Although in the heat of a Mid-Western Summer it might be difficult to discern, the festival of Lughnasadh (LOO-nas-ah) or (LOO-na-suh)/Lammas on August 1st marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall, a shift from growing time to harvest time. The subtle changes of the waning sun that occurred at Summer Solstice become more evident as the balance of day and night seem to shift more dramatically. The slight seasonal changes in weather, and the declining arc of the Sun, the southern movement of its rising and setting are other indicators of this shift. It is the point in time when the first grains are collected and ritualistically sacrificed to ensure the continuance of the cycle of life both physically and spiritually.
The Celtic “Grain Festival”, known traditionally as Lughnasadh (Old Irish), Lá Lúnasawas (Modern Irish), which has had many more names over the years, honours the Irish Sun-God Lugh (pronounced Loo), “The God of Light”, “God of All Skills”, the “Bright or Shining One”. Lughnasadh marked the beginning of the harvest season, the ripening of first fruits, and was traditionally a time of community gatherings, market festivals, horse races and reunions with distant family and friends. Among the Irish it was a favored time for handfastings which were rather informal, or trial marriages that would generally last a year and a day, with the option of terminating the agreement before the new year. At the time, the couple could decide to continue the arrangement if it pleased them, or to stand back to back and walk away from one another, thus bringing the marriage to a formal close. Such trial marriages were quite common even into the 1500’s, although it was something one ‘didn’t bother the parish priest about’. Indeed, such ceremonies were usually solemnized by a poet, bard, or shanachie (Irish history-keeper/storytellers).
Although at first glance it may seem that we are celebrating the death of Lugh, ‘The God of Light’ does not really die (mythically) until the autumnal equinox, and we know he will be there for the birth of his child, as the Goddess is with child. And indeed, if we read the Irish myths closer, we discover that it is not Lugh’s death that is being celebrated, but the funeral games and feast which Lugh hosted to commemorate the death of his foster-mother, Taillte, the Goddess of agriculture who died while clearing the Irish forests in preparation for planting. That is why the Lugnasadh celebrations in Ireland are often called the ‘Tailltean Games’.
Lughnasadh is more popularly referred to as Lammas in many areas of the British Isles. Lammas probably comes from the Middle English Lammasse, and from Old English, half-mass. During medieval times, loaves were baked from the first grains of the harvest and blessed in a church ceremony known as the “loaf mass,” from which the term “lammas” is likely derived. This was the day on which loaves of bread were baked from the first grain harvest and laid on the church altars as offerings. Others attribute “Lammas” to a combined form of “lamb” and “Mass” which reflects a time when lambs were offered as a tribute to feudal lords. It also became a feast that the Church celebrated in commemoration of Saint Peter’s deliverance from prison. Lammas was also the traditional time of year for craft festivals. The medieval guilds would create elaborate displays of their wares, decorating their shops and themselves in bright colors and ribbons, marching in parades, and performing strange, ceremonial plays and dances for the entranced onlookers. The atmosphere must have been quite similar to our modern-day Renaissance festivals. How fun! 
Lammas is currently one of the four major pagan festivals originally celebrated in Britain and now celebrated in other countries, including the United States. Lughnasadh/Lammas is a time of personal reflection and harvest, of our actions and deeds, events and experiences, our gains and losses. A time when we begin the cycle of reflection of that which is our life. A period for personal creational power used to ensure the bountiful harvest of life’s gifts and experiences, that which we have reaped through trial, tribulation, enjoyment, joy, love and loss. As it is said, “We can not know what we have not experienced.” Such is the truth of life, we become not by chance but by experience. Each experience opens a window into ourselves, into who we were, who we are, and whom we are choosing to become. Without successes and a thriving personal harvest we will not have the fundamentals we need to continue our work on all levels. So, let us celebrate the Sacred Circle of Life through dance and contemplation, and rejoice and reflect upon on this the first harvest in the Wheel of the Year. Blessed Lughnasadh/Lammas all!
Sidenote: This years festivities occur on a New Moon and Full Solar Eclipse!!!
On the morning of each of my birthdays I receive a phone call from my beloved mother and hear, “(Insert age here) years ago, I gave birth to you….” I Love these calls and so treasure the story as well. As it is my birthday in a few days, I thought I would share the Tale with you here today…
Thirty something years ago, on a warm Summer evening in Mexico City, my mother, her boyfriend Marco Antonio, and her dear Australian friend Anna decided to take a break from baby preparations to have a last bit of fun before my expected arrival, which was not for two more weeks. As their friend, the talented Javier Batiz was performing, it was the perfect opportunity to get dressed up and enjoy! I’ve seen the dress my mother was wearing and (giggle) it was a beautiful, white, see-through, flowy, chiffon number! LOL, mom!!!
