Winter Solstice marks the time of the year when the light returns as the sun shifts and starts to move northward again. In Europe, the tradition of the yule log is celebrated on Winter Solstice. A special log is brought in and placed on the hearth where it glows for the twelve nights of the holiday season. After that, it is kept in the house all year to protect the home and its inhabitants from illness and any adverse condition. The yule log is the counterpart of the midsummer bonfires, which are held outdoors on Summer Solstice to celebrate the shortest night of the year. It is also customary to place mistletoe around the fire, which is the plant that grew on the oak tree, sacred to the Druids, the priests of the old Celts. Among other uses, mistletoe is thought to help women conceive. The Christmas tree also dates from old European or pagan rituals. It was the time to celebrate the renewal of the earth, and greens were used as the symbol. Branches of pine, cedar, and juniper commonly used bring wonderful fragrance into the home. Red candles are used to symbolize the fire and heat of the returning sun as the days begin to lengthen. O! Mistletoe!

Yule is also called by the name: Winter Solstice. It is a solar festival that celebrates the rebirth of the Sun God and honors the Horned God. On Yule we experience the longest night of the year. Here, on the longest night of the year, the Goddess gives birth to the Sun God and hope for new light is reborn.

Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind. Yule coincides closely with the Christian Christmas celebration. Christmas was once a movable feast celebrated many different times during the year. The choice of December 25 was made by the Pope Julius I in the fourth century AD because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one.

Although much of the winter harvest weather is still to come, we celebrate the coming light and thank the Gods for seeing us through the longest night. It is a time to look on the past year's achievements and to celebrate with family and friends. From this day until MidSummer, the days will grow longer and banish the darkness to begin the light that brings warmth and life to the world. This is the official first day of winter. This Sabbat usually falls around the 20^th or 21st, depending on when the Sun reaches the southern most point in its yearly crossing.

Yule means "feast". Or maybe"wheel". However, some who have studied the linguistics tell me that the association of "Yule" with "wheel" (a fond belief you will find in many places, since the words are nearly identical) is a myth. The roots of the two words have about as much similarity in Scandinavian languages as in English. According to one theory, the root word for Yule came from the aboriginal Scandinavians, and has always meant only one thing: the festival at the Winter Solstice. The word for wheel came from the Indo-Europeans who migrated to Scandinavia around 3800 BC (although they didn't even begin to use wheels until about 2500 BC!) The debate points out how ancient the word is.

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.

Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove-spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes. It was to extend an invitation to Nature Sprites to come and join the celebration. A sprig of holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before being set ablaze with a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

For ancient Germanic and Celtic people, the impulse to celebrate solstice was the same as for their neighbors to the south -- a celebration of the cycle of nature and a reaffirmation of the continuation of life. But the style and substance of their celebrations took very different shape.

It isn't hard to figure out why. These northern cultures survived a colder, darker winter for one thing. And they were just as likely to be herders and hunters as farmers. It's cold, it's dark many more hours than light, and snows cover the fields where your herds might forage. What is there to do but make a delight of necessity, with a great slaughter and feasting? And what better time to do it than at the point that marks the return of the sun's light and warmth? 

Imagine living in, say, Scandinavia a thousand years ago. At solstice, the sun rises around 9 a.m. It sets about 3 p.m. A mere six hours of daylight. Even if you sleep for eight hours, you spend much more of your waking time in darkness than in light. What a relief when the days begin to lengthen again!

Many of the ancient traditions surrounding Yuletide are concerned with coping with the darkness and the evils it was thought to harbor, and helping the return of light and warmth.

ake holly, for instance. Evergreens were cherished at this time of year as a natural symbol of rebirth and life amid winter whiteness. But holly was particularly prized to decorate doors, windows and fireplaces because of its prickliness -- to either ward off or snag and capture evil spirits before they could enter and harm a household.   It is sort of like flypaper for faeries.

Of goats and elves.

Scratch the surface of Christmas folklore in Scandinavian countries, and you find images and traditions that probably go way back. Perhaps this is because Christian missionaries didn't reach these countries until the 10th and 11th centuries, so the old traditions had longer to settle in.

There's the Julbock or Julbukk, or Yule goat, from Sweden and Norway, who had his beginnings as carrier for the god Thor. Now he carries the Yule elf when he makes his rounds to deliver presents and receive his offering of porridge.

I've even read somewhere that the Finnish version of this goat character, the Joulupukki, does the present deliveries himself by riding on a bicycle! Here's a perspective on that from a Finnish visitor to Candlegrove. The Yule elf is called Jultomten in Sweden, Julesvenn in Norway, and Jule-nissen in Denmark and Norway. (A Norwegian visitor to Candlegrove tells us more.) Jule-nissen was remembered fondly in 1908 by Jacob Riis:

"I do not know how the forty years I have been away have dealt with Jule-nissen, the Christmas elf of my childhood....He was pretty old then, gray and bent, and there were signs that his time was nearly over. When I was a boy we never sat down to our Christmas Eve dinner until a bowl of rice and milk had been taken to the attic, where he lived with the martin and its young, and kept an eye upon the house--saw that everything ran smoothly. I never met him myself, but I know the house cat must have done so. No doubt they were well acquainted, for when in the morning I went in for the bowl, there it was, quite dry and licked clean, and the cat purring in the corner.....the Nisse, or the leprechaun--call him what you like--was a friend indeed to those who loved kindness and peace."

