August 1 -2
Lughnasad First Harvest Feast of Bread
The first harvest of three. The Sun God is dying as the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer. The Goddess watches his death knowing that he lives on as her child. This is a time to remember the warmth and bounty of the summer. Every meal is an attunement with nature.
Colors: gold, yellow, brown, tan, dark green
Plants: nuts, grains, berries, apples, corn, rice, Pine Trees
Stones: yellow diamond, peridot, citrine
Animals: roosters, calves
- Phoenix, griffins, centaur
Incense: sandlewood
Herbs: chamomile, aloe, roses
Food
Bread, berries, nuts, grains, corn, apples, cider
Activities
Bake bread
Make corn dolls
Plant the seeds of fruit eaten
Share food
Take walks through fields
Braid barley with green ribbons and hang on doors
Spells
Freeing fear
Losing regrets
Prosperity
Abundance
Health
Corn Doll
4 cornhusks
String- 6 pieces, each 12 inches long
Trim one cornhusk to about 5 inches long. Roll it into a tube and tie at each end.
Put two large husks together and tie them together at one end. Separate the husks and pull them over the tied end then tie again. This makes the head.
Part the husks and slide the rolled husk between the as close to the head as possible. Tie the husks below the rolled husk to make the waist.
Fold the last husk and drape it over the doll�s shoulders. Tie at the waist.
Lammas Ritual
Cover the alter with a yellow alter cloth. Place the cauldron in the center with a gold candle to the left for the God and a silver candle to the right for the Goddess. Place a loaf of bread before the gold candle and a corn doll before the silver candle. Have a chalice of cider in front of the cauldron. Lay wheat stalks around the alter and have a small plate of grain to the side. Have a small fire burning in the cauldron. Burn sandlewood incense.
Kneal before the alter and say:
Blessed are we who receive the bounty of the harvest
Blessed be our Mother Earth
Blessed be our Father Sun
Teach us of life, death, and rebirth
Light the gold candle. Break off a piece of the bread and take a bite then throw it into the fire.
Blessed be the harvest
Blessed be the grain God
May his sacrifice serve to nourish us all
Take a drink of the cider. Light the silver candle. Hold the corn doll above the cauldron.
Blessed be the harvester
Blessed be the Corn Mother
As the God dies may he be reborn from her
Lay the corn doll back down. Take a drink of the cider.
I thank you for my harvest
For the seeds sown in me
May I be reborn with the harvest
As I birth new things
Pick up some of the grain in your fingers. Place all of you fears and doubts into the grain. Sprinkle it into the fire.
I release my fears and doubts.
Pick up more grain with your fingers. Place all of your regrets into the grain. Sprinkle it into the fire.
I release my regrets.
Hold the rest of the grain in your hands. Sprinkle it onto the ground around you.
I offer my thanks
For the harvest of the earth
For the blessings of the grain
For all that is yet to come
Follow with a feast of bread, fruit, and cider. Plant the seeds of any fruit eaten after the feast.