The HeatherMyst

Important Announcement

The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More

Lughnasadh Rituals Here you will find Rituals to help prepare for Lughnasadh

Harvesting ritual:

Discard fears and Pronounce what you wish to harvest in the upcoming year.

Write your fears on a piece of parchment paper. Fold it 3 times then toss it into the Cauldron fire. As it burns say something like:

All that is dark that hinders my dreams
Is now cast away by the light of these flames

Remove these defects from my sight
And fill that space with love and white light

So mote it be

Next, write down on a piece of parchment what you wish to harvest in the upcoming year. Fold it 3 times. Holding the paper in your palms (face up) over your altar say something like:

Mother Goddess, hear my plea
Grant me wisdom that I may see

The path I must follow to manifest my desires
And the courage to implement what that requires

So mote it be

Place the paper in the center of your altar between 1 yellow and 1 orange candle. Leave it there until the candles burn out. When the candles are extinguished, put the paper in your Book of Shadows or a safe place. Look at it again at next year's Lughnasadh celebration. If everything has manifested, thank the Goddess and tear up the paper and discard it. If one or more things on the list are still a 'work-in-progress' copy those things onto your new list for that year. If nothing on the list has manifested, you may want to add something like "grounding, centering, and visualization technique improvement" to your list of things to harvest in the upcoming year.

KITCHEN RITUALS

Bounty ritual:

Thank the Mother for Her bountiful gifts by blessing the fruits, vegetables, herbs,
and grain staples (flour, cornmeal, oatmeal, etc.) in your kitchen.

Light 2 candles; 1 orange and 1 yellow. Line your items up on the altar or counter between the candles, place your hands over them, and say something like:

Thank you Mother Goddess, for these bountiful gifts
That nourish our bodies and helps us to live

Bless these grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs
That they may sustain us, and our hunger be curbed

As we consume these gifts of the Earth
Let Your blessings flow and give our souls mirth

So mote it be

A Lughnasadh Ritual of Sharing

To prepare, set out symbols for each element, such as: a feather and incense for Air, a red candle for Fire, a seashell or bowl full of water for Water, a rock or a flower for Earth. In astrology, Air and Fire are considered of the masculine polarity; Water and Earth are of the feminine polarity. For the purposes of this ritual and for balance, we'll use the polarities to call upon both God and Goddess within.

Center yourself and create sacred space in your usual way. If you are using incense, light it, and light the red candle.

Hold the censer and feather in your hands and focus, saying: "God is within me and I hold the Air, mighty power of thought in my hands and in my mind. What will I do to direct that power and share it with my world?" Pause for a moment to listen for an inner message and then form your answer. Use the feather to direct the incense smoke as you walk around your circle and speak of what you will you to use and share your gifts of Air: rational thought, learning, communication...

Hold the lighted red candle and focus, saying: "God is within me and I hold the Fire, mighty power of spirit and inspiration in my hands and in my heart. What will I do to rouse that power and share it with my world?" Again, pause for a moment to listen for an inner message, and the carry the candle around your circle as you speak of what you will do to share your gifts of fire: energy, inspiration, courage, initiative...

Hold the container of water and focus, saying: "Goddess is within me and I hold the Water, mighty power of feeling in my hands and in my soul. How may I share this flow?" Pause for a moment to listen for an inner answer and then carry the water around your circle, sprinkling it with your fingers as you go, and speak of what you will do to share your gifts of water: intuition, compassion, sensitivity...

Hold the symbols of Earth in your hands and focus, saying: "Goddess is within me and I hold the Earth, her body, in my hands. How can I share my gifts of Earth? (Or, how can I protect and heal my world?)" Pause for a moment to listen for an inner answer and then carry the stone or flower around your circle as you speak of what you can do to share your gifts of Earth: responsibility, persistence, strength, practical manifestation...

Resolve that you will take steps to carry out the promises you have made within this rite.

Lughnasadh Rituals

Founded by Lugh, in honor of the passing of his mother Taillte, the holiday Lughnasadh came to be the first of the summer harvest festivals. The first fruits of summer and fresh grains are ready for picking at this time of year and the summer days are still quite long and warm. However, this marks the beginning of the waning of the year, with fall arriving shortly with Mabon.