Other Names: Jul (”wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia (Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Alban Arthuan, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year

Animals/Mythical beings: yule goat, reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, trolls, phoenix, yule elf, gnome, squirrels, wren/robin

Gemstones: cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone

Incense/Oils: bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron

Colors: gold, silver, red, green, white

Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images

Goddesses: Great Mother, Isis, Triple Goddess, Mary, St. Lucy, Bona Dea, Mother Earth, Eve, the Snow Queen, Hertha, Freya

Gods: Sun Child, Saturn, Cronos, Horus/Ra, Jesus, Mithras, Balder, Santa Claus/Odin, Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus, Marduk, Old Man Winter

Essence: honor, rebirth, transformation, light out of darkness, creative inspiration, the mysteries, new life, regeneration, inner renewal, reflection/introspection

Dynamics/Meaning: death of the Holly (winter) King; reign of the Oak (summer) King), begin the ordeal of the Green Man, death & rebirth of the Sun God; night of greatest lunar imbalance; sun’s rebirth; shortest day of year

Purpose: honor the Triple Goddess, welcome the Sun Child

Rituals/Magics:personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, festival of light, meditation

ustoms: lights, gift-exchanging, singing, feasting, resolutions, new fires kindled, strengthening family & friend bonds, generosity, yule log, mistletoe, apple wassailing, burning candles, Yule tree decorating; kissing under mistletoe; needfire at dawn vigil; bell ringing/sleigh-bells; father yule

Foods: nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, hibiscus or ginger tea, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine

Herbs: blessed thistle, evergreen, moss, oak, sage, bay, bayberry, cedar, pine, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, myrrh, pine cones, rosemary, chamomile, cinnamon, valarian, yarrow

Element: earth

Threshold: dawn

Imbolc (Candlemas)

Febuary 2

Imbolic (Celtic): Candlemas, Imbollgc Brigantia (Caledonii), Lupercus (Strega)

 

“Candlemas” is the Christianized name for the holiday, of course. The older Pagan names were Imbolc and Oimelc. 'Imbolc' means, literally, 'in the belly' (of the Mother). For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings. The seed that was planted in her womb at the Winter Solstice is quickening and the new year grows. At the time of Candlemas, the newborn Sun God is seen as a small child nursing from his Mother.

 

Imbolc, Candlemas, or St. Brigit's (or Brigid) Day, in honor of the great Irish Goddess Br igit, is one of the four Celtic fire festivals which fall on the cross-quarter days, six weeks between the solstices and equinoxes.  Candlemas is a time when the light of rebirth grows stronger. Brigit is the Triple Goddess of the flame. Her fire was carried from the land of Brigantia on the British Isles to Kildare, not far from Dublin, Ireland. These fires were tended by the Daughters of the Flame, nine sacred Virgins who could be looked at by no man. Brigit's fires are the fires of purification and healing. It is a time to purify ourselves as we continue to emerge from the dark of winter.

 

Brigit was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry and healing. The Roman Catholic Church could not very easily call the Great Goddess of Ireland a demon, so they canonized her instead. Henceforth, she would be “Saint Brigit”, patron SAINT of smithcraft, poetry, and healing. They “explained” this by telling the Irish peasants that Brigit was 'really' an early Christian missionary sent to the Emerald Isle. Today, this holiday is chiefly connected to weather lore. Even our American folk-calendar keeps the tradition of “Groundhog's Day”, a day to predict the coming weather, telling us that if the Groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of bad weather. This custom is ancient. An old British rhyme tells us that “If Candlemas Day be bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year.” Actually, all of the cross-quarter days can be used as 'inverse' weather predictors, whereas the quarter-days are used as 'direct' weather predictors.

 

Imbolc involves celebrations of banishing the winter and welcoming the spring. At this phase of the cycle, winter is swept away and new beginnings are nurtured. Some Wiccan groups favor this time of year for initiations into the Craft. It is traditional at Candlemas to light every lamp in the house for a few minutes in honor of the Sun's rebirth.

 

Imbolc, (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is also the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brigid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth.

 

The Maiden is honored as the Bride (pronounced “Breed”) on this Sabbat. Straw Brideo'gas (corn dollies) are created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flower bedding. Young girls then carry the Brideo'gas door to door, and gifts are bestowed upon the image from each household. Afterward, at the traditional feast, the older women make special acorn wands for the dollies to hold, and in the morning the ashes in the hearth are examined to see if the magic wands left marks as a good omen. Brigid's Crosses are fashioned from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. Home hearth fires are put out and re-lit, and a besom is placed by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new. Candles are lit and placed in each room of the house to honor the re-birth of the Sun.

 

Another traditional symbol of Imbolc is the plough. In some areas, this is the first day of ploughing in preparation of the first planting of crops. A decorated plow is dragged from door to door, with costumed children following asking for food, drinks, or money. Should they be refused, the household is paid back by having its front garden plowed up. In other areas, the plough is decorated and then Whiskey, the "water of life" is poured over it. Pieces of cheese and bread are left by the plow and in the newly turned furrows as offerings to the nature spirits. It is considered taboo to cut or pick plants during this time.

 

 

Various names for this Greater Sabbat are Imbolgc Brigantia (Caledonni), Imbolic (Celtic), Disting (Teutonic, Feb 14th), Lupercus (Strega), St. Bridget's Day (Christian), Candlemas, Candlelaria (Mexican), the Snowdrop Festival, The Festival of Lights, and the Feast of the Virgin.

Deities of Imbolc: All Virgin and Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Feb rua, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.

 

Symbolism of Imbolc:  Purity, Growth and Renewal, The Re-Union of the Goddess and the God, Fertility, and dispensing of the old and making way for the new.

 

Symbols of Imbolc: Brideo'gas, Besoms, White Flowers, Candle Wheels, Brigid's Crosses, Priapic Wands (acorn-tipped), and Ploughs.

 

Herbs of Imbolc: Angelica, Basil, Bay Laurel, Blackberry, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets, and all white or yellow flowers.

 

Foods of Imbolc: Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds, Poppyseed Cakes, muffins, scones, and breads, all dairy products, Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Raisins, Spiced Wines and Herbal Teas.

 

Incense of Imbolc: Basil, Bay, Wisteria, Cinnamon, Violet, Vanilla, Myrrh.

 

Colors of Imbolc: White, Pink, Red, Yellow, lt. Green, Brown.

 

Stones of Imbolc: Amethyst, Bloodstone, Garnet, Ruby, Onyx, Turquoise.

 

Activities of Imbolc: Candle Lighting, Stone Gatherings, Snow Hiking and Searching for Signs of Spring, Making of Brideo'gas and Bride's Beds, Making Priapic Wands, Decorating Ploughs, Feasting, and Bon Fires.