Once at the club, they danced! However, it was not long before mom started having “gas pains”. She would go into the bathroom, only to come out confused by gas pains, which would not subside. She continued to dance, but still the pains continued as well. Eventually, these pains arrived five minutes apart (mom says I was asking, “Hey! What’s going on out there?” hehe Probably true!). At this point, they decided not to take her to the hospital, but back to the house in which they were all residing.
At the house, mom decided to relax in a warm bath. Marco Antonio went to get the “Mamacita de la Casa” who took one look at mom and said, “Get this woman to a hospital!!!” He went out and somehow managed to get not one, but two cabs (quite the accomplishment at 4am). Quite unfortunately, neither driver knew how to get to the ABC (American British Cowdray) Hospital, so they periodically stopped, asking people for directions, while I got closer and closer to crashing the party! All the while, mom was peacefully doing Lamaze in the backseat.
Upon arrival of the hospital, the alarmed cab driver carried mom into an awaiting staff, who quickly prepped her, and took her directly to the delivery room. Mom had planned on a “natural birth” and she got her wish. While it is most common to drug women giving birth in Mexico, quite fortunately they could not drug Mom as she had been out (partying), they didn’t know if she’d had anything to drink that might interact with the drugs (she hadn’t) and they didn’t want to take a chance. Thirty minutes and three pushes after she arrived, I “swam out”! My life began in Mexico City! Mom always says that I was “like a little Buddha, taking in the World and surroundings”. YAY, World! Thirty some-odd (or even) years later, I am still taking in the World and Loving life! Thank you for sharing my journey with me, beloved ones!
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.
Despite many attempts, it was not until about three years ago that I began to live my life with gratitude as an intent. I did not yet understand the power of gratitude as an extremely important aspect of attracting to oneself the abundance and happiness that one desires and deserves. In fact, it was quite a stretch to sit down each day with my Gratitude Journal and write down five things for which I was grateful. But, slowly, over time, I became conscious of the many blessings in my life for which I could be grateful, and, as the list flowed and grew, so did the things in my life for which I could be grateful. Beautiful!
The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
Gratitude Journals are a wonderful way to begin the practice of mindful gratefulness. It is a life changing practice which I hope to inspire you to try, if you are not already doing so. You can pull out a blank piece of paper to do this, but I personally like to have a journal just for this purpose alone. I chose a lovely journal with a garden picture adorning the cover. Find something that works for you. Sit down and think of the different areas of your life, making note of the things for which you are sincerely grateful. If the emotion is not there, the result will reflect this, so choose that which resonates a true emotional feeling of gratefulness. Make a commitment to yourself that you will do this at least once per day and stick to that commitment. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Even 5 minutes is better than not at all. Put into it the time that you can spare, but make sure you do it every day.
“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears.”
Eventually my need for a Gratitude Journal was replaced by a consistent attitude of gratefulness which carried through my day. An awareness crept in that good things were happening in my life on a day to day basis, and I found myself giving thanks throughout the day. By trusting that all was working towards the highest good, I reduced my resistance to that which didn’t fit my pictures and tried to see how that which was in front of me could be a greater gift. Of course an acceptance that it was my own thoughts and feelings that had brought about given circumstances helped in surrendering to and trusting in a challenging situation as well.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
I found myself challenged this week. I am caring for another’s dog and had to leave the dog home alone for a short time while I went marketing. Upon return I discovered that she had escaped the room in which she was supposed to be contained and had done quite a bit of damage to the house during my short outing. Now, this came on the heels of some other “upsets” and I found myself feeling quite frustrated. After a bit of cleaning up, I jumped on my exercise equipment and allowed myself a good workout. When a friend stopped by shortly thereafter, he felt my less than grounded energy and told me to relax. Yes! Relax! I went outside, looked up at the sky, and began to count my blessings. In this place of gratitude, there was no longer room for my feelings of upset, and I soon found myself contentedly happy again. I had changed my perception, and was once again living in true gratefulness.
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Developing an attitude of sincere gratitude
for your current blessings unleashes the power
for receiving many more. Every Day Give Thanks.
Please let me know, dear reader, how gratitude has changed your life!
Many Blessings to you!
When my mother was in graduate school she studied with Cultural Anthropologist Angeles Arien, who taught her a four step practice which she always turns to when she’s finding herself needing clarity: show up, pay attention, tell the truth and don’t be attached to outcome. She told me that people usually have trouble with one more than the others. It took me awhile to integrate this information, but I saw that life is a journey which requires our being present, honest and detached.
Eighty percent of success is showing up.
I will have lived in Los Angeles for ten years this August, and I have to say that I have never met so many unreliable people in my life. That is not to say that there aren’t many beautiful people here, however, many of them seem to struggle with getting themselves where they say they will be at any given point and time. People are often late, if they show up at all. This happens for a myriad of reasons, but all are a reflection of a preoccupation with what has happened in the past, or what is about to happen in the future. Yet, it is usually in the present that we find exactly what we need. A bonus gift in being the one who shows up is that it has cemented my relationship with friends.
I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.
