A Ritual FOR Lughnasadh

Ifyouhavethetimeandspace,bothmentallyandphysically,itcanbelovelytomarkthefestivalofLughnasadhwithapersonalritual.Thisritualcanbeconductedindoorsoroutdoors,dayornight.Itcreatesspaceforthepractitionertocelebratetheharvest,andtobethankfulfortheirskills.Takesometimetothinkofthreeormoreskillsthatyouhave;thingsyouaregoodat,andenjoy,butyou’renotnecessarilyanexpertin.Behonestwithyourself,butdon’tbemodest:thisisatimetocelebrate!Theymightbegardening,cooking,music,orpainting.Chooseanobjecttorepresenteachofyourskillseg.aleaf,oratoolofsomesort.

Findaspotthatfeelscomfortableandsetanaltar,onasmalltableoronapieceoffabricontheground.Youwillneedacentralcandle,andfourcandlesforeachcompasspoint,incense,wineorjuice(Iusedhomemadeblueberrysmoothie)andabowlforit(IusedatraditionalQuaich),aboardofharvestfoodslikebread,berries,cheeseandchutney,andabell.Prepareyourselfmentallyforyourritual;meditate,donsomeceremonialdress,ortakesometimeinnature.

Toopenyourritual,say“IcometothisplacetorecognisetheancientfestivalofLughnasadh,towitnessthechangingseasons,theturningofthewheel,andthewaningoftheyear.Tobepresentinthistimeofplentyandtobethankfulformyskills.”Layyourobjectsonthealtar,candlesfirst,andthenpouryourwineorjuiceintotheceremonialbowl.

Layoutyourharvestfoodsonaboardandplacethisonyouraltar.

Nowringyourbellthreetimes.Lightyourcandles,ateachfourcompasspointsfirst,followedbythecentralcandle,andthenlightyourincense.

Holdingyourincense,drawacirclearoundyouraltar,startingattheEastcompasspoint,pausingtosay,“IbreathetheairoftheEast.”AtSouthpauseandsay“IlightthefireoftheSouth.”AtWestpauseandsay“IswiminthewateroftheWest”AtNorthpauseandsay“IamheldbytheearthoftheNorth.”

Nowlifteachritualobjectthatyouchosetorepresentyourvariousskills,inturn,andconsiderit.Taketimetorememberwhyyouchosethisskill,andwhyyouarethankfulforhavingitinyourlife.Rememberallthetimeyouputintolearningthisskill,andrememberallthetimesyouusedit,aloneandwithothers.Visualiseyourselfusingyourskill,andletitsenergyfillyouup.Offeryourselfandtheuniversethanksandcelebrationforbringingthisskillintoyourlife.Onceyouhavedonethiswitheachskill,takesometimetogroundyourself.

Nowtakeadrinkfromyourbowl,givingthankstotheharvest.Eatsomeoftheharvestfoodsyouhavegathered,andmindfullygivethanksfortheenergytheygiveyou.Closetheritualbyretracingthecircleyoucreatedwithyourincense,andwhenyouarrivebackattheEastpoint,ringthebellagainthreetimes.

Yourritualiscomplete,blowoutyourcandlesandputawayyourthings.Perhapstakeyourharvestfoodsandeattherestwhilelettingyourselfcomeoutoftheritualheadspace.MayyourLughnasadhbejoyfulandyourharvestsbefull!

WordsbyKatrinBlackwater&DimaNowarahStillsfrom‘Lughnasadh’filmbyKatrinBlackwater

Adaptedfromaritualonwww.patheos.com