New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Lammas is the harvest festival of first fruits and grains. It's a sabbat aligned with gratitude, sweetness, sustenance, and abundance. Today, work with these energies to gain clarity and inspiration with the following tarot spread. First, find the Empress card and place it face up. Now shuffle your deck. Stop whenever you feel like it and cut the deck once or twice. Then take the first four cards off the top of the deck and lay them out face up. Place card one to the left of the Empress and ...
The August long weekend (the first Monday of the month) is called Civic Holiday here in Canada. It's when the annual Kaleidoscope Gathering takes place. In a huge forested campground by a river, hundreds of pagans come together to share learning and tools, perform rituals and trials, and celebrate and feast. Coinciding loosely with Lammas/Lughnasadh, the traditional first harvest celebrations included feasting, competitions, and games, plus stories and song around a bonfire. Have you been ...
The Irish harvest holiday of Lughnasadh, and the Christianized celebration of Lammas in Britain, is a joyful time of gratitude for bounty. For this rite, first verbally thank deities, ancestors, spiritual beings, or the universe itself for all the blessings you've enjoyed this year. Next, anoint a green candle with lavender and rose oil, and light it in a safe holder. Slather thick slices of bread (preferably homemade) with butter, honey, and/or jam, and prepare a platter with seasonal fruits, ...
When the August full moon rises on Lammas, the moon will cast a golden glow upon a lush, bountiful Earth ready for the harvest. This is a time to give thanks. You’ll need a small piece of bread or cornbread. If possible, when the moon rises, go to a place outdoors where you won’t be disturbed. Bring the piece of bread as an offering. Sit on the ground holding your bread. Raise the bread toward the moon and say: Mother Earth and Mother Moon, Summer’s end is coming soon. ...
