Lughnasadh Sabbat Ritual

 --Lammas or Lughnasadh (LOO-na-sahd) is the First Harvest. The sun and grain god represented by the Celtic god Lugh is sacrificed so that His life force may sustain the Earth and us, His children.  This is a funeral celebration, thanking Lugh for his sacrifice so that we may live and be prepared for the coming winter. Traditionally Lughnasahd is celebrated through the baking of the bread from the first harvest of grain and the blessing of the first harvested fruits. Also playing competitive sport games, especially those that display strength and skill, are traditionally held at this time including the Olympics, the Panatheniac Games, the Highland Games, and modern football season.

“The traditional five games (Pentathlon) are running  (50 or 100 yard speed race), long jumping (from running start in sand pit, the longest jump wins), wrestling (gripping only  above the waist and whomever can get the others shoulder to touch the ground first wins), boulder heaving (a bowling ball will do in our modern exploits of this sport, the farthest landing wins), and taber tossing (a long pole, like a flag pole is thrown at a hay bale target, the one closest to the target wins.)” ---

‘Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard’ by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart

For the passing of summer we remember the good times and the bounty of the Earth by eating a special meal. The following ritual is designed to utilize food as an offering and a way of ingesting transformation into our lives.

The Feast for Lugh

 (Based on an article by Sandra Kynes at http://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/article/7828 )

Needed:

·      Baked bread, wine, chalice, athame, grapes, offering bowl, have the food for the feast ready but not in the circle

·      Also a list of three wishes to be made during the ritual

Instructions:

·      Cast a 'Circle of Art'

·      Call the Watchtowers

·      “Lord Lugh, Lord of the Harvest, the bounty of your seed ripens in the fields and orchards, Be with us during this rite!”

·      “Lady Gaia, Mother of all, your great swollen belly provides abundance. Nourish us, protect us. Be with us during this rite!”

·      Fill chalice with wine, bless and consecrate the wine by first visualizing it being filled with yellow light and say, “I exorcise you of all impurities that may lie within.” Then visualize the wine being filled with bright blue light and say, “And I do bless you and consecrate you to this working.”

·      Each person take a bit of bread and a sip of wine, saying before hand, “I share the bounty of the Lord. I share the bounty of the Lady.”

·      “Lets us think on what began earlier this year, what has grown and is ready to come to fruition into our lives” Contemplate this, then take 2 grapes each, holding them in your power hand (the hand you write with) and make a wish utilizing visualization and focused will. Eat one and place the other in the offering bowl saying as you do, “So mote it be”

·      Do the same with a bit of bread, after eating one piece, place the other piece in the offering bowl, as you do say, “So mote it be.”

·      Then take a sip of wine while making your wish then pour a bit into the bowl saying, “So mote it be!”

·      “May our wishes and intentions be carried above and below! May the blessings be!”

·      Bid farewell to Lugh and Gaia, then farewell to the Watchtowers. Release the circle then bring out the food!

·      Before eating say this last final prayer: “Thanks be to Lugh, God of the grain, God of the sun. Your sacrifice for our sustenance and life shall be honored! Hail be to Lugh for our fruit and grain, Hail be to the Goddess who shall see to His rites and passage. In both your honor, Lugh and Great Goddess, do we partake in this holy feast. So mote it be!”*

·      

     Now eat and enjoy each others company! A blessed Lughnasadh to all, may your first harvest be bountiful!  

NOTE: Once the feast is over you may burry the offerings and clean the bowl.

 *T.LH

Lugh, Celtic Sun God of the Grain.

Beatus Esse,

Tytus Lionheart