Lughnasadh (pronounced Luna-sah) is the beginning of the harvest season. Also influenced byLammas (meaning loaf mass), the harvest fest celebrating the half-way point of summer and autumn. Originating from Ireland, its name is Celtic and represents the Celtic deity, Lugh, the Solar God of Harvest.
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Formerly, the first fresh fruits were offered to the Gods and Goddesses, while humans celebrated on the earth for the abundance that was provided to them from Mother Earth. Celebrations such as Thanksgiving was originally inspired by this festivity. Goddesses of the harvest were honored on this day.
The celebration is on 1 August in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere it falls between 31 January and 1 February. The cross quarter festival of the midway point between the Summer Solstice and Autumnal Equinox when the sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo. The Wheel of the Year continues to turn.
Rituals
A day to connect with Earth and give thanks for the harvest season. An ideal time to write down everything we are grateful for, to volunteer, go for long walks outdoors, eat nature's abundance, especially in fruit or pick fruit and herbs from the garden.
Adorn your altar with seasonal fruit, wheat and grains. Reflect on your intentions for the rest of the summer and what you would like to see come to harvest at the Autumnal Equinox in September.
What to do on Lughnasadh:
Give thanks for what you have harvested so far.
Bake a loaf of bread.
Adorn your altar with seasonal fruit, corn, grains or dried wheat.
Go to a farmer’s market to support local farmers.
Decorate your altar with symbols of abundance.
Watch the sunrise and sunset.
Place symbols in yellow or citrine crystals at your altar.
Create a wildflower bouquet.
Reflection Questions
What have I harvested so far this summer?
What am I truly thankful for?
What do I desire to harvest by the beginning of autumn?
How can I celebrate life?
What intuitive ritual do I feel called to create in celebration of the middle of summer?
Happy harvest fest ☼
About the writer
Inés Kelly is a trauma-informed space holder and integral guide in Human Design and astrology. Her multi-cultural background has gifted her with the insight of various rituals and traditions. Bringing the ancestral and the honoring of the natural cycles to the community is a deep value she holds.
Resources:
Grimoire by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Priestess by Julie Parker