One figure found at a variety of harvest festivals was the corn dolly. Alternately spelled as “corn dollie,�?this icon is a figure woven from either braided straw or sheaves harvested from the corn fields. A related icon called a “kern baby�?is a figure made from the cob of the corn. These figures were dressed or adorned to resembled women, and viewed as an embodiment of the spirit of the harvest or a representation of the Goddess. It was considered necessary to safeguard this fertile spark over the winter to ensure continued and bountiful harvests. In some cultures, all the farmers would gather in the fields and cut the very last sheaf standing from all the fields as a communal group. The belief was the Corn Spirit would retreat to the last sheaves as the harvest happened.

At Lughnasadh, the last sheaves harvested in the fields are woven into a corn dollie, The Corn Mother. This doll is kept in a closed box until Candlemas. Reborn as the Corn Maiden, the dollie is dressed in white and displayed as Brighid the Bride for this holiday. Sometimes the corn dolly would then be plowed into the fields during these first preparations and other times this wouldn’t happen until Beltane.

Simultaneously this holiday honors the fullness and abundance of summer alongside the coming waning of days and preparations for the coming winter. Cattle and other farm animals were often walked through the last coals of the Lammas bonfires as a blessing. Other ways you can honor the Lughnasadh holiday are

Sacrifice bad habits and unwanted things from your life by throwing symbols of them into the sabbat fire. Prayer scrolls can contain written descriptions of offerings, or they can be doodled or drawn representations. They can be symbols or words, whatever is a more powerful association for you.
Freshly harvested grains and berries are the foods most associated with this holiday. Blueberries were the fruit often picked as an indicator of the coming harvest so you may wish to include some of them in your meal or on your altar. Bread can be baked in the shape of a man or the sun for further Sun God correspondence.
Take time to harvest fruits from your garden with your family. If you don’t have a garden, try visiting a pick-your-own farm in your area. Urban pagans can also consider having bowls of organic grains on an altar as an alternative for garden harvests. You might also want to share the bounty of your harvest by making a food donation to a charitable group.
Your altar can be accented for Lammas with fresh vegetables or fruits, grains, berries, corn dollies, and bread. Appropriate colors are orange, gold, yellow, red and bronze.

Lammas Ritual

by Lady Bridget and Lady Therese 1997

Cast the circle in your usual manner, and do ablutions. (Bless and consecrate all participants.)

HPS: As the wheel turns yet another notch, we gather with those we love to celebrate the first harvest. We celebrate the Corn Mother and the God of the Grain. This is a time of abundance and a time we will reap what we have sown.

(call in the watchtowers)

East - Water

All Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, the powers of water. The rivers and streams that nourished the harvest, fed our emotions, and helped to ripen all that we are about to reap. Let us drink deeply of the honesty of our friendships. We, the Children of the Harvest invite you to join our Sabbat. So Mote It Be.

South - Air

All hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, the powers of air. The gentle breezes that make the fields dance, as well as the thunderous hurricanes that energize the atmosphere, and us! Inspire us to reap the benefits of all that we have sown in our lives. We the children of the Harvest invite you to join in our Sabbat. So Mote It Be.

West - Fire

All Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, the powers of fire. The warmth and strength of the summer sun brings forth the abundance of this sultry season. Give us the courage to take that which we have wanted and fought for in our lives. We the Children of the Harvest invite you to join in our Sabbat. So Mote It Be.

North - Earth

All Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, the powers of earth. cornerstone of all elements, sand and granite, quartz and crystal, from the fertile fields to the cool wood lands, bring us your steadfast power. We the children of the Harvest invite you to join in our Sabbat. So Mote It Be.

(light the Perfect Love and Perfect Trust candles on the altar - red & blue)

(invite the Lord and Lady to join us)

HPS: Our Lady of Lammas, you provide us with seed for sowing, you reward us with fields for reaping. Bring forth upon the labored land sprouted legions of the staff of life. Grain giving Goddess, Mother of all Harvests, we rejoice before you for these first fruits of the fields. The baked bounty of freshly made bread, and hops laden ale of August. May your intuitive wisdom be with us. Let your love now flow through this your Priestess and throughout this circle. Come and bless your hidden children of the Harvest. Blessed Be.

HP: Mighty Lord of Day, now going into the dying corn, this is your wake, Lugh the Sun King. You have reached your consummation of power at Solstice and now you go into the corn and grain. Your energy is poured forth into the body of Mother Earth whose fruitful bounty will nourish our lives. We call you forth in our need for your brilliance, strength, and vitality, for you are the vital half of the life force which brings completeness. May we carry your brightness always within. Let that energy now flow through this your Priest and throughout this circle. Come and bless your hidden children of the Harvest. Blessed Be.

