Celtic Lammas,Irish Lughnasdh,August 2nd: time of the first harvest and the great festival of the summer's height; a time for the gathering of grain, vegetables, fruits before the onset of darker evenings and the weakening of the sun. Traditonally, this is a time of markets, fairs, festivals, outdoor gatherings of all kinds; a time to enjoy the sunshine and the outdoors and to share ideas, network, enjoy companionship and friendship. It is a time of shooting stars, contemplation of the night's sky and a fire festival when we can share camp fires and stories. It is a time to reflect upon your own personal harvest; focus on what nourishes and sustains you, what feeds your soul and gives you joy.You may have been working hard and energetically or expending alot of energy to bring about change, now the tides of enthusiasm seem to be ebbing with the sun and a gentler, mellower rhythm takes its place. This is a time of abundance and ripeness, a time to contemplate what you have sown over the last six months since Imbolc and what harvest and rewards you can reap for your efforts.In the hedgerows the leaves are starting to show the first signs of turning, the blackberries are appearing and the flame coloured Monbretia, purple heather and golden hues of gorse carpet the moors. The air is softer and the sun more golden, even the grass is drier and whiter. There is a sense of August as a lull, a gentle wave held in suspension before the awakening of Autumn. The air is full of scents after rainshowers and a symphony of bees and gnats gathers to a
crescendo. It feels like a final surge of joyful living, a celebration of life energy before the lull of Autumn.
In Celtic mythology, the Lughnasadh festival is said to have been begun by the god Lugh, as a funeral feast and games commemorating his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. The first location of the Áenach Tailteann was at the site of modern Teltown, located between Navan and Kells. Historically, the Áenach Tailteann gathering was a time for contests of strength and skill, and a favored time for contracting marriages and winter lodgings. A peace was declared at the festival, and religious celebrations were also held. A similar Lughnasadh festival was held at Carmun (whose exact location is under dispute). Carmun is also believed to have been a goddess of the Celts, perhaps one with a similar story as Tailtiu.
Last night the moon was full, shining clear in Aquarius over the small harbour where I live. I went out into the indigo silver night with my black cat and we moon gazed for an hour while she was at her height.It was a blessed, gentle night with only the sound of gulls crying and the odd lost song of a seal out on the island. The tide pulled and pawed softly over stones. It was a time to bathe in the beams of the moon and reflect upon the way what affects myself as an individual affects all. The sense of a role to find for myself within a greater community and of not forgetting the outer signs of change: current talks between North Korea and the USA, the part the individual can play in bringing about a peaceful harvest and more harmonious community. Lammas was traditionally a time for baking bread...Loaf Mass...and bread is our staple food source, grain the basic food supply for all agricultural countries:
Only 40 days of global grain stocks left
Two days ago, the newly appointed chief scientific adviser to the UK Government, Professor John Beddington, warned of coming food shortages for the whole world. In a speech given at the Govnet Sustainable Development UK Conference in Westminster he said: "There is progress on climate change. But out there is another major problem. It is very hard to imagine how we can see a world growing enough crops to produce renewable energy and at the same time meet the enormous increase in the demand for food which is quite properly going to happen as we alleviate poverty." (quoted from The Guardian, 7 March 2008)found on 'Green Living' another blog at blogspot.com
Thankyou, I've enjoyed reading this!
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