Happy Lughnasadh!

I miss our biweekly meetings. I didn't want another sabbat to go by without doing just a little something with you guys.

(LOO-nuh-saw / LAHM-us)

The first of the three harvest festivals, Lughnasadh is the midway point between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and Fall Equinox (Mabon). It's traditionally celebrated on August 1, even though the true midway point (astronomically) isn't until August 6 (this year). Can you guess why?

It's also directly across the wheel from Imbolc, the last Sabbat we were able to spend together. Let's hope we'll be able to pick up next Imbolc where we left off!

Lughnasadh is the Celtic word for the festival. It's one of the four "fire" festivals (along with Imbolc, Beltane, and Samhain) in the Celtic calendar and celebrates the God Lugh (pronounced like Lou or Lew).

Lugh was a chief God of the Celtic peoples, a renowned young warrior, associated with the sun, agriculture, and sacrifice, among other things. When the Celtic lands were Christianized, the name became Lammas - loaf-mass. There more to THAT story, as I'm sure you can tell.

People celebrate Lughnasadh with a feast (of course) that features grain in the form of bread and beer, and other in-season foods. But mostly it's all about the BEER and BREAD :)

Here's Lugh featured in the Dreams of Gaia Tarot:

This time of year, things are still in full-growth mode, but those first seeds you planted in early spring are ripe and ready for harvest. It's the first time we realize the Dark Half of the year is just around the corner. It's time to take stock of where you are in life.

Think about how far you've come, both as individuals and together. What more do you want to accomplish before it's time to rest again with the Winter?

It's also an opportunity to show thanks and gratitude for the fruits of our labors and for the sacrifice of the Spirit of Grain.

Years ago (2009) I recorded a few episodes of a podcast under the craft name "Corvinnia." This is one I did for Lughnasadh (Lammas). Jump to 19:18 for the relevant part: Lughnasadh Episode

I really hope you enjoy it.