08/02/2024
Love this written by Michael Butler Smith
Thank you!
Bright Lammas Blessings to all celebrating!
Known variously as Lammas, Lughnasadh, Lughnasa; as Cornucopia in some Italian Strega traditions; as Green Spirit in Circle Craft. Other names include First Harvest, Feast of Bread, Native American Green Corn, and the Roman Cerealia. In ancient Egypt this was the time of celebrations in honor of the rising of Sirius, the shimmering blue star of Isis. Sirius, called Sothis by the Egyptians, was believed to be the “home of the soul of Isis.” The star’s rising coincided with the rising of the Nile.
Some – especially older Witchcraft traditions - begin their celebrations on July 31st – August Eve. Others celebrate on August 1st; or tomorrow August 2nd. And still others will wait for Astrological Lammas – this year on August 6th - when the Sun reaches 15 degrees Leo. We can choose to keep the Lammas-spirit alive throughout this entire week-long period.
Regardless of what we call it or when or for how long we celebrate it, this holiday is held by many Witches and Wiccans as the First Harvest of the Year. For this reason, the magick associated with this Sabbat often has to do with harvest, with making offerings; and with creating magickal items from harvested herbs, with conservation and protection.
One traditional custom is that should it rain at any time during the Tide of Lammas (July 31st to August 6th), collect the rain water and add mugwort to it, creating a magickal potion with which to wash water-safe magickal tools – especially those used in divination such as: crystal balls, scrying stones, magick mirrors, and runestones (not wood). You can also use it as an anointing potion to open the third eye prior to performing divination.
In addition, some Witches will do a large mugwort harvest at Lammas – creating protective wreaths, garlands, bundles, dream-pillows, and smudge-sticks. Wreaths and bundles are hung up in the home not only for protection, but also to encourage psychic power, prophetic dreaming, and contact with spirits and deities.
Another Lammas magickal tradition is to create and bury Witch Bottles for protection. I’ve shared how I make them in past posts on , but there are as many variations as there are Witches, so do a little research and find the method that holds the most power for you. Almost universally, Witch Bottles contain sharp objects like nails, pins, razors, thorns or even broken pieces of mirror – to neutralize negative and harmful energies. The bottle is usually buried in the front of the house or hidden in a flower pot for apartment dwellers.
As a bit of both candle magick and offering, using an anointed, charged and consecrated yellow candle, place it in a deep bowl or cauldron and fill or surround the container with seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables – either from your own garden or green market. Give thanks to the Goddess for such abundance, projecting the intention that you open the way for greater abundance, prosperity and goodness to enter your life. Burn the candle a little each day or use a 7-day candle and keep it burning throughout Lammas. Be sure and enjoy the fruits and/or veggies during this time as well.
Because Lammas/Lughnasadh is a bread holiday, any spells having to do with bread or bread making are highly traditional. If you like to bake, create special breads – especially wholegrain and cornbread – during this time. You can decorate the loaves with magickal symbols or runes to encourage health, wealth or whatever else you wish to manifest. As you eat the bread, you’re taking in the magick and grounding it in your physical body, making you attractive and magnetic to your goal. This ingesting of grain made into bread is also a deep Witchcraft Mystery – helping us commune with the Goddess.
And finally, a traditional prosperity spell - which I've shared both here and in an Isian version in my book - uses a small loaf of fresh bread. The bread is put on a plate and placed before a statue of the Goddess or on a small offering table set up near Her altar. This bread offering is made to the Goddess as Lady of Bread and Lady of Abundance. The loaf is kept in place for seven days, often accompanied by a white or yellow candle – which makes it the perfect spell to use during the entire Lammas-tide. At the end of the seven days, the old loaf is replaced with a new one. Prayers to the Goddess are said over the old bread, asking for prosperity. The old loaf is customarily composted or placed outside in Nature, magickally perpetuating a cycle of giving and receiving.
Today, I give thanks for the many blessings that have manifested in my life; for those things I have magickally projected for and manifested in the World of Form. I give thanks for the abundance that I have nurtured from the soil, for the vegetables in my garden that are producing, ripening, and gracing my table, for the fragrant herbs and beautiful summer flowers. I give thanks to the Goddess for the countless blessings and goodness She pours out upon the Earth and upon my life. I give thanks. I give thanks. I give thanks.
May you continue to enjoy a wonderfully Magickal Lammas! Goddess Bless and Blessed be!
© Michael Butler Smith 2024
Image: “Golden Hour Wheat” – photo by Pixabay for Pexels dot com