 

Traditional foods for Imbolc include those made with seeds, (to symbolize growth), raisins (a fruit of the Sun God), pork, poultry, or lamb, with sides of potatoes, cabbage, onions, and garlic. Imbolc is the mid-point of the dark half of the year, and though stored foods are running low, it is a celebration of renewal and preparation for Spring.

Maiden Wakes Muffins

2 cups flour

2 Carrots, grated
1/2 cup raisins
1 green apple, peeled, cored, grated
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup almonds, sliced
2 tsp. baking soda
3 eggs
2 tsp. cinnamon
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. salt
2tsp.vanilla

 

Returning Sun Spice Bread

1 1/4 cup flour

1/8 cup poppyseeds

2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 cup raisins, plain or golden

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup butter/margarine

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

3/4 cup Karo golden corn syrup

1/2 cup light brown sugar

Sift the flour, soda, and baking powder into a non-metal bowl. Add the mixed spice and ginger. Next add the brown sugar and raisins. Mix. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and the syrup over a low heat, then pour liquid into the well in the middle of the flour mixture. Add the beaten egg and the milk, and mix very well. Pour into a well greased 2-lb loaf pan and bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 40-50 minutes. This bread can be made the night before as it improves with age. Makes 8-10 servings.

Bride's Brunch

2 [9-inch] pie shells

3 tbs. green onions/chives, finely chopped

1/2 pound Canadian bacon/ thin sliced ham

1/2 tsp. salt

8 eggs

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 tbs. milk

Line a quiche dish with 1 pie shell. Arrange 1/2 of bacon or ham in bottom of shell. Break 7 eggs into the dish. Pierce the egg yolks with a fork, but do not mix the egg yolks with the egg whites. Add the green onions/chives, salt, and pepper. Arrange the remaining bacon or ham on top. Cover with remaining pie shell. Mix the remaining egg with the milk and lightly brush the top crust with the mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes. Serve hot or cold. Makes 6 servings.

 

Ewe-L" Love This Potato Soup

2 oz butter/margarine

1 clove garlic, crushed

2 medium onions, peeled

Salt & pepper (to taste)

3 large potatoes, peeled

1 sprig thyme, bay leaf, and bunch parsley

2 pints milk

Chopped chives to garnish

 Melt butter in a large pan and add thinly sliced potatoes and onions. Toss well in the butter. Put a lid on the pan and allow the vegetables to simmer over a low heat for about 10 minutes. Don't let the vegetables turn brown. Add the milk and all other ingredients, except for the chives, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Remove thyme, bay leaf, and parsley. Pour soup into food processor or blender (on chop) for about 1 minute. Pour into soup bowls and garnish with chives. Makes 6 servings.

 

Winter's Light Creamed Cabbage

1 lb. pre-cooked ham, 1" cubed or shredded

1 heaping tsp. flour

1 firm white cabbage

1/2 tsp. each salt & pepper

1 cup cream

grated nutmeg

 Cut cabbage in half, then into four (small head) or six (large head) pieces. Plunge into a pot of boiling water and cook for 5 minutes. Drain and run under cold tap water. Drain again. Slice across the grain in 1/4 inch strips. Melt a little butter/margarine in a sauce pan and add shredded cabbage. Toss well, and keep stirring all the time. Add salt, pepper, and a dash of grated nutmeg. Next add the heaping teaspoon of flour, mix well. Add cream, still stirring, and let it come to a boil. Add the cubed or shredded ham, and lower the heat. Cover the sauce pan and let the mixture simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve hot. Makes 6-8 servings.

 

Imbolc Feast Lamb Stew

2- 1/2 lb. lamb chops

1 tbs. lamb fat

4 medium onions

1 tbs. butter/margarine

4 medium carrots

2 1/2 cups water

4 medium potatoes

1 tbs. parsley, chopped

1 tsp. each salt & pepper

1 tbs. chives, chopped

 Don't let the butcher trim the fat off of the lamb chops. Shred some of the excess fat and cook it down in a large pot or Dutch-oven. Peel the onions, carrots, and potatoes. Cut the onions and carrots into quarters, and put all the vegetables aside. Cut the meat into8 pieces, and trim away the rest of the excess fat. The bones need not be removed. Place the meat in the hot fat and brown. Repeat with the onions and carrots. Add water, salt, and pepper carefully. Put whole potatoes on top. Cover pot and simmer gently until meat is cooked, approx. 2 hours. Remove from heat. Pour off the cooking liquid into a separate sauce pan, allow to cool for a few minutes, skim off grease, and reheat. Add butter, chives, and parsley to the reheated liquid in the sauce pan. Pour heated liquid back over the stew. Serve hot. Makes 4-6 servings.

 

Blessed Bride's Cake

1 cup sugar

1 cup walnut meats, chopped

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup flour

4 eggs

1 tsp. baking powder

 Mix all the ingredients together until they are wet. Do not over mix. Pour into a greased and floured 9"x9"x2" square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until knife inserted in middle of cake comes out clean. Allow to cool before serving.

 

Imbolc Ritual Cake

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 tbs. poppyseeds

1 tbs. grated lemon peel

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tbs. lemon juice

1/2 tsp. salt

powdered sugar

 This is all done in one pan, so clean up is a breeze! Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, sugar, poppyseeds, baking soda, and salt with a fork in an ungreased 9"x9"x2" baking pan. Stir in the remaining ingredients, except the powdered sugar. Bake 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, and the top is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Makes 8 servings.

Ostara

 March 20

Herbs and Flowers of Ostara: Daffodil, Honeysuckle, Peony, Jonquils, Violet, Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris, Narcissus and all spring flowers.

 

Incense of Ostara: Jasmine, Rose, Strawberry, Floral of any type.

 

Sacred Gemstone of Ostara:  Jasper (Leopardskin Jasper shown here)

 

Colors of Ostara: Green, Yellow

 

Decorations of Ostara:  Colored eggs, Green and yellow jellybeans, Rabbit decorations, Spring flowers.

