Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Remember the Earth - A Ritual for Lughnasadh - A Ritual for Lammas Harvest Sabbat

Remember the Earth

A Ritual for Lughnasadh


An original ritual by Dena L Moore – http://www.throughnightsfire.com
http://www.venusilluminated.com

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The Remember the Earth Ritual is to be worked on any day from August 1-8th. Lughnasadh is typically celebrated on the 1st, but using astrological knowledge, it is celebrated when the Sun reaches 15 degrees of Leo.

If you want me to create a ritual kit for you, just drop me an email at Dena@throughnightsfire.com


Lughnasadh (pronounced loo-na-sa), also known as Lammas, marks the first of the harvest sabbats. This is the time to remember the Earth, to acknowledge the many sacrifices she has made over the centuries for humans. Without her support, we would be homeless...lifeless.

While some paths sacrifice the god at this sabbat, others choose to offer sacrifice to the gods and goddesses. An offering of thanks and goodwill would help ensure a full and bountiful harvest to help us survive the dark winter months.

This is also a time to make commitments, to yourself and to your loved ones.  Clear out the clutter, wipe away the cobwebs, and discard those parts of your life that are no longer needed. Share a part of yourself with others, make offerings to the gods and goddesses, and remember those who have come before.  Who has walked the Earth before you? Who has made offerings and blessed the Earth? It is now your turn...as the wheel of the year turns, take your place in the whole.

This ritual is best performed outside, but if you cannot manage it, try to take a walk before or after the ritual to commune with nature and our mother herself.  Although this ritual is written for solitary practice, a group could easily make a few changes for group participation.


Items needed:

One Woodland Wonders Crystal Journey candle set (4 candles) – Available at http://www.venusilluminated.com under candlegift sets
Hawthorn berries
Enchanted Forest handrolled incense
Matches, a lighter, or a lighting stick
4 plates or candle holders--make sure they are not plastic. Ceramic or glass will work best.
Water or a candle snuffer.
Incense (ash) catcher
A small loaf or slice of fruit or vegetable (such as zucchini) bread
Chalice or other container full of fresh water


Additional items needed if choosing the effigy option:

Cauldron
A handmade straw doll...to be used as a decoration or as an effigy, depending on your desires


Directions:

(Directions for sacrificing the effigy are at the end of the ritual)

Bake or purchase your bread the day before the ritual. It will have much more meaning if you bake it yourself. Make or purchase your straw doll before the ritual as well.

Create your sacred space. If you do not have a particular practice and are new at ritual, imagine yourself and perhaps your entire property encircled in the protective white light of the universe. This can be a circle or a bubble, whichever you feel the most comfortable with. Never blow your candles out. Use water and pinch them out or a candle snuffer.

After creating your space, place the four candles on candle plates (or in votive holders) in a shape symbolizing the 4 directions—one candle to the north, south, east, and west. Use your intuition to determine which candle goes where. Space the candles wide enough so that you may sit or stand at the center of them.  Place the doll, cup of water, and bread at the center.  Sprinkle the hawthorn berries along the perimeter of your circle, or you may leave a trail from one candle to the other (forming a square/diamond shape).  Light the incense and reinforce your protected space. Light all 4 candles in whatever order you choose.

Sit in the center of the circle with the doll, water, and the bread.  Hold the doll in your hand as you begin the following blessing (Please feel free to add, subtract, or change any part of this blessing):

I bless the Earth, for all she’s born.
I bless the Earth, for all she’s given me,
For all she’s given my ancestors, and fellow kind.
I bless the Earth for the bounty of the harvest,
The flowing rivers, and oxygen rich woodlands.

Break the bread in half, and continue:

I thank the Earth for this bread, which will sustain me
As it has sustained the lives of centuries.

Bite into the bread. Chew slowly and swallow. Take the chalice in hand:

I thank the Earth for this water, which will sustain me
As it has sustained the lives of centuries.

Take a sip of the water. Eat half of the bread, but save the rest for later in the ritual. Drink more water. Repeat the first part of the blessing.

If you are outdoors (if you are not outdoors, save the bread for your walk and leave a trail of crumbs as you walk), crumble the rest of the bread up and spread it out on the ground within the circle.  As you crumble the bread, offer thanks to the Gods/Goddesses or to the universe...this is your offering, so give to those your are attuned with or fits with your life and beliefs. Feel your connection to nature fully and embrace it lovingly.

Allow the candles to burn for as long as you can. Discard of the ‘leavings’ in any manner you desire. You can discard the straw figure or keep it until next Lughnasadh.


If you wish to ‘sacrifice’ the God—symbolized by the straw figure:

Have the cauldron with you in the center of the circle. After eating and drinking but before crumbling the bread, set the straw figure on fire in the cauldron while adding your own words/beliefs as the figure burns.




This ritual is the original work of DenaL Moore, aka Venuskitty, of Through Night’s Fire Astrology

Please direct any questions, comments, or concerns to Dena at Dena@throughnightsfire.com


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