The ancient first harvest festival celebration of Lughnasadh on the 1st of August, marks the turning of the wheel of the year towards autumn and the darker quarter of the year. It is this glorious period where I celebrate the fruits and mystery of nature, a time we give thanks for the bounty of the Goddess as queen of the land.
Celebration and Surrender
I am also mindful of this time of August being a major festival of the great Celtic sun king and God of light, Lugh or Lug. It is a time when I see all my pagan friends and community come together eagerly to celebrate the great festivals of Lughnasadh.
I am a Leo, and I’ve just celebrated my 71st birthday on the 3rd of August 2026 with many friends and family and the pagan community. I do have to say though that I always cherish those quieter, sacred moments of communion with nature in all its splendour. We are witnessing the surrender once again of the Greenman or John Barleycorn, cut down so that others may be sustained by the grain harvest.
I am fortunate that I live upon a hill surrounded by prolific farming and get to see and feel this spectacular event every year. I am very mindful the harvests carry the seeds of next year’s rebirth and regeneration.
The Greenman
Such is the inspiration I get from this vibrant month of the harvest mother who is ripe and full and heavily pregnant. She carries the seed of the new year’s sun God within her. Of course this ancient revered story of death, rebirth, and regeneration inspires me to produce songs and poems. It always has and always will. So much so that I have produced a new song – The Greenman – again inspired by simply allowing nature and the embers of my log fire to encourage my fertile imagination to the point of meditation and almost hallucination.
I encourage you to visit the song on Spotify or YouTube to connect with me over the essence of what I was experiencing. Here are the lyrics from the first verses only. Simple enough, I hope they resonate with you.
He’s there in the forest,
Green spaces and glade,
He’s watching and waiting,
Where sun meets the shade,
Always verdant,
Adorned in all green,
He only will show,
If he wants to be seen!
The Greenman
Clear your mind,
You’ll hear him speak,
In the wind and the breeze,
And the babbling creek,
His voice is still here,
In the reed and the tree,
Lost in time,
But not lost to me.
The Greenman!!
Excerpt of lyrics from “The Greenman” (single released 2025) by George Nicholas
So here we are, in this month of August knowing that the bounty and energy of Lugh – of the sun – is now beginning to wane. We see and feel the year change and shift, the darker days of winter and reflection are now beckoning. Farewell for now, John Barleycorn.
The Essence of the First Harvest
To me the essence of Lughnasadh and the first harvest can be a deep and profound joy of living life knowing that the darker months will soon be upon us. But right now we enjoy and reap the benefits of our efforts; especially when we have been engaged in self-harvested fruit and crops – a truly profound way to feel connected to nature.
Soon we will be preparing for the approaching second harvest festival Alban Elfed. But even now we know the glorious summer days are already becoming a memory.
Fond memories of our “Feast of the First Fruits” shall stay in our hearts and remain cherished.
Personal Harvests
Myself, I am aware that I am constantly mindful of the whole year leading up to this point. I reflect on all my collective and personal achievements including my varied business ventures, like the re-launch of my children’s plush toy concept “The Werebears” that I first marketed in the early 1990s. Also, I have ploughed on with my poetry and song-writing career with my band Cernunnos Rising. I’m excited to release my upcoming EP (date to be confirmed). Last but not least, I continue my 45 year endeavour to keep my charity Art for Their Sake financially buoyant and busy improving environments for sick, terminally ill, and special needs children.
I’m happy to report all three projects have come to fruition. I shall very soon be planting the seeds for my future projects and plans, but always with preparedness. Life has been fruitful. Let its bounty be a continuing presence in my life.
Blessings and good luck to you all. I hope your harvest is bountiful and that all your dreams come true.
George x
For more information about George, including his collected articles here on Pagan Song, his bio, and links to George’s sites on the web, check out George’s page on Pagan Song.
All images including the feature image, and all photos are by George Nicholas.
Read archived Pagan Song posts for the first harvest of Lammas / Lughnassadh. You might also be interested in the post Making Art With the Green Man.
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