 

Special Activities of Ostara: Planting seeds or starting a Magical Herb Garden. Taking a long walk in nature with no intent other than reflecting on the Magic of nature and our Great Mother and her bounty.

 

Traditional Foods of Ostara: Leafy green vegetables, Dairy foods, Nuts such as Sesame, Pumpkin, Sunflower, Poppy,  and Pine. Flower Dishes and Sprouts. Seeds, Spiced wine, Cupcakes, Fruits, Hard-boiled eggs.

Peeps Ambrosia

• 1 pkg of 12 marshmallow Peeps (chicks or bunnies)
• 2 cans mandarin oranges
• 2 cans pineapple tidbits
• 1 jar maraschino cherries
• 2 chopped bananas
• 2 C. shredded coconut flakes
• 4 oz. sour cream
• 1 12-oz tub of Cool Whip or other dessert topping

Dice the Peeps into small pieces.  Drain the juices from the fruit.  Mix all the ingredients together and let the mix chill in the fridge for a few hours.  Serve as a dessert following your Ostara celebration.  Yummy!

Poppy Seed Cheese Bread

1 cup shredded cheese

1 cup biscuit mix

1/2 cup milk

1 egg

1/4 cup chopped onions

1 TBSP poppy seeds

 Combine 1/2 cheese and all biscut mix in bowl.  Add milk and stir until moistened, pat dough. Combine remaining cheese, egg and onion and spread over biscuit dough. Sprinkle with poppy seeds and bake at 425 for 15 to 20 minutes

 

Violet Salad

1TBSP raspberry vinegar

1TBSP minced Shallot

1/2 tsp dijon mustard

fresh ground black pepper

1 1/2 tsp chicken stock, vegetable for vegetarians

1 1/2 tsp virgin olive oil

1/2 lb mixed greens washed

1/4 cup violet blossoms

1/4 cup wild strawberries (optional)

Combine vinegar, shallot, mustard and some pepper in a small bowl.  Let stand 5 minutes

Whisk in stock then oil.  Toss greens with dressings, top with violets and strawberries and serve immediately.

 

Spring Equinox is the time when day and night are equal, when plants begin to burst forth from the earth, leaves appear on the trees, and insects begin to move once again. Spring is the time when Persephone returns from the underworld as a young girl and she and her mother, Demeter, Goddess of the Grain, giver of the crops, play together in the fields and usher in new growth. The celebration of Easter occurs close to the time of this equinox. Oestre or Eostar was a feast of the Goddess Ishtar/Astarte/Esther and celebrated her rebirth. The egg was used as a symbol for Eostar as it represented the birth of the Goddess and all of nature. 

 

Ostara celebrates the arrival of Spring. This Sabbat will fall between the above dates depending on which day the Sun is at its northern most point. Ostara marks the day when night and day are in balance. Ostara symbols are the egg and the rabbit. Ostara is the Norse Goddess of fertility and it is She that is honored this Sabbat day. During this time, the snow begins to melt away, the days are warmer and longer. Looking around we see new birth everywhere, from homes on the hillside to the animals in the fields. Life has begun again. This is the time to plant the seeds of flowers, herbs and veggies and perhaps begin a spiritual garden.

Ostara Oil

2 parts Frankincense

1 part Benzoil

1 part Dragon's Blood

1/2 part Nutmeg

1/2 part Violet

1/2 part Orange

1/2 part Rose

Spring and Summers Sabbat sIncense

3 parts Frankincense

2 parts Sandalwood

1 part Benzoin

1 part Cinnamon

a few drops Patchouli oil

 

 Ostara Incense

2 Parts Frankincense

1 Part Benzoin

1 Part Dragon's Blood

1/2 Part Nutmeg

1/2 part Violet flowers (or few drops violet oil)

1/2 Part Orange peel

1/2 Part Rose petals

 Place spring flowers on the altar and on the ground around and within the circle. Place the appropriate element at each of the four points: A potted plant at the North (earth), smoking incense at the East (air), a candle at the South (fire), and the cauldron or a bowl filled with water at the West (water).

 

Also place a flower of the appropriate color at each point: North - Black, brown, green or white; East - White, bright yellow, crimson, blue-white or pastels; South - Red, gold, crimson, orange or white; West - Blue, blue-green, green, gray, indigo or black. Buds and blossoms may be worn, as well.

 

Arrange your tools upon the altar, light the candles and incense, and cast the Circle.

 

Recite a Blessing chant and invoke the Goddess and God.

 

As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the plant world blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken but it is rarely observed in that manner in modern times.

 

May morning is a magical time for wild water (dew, flowing streams, and springs) which is collected and used to bathe in for beauty or to drink for health. 

 

Celebrate Beltane

Arise at dawn and wash in the morning dew: the woman who washes her face in it will be beautiful; the man who washes his hands will be skilled with knots and nets.

 

If you live near water, make a garland or posy of spring flowers and cast it into stream, lake or river to bless the water spirits.

 

Prepare a May basket by filling it with flowers and goodwill, then give it to one in need of caring, such as a shut-in or elderly friend.

 

Beltane is one of the three "spirit-nights" of the year when the faeries can be seen. At dusk, twist a rowan sprig into a ring and look through it, and you may see them.

 

Make a wish as you jump a bonfire or candle flame for good luck—but make sure you tie up long skirts first!

 

Make a May bowl —wine or punch in which the flowers of sweet woodruff or other fragrant blossoms are soaked—and drink with the one you love.

 

Think of the May pole as a focal point of the old English village rituals. Many people would rise at the first light of dawn to go outdoors and gather flowers and branches to decorate their homes.

 

Beltane Goddesses:  Appropriate Deities for Beltane include all Virgin-Mother Goddesses, all Young Father Gods, all Gods and Goddesses of the Hunt, of Love, and of Fertility. Some Beltane Goddesses to mention by name here include Aphrodite, Arianrhod, Artemis, Astarte, Venus, Diana, Ariel, Cerridwen, Var, Skadi, Shiela-na-gig, Cybele, Xochiquetzal, Freya, and Rhiannon. Beltane Gods include Apollo, Bacchus, Bel/Belanos, Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, Faunus, Cupid/Eros, Odin, Orion, Frey, Robin Goodfellow, Puck, and The Great Horned God.

