The first week of August marks a turning point in the wheel of the year where we celebrate the first grain harvest of the growing season. Lughnasadh, or Lammas, is a cross-quarter holiday sitting squarely between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. It is the first of 3 Pagan harvest festivals giving us an opportunity to CELEBRATE OUR PROGRESS and taste the first fruits of our labor, honoring the abundance we've created.
During Lughnasadh celebrations, we give thanks for the food the land has given us. Now is when we look for the crops and plants that have reached the peak of their growth cycle. We take pleasure in that which we’ve invested in and toiled over and offer gratitude to the earth for providing us with nourishment. This is a great time for play, feasting, and crafting. You may want to pick some berries, bake some bread, and drink up every last drop of sunshine before the wheel of the year turns toward Autumn.
Spiritually speaking, Lughnasadh is an invitation to look inward and reflect on the results of our good intentions. Some questions to consider:
- What accomplishments can I celebrate right now?
- What areas of my life feel juicy and ready to be harvested?
- What areas of my life need more time to ripen?
- How can I best honor my energetic investments?
- What dreams do I still long to manifest this year?
This holiday bears different names depending on the culture or community you are connected with. While Lughnasadh and Lammas seem similar - their origins are different. In Wales and England, they celebrated this holiday as Lammas, which translates to “Loaf Mass” - named appropriately because this is a time of year (at least in the UK) when wheat harvesting begins.
Lughnasadh (mostly recognized in Ireland and Scotland) is a holiday to honor Lugh, a prominent figure from Irish Mythology. He is a warrior who is considered to be highly skilled and athletic and is said to rule over trading, creativity, and feasting. Lugh is also referred to as the Irish Sun God - fitting we would celebrate him during Leo season as this fiery and creative zodiac sign Leo is ruled by the sun.
Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated on August 1st. However, astrologically it corresponds with the day when the sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo (which would be 8/6/2024). I typically engage in a variety of crafting and celebratory rituals throughout the first week of August because for me it feels more natural to celebrate a seasonal shift rather than a particular day. However, if I were going to pick a day for spell work or a movement ritual it would be the astrological date versus the traditional one.
Keep in mind that the wheel of the year follows the solar cycle and therefore is deeply linked to the seasons. I would encourage you to personalize your celebrations and adapt them to align with what is being harvested in your area at this time. If you enjoy crafting, common materials used in crafting during this time of year are wheat, sunflowers, and corn stalks. Baking bread is also a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday, especially if you have Celtic ancestors as this is one of the primary seasonal practices they would have engaged in.
As a dancer, I often engage in movement practices that help me connect with the element of the season - which, for this occasion would be FIRE. However, you could also work with the water element as we are nearing the Autumn Equinox and water is associated with the fall season. I like to choose shapes and sequences that help me embody strength and power to connect with solar energy and externally express my life force. And if at all possible, I find opportunities to dance around a fire. Check out my PIN for more ideas on how to dance with the fire element.
You might also find meaning in connecting with the King of Wands archetype in the tarot. To me, he very much embodies the energy of Lughnasadh. This King has worked hard to manifest his desires. He is aware of what he is capable of and takes inspired action to set his plans in motion. Watch this Instagram Video to see my intuitive and channeled movement for the suit of wands.
Photo by Autumn Crane | Dancer: Carla White Crowe
