An ancient festival

The celebration of Lammas, typically marked on August 1st, is an English Christian festival marking the beginning of the harvest season. However, the celebration has a much older heritage within the islands of Britain.

During the early medieval period, from around 600AD, when Christianity first became widespread in Britain, there were many traditions and ceremonies, often honouring the land in some way, that most ordinary folk living in the countryside of Britain participated in.

These “pagan” celebrations, which were clearly popular, were perhaps perceived as a threat to the developing Christian religion and were consequently repackaged with a Christian emphasis.

So it was that the ancient traditions of the early harvest festival in August became known as Lammas.

Yet in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, they continued to be called by the name of Lughnasadh and in Wales as Calan Awst, both names from the Celtic language family.

The widespread nature of the celebrations around the 1st of August within the islands of Britain, and their evident importance to the population, indicate that they may have held cultural significance for a long time.

As the celebrations revolve around the harvest, it could be possible that they derive from early farming times, which in Britain go back almost 6000 years.  

Changes in the land

Lughnasadh marks the mid-point between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. Whilst the summer solstice marks the zenith of the solar energy, the autumn equinox marks the beginning of the sun’s descent.

Seen from a farming perspective, particularly focused on the grain growing in the fields, the wheat, barley and oats, the mid-point at the 1st August marks the time of the first harvest, when the first crop is cut.

The first fruits are also becoming apparent – apples and pears, rosehips and rowan berries are evident in the trees whilst blackberries, bilberries, wild raspberries and strawberries are ripening in the hedgerows.

When the seeds, fruits and nuts ripen, those that eat them also become more visible, so this is the season when mammal watching becomes more attainable. Walks amongst healthy fields bring the welcome sound of buzzing insects, so often missing today from some of the countryside.

As our migrant birds raise their final broods, our resident songbirds’ singing becomes more prominent again, as they begin to emerge from their annual moults.

Around this time of year, there are noticeable changes in the quality of the light, as the days rapidly become shorter. Misty, sunny early mornings are common, with the haze of seed heads wandering in the wind from flowering plants. Days end with a russet glow, mirroring the apples ripening in the trees.

Cutting the grain

The name Lughnasadh marks the celebration or honouring of the Irish harvest god Lugh, who represented the grain growing in the fields, which was cut (or ritually sacrificed) during the first harvest.

The celebrations marked both this annual sacrifice, with the first cutting of the grain, alongside the rebirth, of both the grain and of Lugh, with the creation of the first loaf of bread.

The Christian celebration of Lammas also marked the time when the first grain was cut in the fields and baked into bread. The first loaf made was taken to the church to be blessed, followed by a great feast.

The theme of sacrifice persisted in the English folk character of John Barleycorn, representing the crop of barley harvested each Lammas, much like Lugh.

Lugh

Lugh was also leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann (people of the goddess Dana), also known as the Faery folk or Little People.

The Faery tradition is connected with the ancient shamanic culture of Britain, which stretches back thousands of years, making Lugh perhaps one of the original gods who were honoured in these islands.

Is it possible that Lughnasadh too has such an old pedigree and, if so, what would the celebration be marking in a pre-agricultural society?

When we unpick the practices behind the celebrations and try to understand the messages behind the old tales, which are themselves possible remnants of the older tales told around the fires in pre-literate Britain, we can tease out some themes.

This is both a time of abundance and a time of sacrifice, followed by rebirth.

Both Lugh and John Barleycorn are represented as gregarious and important figures, gaining the attention of the crowds and revelling in abundance before their eventful sacrifice and rebirth.

Whilst clearly the tales and imagery focus on a farming culture, the themes remain relevant to people who may have foraged and hunted on the land, following behind animals who seek out the ripening nuts and seeds in the woods.

We can envisage celebrations to mark the coming of age of new hunters in the approaching season, perhaps involving tests of their strength and resilience. Themes of sacrifice feel palpable, both in the tests and with the eventual danger of the hunt.

It also feels important to mention the theme of sovereignty, which is strong in the stories of both Lugh and John Barleycorn, particularly in relation to their ties to the land and their sacrifice for the survival of others.

These themes were important in many tales coming from the old world we call Celtic and I can’t help but see their deeper shamanic significance, in working with and protecting the other-than-human beings of the land.

Leo season

In astrology, early August is ruled by Leo. The second fire sign of the year, after Aries, Leo represents the fire burning brightly in the hearth. Whilst perhaps not immediately obvious, Leo is naturally entwined with the themes of Lughnasdah.

The message of Leo is to boldly step into the limelight, despite your self-conscious ego and bring your creative soul message into the world for the benefit of others. This is the true representation of sacrifice and leadership.

Typified by the fool in the tarot deck, the message is to feel the fear and do it anyway. The world needs your gifts even if it’s hard to bring them.

Leo calls on you to recognise your soul urge, your creative need, the gifts you are bringing to the world. Often, it’s what we most want to run away from. Feel into that tension, that edge.

What makes you uncomfortable? Is there something that niggles you in the back of your mind, something you know that you really should do but which scares you completely?

Work with that edge to really feel the support of others for your work. Take that bold step into the unknown and take centre stage, regardless of how uneasy and scared it makes you feel.

What is your vision? Now is the time to birth this into the world. Time to stand on the stage and see what the world mirrors back to you. Often we can only refine something once it reflected by others, however uncomfortable that may make us feel.

Leo is about community. It’s about enjoying the warmth of the hearth fire with others. It’s about sharing your gifts with others and receiving feedback that helps you to grow and become brighter.

It’s about recognising that none of us are truly alone. That to achieve anything, to birth anything, we need the help and support of others, of our communities.

Leo represents the lion, the king of the jungle and the most outrageous expressionist. When you get on stage, be your most outrageous. Dress up and be adventurous. Feel the spotlight. Find your edges and burst through them. Be a trailblazer.

The true nature of Leo is playful and innocent. This is the month to spend with your inner child and ignite your playful, creative side.

Themes this month

The invitation this month is to explore your creative soul purpose and find the courage to shine it brightly into the world. What is your soul urge, your creative need, the gifts you are bringing to the world?

It’s now or never time. Post your creations on social media. Sing, dance, speak your poetry. Feel into those things that frighten and excite you the most and take a step into the unknown.

Take a step into your heart and soul purpose and feel how right that is, despite all the edges. Have the courage to be completely you and shine!

Feel the fear and do it anyway, knowing there is wisdom in personal sacrifice.

Spend time on the land connecting with the more-than-human beings. Connect with the gods of the land and feel the wisdom of this time and the strength of thousands of years of traditions concerning the themes of stepping up for your people and sacrificing your ego.

What is your soul purpose and how can you entwine this with your gifts to the world – how can you best serve?

Love Samara

Lughnasadh 2024