Archive for Lammas

| April 26, 2012
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The Wheel Of The Year

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The Wheel of the year is basically a calendar of the 8 festivals called Sabbats celebrated by Wiccan’s and some other pagan paths. The wheel looks like a cartwheel with 8 spokes marking the sections of the year. The wheel is in 2 sections the first is the Quarters know as “the lesser Sabbats” or “quarter days”, these quarters mark the movement of the sun through the year with the vertical spokes marking the solstices and the horizontal spokes marking the equinoxes The second section represents the cross quarters “cross-quarter days,” “fire festivals,” or “Greater Sabbats”, these are a mix of Gaelic and Germanic festival but basically or from my understanding the cross quarters are the cycles of life and death. The truth be told the Wiccan Wheel of the Year as been made up and in fact at the very starting of Wicca only the Cross quarters where celebrated online pharmacy without prescription it was the Bricket Wood Coven that added the quarter days basically because the wanted more meeting They did this while Gerald Gardner was away although he did not object to the additions as this brought Wicca closer to Gardner’s Long time friend Ross Nichols’s Neo druidism groups the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Although this Wheel has no historical value in terms of reclaiming the Craft it is a valued addition to Wicca and in other pagan paths. For me the wheel is a great source of meditation, understanding of life and death, a reminder of the cycles in

Category: Ásatrú, Dianic Wicca, Druidry, Eclectic witchcraft, Forn Siðr, Heathenism, Heathenry, Lammas, Lughnasadh, Mabon, McFarland Dianic, Mens Tradition, Odinism, Order of Baphomet Lodge, Oslac, Pagan Paths, pagan People, Rituals and Rites, Samhain, Seax-Wica, Shamanism, Theodism, Vor Siðr, Wheel of the year, Wicca, Yule | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| April 26, 2012
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Lammas The First Harvest

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Once upon a Lammas Night When corn rigs are bonny, Beneath the Moon’s unclouded light, I held awhile to Annie… Although in the heat of a Mid-western summer it might be difficult to discern, the festival of Lammas (Aug 1st) marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The days now grow visibly shorter and by the time we’ve reached autumn’s end (Oct 31st), we will have run the gamut of temperature from the heat of August to the cold and (sometimes) snow of November. And in the midst of it, a perfect Mid-western autumn. The history of Lammas is as convoluted as all the rest of the old folk holidays. It is of course a cross-quarter day, one of the four High Holidays or Greater Sabbats of Witchcraft, occurring 1/4 of a year after Beltane. It’s true astrological point is 15 degrees Leo, which occurs at 1:18 am CDT, Aug 6th this year (1988), but tradition has set August 1st as the day Lammas is typically celebrated. The celebration proper would begin on sundown of the previous evening, our July 31st, since the Celts reckon their days from sundown to sundown. However, British Witches often refer to the astrological date of Aug 6th as Old Lammas, and folklorists call it Lammas O.S. (‘Old Style’). This date has long been considered a ‘power point’ of the Zodiac, and is symbolized by the Lion, one of the ‘tetramorph’ figures found on the Tarot cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune (the other three

Category: Lammas, Lughnasadh, Wheel of the year | Tags: , , , , , , ,
| March 12, 2012
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My First harvest

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Most of my pagan friends will tell you that me and gardening is not a true match in fact a pagan friend of mine (someone who is now running their own coven) was told that I had spent weeks designing my garden to which he replied why did it take him so long to draw a square and write concrete ‘LOL’. I always lived in London and gardening was a luxury but since I move out in to the middle of the country I have wanted improve my pagan practices with getting back to ground roots pagan life I could not cope with the “good life” (tv version) of going totally self sufficient but I did want to be able to grow a few herbs for spell and potions and some fruit over the last few years I have not had much success (explains the concrete comment), I have had the dog dig them up, slugs and caterpillars eat them and the frost kill them and the few bit that have survived have been never in time for any ritual or rite. But this year I have managed to grow stuff that will be ready for the 1st august it not much I have 1 melon a few raspberries a few black currents and 4 or five broad bean come on don’t laugh I know it not much. This will be the first year that I will be able to perform a harvest ritual where the harvest will be a physical act, will be able to

Category: Book of Shadows, Everyday Pagan, Lammas, Lughnasadh, Rituals and Rites, Wheel of the year, Witchcraft | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| March 5, 2012
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Drawing down the sun

Drawing down the sun ritual Drawing down the sun ritual

An often forgotten ritual but has a great importance in modern witchcraft since much of modern neopagan witchcraft has stemmed from Wicca. Many of the traditions and practices have been adapted to suit the new and emerging paths and although much emphasis still remains with the goddess that God aspect that has emerged much more than a consult. Although Wicca considers the duality of the divine duty equal power still lies with the high priestess and often overlooked ritual is the drawing down of the sun. This is a ritual, done by the high priest, although I have heard of high priestess is performing the ritual with some fascinating results to say the least. The drawing down the Sun ritual can be found inside the covers of the witches Bible by Janet and Stewart Farrar below is a selection of text and the ritual from this book. Since Wicca is a goddess orientated religion, laying particular stress on the gift of the goddess (intuitive and psychic facilities) because of the nature of its work. The complimentary process of invoking the spirit of the guard into the high priest occurs less often. The high priest does invoke the God aspect on the half of the whole Coven, during the opening ritual by means of the great God Cernunnos invocation; and in the Imbolc, spring Equinox. Midsummer, autumn Equinox, Samhain and Yule Festival rites, their high priestess invokes the spirit of the god into the high priest either specifically or by implication. But we have found that