 

Beltane Foods

Things to eat at Beltane would be ice cream, yogurt, cheese, custards, quiche, any dairy products as well as oatmeal, cookies, and bread. Cherries, Strawberries, Wine punches, Green salads, Red fruit, Shortbread, Sweet cakes, Wine, Cherry juice

 

Oatmeal Bread

1 cup evaporated milk

2 TBSP vegetable oil

1TBSP vinegar

1cup all purpose flour

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup raisins or chopped nuts

Beat milk, oil and vinegar in mixing bowl until smooth. Add oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and mix well. Add nuts or raisins turn into loaf pan bake at 350 for 50 - 60 minutes or until done depending on the oven

 

Quiche

1 unbaked pie shell

2 eggs

1 cup half and half

1/2 tsp salt

dash of red pepper

3/4 cup gruyere cheese

1 TBSP flour

7 1/2 oz crab or mushrooms or peppers or whatever you would like

  Maypole, Strings of beads or flowers, Ribbons

Bake pie shell at 450 for 10 minutes or until slightly brown. Beat eggs, half-and-half, salt and red pepper.  Set aside. Combine cheese, flour, crab or mushrooms etc and sprinkle into the bottom of the pie shell. Pour the egg mixture over it. Bake at 450 degrees uncovered for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean

 

Fried Honeycakes

These cakes were left in the garden to please Faery visitors. If you plan to leave an offering to the Faery, double the recipe to keep some for your family. They're scrumptious.

1/2 cup sweet white wine

2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

1 cup honey

2/3 cup flour

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Oil for frying

1/8 teaspoon salt

 Beat the wine & egg in a medium bowl. Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt & sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the egg mixture. Let stand 30 minutes. Combine the honey & nutmeg in a small bowl. Heat 1/2-inch of the oil in a frying pan until hot, but not smoking. Drop the batter into the oil 1 tablespoon at a time; fry until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Dip into the honey.

Yield: 1 1/2 Dozen.

 

Yogurt

2-3 TBSP prepared yogurt

1 quart skim milk

1/2 cup instant non fat milk powder

Allow yogurt to reach room temp. Bring milk to scalding then cool to 110-115 degrees. Add dry milk and pour into bowl. Cover then wrap in large towel. Set in warm place for 6 to 8 hours.  When semi solid store in fridge. Add fruit when you just before serving

 

May Wine: White wine with a pinch of woodruff and fresh strawberries

 

Altar/Altar Cloth/Altar Candles: The altar should be in the center of the circle area, facing the Eastern quarter. The altar cloth should always be yellow for the High Earth Rite of Balemas. (This is only if you are using a regular rectangular altar.) The two main altar candles should be yellow.

 

Other Candles: The four quarter candles should be blue in the West, red in the South, yellow (or gold) in the East, and green in the North. All other secondary candles used for extra lighting in the ritual area should be of various shades of forest green or suited to personal taste.

 

Special Items: A small wreath of flowers to serve as a crown for the May Queen. These can be easily made. Another optional item is the May pole and its ribbon streamers. A large candle will be needed for the cauldron as a symbol for the balefire unless the rite is held outdoors, in which case kindling in preparation for a small balefire in the Southern quarter.

 

Date: Usually celebrated on May 1, can be celebrated on the actual cross-quarter day halfway between Ostara and Litha.

 

Lore: The God is now a fully-grown young man and He and the Goddess make love for the first time. She is impregnated at this time. Love and union are embraced.

 

Special Time:

Fertility rites are the main objective of this holiday. We ask for fertility for ourselves and for our animals or crops if we have any, and also for our plans conceived at Imbolc and put into motion at Ostara to grow and become what they were expected to be. This is a time of extreme vitality and consummation of many aspects of life. It is also a time to help others; to aid others in making their plans and aspirations work out. Some people believe elves and fairies and other "little people" begin to come out at this time and might leave offerings for them. Beltane is a good time also to commune with the deities of choice and to celebrate the blessings of love and fertility They have bestowed.

Activities:

Since the spring flowers have been growing, this is a good time to collect spring flowers and exchange them with people whose favor you desire. People also like to put the flowers in and around their cauldrons (since the cauldron is a symbol of the Goddess).

 

Fertility rites are very popular, such as the maypole. The pole itself is a phallic symbol, and the celebrators skip around the pole holding ribbons that wind into a lovely pattern. Couples who want to conceive children might jump over a small cauldron while holding hands. This is a time when people have large gatherings and get-togethers where they all talk about life and have a great time.

 

Handicrafts are popular for this time of year, especially woven gifts and fabric crafts. Many people like to build a shrine in nature at this time, sometimes in a home garden or in a nearby forest.

 

Beltane Incenses

Frankincense

Lilac

Rose

Passion flower

Vanilla

Beltane Incense

3 parts Frankincense

2 parts Myrrh

1 part Benzoin

1 part Red Copal

1 part Lavender

1 part Jasmine

1 part Rose Petals

1 part Sandalwood

 Beltane Incense

3 parts Frankincense

2 parts Sandalwood

1 part Woodruff

1 part Rose petals

a few drops Jasmine oil

a few drops Neroli oil

Beltane Incense

4 parts Frankincense

2 parts Sandalwood

1 part Heather

1/2 part Calendula

1/2 part Angelica

1/2 part Chamomile

1/2 part Mint

1/2 part Fennel

1/2 part St. Johns Wort

Beltane Herbs:  All flowers, angelica, apple, ash, bluebell, calendula, cinquefoil, red clover, daisy, frankincense, hawthorn, honeysuckle, lilac, primrose, rose, rowan, St. John’s Wort, strawberry, woodruff

Plants and Animals of Beltane

Plants and herbs associated with Beltane are primrose, yellow cowslip, hawthorn, roses, birch trees, rosemary, and lilac. Also included are almond, angelica, ash trees, bluebells, cinquefoil, daisies, frankincense, ivy, marigolds, satyrion root, and woodruff.

