Any way you spell it, the first harvest sabbat of Lunasa is a time to celebrate what is coming to fruition in your life! As I plan the Crow Women’s ritual gathering for this pagan festival, I contemplate the joy of accomplishment that I want to share and incorporate into our celebration. I know hard work is its own reward, but I believe in celebrating each step in the process!
I planned to have a first harvest potluck dinner, and asked the Crows to bring something yummy to share. In addition, I want to look back at the roots of this Celtic sabbat. According to the Celtic Network, Lughnasadh was the last of the 4 major festivals of the Celtic year and Samhain was seen as the beginning of the year. Mabon, one of the cross-quarter days which fall in between the four major festivals, will be the next harvest day. Our new album, Seasons, takes the listener through the Celtic Wheel of the Year.
Lughnasadh is a rite dedicated to Lugh, the Celtic sun god. As I have seen at other celebrations, it is often celebrated with dancing and a bonfire (always a staple at Wiccan & Pagan festivals). We have a new fire pit in our back yard, so we’ll use fire as a focus for a meditation on what each of us individually, and we as a coven, are harvesting now as a result of our efforts. We can use the Crow Women’s Lammas – Lughnassad song At Lammas to affirm the insights of our meditation; “At Lammas, what we’ve sown, now we harvest.”
Since bread is a symbol of the first harvest, we might make some ash cakes, which could incorporate corn. Corn is not only associated with Lugh, but also with the circle of life in the native pueblo cultures whose homelands are near where we live. This documentary film, which I have used over the years in my middle school classes when we study local indigenous cultures, shows how corn is used ceremonially by the Hopi people. Ash cake recipes can be found here. I like the symbolism of using corn, and also berries, which are commonly used in this celebration in Ireland as described in Ireland Calling.
Finally, I like to include some aspects of modern culture into my psychic preparations for the day, including listening to the fabulous Celtic band, Lunasa, and even by watching the classic film Dancing at Lughnasa which you can buy or watch on Amazon Prime!
Blessed Lughnasa! I hope you can pause to reflect on what you have worked hard to create in your own life.