Category: Beltane, Book of Shadows, Everyday Pagan, Imbolc, Lammas, Lughnasadh, Pagan Mysteries, Rituals and Rites, Samhain, Wicca, Wiccan techniques, Yule | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| January 17, 2012
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Lammas Bread

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As autumn approaches, Acomplia the first harvest comes upon us and the bread-baking season begins. For the festival of Lughnasadh, the first of three “harvest” holidays before midwinter, it is good to bake a special bread to share with friends at those picnics that are stolen while the weather’s still good. This yeast bread, incorporating a heavy mixture of two kinds of flour and peanut butter and topped with sesame seeds, is sure to be a great treat for early autumn. Ingredients: •2 cups whole wheat flour •2 cups bread flour, plus more if needed •¼ cup toasted sesame seeds •2 tbsp active dry yeast •2½ tsp salt •2 cups milk, scalded •3 tbsp smooth peanut butter •3 tbsp honey Directions: Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the peanut butter and the honey to the hot milk and stir to combine. Cool milk mix until it reaches 115ºF. Stir milk mix into flour mix. Knead for 15 minutes, adding more flour if necessary to make a smooth, elastic dough. Oil the dough’s surface, then cover with plastic or a damp towel. Let it rise in a warm spot until double. Punch down, then shape into 2 rectangle loaves or one large wreath. Let rise again until doubled. Bake at 375ºF until golden; it should make a hollow sound when tapped. Yield: 1 large or 2 regular loaves Source: Paraphrased from Stern, The Fairy Party Book Use for: Lughnasadh Cyber Cauldron Shop Chronicles of Book Of Shadows and Journels Triple Moon Book

Category: Everyday Pagan, Lammas, Lughnasadh, Recipes, Wheel of the year | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| January 7, 2012
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Reaping blessing from the Carmina Gadelica

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Provided is a Reaping blessing suitable for Lughnasadh in the original Gaelic and in English. Léighidh mi mo chorran sios, ‘S an dias biadhchar fo mo ghlac Togam suas mo shiul an aird Tionndam air mo shail gu grad, Deiseil mar thriallas a’ ghrian Bho ‘n airde ‘n ear gu ruig an iar, Bho ‘n airde tuath le gluasadh reidh, Gu fior chré na h-airde deas Or in English modern I will let my sickle down, While the fruitful ear is in my grasp, I will raise mine eye upwards I will turn me on my heel quickly, Rightways as travels the sun From the airt of the east to the west From the airt of the north with motion calm To the very core of the airt of the south. *airt [??t (Scot) ert], airth [??? (Scot) er?] n (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) Scot a direction or point of the compass, esp the direction of the wind; quarter; region [from Scots Gaelic aird point of the compass, height] Carmichael, Alexander Carmina Gadelica : Hymns and Incantations (1992) Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2010 Cyber Caulron

Category: Lammas, Lughnasadh, Wheel of the year | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
| August 23, 2011
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Lughnasadh Chants

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Although i do not remember where i got all of these chants they have been a part of my book of shadows and i apologise to anyone who name i am not sure of and can not credit you with your inspiring works Lughnasadh Rev. Raven Spirit 2002 Waning days Waving grain The summer months begin to fade The horned one walks to the shades Day of first fruits You reap what you sow Is your grain all bland Or with flavor, you know Nines months we have nurtured And cared for our goals Now we are birthing Like mother and foal The seeds we have planted Watered and helped grow We now begin harvesting The seeds we have sown But the growing is not over More cycles to pass So weed your fields Err it be your ass Tis a time of great merriment Games to be played To honored the ancients And the wisdom they say Hail to Fair Tailltiu For whom the games are named That tests the skill and knowledge of both me and you Lughnasadh Fields of listening, whispering corn Ripen in the heavy air Lugh the Golden dancing forth, Leaves and sheaves in his wild hair. In perfect circles bow the stalks, Mark the path where great Lugh walks, Mark days and seasons, round they go, As above, so below. Grainne and Diarmuid meet Clasping in the heady air, Loving in the dolmen’s shadow, Lost deep in her corn-sweet hair. And his Moon follows her Sun, Marks the way

Category: Book of Shadows, Chants, Lammas, Lughnasadh | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
| July 24, 2011
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Lughnasadh and Lammas

Lughnasadh (pronounced loo’nass’ah) 1st August. Is one of the eight Sabbats that witches, Wiccan’s and neo pagans observe Lughnasadh is originally a Celtic festival held to honour the Celtic god Lugh foster mother “Tailtiu “ who is said to of died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. Lughnasadh is technically a funeral feast where patrons would show honour to Tailtiu by feasting and playing games. Since much of pagan life revolved around agriculture Lughnasadh be came the first day of the Harvest season, which would continue, to Samhain. Since the emergence of Wiccan and the creation of the wheel of the year Lughnasadh as taken its place in modern pagan life and seen less as a funeral feast and more of a harvest festival. Many neo pagan interchange between Lughnasadh and Lammas with Lammas being a Anglo-Saxon harvest festival also know as hlaefmass, or loaf mass with strong connection to the church and is considered to be a Christian festival. Some of the traditional events that would, and do take place on Lughnasadh and Lammas is the baking of bread and handfasting and the harvesting of the first fruits. Predominantly wheat, and making corn dollies. It does amaze me that many books on Wicca and neo pagan practices still describe Lughnasadh and Lammas as the same thing which can get very confusing if your trying to understand what you are celebrating. The festival that is on the 1st August has many names including Lammas, Lughnasadh, 1st Harvest, Bread Harvest, Festival of

Category: Book of Shadows, Lammas, Lughnasadh, Pagan Mysteries, Rituals and Rites, Wheel of the year | Tags: , , , , , , , ,