Most of us live in a society which is constantly in motion; and multi-tasking has become a means of survival. We talk on cells while driving to work or taking the kids to school. We email, message, and text our way through meals. We watch television instead of conversing with those we love. It has become a hectic world of frustrations, distractions and a general lack of being in the now. Perhaps we get into a rut, shuffle from task to task, forgetting the ability to be spontaneous. But, if we are really lucky, life engages us, and we stop to admire a new bloom on the vine, or an amazing sunset reflecting on incoming storm clouds. Being in the present moment brings us closer to where we need to be and allows us to hear not only what our beloveds and co-workers are trying to communicate, but also to hear the voice from within. It is impossible to truly pay attention and do anything else at the same time, and don’t we owe it to those around us and ourselves to pay attention in the moment, solve the problems in front of us, or eliminate the distractions so that we can stay focused upon what is really important?
Truth is a deep kindness that teaches us to be content in our everyday life and share with the people the same happiness.
Truth is what the person of knowledge brings to every moment.
As a child I heard the famous George Washington cherry tree story, as well as the Honest Abe’s penny tale, both teaching us that we should not tell lies. There’s a difference between not telling lies and being truly honest. Honesty asks us to be open to the truths of the world, true to ourselves, and truthful with the people we know. Being truly honest is a spiritual discipline, an art form, and a gift to ourselves. It is an opportunity to break free from our fears: the fear of being hurt, fear of being wrong, and the fears of being unworthy or unlovable. I believe that how we feel about ourselves and how much we love ourselves are in direct proportion to the quality and integrity of our word. Thus, when we are brave enough and loving enough to be completely truthful, we feel good, happy and at peace because we are in alignment with our self-definition.
He who binds himself to a joy
Does the winged life destroy.
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity’s sunrise.
It is our attachment to outcome that shows us where we have more work to do. Being attached not only clouds our vision, but leaves us stuck clinging to what we feel “should” be. When we are attached, we tend to become worried, obsessed and tense, feeling that the only way we will be happy is if things pan out in a certain way. This lack of flow with life will lead only to suffering and an inability to move forward. And I am not saying that it is easy to let go. But by trusting in the process, knowing that all is as it should be, we can allow ourselves to be flexible and flowing with life, enjoying the present moment instead of concerning ourselves with how things must look. Everything in life is sacred. It is a journey which mirrors nature through life, death, ebb, and flow. It’s all part of the great cycle of life. The only thing for certain is change, so grasp those beautiful moments, for we must only learn to enjoy now while it’s here. Many blessings on your path.
Happy Birthday United States of America!!! You’re 232 years old!! During the Revolution, the legal seperation from Great Britain actually occurred on July 2, 1776, which was when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. Once the vote for independence had gone through, Congress turned its attention on the Declaration of Independence, which was debated, revised and finally approved on July 4. It’s interesting to note that most delegates did not, in fact, sign the Declaration until August 2, 1776. However, we celebrate our Independence day on the fourth of July, which is a federal holiday.
The first Independence day in 1777 was celebrated in Philadelphia with an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Add to that a picnic, barbecue, and perhaps a baseball game, and you’ve got the same celebration we have today! Very little has changed in that regard. It’s interesting to note that the first recorded use of the name “Independence Day” did not happen until 1791. Observance of the holiday did not become commonplace until after the War of 1812. Congress made it an unpaid federal holiday in 1870. It was not until 1941 that Congress changed it to a paid federal holiday.
These pics are from a 1941 celebration!!!
I’m hoping that my beloved American readers are with family and/or friends celebrating outdoors! I love that this holiday gets people outdoors to honour our nation! Whether it be for parades, picnics, or the fireworks displays, it is Summer and the party is usually outdoors! YAY!!! And who doesn’t love fireworks? Major displays are held in New York on the East River, in Chicago on Lake Michigan, Boston on the Charles River, in St. Louis on the Mississippi River, and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario host one of the world’s largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate both American Independence Day and Canada Day (which was July 1st).
One of the celebrations is America’s Freedom Festival in Provo, Utah. It includes one of the largest Independence Day parades, and the Stadium of Fire. The Stadium of Fire, created by Alan Osmond, has around 50, 000 people in attendance, has had quite a few celebrity performers and holds the world record for most fireworks blown up at once (over a million)!
Every year in the U.S.A., the Rainbow Family gather for prayer for World Peace. With attendance ranging from 10,000 to 25,000 or more participants, (most refer to it as Interdependance Day as all live in primitive conditions by choice) festivities take place in State Forests and rely upon one another for the first week of July. Independence day is spent in group prayer, meditation, and/or silence during the morning, which ends in a group Aum or Om. This non-commercial gathering welcomes all who wish to peacefully participate.
However you choose to spend the holiday honouring the “land of the free and the home of the brave”, I hope that it is a Beautiful celebration for what is a truly diverse nation, made up of dynamic people. Happy Fourth of July!!!
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