(High Priestess speaks to those present)

HPS: This is the time of the first Harvest, but before we bring in the new, it is always a good idea to clean house, so to speak, and throw out the old to make room for the new. As in all things, the Sun teaches us that for each new life a thing must die, so now we look inside ourselves at this time and see what there is that we may have sown that was unintentional. See what is there that you perhaps would rather NOT have reaped this Harvest. We will pass around parchment paper and pencils, for you to write down whatever you wish to purge before reaping in the new harvest. Keep your words few, as the Gods, and yourselves know what it is you mean.

(pass around paper and pencils to everyone, spend a few minutes thinking)

(when all are done, light a fire in the cauldron to burn the papers in, symbolizing that what we don't want will be transformed. Dance widdershins about the circle, and chant an appropriate chant for getting rid of unwanted things. When papers have been energized, have each thrown into the cauldron.)

(Now on to the blessing of the corn necklaces.)

HPS: The corn necklace is worn to celebrate the grain harvest. This is a link between you and the spirit of the grain. We will imbue these necklaces with the energy of the Lammas Sabbat by dancing and singing. Afterwards, when you return home, these can be left to dry for a few weeks. You can ritually burn them next Lammas, or preserve them.

(all dance deosil now, chanting and singing. Some suggestions are "Corn and Grain" chant, or "Summer Born King" **)*

(when all are done and the energy has slowed down, have all join hands, do this to a slow drum-beat)

ALL: We join with the earth and with each other.

HPS: To bring new life to the land
To restore the waters
To refresh the air

ALL: We join with the earth and with each other.

HP: To renew the forests
To care for the plants
To protect the creatures

ALL: We join with the earth and with each other

HPS: To celebrate the seas
To rejoice in the sunlight
To sing the song of the stars

ALL: We join with the earth and with each other

HP: To recreate the human community
To promote justice and peace
To cherish our children

ALL: We join with the earth and with each other

HPS: We join together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery:
For the healing of the earth
And the renewal of all life.

ALL: SO MOTE IT BE ***

(at this time it is appropriate to do the Great Rite or Cakes and Wine)

HP: As Lord of the Harvest, I tell you that all phases of the cycle, each turn of the wheel is necessary and vital to life. Lammas brings the lesson of sharing. Having reached the fulfillment of any goal, what then will come? Having reached the top of the mountain can you climb still higher? Surely you know that the only constant in life is change. Doubt not and fear not, be not anxious for the future, but live fully in the Now. You have been given much. The harvest is abundant. What shall you share with your brothers and sisters, and with the God and Goddess? Share with your friends in this sacred space what you have successfully harvested this abundant season.

(go around the circle and have each person mention something that they have reaped this harvest that they are happy about and thankful for.)

(Thank the Lord and Lady for coming.)

HPS: Eternal Mother, Lady of Earth and Moon, thank you for this special awareness we have received from your intuitive wisdom within. Thank you for blessing us, your hidden children. Blessed Be.

HP: Eternal Father, Mighty Lord of Day, thank you for illuminating this our sacred space and for your vital energy within. Through you we can now understand the true nature of sacrifice. Thank you for blessing your hidden children. Blessed Be.

(dismissing watchtowers)

East - Water

Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the East, the powers of water. Leave us with gentle rains that nourish the Earth and ourselves. We bid Thee Hail and Farewell, and as ye depart to your mighty realms, harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

South - Air

Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the South, the powers of air. Leave us with your tender touch, a kiss of breeze upon our faces. We bid Thee Hail and Farewell, and as ye depart to your mighty realms, harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

West - Fire

Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the West, the powers of fire. Leave us with the warmth of good friendship, and the spark of true love. We bid Thee Hail and Farewell, and as ye depart to your mighty realms, harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

North - Earth

Hail to Thee, Guardian of the Watchtower of the North, the powers of earth. Leave us with the commitment to renew and restore our lovely Earth. We bid Thee Hail and Farewell, and as ye depart to your mighty realms, harm ye none on your way. So Mote It Be.

(close circle)

The Crossroads Lughnasadh Ritual

The friends of the Crossroads gather in a circle in the hay field - they have come together in peace and harmony and in the spirit of love and friendship…young and old, male and female, black and white, deaf and hearing…from all different backgrounds and from all different paths. They come to celebrate this day, to give thanks to the deities, and to pray for continued abundance in their own lives.

The Lughnasadh altar has been decorated with fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and flowers in honor of this Sabbat of the First Harvest. Candles are lit at each of the four elemental points - yellow for Air at the East, red for Fire at the South, blue for Water at the West, and green for Earth at the North.

