Lammas
August 1st is the Sabbat of the First Harvest.
This Sabbat also can be known as Lughnasadh and August Eve.
In many places around the world they hold festivals to celebrate the harvest
of the first fruits, corn , wheat and barley.
After the harvest they will hold a feast and eat foods from the first bounty
the Lord and Lady blessed them with.
For Lammas you will honor the Goddess and God thanking them for bringing the first harvest.
Lore of Lughnasadh:
(*Info supplied by Edain McCoy)
The last grain to be cut from every field (not for the season) for the Sabbath's harvest is to be left in the field standing as an offering for faeries or nature spirits.
In Native American culture they leave the last corn stalk in the field for the Corn Grandmother to stay in.
Pagans in the Middle East bury the last harvest as a offering to the corn spirit so the spirit would want to return the following year.
A old Lughnasadh tradition was to take the first fruit, grain cut of the harvest and bury, burn or leave it in a sacred space as a offering to the harvest deities while the fields are being harvested.
After your ritual it is appropriate to plant the seeds from the fruit you ate. If they sprout , grow the plant with love as a symbol of your connection with the Goddess and God. (*info from Scott Cunningham)
A ancient version of Lamas was dedicated to Lugh, the God of mastery and craftsmanship. So this makes this the perfect time to cleans and bless all your ritual tools. Also after your ritual it is a great day to work on something creative!
Other then the Harvest and a huge Feast. Lammas themes are Community, Money, Providence, Manifestation, and Agriculture.
You can decorate your alter with Corn, Fruit and Grains.
A neat way to represent the God/dess is to make a loaf of bread into a figure of the God and for the Goddess you can make a Corn dollies.
When you make a Corn Maiden from the dried husk use it to decorate your alter every year for Lamas so your household will never be without food.
Have a bowl of loose grain to sprinkle around the circle during the invocation because this brings prosperity, protection, and fertility.
If you do not want to make a loaf of bread to represent the god you can use Indian corn. Also for the Goddess you can use corn bread.
South: Warm Rays of Sun that mature the seeds of nature.
Let your burning flames charge my spirit from all your creations
Ancient one of Fire I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Fire, Hail!
West: Waters that quenches the thirst of the seeds of nature, you give life to all that is born.
From the waters of mothers womb to the mist of rain and waves of the ocean.
Ancient one of water I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Water, Hail!
North: Earth the warm soil a womb that roots the seeds of nature.
Rich soil grant my spirit a place to flourish and rest.
Ancient one of Earth I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Earth, Hail!
East: Air that spreads the seeds to the Earth with warmth and love.
Let the whispers of songs from the breeze you bring fill my heart and soul with all Mysteries.
Ancient one of Air I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Air, Hail
Spirit: Great Spirit who gives life to the seeds.
Ancient spirits I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Please let your presence bind the elements together and birth the grains of magic in me.
Hail, Spirit, Hail!
Calling of the God and Goddess
In Scotland, it's customary to pay bills on Lammas and make an accounting of finances. So following in this tradition this meditation and spell helps draw money to you.
When the financial blessing arrives, set it aside for emergency use.
Before beginning the meditation , prepare a dollar bill wrapped three times around with a string. Leave enough string so you can place the money across the Alter table from you. Also find a green candle ; Carve it with the symbol of a dollar sign and put it in the middle of the table.
Light the candle, put the dollar bill across from you with string in your strong hand, and sit at the table. Center yourself. Observe the candle flame. Use it as a focus. see nothing else; know the flame to be the same as the one in your heart. Slowly let this image blur, and close your eyes.
Visualize the same brilliant light pouring down from the heavens to shower you with abundance. Change the color to greenish gold, the hue of prosperity. let this energy fill you to overflowing. When you feel all but ready to burst, allow this power to flow into your fingertips toward the dollar bill across the table.Slowly draw the string into your hands, whispering, "Money to me; magic fly free, " until the bill reaches your hands. Wrap the remaining string around the bill, and tuck it into a wallet or purse.
Leave the candle to burn down on its own (in a fire safe container); this will further energize the magic.
When this spell manifests, donate the dollar to a worthy cause to show thanks.
The last grain to be cut from every field (not for the season) for the Sabbath's harvest is to be left in the field standing as an offering for faeries or nature spirits.
In Native American culture they leave the last corn stalk in the field for the Corn Grandmother to stay in.
Pagans in the Middle East bury the last harvest as a offering to the corn spirit so the spirit would want to return the following year.
A old Lughnasadh tradition was to take the first fruit, grain cut of the harvest and bury, burn or leave it in a sacred space as a offering to the harvest deities while the fields are being harvested.
After your ritual it is appropriate to plant the seeds from the fruit you ate. If they sprout , grow the plant with love as a symbol of your connection with the Goddess and God. (*info from Scott Cunningham)
A ancient version of Lamas was dedicated to Lugh, the God of mastery and craftsmanship. So this makes this the perfect time to cleans and bless all your ritual tools. Also after your ritual it is a great day to work on something creative!
Lammas Themes
Other then the Harvest and a huge Feast. Lammas themes are Community, Money, Providence, Manifestation, and Agriculture.
Lamas Ritual
Alter:
Great colors for your alter is a orange-yellow You can decorate your alter with Corn, Fruit and Grains.
A neat way to represent the God/dess is to make a loaf of bread into a figure of the God and for the Goddess you can make a Corn dollies.
When you make a Corn Maiden from the dried husk use it to decorate your alter every year for Lamas so your household will never be without food.
