Dear Reader:
I hope you find yourself in good health. Time keeps moving forward, and we find ourselves on the first day of the month and the first Harvest! This is Lammas. The day to harvest the fruit of our physical or spiritual labor. Needless to say, our modern celebration varies significantly from ancient times. Back then, the life cycle was lived by the seasonal turn of the wheel. The relationship between people and the Earth was a more straightforward affair than what it is nowadays. Produce had to be planted, and animals were vital as they were another food source. Long winters were a harsh reality, and the necessity to harvest and put away food for contingencies was an essential part of most families. Therefore, it is not surprising that most harvesting their hard labor would celebrate the waning of the summer season and the new season that was fast approaching.
Perhaps not a celebration represented by the media, with bonfires and dancing. We will never really know. But a celebration that what was planted was successful.
Lammas/Lughnasadh
Monday, August 1st., 2022
Moon in Virgo. 1st quarter.
The Sun has peaked, and it is time for the first Harvest. If you planted vegetables or fruits in your garden or potted balcony, this is the time to harvest all that has grown during the summer.
The season is winding down, and even if we did not physically plant something, there might be goals and projects that we worked on and nurtured in hopes of seeing a manifestation of personal efforts.
Perhaps it’s time to reap the benefits of what we worked on and find out if they have “grown” and produced the desired outcome.
To celebrate Lammas is traditional to bake cornbread. But if the heat is too much to even consider baking, it can be bought at the store. In addition, Berry Pies, another traditional Lammas food, can be baked or bought.
Corn dollies can be prepared not just for today but for the rest of the month and the coming Autumn season. A corn dolly represents the goddess of the grain and the symbolism of a good harvest. In the present day, they can be placed in the kitchen or the dining room to invite abundance into the home.
If you want to burn candles either today or on the Lammas cross-quarter day – Saturday, August 6th, 2nd quarter, the colors that match the season are: golden yellow, green, light brown, and orange.
Incense: Sandalwood, rose.
Gemstones: Aventurine, citrine, peridot
Herbs: Frankincense, myrtle, fenugreek
Flowers: Sunflower, acacia flower, heather, cyclamen, oak leaves.
And let’s not forget water, the bringer of life for the Harvest. Water magick can be performed by taking a spiritual bath to attract blessings and luck.
The above are only a few ideas. Your inspiration and creativity will make this Harvest as abundant as you wish.
May your Harvest be abundant!
Until I write again,
*M*
“This is the year of sowing seeds; plant intentionally, plant value, plant what you, yourself, would want to harvest.”
― Sanita Belgrave
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/harvest?page=2
Witch's Gazette 