BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality Pagan Lughnasa plans

A friend of mine asked if I'd help her plan a ritual for Lughnasa. I'm like, really, already? Then I realized it's just over a month away. And the summertime always seems to just fly by!!

Last year I told the story of Lugh, and we talked about his talents, and how we all have talents too. I'm not sure what to do this year.

What do you all like to do???

The nice thing about the eight festivals is that there is never more than a six-week gap between them. It breaks the year up nicely although as you found out the next celebration can be on top of you before you notice.

The harvest death and rebirth themes this year look like coming dramatically to life as one of my wife's daughters is having a baby around that date, and two people I know in their eightys have health problems that mean they could be dying around that time too.

Usually we like to bake some bread, lay out a simple first harvest altar, and go to the top of Portsdown Hill where the wheat fields are and look out over the city at dawn and sunset.

Hi Ian,

I do think they break up the year nicely - I love the festivals so much - it's nice to know we don't have to go long without one!

Blessings on the new arrival, and blessings to those who may be departing....

I love to make zuccinni bread... it grows like crazy here, and we always seem to have an abundance around this time of year.

Oh, and caramel apples!!

Have either of you ever made sand candles to honor the goddess of the sea? Make sure to place newspapers over your work area for easy clean up. An outside area might be best.

Place enough sand in a bucket or large tub to scoop out a candle mold in. Add enough water so sand is completely wet and will hold the shape of your mold.

Melt wax from old altar candle stubs in a coffee can set in a pot of boiling water

Add essential oil

Hold the wick in the center of your mold and gently pour in the melted wax - careful to not burn yourself

When wax hardens, slip your fingers under the candle and carefully lift it out

Gently brush off the excess sand

These will make nice candles for your rituals and celebrating the grain harvest at suppers.

This is the way Brujas and Brujos made candles in Mexico DF - especially in the Barrios.

On related topic: Does using these candles in ritual make you a Sand Witch?

Now that is something to ponder on.