. Bonfires are best, but you can also light a hearth fire or use candles in your practice. Many choose to spend this day with a lover or connecting with their own sexuality. You can smoke cleanse yourself and your home as they did with the Beltane bonfires in ancient days. You may choose to spend the day in your garden, preparing for the hot and fertile summer months. Making a flower crown out of foraged flowers is another Beltane activity, and can be done as a solo practitioner or as part of a group ritual. 

Beltane is a celebration of the earth's life force, so naturally, we want to indulge and enjoy ourselves. Wear your best clothes, listen to your favorite music, and eat your favorite foods. Honor the life force inside and around you. Some foods to include in your feasts and offerings would be honey, almonds, and figs. Herbs to use in your spellcraft would include mugwort, daisy, and woodruff. In addition, the acorn is a significant symbol for Beltane and a good ingredient for any witchcraft practiced around this time. 

However you choose to celebrate Beltane, you can find all the supplies you need in our store. If you’re not sure where to begin, try our Beltane Sabbat Box, which includes a seasonal tea, incense, and other tools for your Beltane rituals. You can visit us online or in our brick-and-mortar store in Asheville.