 

Animals associated with Beltane are goats, rabbits, and honey bees. Mythical beasts associated with Beltane include faeries, pegesus, satyrs, and giants.

 

Beltane Colors

Green, Soft Pink, Blue, Yellow, White

Beltane Decorations

Spring flowers (roses, bluebells, daisies, primrose, lilac)

Daisy chain necklaces and bells on heels , Strawberries, Faeries

Beltane Sacred Gemstones

Emerald, Carnelian, Sapphire, Rose Quartz

Spellwork appropriate for Beltane

Spells for fertility, Love, Spiritual communion with deity, Safety, Prosperity,

Conservation

Summer Solstice - Around June 20 to 21

Summer Solstice, or Litha as it is also called, occurs on or about the 21st of June, when the Sun enters zero degrees Cancer. It marks Midsummer for many cultures, even though in most of the US, summer has barely started and the kids are just now getting out of school! It is the longest day of the year, and the shortest night; when the sun reaches his apex in the sky, and the days will now grow shorter as the light begins to wane.

Many legends explain this phenomena as the darkness triumphing over the light. The darker brother kills the lighter brother in these legends, and the brother who dies resides in the underworld until it is time for him to return and slay his brother again, to rule for the next 6 months. The stories of Lugh and Goronwy, and the Oak King and the Holly King are but two of these legends.

It is interesting to note here that the Christian religion has also tried to usurp this holiday by decreeing it the birth of John the Baptist, and declaring it his feast day. Now, other Saints in the Church are only remembered for the day they died (usually in martyrdom) so it is very curious that St. John the Baptist should be the only one recognized on his natal day. Also, the original birth of Christ was moved from late Spring when he was actually born, to December 25 to coincide with the birth of all the other "Sun" Gods. So even the Christian religion has rotated to the Pagan cycle of the Earth, with their births lining right up with our Solstices. The natural cycle, what we call the Wheel of the Year, is evidently highly compelling!

This was the traditional time of year to harvest your magickal and medicinal herbs. Cut them with a scythe or boline, by the light of the Moon, while chanting the appropriate chant for the purpose for which the plant will be used. Leave an offering for the rest of the plant, and try not to harvest more than 1/3rd of the plant so that the rest will remain healthy and vigorous. If you have to harvest the roots, then you will need to find a bunch of them growing together, and then only harvest 1/3 of them, so that the rest will thrive in the space you have just provided. Harvesting a branch should be done at the lowest junction where the branch joins the main plant, and be careful not to damage the remaining plant. Nature will provide all our needs, but not if we destroy Her gifts!

If you live in the southern part of the US, you can harvest many plants now also, unless you are in the Deep South. This far south, like southern Florida, and southern California, not much that has magical or medicinal value will still be alive by this time. Most of the harvesting must be done at Imbolc or Ostara, because the intense heat and sunlight will have burned off many herbs by this time. One way to try to save them is to put them under screening, or indoors with diffused light. That will enable some of the hardier varieties to survive through the early summer at least.

Since the Sun at Litha is entering Cancer, a water sign, this holiday is one of the best ones for gathering your magical water which will be used on your altar and in your spells for the coming year. We usually go to the beach at Litha, and gather salt-water. We bring offerings of flowers and nuts, and 3 pennies or 3 dimes for prosperity and throw these into the waves before we take our water. We honor Aphrodite as the Goddesses of the Sea by taking some jewelry as an offering. It can be simply a broken silver chain, a ring you used to wear, one half of an earring set, things like that. We find that doing this means that when we visit the beach anytime at all, we don't have to worry about losing any of our "good" jewelry to a jealous Goddess!

If you don't live near the sea, another excellent source of magickal water, is rainwater from a thunderstorm, and there are plenty that occur at this time of year. The more electrical energy the storm puts out, the more energized the water is, so the fiercer the better! Collect in a glass jar or porcelain (avoid metal containers). Store on a shelf, and don't leave the jar on the ground, or the energy will ground. We only use our water for 6 months, after that we return the water to the source, and collect fresh. The energized water really only lasts about 6 months. If you add shells, rocks from the sea, or other non-perishable sea items such as coral, the energy of the water will stay higher during the 6 months. This water is not for drinking, but only for magickal use.

In June, the Full Moon is called the Honey Moon, because this is the time to collect the honey from the beehives. Mead is an excellent brew made from honey.  Mead is the traditional drink for Summer Solstice for that reason. Small mead, or Soda-Pop mead, can be made about 10 days prior to drinking, and is low in alcohol and on the sweet side. For these reasons, it is the preferred Mead to make just prior to this Sabbat. Incidentally, it was believed that since the Grand Union between the Goddess and God happened in May, at Beltane, that it was unlucky to have mortal weddings in May. In addition, many couples found that after the May Day frolic, they were "expecting" and so June became the most popular month for weddings, and still is today. Since the June Full Moon is called the "Honey Moon", can you guess now why that term is used for the time right after the marriage ceremony?!!

It is appropriate also, to have honey on the altar during the Cakes and Wine to dip your cakes in for this celebration. Honey on the altar symbolizes the sweetness of life. It also is a symbol of what combined energies to a single goal can accomplish!

There are many songs associated with Litha, or the Summer Solstice, and chants dealing with the ocean and the ebb and flow of the year are especially appropriate. Do some research, find books of poetry and see how much material is available with the Sun theme, and the Ocean theme. Our ancestors have been worshipping the Sun for long ages. Anything that pleases you and your group can be used in your ritual.

\

Lammas - August 1st
 

            Lammas, the festival of the First Fruits of the Harvest, is the first festival of the Waning Year. It is celebrated on August 1^st, while the climate (in the United States) is essentially still summer. Nevertheless, technically, Lammas is the first day of autumn.

