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
