7 Ways to Celebrate Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh celebrates the first harvest of the Wheel of the Year. Taking place on August 1….
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In the Wheel of the Year, August 1st is the celebration of Lughnasadh (pronounced loo-NAS-ah). Modern celebrations of Lughnasadh represents a blending of Celtic myth and the Anglo-Saxon celebration of Lammas. There are many easy and affordable ways to celebrate the first harvest of the Wheel of the Year, taking pause to enjoy the full bloom of summertime.
1. Bake Bread
In ancient times Lughnasadh marked the beginning of the grain harvest. Grains like wheat, barley, oats and corn were vital for surviving the long cold winters of the Northern Hemisphere. So it makes sense that the first harvest of grain was a cause for celebration. On August 1, grain would be harvested in the dawn hours and by evening it was baked into a loaf of bread to be shared by the community. Like Yule, Imbolc and Ostara, in certain parts of Europe this ancient custom was melded with Christianity during the early middle ages, as the influence of the Christian church spread. During this time, the first loaf of bread to be baked would be taken to the local church and be blessed by a priest, leading to the Old English term Haef Mas, which translates to Loaf Mass, which is where the term Lammas comes from. Though Lammas was an early Christian tradition among Anglo-Saxons, it’s roots go back to the earliest agrarian cultures, including the Celts and Druids.
Save this recipe for old fashion Lammas bread.
2. Gather Flowers
This simple activity is one of my favorites. Nothing makes an ordinary day feel special like having a bouquet of fresh seasonal flowers on my dining table or desk. Of course flowers vary from place to place, but the most common blooms available in the Northern Hemisphere during Lughnasadh include sunflowers, black-eyed susan’s, poppies and gladiolas. if you don’t have access to your own fresh flowers, consider picking up an inexpensive bouquet at the grocery store.
3. Make Some Arts & Crafts
Lughnasadh is named for the Celtic Sun God, Lugh, who was the patron god of skilled craftsman and blacksmiths, along with several other areas. Lughnasadh is a good time to make something special or try out a whole new skill, such as painting, weaving, pottery or woodworking. Last year I took up painting landscapes, because it was something I always wanted to try. Even if the end results aren’t the best thing you’ve ever seen (none of my paintings will ever hang on my walls) the process of creativity is good for the mind and soul. I’ve curated several fun nature based projects HERE.
4. Make a Corn Dolly
Along the lines of arts and crafts, Corn Dollies are a fun activity to do with or without kids. A corn dolly is made from corn stalks and were a popular ancient traditions. Corn dollies were thought to embodied the spirit of the harvest and give it a home during the long winter months. They would also be used as a harvest decorations. Here is a video tutorial on how to make a Corn Dolly.
5. Set Intentions
Lughnasadh in the midway point of the growing season (Beltane to Samhain) and midway between summer (Litha) and autumn (Mabon). It’s a good time to take a break and think about how your year has been and what you would like to accomplish through the rest of summer/the growing season. This could be literal (plants, crops, flowers) or more figurative such as new skills, habits or projects.
6. Celebrate the Grain Moon
In keeping with the season of Lughnasadh, you can celebrate the full moon of August, known as the Grain Moon, Barley Moon, Sturgeon Moon and Dispute Moon. August was the time of the first harvest of the year the Celtic and to celebrate the occasion with feasts and festivals. Today the Grain Moon is a time to celebrate all your work and progress during the year, knowing that you are also prepared for the months ahead. Check out the Free Celtic Moon Printables in the Members Library.
7. Host a Lughnasadh Party or Potluck
Enjoy the late summer weather with a gathering of friends and family. Make some seasonal summer dishes and spend time with the people you care about. You can grab the Free Mabon House Lughnasadh Celebration planner in the Members Library.
Creating Intentional Joy in Your Life
Over the years I have learned that, when it comes to most parts of my life, I am the maker of my own happiness. While I would love for my family to clean the house without me asking (just once!) or receive an impromptu bouquet of flowers from my partner, I find that if I wait on other people to make me happy, most days are kind of ho-hum. This doesn’t mean that I don’t find joy from the people around me. I absolutely do! But I also know that there are many small ways that only I can make my cumulative days better. And I do that by adding in some intentional joy.