If anything, the days are hotter now than they were in early summer. These are the best days for trips to the beach and back yard barbecues. Meat prices are lower now, especially beef. This is the time to enjoy a thick steak. The really good sweet corn, the kind that melts in your mouth, has just begun to arrive in the supermarket. Since the seasonal changes at this time are more subtle, it is even more important that we celebrate the festival. We need to bring the cycles of the Universe into manifestation within our own minds, by demonstrating what we may not see. 

The mental and emotional indications of the changing seasons are more obvious now than the physical ones. The air is filled with anticipation of the coming fall, of the approaching return to school and of cooler weather to come. It is also a time of sadness, as the knowledge sets in that the good times of summer will soon be over. There is a bit of "haste to have fun" before it comes to an end.

Lammas takes its name from the Old English "hlaf," meaning "loaf" and "maesse," meaning feast. Lammas has often been taken to mean Lamb-mass, because on August 1, the next day, is the Feast of St. Peter's Chains, at which lambs are taken to church for blessing. (Can't you just picture a priest of the early Church saying, "Lammas? We can do that HERE! Just tell them to bring their lambs to Church.  This festival is also called "Lugnasadh" (Loo-nah-sah), which has an entirely different meaning. The element "nasadh" relates to the Gaelic, "to give in marriage," and so would mean the "Marriage of Lug," rather than Lugh's Mass, which is a common interpretation.

The Lammas festival was adopted by the Christian Church in 1843, and today, in England, people decorate churches with sheaves and corn dollies, celebrating the old Pagan holiday, as they sing "Bringing in the Sheaves" and make offerings of corn to the Church.  In some areas, Lammas was a time of sacrifice. Sacrifices at Lammas were made to thank the Deities for the First Fruits and to guarantee an abundant Harvest. The victim was often the king, who was God Incarnate to his people. Sometimes a substitute king, a fool or "scapegoat", was sacrificed in the king's stead.

Until recent years, in Scotland, the first cut of the Harvest was made on Lammas Day, and was a ritual in itself. The entire family must dress in their finest clothing and go into the fields. The head of the family would lay his bonnet (hat) on the ground and, facing the Sun, cut the first handful of corn with a sickle. He would then put the corn Sun-wise around his head three times while thanking the God of the Harvest for "corn and bread, food and flocks, wool and clothing, health and strength, and peace and plenty." In England, the custom of giving the First Fruits to the Gods evolved into giving them to the landlord. Lammas is now the traditional time for tenant farmers to pay their rent. Thus, Lammas is seen as a day of judgment or reckoning. From this practice comes the phrase "--at latter Lammas", meaning "never", or "not until Judgment Day."

An old custom that can be re-created today is the construction of the Kern-baby or corn maiden at Lammas. This figure, originally made from the first sheaf, would be saved until spring, then ploughed into the field to prepare for planting. (The Maiden thus returns to the field at springtime.) Most of us today have no first sheaf nor shall we prepare a field in the spring, but as a means of adding continuity to our festivals, the maiden can be made from the husks of corn served at the Lammas Feast, then saved for use as Bride's doll at Candlemas.

To the Celts, Lammas was one of the four Great Fire Festivals, or cross-quarter festivals. The custom of lighting bonfires to add strength to the powers of the Waning Sun was widespread. The Lammas fire was kept in the home through the winter as protection against storms and lightning, and fires started by lightning.

In an age when crops can be imported all year round, we tend to forget just how important this time was to our ancestors the failure of the harvest meant starvation and death. Early August was a time to celebrate the fruits of the first harvest and work positive magic for prosperity and protection.

Compared to well-known Celtic holidays such as May Day (Beltane) and Halloween (Samhain), few people are familiar with the lore of Lughnasa. Even modern Wiccan books rarely devote more than a few pages to the Lammas celebration. Whether you're just starting on the path or are an experienced Witch looking for a new perspective on this ancient festival, you'll find that Lammas is a cornucopia of history, folklore, recipes, spells, and rituals.

Lammas marks the first harvest when the first grain is gathered, ground, and baked into a bread known as the Lammas loaf, a practice still popular in many parts of the British Isles. The following spells for Lammas offer ways for the modern kitchen witch to make magic.

British Witches often refer to the astrological date of August 6th as Old Lammas. This date has long been considered a 'power point' of the Zodiac, and is symbolized by the Lion, one of the 'tetramorph' figures found on the Tarot cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune (the other three figures being the Bull, the Eagle, and the Spirit). Astrologers know these four figures as the symbols of the four 'fixed' signs of the Zodiac, and these naturally align with the four Great Sabbats of Witchcraft. Christians have adopted the same iconography to represent the four gospel-writers.

The Goddess manifests as Demeter, Ceres, Corn Mother, and other agricultural Goddesses. The God manifests as Lugh, John Barleycorn, and vegetation Gods.  Colors are Golden Yellow, Orange, Green, and Light Brown. It is a festival of plenty and prosperity.

LAMMAS BREAD WISH SPELL
Make a loaf of bread at Lammas and before you put the loaf into the oven, dip a paintbrush in milk and write on the crust what you most desire. Bake the bread, then eat it while still warm.

LAMMAS BREAD PROTECTION SPELL

Bake a Lammas loaf, and when it is cool break it into four pieces (don't cut it with a knife and take one to each corner of your property with the words:

I call on the spirits Of north, and south, east and west Protect this place Now, at the time of the Blessing.

Leave the bread for the birds to eat or bury the pieces and to Mother Earth with a prayer of appreciation.

 

Have a magical picnic and break bread with friends.

Do a meditation in which you visualize yourself completing a project you have already begun.

Make a corn dolly charm out of the first grain you harvest or acquire.

Make prayers for a good harvest season.

Do prosperity magic.

Harvest herbs in a sacred way for use in charms and rituals.

Kindle a Lammas fire with sacred wood and dried herbs.

If you live in or near a farming region, attend a public harvest festival, such as a corn or apple festival.

Lammas - August 1st
 

            Lammas, the festival of the First Fruits of the Harvest, is the first festival of the Waning Year. It is celebrated on August 1^st, while the climate (in the United States) is essentially still summer. Nevertheless, technically, Lammas is the first day of autumn.

