Lammas — reaping what you sow
Hey Witches,
One of the core aspects of being a Witch is flowing with the seasons and the cycles of nature. But this principle doesn’t just apply to our external environment — it extends to our own bodies, too. As women, our energy ebbs and flows each month, but as humans, we all experience inner seasons that don’t necessarily correspond to the outer world, and it’s important to honour them.
Today the Wheel of the Year turns once again as we celebrate Lammas, the first of the three harvest festivals. Lammas marks the heart of summer, yet I have personally been going through an inner winter. After an intense period of work and a stressful road trip across three countries with my cat, my body said “enough” and promptly shut up shop. It’s taken me a week to recover, and I’m still not fully there yet. I’ve even taken up morning siestas as well as afternoon ones.
As a yogi and a Witch, I know when my body is talking loud and clear. As a triple Aries (Sun, Moon, and Midheaven), slowing down and relaxing doesn’t come easily to me, and I tend to burn myself out, but honouring my need for rest is a lesson I’m currently integrating — which is why I’m writing this today, on a Monday, instead of last Friday as I had originally intended.
But perhaps my unplanned downtime isn’t so out of step with the season, after all. As the first harvest, Lammas is a time to slow down, take a step back, and reap the fruits of our labour. It’s a time of celebration and gratitude for the Earth’s abundant sustenance.
And yet, beneath the joy lies a tinge of sadness. Here in the hills of northern Italy, the once-green wheat fields are now a stubbly gold, punctuated by the round hay bales that herald the end of summer. Wild fruits that line the hedgerows are turning blood red and deep purple, the colours of the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. I watch in anticipation as the blackberries ripen by the day and succumb to the temptation to pick the first ones too early. Their sour juice reminds me that summer’s not quite over yet.
(Image credit: Thierry Filleuil/Pexels)
Lammas is indeed a sacred time that reminds us of the fleetingness of life’s most precious moments. It is one of the Celtic cross-quarter festivals and marks the halfway point between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox. The light is visibly fading as we move into the darker half of the year. But Lammas (also known as Lughnasadh after the Irish god, Lugh) also reminds us to live in the moment and not to mourn that which is not yet lost. Yet, the act of harvesting is a reminder that without death there is no life, and that parts of us must be sacrificed in order to receive abundance. That’s why the Goddess is sometimes depicted as the Reaper at Lammas.
Lammas ritual suggestions
Give thanks
If you set intentions during the darker months of the year, you may now find yourself reaping the rewards. Look back at the seeds you planted last winter and give thanks for the ones that have sprouted and born fruit by listing them in your journal. These might be material manifestations or other manifestations of abundance, such as love or friendship.
It’s also important to celebrate the challenges, obstacles, and lessons learned, as they are essential for our personal and spiritual development. Make a list of the ways in which you’ve grown and find ways to be grateful for that which failed to grow.
Let go
At Lammas, we are asked to cut away that which no longer serves in order to receive abundance, just as the farmer cuts away the crops to reap the harvest.
Make a list of things that no longer serve you and resolve to let go of them. You may wish to (safely) burn your list.
Make an offering to Mother Earth
Lammas is all about celebrating and giving thanks for the abundance of the Earth. By giving back to nature, we vibrate with the energy of abundance, which helps us to attract more.
Bake bread
Lammas means “loaf mass” in old English, as this was the time of year that the wheat was harvested. Bake yourself a loaf of bread to connect with this time-honoured tradition.
(Image credit: Flo Maderebner/Pexels)
Share your abundance with others
Ask yourself how you can pay it forward by sharing your abundance with others. This might be with your time, money, or in any other way you like. Allow your intuition to guide you and take action on it.