Have a bowl of loose grain to sprinkle around the circle during the invocation because this brings prosperity, protection, and fertility.
If you do not want to make a loaf of bread to represent the god you can use Indian corn. Also for the Goddess you can use corn bread.
Tools:
You will need your regular tools for the ritual and any new tools. You can also bring anything you would like to clean and bless. You will need a bowl of Oats, Wheat,or Barley. A piece of fruit. Have your charcoal ready so you can burn any cleansing herbs you want to use. (I will supply a list and consecration later in a post.) Corn bread or any kind of bread you want and you can use cider instead of wine for the ritual feast.
Invocation:
Starting in the South use the bowl of grain and sprinkle it evenly around the circle as you call your quarters.South: Warm Rays of Sun that mature the seeds of nature.
Let your burning flames charge my spirit from all your creations
Ancient one of Fire I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Fire, Hail!
West: Waters that quenches the thirst of the seeds of nature, you give life to all that is born.
From the waters of mothers womb to the mist of rain and waves of the ocean.
Ancient one of water I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Water, Hail!
North: Earth the warm soil a womb that roots the seeds of nature.
Rich soil grant my spirit a place to flourish and rest.
Ancient one of Earth I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Earth, Hail!
East: Air that spreads the seeds to the Earth with warmth and love.
Let the whispers of songs from the breeze you bring fill my heart and soul with all Mysteries.
Ancient one of Air I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Hail, Air, Hail
Spirit: Great Spirit who gives life to the seeds.
Ancient spirits I call and ask you to attend this circle.
Please let your presence bind the elements together and birth the grains of magic in me.
Hail, Spirit, Hail!
Calling of the God and Goddess
Lord of the sun, Lover of the Goddess, Farther of all life I ask for you to be present and bless me during this first harvest of Lammas.
Lady
of the moon, Lover of the God and Womb of his birth, Mother of all life
I ask you to be present and bless me during this first harvest of Lammas.
Meditation and visualization
I got this from The Wiccan Book of Ceremonies and Rituals by: Patricia Telesco
( I am going to copy this out of the book because I absolutely love this! It is a meditation and a spell!)
In Scotland, it's customary to pay bills on Lammas and make an accounting of finances. So following in this tradition this meditation and spell helps draw money to you.
When the financial blessing arrives, set it aside for emergency use.
Before beginning the meditation , prepare a dollar bill wrapped three times around with a string. Leave enough string so you can place the money across the Alter table from you. Also find a green candle ; Carve it with the symbol of a dollar sign and put it in the middle of the table.
Light the candle, put the dollar bill across from you with string in your strong hand, and sit at the table. Center yourself. Observe the candle flame. Use it as a focus. see nothing else; know the flame to be the same as the one in your heart. Slowly let this image blur, and close your eyes.
Visualize the same brilliant light pouring down from the heavens to shower you with abundance. Change the color to greenish gold, the hue of prosperity. let this energy fill you to overflowing. When you feel all but ready to burst, allow this power to flow into your fingertips toward the dollar bill across the table.Slowly draw the string into your hands, whispering, "Money to me; magic fly free, " until the bill reaches your hands. Wrap the remaining string around the bill, and tuck it into a wallet or purse.
Leave the candle to burn down on its own (in a fire safe container); this will further energize the magic.
When this spell manifests, donate the dollar to a worthy cause to show thanks.
The Ritual
Stand before your alter hold the bowl of grain, Saying :
This is the time of the First Harvest,
When today's bounty is giving to us from our Mother
A special gift so we may survive .
O God of the fields, Lord of the Grains
Please grant me the understanding of your sacrifice as you deliver yourself
to the sickle of the Goddess and the journey you will take to the lands of eternal summer.
O Goddess of the Dark Moon,
please teach me the secrets of rebirth
As the nights grow cold and the Sun starts to go in to its slumber.
Take some of the grain from the bowl. Rub your hands together so the grain falls on the alter. then take a piece of fruit and then bite into the fruit, enjoying its flavor. Then say:
As I saviour this first harvest its energies mix with mine
May this fist gift help fuel me on my path to wisdom.
O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun,
Gracious ones I give my thanks for the continuing fertility of our Earth.
May the loose grain bury its seeds in the breast of the Mother,
So there will be rebirth to the Earth in the warmth of the new Spring to come.
Eat the rest of the fruit.
Next you can do your Simple feast, work any magic you seem fit or any crafts you would like to do.
Closing the Circle
East: Ancient ones of the Air, may your winds carry the seeds of the future harvests.
As we sow we shall reap and then shall sow again.
Thank you for your blessings may you go in peace.
North: Mother Earth, Your Blessings of nourishment feeds my spirit and body.
Thank you for the bountiful harvest,
that will keep my feet moving on my path.
May you go in peace.
West: Ancient ones of the Waters, may your cleansing and nourishing flow to
quench the thirst of more harvest to come.
Thank you for the drops of wisdom and the gift of life.
May you go in peace.
South: Lord of the Sun, Master of the warmth that ripens the crops.
Thank you for the Harvest that matures my soul and energizes this magic.
May you go in peace.
Spirits: Ancient ones, Thank you for your presence on this Lammas.
You bind all elements needed for life of this Harvest and more to come.
May you go in peace.
Lord and Lady makers of all creation,
Thank you for watching over the seeds and crops.
that you blessed us with this Harvest.
also for the food needed for all life and to manifest this magic.
May you go in peace till we meet again
So mote it be!
Herbs of Lammas
All Grains, Grapes, Heather, Blackberries, Sloe, Apples, Pears, Corn
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