What is Intentional Joy?
I define Intentional Joy as actions I take that make me feel truly happy. Sometimes this means happiness in the moment, like picking up a bouquet of sunflowers at the grocery store or taking a break from the daily grind to wander about my flower garden. Other times Intentional Joy can be doing something for myself that I believe will bring me happiness over the long term. This includes things like regular physical activity, giving myself time to journal each day, keeping my space clean and clutter free, or working toward a personal or professional goal. Each time I create a new piece of content for Mabon House, I file it under Intentional Joy; because even if I don’t feel like writing or doing some design work in that very moment, I know that seeing the finished results WILL bring joy - to myself and my readers.
Sometimes intentional joy shows up as chores, exercise, the apple instead of the cookie (or the cookie instead of the apple). Other times it is take-out for one and a generous glass of wine to celebrate a win at work or other personal accomplishment. For me intentional joy is doing something that I know will make me feel better -sometimes in the moment, other times in the long run. It is about taking time to get clear on how I want to feel in my life and taking steps to feel that way as often as possible.
WHAT DOES YOUR BEST DAY LOOK LIKE?
What does your best day look like? I don’t mean what kind of house you’d live in or the type of car you’d drive if you won the lottery. I mean what would your current real life look like if you were living your purpose and finding happiness and abundance each and every day? What would you be doing? How would each day fulfill you? What kind of intentional joy would show up from day to day? Because, ultimately, that’s your goal – to create a life you love more often than not. To find joy in the small spaces, as well as the big events.
How Are You Spending Your Time?
One of the big problems with building in Intentional Joy, is that it can feel like there isn’t enough time in a day to do all the things you’d like to do.
But lack of time doesn’t have to hold you back from creating some intentional joy in your life. I’m here to say to you, as a kindred spirit, No one is going to give your permission to take time for yourself. You have to TAKE it.
Start making your self care a priority in your schedule. Carve out as much time as you need - no matter if that means half an hour or half a day. Give yourself time to do the things that will make you feel better and bring you joy. This may require letting go of things that don’t serve you (i.e. doom-scrolling before bed every night). You may need to ask for help (can your spouse make dinner and put the kids to bed, so you can have an hour of quiet, once a week?). If life is feeling stagnant, it’s time to get out of your comfort zone/regular routine and shake things up a bit.
Create Your Own Joy
Here is a fun exercise. Find one hour (or more) this week, to do something that will bring you some Intentional Joy. This could be planning a special Ostara meal, creating some spring-themed DIY projects or decor, trying a new beauty routine, reading a new book or simply writing in your journal. Whatever you decide to do, it should be Joyful - not time consuming or complicated. Spend it with your family or friends, if that makes you happy. Or spend solo, if that makes you happy. Mark that time off on your calendar and commit to doing something just for yourself. This small practice is something you can start to do a on a regular basis, to loosen the reigns of a rigid schedule and invite more joy into your everyday.
How Are You Celebrating Imbolc?
Can you believe it’s already the middle of January? While I usually don’t mind the cold weather, this year I find myself longing for spring and sunshine and flowers more than usual.
That said, I’m determined to make the best of the winter and take some time to celebrate Imbolc, which is arguably one of the least known Pagan holidays. #yulegetsallthelove
After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I’m planning on a pretty low-key Imbolc celebration. In fact, I think it’s just going to be me, some candles, my journal and quiet corner of my house. And maybe (which means I definitely will have) some sweet baked treats to mark the occasion.
One of the best parts of following an Pagan spiritual path, in my humble opinion, is that there are so many different ways to celebrate. You can do it up with a fully decorated altar and rituals or keep it simple with some candlelight and quiet meditation on the year ahead.
I want to use Imbolc as a opportunity to really slooowww dooowwwn and think about what I want to accomplish, and more importantly, how I want to feel in 2020.
How about you? What are you planning for Imbolc? How will you celebrate? I’d love to hear about it!
Give me a shout out on Instagram and share how you’re celebrating Imbolc in 2020!
