Happy Lughnassadh, in the seasonal world the first harvest in the Northern hemisphere, between July 31 at sunset and sunset August 2. It is mirrored in the southern world by Imbolc, the first stirrings of new life as the land awakes after winter. In old traditions Lughnassadh marked the willing offering by the Grain god of his life to be made into the first loaf of the first harvest, Christianised as the Lammas loaf. On Imbolc the maiden goddess melted the winter snows with her willow wand and promised the return of ever lighter warmer days, still celebrated as Candlemas in many church calendars.
Ahead in later September is the Autumn or Fall Equinox in the northern climes, the second harvest with chances still to put right what has not yet worked out. In the southern world is the anticipation of the Spring Equinox, preparing now for future endeavours as we sense the stirring of new life in nature.
For as the world turns, season by season and year by year, although damaged by our disregard for the climate revealed ever more frequently in freak weather patterns, so do we act out our political skirmishes, our Olympian endeavours that temporarily override all other news, wars and child poverty even in wealthy nations.
Sometimes it seems as if we hide in our Lego–secure financial institutions and seats of government, lulled by promises that they will last forever or at least reap rewards with the next change of government. At the same time, the gap between the natural seasons and our daily lives becomes wider or somehow less relevant.
Yet the turning of the year is imprinted within us, as it has been for thousands of years, our personal harvest, the melting of frozen emotions and concerns, conserving and strengthening what is of worth and letting go what did not grow in our lives.
Though all may not have flourished in our lives, in their place we prepare the way to plant the seeds of new plans we can nurture in the months ahead. Then with diligence and sheer hard work not miracles, we will reap the rewards not of bounty falling from the heavens as we wait for the doorbell of destiny to bring next day delivery of wall-to-wall fulfilment, but the fruits of our own well-earned efforts - or accepting we must embrace change by going with not resisting or ignoring the ever-turning energies within and all around us.
- Light white and golden yellow candles for Imbolc and Lughnassadh and say, Without the melting there can be no harvest. And without the harvest no life. I let go of the fears and resentments that hold me frozen from making a better future for myself and others, even in the smallest of ways and of valuing whatever bounty however modest I have or will receive.
- Sprinkle a few grains of sage or rosemary in each flame, leaving the candles to burn. Make plans for your future and for making a difference in your own way at this point in the rising or falling cosmic Wheel in your land. Say goodbye for what can be no more. Scatter the rest of the seeds outdoors for the birds to eat or grow or be blown away to germinate elsewhere as is destined.
facebook.com/cassandra.eason.14
https://www.instagram.com/cassandraeasonofficial/