Ideas for Lammas

The sabbat of Lammas or otherwise known as Lughnasadh is upon us. In the Northern Hemisphere, Lammas is typically celebrated on August 1st although I know of some people that tend to start celebrating on July 31st. It is a major Sabbat representing the first Harvest Festival. Some traditions include baking a loaf of wheat bread made from the first wheat of the harvest and making corn husk dolls in the image of a woman.

Lammas is the time to celebrate the Celtic Sun God, Lugh. His rays shine down upon the fields instilling life and strength into our harvest. He lives within the harvest and we take in his essence when we eat of the bread we create with the flour ground from the wheat we've harvested. Ceres and Demeter are also celebrated on this Sabbat as they are Goddesses of the Grain. This Sabbat can be thought of as Thanksgiving.

We thank the Earth for providing the soil and nutrients for the food we eat to give our body sustenance and we revere the sun for providing light for the seed to strive toward from out of the ground. It truly is a Sabbat where all the elements are represented in harmony and the cycle of life is clearly defined.

Some simple things you can do in celebration of this Sabbat is a 20 minute meditation on the cycle of life and the interconnectedness of all things. You may also bake a simple bread that can be used as a ritual sacrifice and offering to the Gods and Goddesses of the Harvest. For a simple and creative bread recipe try this recipe here. For some directions on how to create your own corn husk doll to decorate your alter with, click here.

Remember to stay safe on the Sabbat and have fun!!

Lammas Song

Song: Lammas Song

Artist: Lisa Thiel

Album: Circle of the Seasons

Caim

Celtic in Origin

Healing Moon Chant

I thought this was a very simple and powerful affirmation to use during rituals recognizing the lunar phases. The Full Moon is a good time to do a healing ritual whether it be for yourself or for a loved one. The energy from the moon can be quite powerful and potent for spells and rituals. Use it wisely!

Sleep Chant

Benefits of Nature

Ah, nature. How we adore thee. Nature does a lot for us mentally, emotionally, and physically. Spending some time out in nature can be calming to the mind and energetic for the body. Just spending half an hour outside can uplift our mood, our self esteem, and our energy. So go ahead and take a moment to sit out on a park bench, go walking around your neighborhood, or tend to your gardens. You'll feel more optimistic and the nature around you will appreciate the company.

Animal Spirit Guides

Do you find yourself attracted to a certain animal or animals? Do you feel as though you can relate to the animal(s)? Do you have recurring dreams of a certain animal or do you see it often throughout your life in art, mascots, books, etc?

Animal Spirit Guides or Totems have been popular throughout many cultures. Animals, along with humans, were given high positions in spirituality. The ancient Egyptians had deities who were part human and part animal, the Native Americans had animal totems that were for protection, reverence, and spiritual guidance, shamans when entering into the spiritual world would often describe animals that were seen on their vision quests. There are many instances were animals have played vital roles in our spiritual journeys.

I am strongly attracted to black panthers. I've seen black panthers in my dreams, in the physical world, and in symbols all throughout my life. Each animal represents different traits and characteristics such as wolves representing loyalty, and the bear representing strength.

Here's a quick list of some of the most common animal spirit guides and their traits:

Bear: Strength, Confidence, Healing
Cat: Patience, Courage, Independence
Crow: Intelligence, Audacious, Magic
Fox: Cunning, Dreams, Awareness
Horse: Passionate, Balance, Driving force
Owl: Intuition, Change, Wisdom
Lion: Assertiveness, Strength, Aggression
Snake: Healing, Transformation, Life
Wolf: Instinct, Intelligence, Loyalty

For some interesting information on animal spirit guides check out this site: http://psychiclibrary.com/beyondBooks/animal-spirit-guides