Lughnasadh also known as Lammas is the Celtic festival of the first harvest and gathering of the grain. It honors the first fruits of labor as well as the Sun God Lugh who gives his name to this sabbat.

The Goddess is heavily pregnant  at this time and will lay with the Sun God one last time as he dies, giving his life for the abundance of food we will enjoy. The Sun is weakening with every day and the days are gradually shortening. The Goddess will gradually become the Crone of winter as she mourns the loss of her love.

This is a time to give thanks for the abundance and the sacrifice the Goddess and God have given and all that they provide us in celebration and honoring. This is also a good time to look at what we have achieved so far this year and what has come to be. To celebrate the wins and reflect on what we need to do moving forward for any other projects or goals which haven’t yet ripened.

Lughnasadh Goddesses

Tailtiu (Celtic) is a goddess of the earth and fertility. She is the foster mother of Lugh the sun god and also sacrificed herself to clear the land for agriculture.

Renenutet (Egyptian) is a goddess of fertility and the harvest. Giving nourishment and nurture to her children.

Ceres (Roman) is the goddess of the harvest and grain. She taught humankind to prepare grain for threshing and cereal is named after her.

Demeter (Greek) is a goddess of the grain, harvest and fertility. When her daughter Persephone leaves for the underworld, she goes into deep mourning for her. The land starts to die, but first the crops are gathered and then in turn when her daughter returns in the spring, she becomes fertile once more providing growth for food and crops and the cycle begins again.

Lughnasadh Gods

Lugh (Celtic) is a sun god who gives his name to this festival. He is a god of the harvest and talent.

Tammuz (Sumerian) is a god of crops and vegetation and is associated with the cycle of life and death.

Osiris (Egyptian) is associated with the harvest season. He is a god of life, death and rebirth, fertility and the underworld. He taught humankind to break up the land, sow seeds and then harvest them when ripe.

Lughnasadh Symbols

Sheaves of wheat, Barley, Corn, Corn dollies, Sickles, Bread, Grains, the Sun, Sun flowers, Ripe fruits

Lughnasadh Colors and Flowers

Yellow, Gold, Orange, Sun flowers, Calendula, dahlias, Goldenrod, Heather

Lughnasadh Meditation

Sit and close your eyes. Take three deep breaths, to center yourself.

Imagine you are at the edge of a wheat field. It’s beautiful and golden and it is shimmering with the sun light.

You notice a path in front of you leading deep into the wheat field and you start to follow it. You realize it is a spiral and you walk around and around until you see a clearing.

You stop just before the entrance to the middle of the spiral and notice that this clearing also has a spiral on the ground with fallen wheat. In the middle is one piece of wheat still standing. You approach it and you hear a voice say:

‘This piece of wheat represents something you need to let go of in order to welcome the abundance that is there waiting for you. Are you ready to let go?’

Feel/sense or think what this thing is you need to let go of. What comes to mind straight away? Sense it with your intuition. If you are not sure, then what is something you wish to let go of now?

When you know what it is, decide whether you are ready to let it go. If you are, then say ‘Yes I am ready to let it go.’

The voice says ‘Then take the sickle on the ground by your feet and cut the wheat down.’

You look down and there is a sickle. You pick it up and take a deep breath in and then cut the wheat down as you breathe out, letting go of what no longer serves you.

You feel/sense a release and a lightness in your energy. You know you have just let go of something that has made more space within you to receive more abundance in your life.

You may feel emotional, cry or just feel peace. Be with this feeling for a moment.

When you are ready, give your thanks and head back out of the spiral on the path you came, back to the edge of the field.

Take three deep breaths and come back to the room.

Write down your experience. What was the thing you let go of? How did it feel? How do you feel now?

Lughnasadh Ritual

Set up a small altar with candles, something to represent the the Sun God, the Harvest Goddess and abundance.

Light the candles and ask the four directions to be present to protect you in a circle.

Think about the blessings you have had this year so far. What are you grateful for? You could just think of these or write them down.

Feel the gratitude you have for these blessings and give thanks to the Goddess and Sun God for their sacrifices and the abundance you have received this year.

Then do the meditation above and write down your experience.

Add anything else in that you wish to here.

When you are ready, close the circle by thanking the Goddess, God and directions. Give an offering of thanks, this could be some fruit that is in season, some bird food to feed the birds or something else you feel drawn to. Remember it doesn’t have to be big and it is your intention that counts.