Ocean stands in front of the altar, and using American Sign Language while speaking at the same time, she begins the ritual:

“We have come together in this field to celebrate the Sabbat of Lughnasadh. On this day we give thanks to the Lady and the Lord for their blessings at the first harvest. We wish to give thanks for the bounty of the fertile earth, and to feel ourselves a part of the never-ending Wheel of Life. Let us come forward now, and make our offerings.�?

One by one, friends of The Crossroads step forward to the altar, stating their offerings, and leaving their gifts of baked goods and delicious dishes to honor the Goddess and the God.

Once the offerings are finished, the drummers take their places near the altar, and pick up their instruments. Together they begin to play, and the rhythm of the beat can be heard and felt by all in the circle.

Ocean moves around the circle, swaying and dancing in accompaniment to the music. Suddenly she grabs Wolf Wind’s hand, and pulls him into the circle to join her in the dance. Wolf in turn pulls Crystal Dolphin in behind him and the three of them continue around the circle, holding hands and dancing to the beat of the drums. Crystal pulls Gobae into the circle behind her, and Gobae pulls Birch in. On it goes, each Crossroads participant pulling another individual in, as one by one, everyone joins in the Spiral Dance. Birth, death, and rebirth…growth, change, and evolution…all of these are symbolized by the spiral, as the friends of the Crossroads weave the everlasting Web of Life. The musicians continue to play, as Ocean continues to lead everyone through the ancient magick of the dance, calling out to the Ancient Ones, sending our energy out into the universe�?/P>

The drums begin to die down, and the dance is coming to an end. The group forms the circle once more, and as the music stops, everyone sits down in the field, grounding themselves to the fertile earth beneath their hands and feet.

Ocean picks herself up, and dusting off the skirt of her golden linen dress, again addresses the circle:

“We have danced the Sacred Dance, and sent our energies out into the world. Let us now honor our deities in their aspects as the Grain God and the Corn Mother.�?

Wolf Wind steps forward to the altar and picks up the chalice of wine. Holding it up to the sky, he speaks while Ocean signs:

“Blessed be the bounty of the harvest, fruit of the womb of the Goddess.�?

Ocean turns to the altar and picks up the athame. Holding it up to the sky, she speaks while Wolf Wind signs:

“Blessed be the bounty of the harvest, seed of the loins of the God.�?

Crystal Dolphin steps forward and stands next to Ocean, who is holding the athame, and Wolf Wind, who is holding the chalice. As Ocean lowers the athame into the chalice, Crystal both speaks and signs:

“Blessed be the harvest, manifestation of the Sacred Marriage of the deities.�?

Circle responds:

“Blessed Be the fruitful Corn Mother! Blessed Be the God of the Harvest!�?

Wolf continues to hold the chalice as Ocean turns back to the altar, and places the athame upon it. Crystal then picks up one of the many loaves of bread that has been offered by friends of The Crossroads. Holding it up the sky, she gives a silent blessing to the Spirits, and then turns to face the circle, holding the loaf in her hands. She speaks while Ocean signs:

To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under the stars:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to hurt, and a time to heal;

A time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose;

A time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew;

A time to keep silent, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time of war, and a time of peace.

The Lady and the Lord hath made everything beautiful
in their time.

Let us all rejoice, and do good in our lives.

Let everyone eat and drink,
and let us all enjoy the fruits of the harvest,
for it is the gift of Goddess and God.

Crystal hands the loaf of bread to Ocean, and together Ocean and Wolf Wind move around the circle, offering the loaf of bread and the chalice to each Crossroads friend. The participants break off a piece of bread and eat it, and then take a drink from the chalice of wine. After completing the circle, Ocean and Wolf Wind offer each other the bread and wine, and then place them both back on the altar.

As Wolf Wind lights the spirit candle on the altar, Ocean addresses the circle one final time:

“We have come together here in name of the Lady and the Lord, as Friends of the Crossroads, to honor them during the Sabbat of Lughnasadh. May this circle represent the spirit of The Crossroads, and may we each honor the seasons in our own lives, and celebrate our own individual harvests. So Mote It Be.�?

Circle responds: “So Mote It Be!�?/EM>

Please feel free to join in this ritual by leaving a comment with your own offering, prayer, blessing, or wishes for this Sabbat.

Blessed Lughnasadh to all of my friends here at The Crossroads.

~ Ocean

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
The HeatherMyst	[email protected]