Lughnasadh

Hello There,

Is it just me or is this year just flying in?? I am struggling to keep up with it. We are now into the sabbat of Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-nas-ah) also known as Lammas, which a few Scots that aren't pagan/wiccan will probably recognise as up her there are a good few Lammas celebrations. The Lammas market in St Andrews probably being the biggest, I bet half you lot that go to it never thought it was derived from a pagan sabbat, well you learn something knew every day!

Ok so what is Lughnasadh? Well it is the first harvest festival of the year. In times gone by the harvest would have been central to everyone's lives, and all members of the community would have turned out to help cut the fields and see their bounty brought in. In today's modern society the majority of us are so far removed from the harvest, and it can often pass by without us even being aware of it - The generation of fast food, convenience stores and everything being at hand no matter what time of year it is has made sure of this - Sabbats such as Lughnasadh are a way for pagan to keep in touch with the cycle of the seasons.

As Lughnasadh is the Festival of the First Fruits of the Harvest. A portion of the first grains, fruits and vegetables to come ripe was offered back to the God & Goddess to say “Thank You”. At the same time, the first wild sweet berries in the hills were ripening – a gift back to us from the Earth Mother. Entire villages would rise at dawn on Lughnasadh and go berry picking. While they were at it, they’d also have big communal picnics, play games and tell stories. So berries have been a part of Lughnasadh festivities since very ancient times!

Easy Raspberry Trifle

Trifle is an old, traditional dessert from England. It’s usually served from a tall glass bowl so that the lovely layers and colors can be admired. This is a simple version that you can make your self...

INGREDIENTS:

1 Pound Cake loaf (if frozen, be sure to thaw it first)
1 package (10 ounces) raspberries in syrup (if frozen, thaw these too)
Raspberry preserves
1 package (4 serving size) vanilla pudding, prepared
Sweetened whipped cream

PREPARATION:

Split the cake in half lengthwise and sandwich together with lots of nice raspberry preserves. Slice into 8 slices as you would slice bread. Arrange ½ the slices in a large pretty glass bowl.

With a spoon, glob ½ the pudding over the slices and use the back of the spoon to spread it out.

Drain raspberry syrup into a cup and scatter half the berries over the pudding. Add the rest of the cake slices, cover with the rest of the pudding and the rest of the berries. Drizzle the reserved syrup over the whole thing and top with whipped cream.

Lughnasadh is also referred to as the feast of bread - loaf mas - that's where the name Lammas comes from, Wiccans often hold feasts in honour of the holiday as everything is plentiful, why not try your hand at baking bread and splitting it amongst friends?.

The days of late July and early August are known as “The Dog Days of Summer” – named for the Dog Star, Sirius. Ancient people of various cultures all over the world believed that the Sirius was a special power point in the universe and a “star gate” to other worlds. During the Dog Days, Sirius is up in the sky right next to the sun and the weather is particularly hot – perfect for making a …

Magic Dog Days Candle

Take a long taper candle in a colour that you feel represents You. (Your favorite colour usually works very well) With a bit of melted wax, stick the candle upright in the middle of an aluminum pie pan. Then, surround the candle with a tight circle of 6 more upright tapers. These candles should be in colors you think of when you think of the sun and summer – perhaps white, yellow, orange and red.

Around noon, when the sun and the Sirius are high in the sky, take the aluminum pie pan of candles outside.

Use your magical imagination to see the strength and power of the sun’s rays and the Dog Star pouring into the candles. As the wax warms and softens under the sun’s heat, gently and patiently, bend the candles, wrapping and weaving them around each other and the center candle representing you. If it’s really hot out and some of the wax is melting too fast, use a little water to cool it a bit.

Keep wrapping and bending and visualising until, instead of 7 individual taper candles, you have something that looks like one big, twisty candle. Imagine this candle glowing all over with nuclear (sun) energy and the powers of the Dog Star. Then, clap your hands over it three times and seal the spell with the words: “So Mote It Be!”

Take your Dog Days Candle inside and store it in a cool place.

How to use your Dog Days Candle:

We all have days when we don’t feel very strong. Maybe we’re coming down with a cold or maybe we have to stand up to someone who scares us a little. When you are having a day like this, it’s a good time to take out your “Dog Days Candle” and let it burn a bit. Sit with the candle and, as it burns, imagine the solar star power in it pouring back into you until you are filled with the energy of your Dog Days Spell. Then gently blow out the candle until the next time you need it.

Well until Mabon my friends Blessed Be, )o(