The time of Lammas draws near (August 1st has become the traditional date though many celebrate the Holy Day when the Sun is at 15 degrees Leo, marking the midpoint between Solstice and Equinox…August 8th this year). Here at Witch house, we begin to think about preparing for the coming seasons…and the very first thing we do is give thanks for our many blessings and focus on honoring the Ancestors and those who have gone before us. This Sabbat is also called by the Celtic name Lughnasadh which means “wake of Lugh” (some sources say “Assembly of Lugh”) and points to the theme of the Sun God giving His life at the Summer Solstice which passes into the grain and fruits of the Earth Mother…and so we meditate on how the Life of the Sun and the elements passes into the Earth and transforms into resources and food thru the processes of the Great Mother. Nature provides us with everything in abundance. We celebrate the Life of the Grain which is considered to have passed during this first Harvest into the last grain, which will become the seeds of future harvests…in the great cycle of Life. This last harvested Grain was traditionally dressed and venerated…and kept until Spring where it would be ritually planted in the fields with the other seeds. Making Corn Dollies is a traditional and fun activity during the Season’s celebrations.
At Lammas, we celebrate the sacred grain…not only wheat but all the grains of the Earth Mother…corn and rice…and quinoa too…and we tend to create meals at this time that center around these. Baking bread is a tradition for Lammas… sometimes we make beer bread or traditional loaves…or cornbread…though this year I am making biscuits for our celebration…don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own traditions for the holy days during the wheel of the year.
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Here is my Biscuit recipe.
Witch Joseph’s Biscuit Recipe
Ingredients:
2 cups of Flour, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, 8 tablespoons of very cold unsalted butter and 1 cup whole buttermilk
preheat Oven to 450 degrees f. Butter and flour baking rack. Mix dry ingredients…cut the butter into the dry ingredients…mix buttermilk into the dry ingredients (don’t over mix). On lightly floured surface, you will want to laminate the dough (which should be a little sticky) which means folding it over 5 or 6 times, to create the layers of delicious flakiness… flatten the dough to about 1 inch thick and cut out the biscuits using a biscuit cutter…arrange biscuits on baking rack touching each other…put into oven and bake for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown and flaky. Serve warm with butter and local honey.
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One of the chants that has become traditional for our Lammas ritual is the following one that comes from the Reclaiming tradition. (I encourage you to check out their CDs of their chant music resources on their website…they have amazing things that are so helpful for contemporary Witches and Pagans.)
https://reclaimingcollective.wordpress.com/reclaiming-tradition-witchcraft/
Sun King
by Raven Moonshadow
O tell me why, O tell me why,
Tell me why must the clouds come
To darken the sky.
This is the wake of Lugh the Sun King;
He lost His life on Solstice day.
This is the wake of Lugh the Sun King;
He steps into the dark and guides the way.
(Also, I believe there are videos of this chant being performed on the Internet.)
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A fun activity that me and Brother Christopher like to do during this Season…is creating Corn necklaces from the beautiful indurata, calico or “flint” corn…which comes in an abundance and variety of color…we like to wear these during our ceremony and use as decorations for the altar. Here’s how we do it.
1) Remove kernels from the corn husks.
2) Boil kernels for 15 minutes and then allow to cool completely…let soak in cold water over night (or until a needle can easily pierce the kernel).
3) Cut a length of nylon beading string bigger than the size necklace you want to create (make sure you can fit it over your head).
4) Thread the needle with the beading string.
5) Pierce the center of a kernel with the needle and slide it down leaving about four inches at the end of the floss.
6) Repeat step 5 until you have filled up almost the entire length of thread (leave room on either end so you can tie the ends together).
7) Tie the two ends together to form the necklace stop kernels from slipping off.
Here’s a picture of one that I created:
These are perfect for wearing thru the Season and also for the next Harvest rituals as well for Mabon and Samhain. We also like to wear them for “thanksgiving”.
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Witch Joseph’s Lammas Grain Spell
You will need: a piece of green material, 3 grains either wheat or dried corn, and a green ribbon or cord.
during Lammas ritual, consecrate the grains and whisper to them three positive intentions that you would like to manifest in your life…then holding them visualize energy coming from the palms of your hands and charging them with life force. When you sense they are fully charged with your intentions, place them in the green cloth and tie it securely closed with the cord, using 3 knots. Keep on or near your altar and sacred things until the Spring, when you can plant them in the garden or somewhere in Nature.
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This is an example of the ritual we perform for Lammas.
Lammas/Lughnasadh Ritual
Items Needed: candle (or cauldron water) for fire
Bread baked in the form of the God
Altar is decorated with Wheat and Grain and Harvest Themes centered around the Grain…in Gold, Brown, Yellow and Earth tones
“We gather on this holy night of Lammas, to honor the first Harvest, the Harvest of the Grain. We celebrate the life of the Great God that nourishes us and preserves our lives. We release all fear as we follow our Lord into the darkness on His journey towards Rebirth!!”
Response: “Blessed Be!”
