moonsworshipper:

The Witch’s Sabbats: Lughnasadh (1st August)🌾

Lughnasadh is an ancient Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. It was observed in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

The story tells that the god Lugh begun this festival in order to commemorate his mother or foster-mother Tailtiu, who had died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. Tailtiu was a gooddess related to the Earth and she represented the dying vegetation that fed mankind.

The festival included sports contests, horse racings, music, storytelling, trading and many law-related issues, such as proclaming laws. 

From the 9th century to the 20th many things changed. What’s important is the celebration of two different gods and a new story: Crom Dubh – who generates the growth of the crops and guards this as his treasure – and Lugh – who must seize it for manking. The two competed for Eithne’s approval- she represented the grain. Lugh eventually wins the harvest.

Modern Lughnasadh in Wiccan Culture 🌙

Lughnasadh or Lamma is today celebrated by wiccans and it’s part of the three harvest festivals. 

Here are listed some ways to celebrate Lughnasadh.

Altar🕯

Decorate your altar and house with grains such as barley, oats and wheat. Fruits and veggies are well accepted too. Adorn it with summer flowers (marigolds, yarrows, peonies, daffodils etc). Light yellow, red, orange and brown candles. Adorn your wand with a golden ribbon.

This is the perfect period to gather and dry herbs, flowers, grains or seed that you will be using the following year. Make magickal oils with seasonal’s fresh herbs.

Kitchen🍴

Bake bread with olives and tomatoes

Bake bread using oat meal, corn meal and wheat.

Have a picnic in a corn or wheat field. Drink fruity red wine or cider and eat bread, cheese and olives.

Make a blackberries pie. If you want, draw on the crust an abundance sigil.

Spells✨

The perfect spell for this festival are spells related to connection, career, health, money and abundance.Make sun water and storm water with the violent storms that occur during summer.

Herbs 🌿

Goldenrod, peony, nasturtium, clover blossom, yarrow, heliotrope, boneset, vervain, Queen Anne’s lace, myrtle, rose, sunflower, poppy, milkweed, Irish moss, mushroom, wheat, corn, rye, oat, barley, rice, garlic, onion, basil, mint, aloe, acacia, meadowsweet, apple leaf, raspberry leaf, strawberry leaf, bilberry leaf, blueberry leaf, mugwort, hops, holly, comfrey, marigold, grape vine, ivy, hazelnut, blackthorn, elder, bee pollen.

Stones💎

Cat’s-eye, citrine, aventurine, golden topaz, obsidian, moss agate, rhodochrosite, clear quartz, marble, slate, granite, lodestone.