If anything, the days are hotter now than they were in early summer. These are the best days for trips to the beach and back yard barbecues. Meat prices are lower now, especially beef. This is the time to enjoy a thick steak. The really good sweet corn, the kind that melts in your mouth, has just begun to arrive in the supermarket. Since the seasonal changes at this time are more subtle, it is even more important that we celebrate the festival. We need to bring the cycles of the Universe into manifestation within our own minds, by demonstrating what we may not see. 

The mental and emotional indications of the changing seasons are more obvious now than the physical ones. The air is filled with anticipation of the coming fall, of the approaching return to school and of cooler weather to come. It is also a time of sadness, as the knowledge sets in that the good times of summer will soon be over. There is a bit of "haste to have fun" before it comes to an end.

Lammas takes its name from the Old English "hlaf," meaning "loaf" and "maesse," meaning feast. Lammas has often been taken to mean Lamb-mass, because on August 1, the next day, is the Feast of St. Peter's Chains, at which lambs are taken to church for blessing. (Can't you just picture a priest of the early Church saying, "Lammas? We can do that HERE! Just tell them to bring their lambs to Church.  This festival is also called "Lugnasadh" (Loo-nah-sah), which has an entirely different meaning. The element "nasadh" relates to the Gaelic, "to give in marriage," and so would mean the "Marriage of Lug," rather than Lugh's Mass, which is a common interpretation.

The Lammas festival was adopted by the Christian Church in 1843, and today, in England, people decorate churches with sheaves and corn dollies, celebrating the old Pagan holiday, as they sing "Bringing in the Sheaves" and make offerings of corn to the Church.  In some areas, Lammas was a time of sacrifice. Sacrifices at Lammas were made to thank the Deities for the First Fruits and to guarantee an abundant Harvest. The victim was often the king, who was God Incarnate to his people. Sometimes a substitute king, a fool or "scapegoat", was sacrificed in the king's stead.

Until recent years, in Scotland, the first cut of the Harvest was made on Lammas Day, and was a ritual in itself. The entire family must dress in their finest clothing and go into the fields. The head of the family would lay his bonnet (hat) on the ground and, facing the Sun, cut the first handful of corn with a sickle. He would then put the corn Sun-wise around his head three times while thanking the God of the Harvest for "corn and bread, food and flocks, wool and clothing, health and strength, and peace and plenty." In England, the custom of giving the First Fruits to the Gods evolved into giving them to the landlord. Lammas is now the traditional time for tenant farmers to pay their rent. Thus, Lammas is seen as a day of judgment or reckoning. From this practice comes the phrase "--at latter Lammas", meaning "never", or "not until Judgment Day."

An old custom that can be re-created today is the construction of the Kern-baby or corn maiden at Lammas. This figure, originally made from the first sheaf, would be saved until spring, then ploughed into the field to prepare for planting. (The Maiden thus returns to the field at springtime.) Most of us today have no first sheaf nor shall we prepare a field in the spring, but as a means of adding continuity to our festivals, the maiden can be made from the husks of corn served at the Lammas Feast, then saved for use as Bride's doll at Candlemas.

To the Celts, Lammas was one of the four Great Fire Festivals, or cross-quarter festivals. The custom of lighting bonfires to add strength to the powers of the Waning Sun was widespread. The Lammas fire was kept in the home through the winter as protection against storms and lightning, and fires started by lightning.

In an age when crops can be imported all year round, we tend to forget just how important this time was to our ancestors the failure of the harvest meant starvation and death. Early August was a time to celebrate the fruits of the first harvest and work positive magic for prosperity and protection.

Compared to well-known Celtic holidays such as May Day (Beltane) and Halloween (Samhain), few people are familiar with the lore of Lughnasa. Even modern Wiccan books rarely devote more than a few pages to the Lammas celebration. Whether you're just starting on the path or are an experienced Witch looking for a new perspective on this ancient festival, you'll find that Lammas is a cornucopia of history, folklore, recipes, spells, and rituals.

Lammas marks the first harvest when the first grain is gathered, ground, and baked into a bread known as the Lammas loaf, a practice still popular in many parts of the British Isles. The following spells for Lammas offer ways for the modern kitchen witch to make magic.

British Witches often refer to the astrological date of August 6th as Old Lammas. This date has long been considered a 'power point' of the Zodiac, and is symbolized by the Lion, one of the 'tetramorph' figures found on the Tarot cards, the World and the Wheel of Fortune (the other three figures being the Bull, the Eagle, and the Spirit). Astrologers know these four figures as the symbols of the four 'fixed' signs of the Zodiac, and these naturally align with the four Great Sabbats of Witchcraft. Christians have adopted the same iconography to represent the four gospel-writers.

The Goddess manifests as Demeter, Ceres, Corn Mother, and other agricultural Goddesses. The God manifests as Lugh, John Barleycorn, and vegetation Gods.  Colors are Golden Yellow, Orange, Green, and Light Brown. It is a festival of plenty and prosperity.

LAMMAS BREAD WISH SPELL
Make a loaf of bread at Lammas and before you put the loaf into the oven, dip a paintbrush in milk and write on the crust what you most desire. Bake the bread, then eat it while still warm.

LAMMAS BREAD PROTECTION SPELL

Bake a Lammas loaf, and when it is cool break it into four pieces (don't cut it with a knife and take one to each corner of your property with the words:

I call on the spirits Of north, and south, east and west Protect this place Now, at the time of the Blessing.

Leave the bread for the birds to eat or bury the pieces and to Mother Earth with a prayer of appreciation.

 

Have a magical picnic and break bread with friends.

Do a meditation in which you visualize yourself completing a project you have already begun.

Make a corn dolly charm out of the first grain you harvest or acquire.

Make prayers for a good harvest season.

Do prosperity magic.

Harvest herbs in a sacred way for use in charms and rituals.

Kindle a Lammas fire with sacred wood and dried herbs.

If you live in or near a farming region, attend a public harvest festival, such as a corn or apple festival.