The wheel of the year is integral to pagan traditions, helping us to recognize and pay respect to the ever-changing cycles that make up natural life. It also speaks of times when the veil between this world and others is thinnest, providing opportunities for ritual work, connection with spiritual entities, and amplifying magical energy.
It is halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Fall Equinox (Mabon) on August 1st – that we celebrate Lammas (also known as Lughnasadh). This holiday marked the first harvest of the season and was a time of gathering grains and baking bread. During this period, the amount of light during the day grows less and less as darkness transitions to ruling over the coming months.
The correct pronunciation of the pagan holiday Lammas is "lam-uhs" or if you use the title Lughnasadh, it would be pronounced “loo-nah-sa.” The name Lughnasadh came from early Christians and meant “loaf mass" because of the use of grains and bread in the harvest celebrations, and for this reason, we prefer to use the title Lammas to honor the original roots of the pagan holiday.
At Lammas, it is an ideal time to perform magical workings pertaining to gratitude to the universe and give thanks to our spirit guides, deities, and other sources of divine wisdom who play a role in the abundance of the season. As we step into this time of growing darkness, we are invited to remember the power of the light that gave way to the current harvest. Through ritual practice, meditation, divination, or any other form of connection with the Spirit that resonates with us, we can show our appreciation and love for the abundant harvest that will carry us through the death portion of the Wheel of the Year.
Traditional Lammas colors include yellow, orange, gold, and green symbolizing the plants, grains, and sunlight that are all critical to the harvest celebrations. Plants such as sunflowers and calendula are heavily associated with the season and are used to honor all that the sun gave throughout the Summertime. There are multiple deities associated with Lammas, including the traditional acknowledgment of Lugh (Celtic Pantheon) who was known as a harvest god, Hestia (Greek Pantheon) the goddess of the hearth and protector of the home, and Bael (Canaanite Pantheon) the god of agriculture and harvest.
- Colors: Yellow, Orange, Gold, Green
- Energies: Harvest, Abundance, Transformation, Completion, Gratitude
- Oils/Incenses: Cinnamon, Lemon, Orange, Frankincense, Cassia, Myrhh
- Crystals: Citrine, Peridot, Carnelian, Gold Topaz, Clear Quartz, Amber
- Symbols: Sunflowers, Wheat, Bread, Cauldrons, Corn, Herbs, Scythes & Sickles
- Foods: Bread, Wine, Beer, Grapes, Berries, Corn
So let us all celebrate Lammas: a time filled with magic, abundance, joy, and growth. Let us pay homage to the wheel of the year; let us listen closely to its ancient wisdom; let us embrace its power to connect us with something greater than ourselves. May our hearts be open and our minds keen as we move through each passing season – gaining insight into life's mysteries along the way.
If you're interested in embracing Lammas through ritual, consider what aligns with your practice, such as connecting with solar and earth energy through herb or vegetable gardening, cooking or baking bread using herbs and spices that represent the season, performing a powerful fire ritual, creating art using colors associated with the holiday, or (my personal favorite) devoting time journaling with, giving offerings to, and expressing gratitude to your deity or spirit guide(s) of choice.
I love spending my energy journaling during this season because it's symbolic of the reflection that would have taken place during the act of harvesting all of the grain and food for the winter. To me, this helps prepare me physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the inevitable hardships that come with the season of long nights, increased darkness, and the energy of “death.”
No matter how we choose to honor Lammas, its transformative energy encourages us to appreciate the beauty of nature and all it brings into our lives. Take a moment to fully immerse yourself in the spirit of the harvest - use colorful decorations, burn herbs, or simply spend time outdoors to truly feel connected with all that this powerful season has to give. May you experience abundance, joy, and peace through your celebration of Lammas!