LAMMAS/LUGHNASADH MUSINGS
This pagan festival could be the perfect time for reflection…
As you know, I’ve been learning about the Pagan festivals and wheel of the year and now is the time for Lughnasadh (or Lammas). This sacred seasonal festival is celebrated around August 1. This is the cross-quarter day that marks the mid-point of summer. This usually forgotten festival is fascinatingly complex and I’ve struggled to narrow down exactly how I’m feeling and what to write about it, but here goes…
I have definitely felt an energy has shift since the Summer Solstice. It feels very sudden, and I can hardly believe it’s August already. As I sit outside my flat and write there are seed pods falling from the trees, the grass is turning brown and most of my plants have died off. (They didn’t stand much of a chance with my not so green fingers anyway!)
When we lived more connected to the Earth, and her cycles of growing and harvesting, we were more aware of this part of summer as the time when the first grains were harvested and celebrated. The word Lammas comes from ‘Loaf Mass’ which is when the first loaf of bread is made from these grains.
We may not be harvesting wheat from fields, but that energy is still prevalent. We have our own personal harvests–things you have grown and nurtured and worked hard to bring to fruition in your own life.
But just like storms could ravage crops, I have been worried about ways in which I may be prevented from harvesting all that I had hoped for in my business.
As some of you know, I am neurodivergent, and as such I worry about the mistakes I make which prevent me from running my business effectively. One of these fears was realised the other day when I sat down to work on my Lammas newsletter. I opened up the app to find my previous newsletter, which I poured my energies into for two days, had not been sent out. I had forgotten to press send. It’s been a difficult week and this was the straw that broke me. I had what I now recognise as an autistic meltdown. The rush of feelings all felt far too much for me to cope with. Everything felt pointless, like no matter how hard I work I will always make these mistakes which will stop me from succeeding. Now that I have calmed down I recognise this as black and white thinking/catastrophising, but in the moment it felt all too real.
It’s hard work growing a business and just trying to survive at the moment but after the panicked feelings subsided, I reconnected with the people I love and spent some time in nature the gratitude that I get to keep trying seeped back in. So for me, this Lughnasa has been an important time to pause and acknowledge all the beauty I have already harvested in my life. And all the hard work its taken to get here.
What I have concluded is that it’s all about recognising dualities existing at the same time. The world is a bit out of kilter - the seasons are more unpredictable than for our ancestors. We are half way through the year and it’s the beginning of the end of summer. We are still all feeling a bit clammy, be that from the constant rain or the insane mini heat waves that pepper the British summer time.
I always struggle to think straight at this time of year and kind of long for the cooler clear headed days of Autumn. But those days are coming! And I don’t want to wish my life away. It is so precious.
Looking to nature has been helping. When I become more connected to the themes around these festivals and the pulse of nature, I become more connected to myself. Yes things are dying but they will replenish the earth and return next year. What we harvest now will keep us going throughout the winter months.
And so, I will clear away the dying wildflowers barefoot, while drinking iced tea under the trees, and I’ll watch the spinning jennys fall from them. I will also look to caring for my houseplants and refreshing my altar with the symbols of Lughnasadh that I love - honey, sunflowers, wild grasses and oak leaves.
And I will keep on showing up 🙂
Some ideas for how to celebrate the Lammas/Lughnasadh…
🍞 Get baking - I tried a new recipe last night - spiced pear and courgette cake - as there is a glut of courgettes about! Unfortunately my impulse to bake came quite late last night and I wasn't patient enough to wait sooo it’s more of a bread and butter pudding consistency. 😆 The process really helped sort my head out though.
🍞 Gather some seeds - I mean, I am terrible with anything in the garden but I’m going to try and make a collections of seeds for my altar to remind me that there is always next year to plant afresh.
🍞 Light a little fire - the new moon on SundayI’m always up for a fire and theres plenty of kindling around with dry grass and seeds pods. Have a stare into the flames and reflect on the half way point of the year.
🍞 Refresh your altar - I’ve got a lovely beeswax candle I’m going to give centre stage to on my little shelf. Bees remind me that the work I put in now will pay off in the future. What golden trinkets could you gather to gaze at?
🍞Make a corn dolly or anything with your hands - I feel like corn dollies would have made excellent fidget toys for our neurodivergent ancestors. Find what feels comforting - knitting, origami, jewellery making? 😉 It doesn’t matter! Just give your hands a task and your mind a break.
Do you have any special rituals you like to take part in for Lammas/Lughnasadh? I’d love to hear more from you and start up a conversation in the comments!
