Lammas, or it’s Gaelic equivalent Lughnasadh, is celebrated today in honour of the first harvest, the wheat harvest. Lammas is derived from the Anglo Saxon for ‘loaf-mass’ but was also known as the ‘festival of first fruits’ as the first berries are now starting to ripen in the hedgerows.
This is a time to be grateful for all the beauty of the natural world; for the harvest of herbs and foods, for the wildflowers and the insects that pollinate them, for our communities of friends and family and for the waters that feed the land and its creatures.
So often the nature of the human mind is to look for what is wrong and find ways to fix it. The coming months are a time to reap what we have sown and dwell in the simple gratitude of what we have, not looking for ways to change it or to make it better but just to be honest- as for most of us there is always more to be thankful for than there is to fix.
As Lammas draws to a close I am reminded of the closing words of the Desiderata:
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Thank-you.
x
Beautiful words and image.
Thank you x
[...] August 1st 2012 is Lammas the first of three Pagan harvest festivals where we begin to reap what we have sown and nurtured [...]
And a happy Lughnasadh to you my dear friend. Your words and beautiful artwork so perfectly commemorate the day.
Thank you Danielle, I hope you had a beautiful day!
Dear Lucinda,
May you also have a joyful Lammas!
Your heart is truly tuned into nature’s gifts and you share her wisdom with us so beautifully, thank you!
Hope you don’t mind my including a link to your Lammas post from the Well Wishers Group Blog and wanted to offer you some beautiful music in return:
http://wellwishersgroup.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/lammas-beautiful-music-offering-by-ron-allen/
Blessings on all you do!
Kind regards,
Sri Devi
P.S. Your artwork is gorgeous, dreamy, peaceful and delightful.
Thank you Sri Devi, it is an honour that you shared a link to my post.
Many blessings to you and thank you for the magical music.
Lucinda x
This entry, the words and the emotions that they evoke, are beautiful. I was getting ready to go out and have my full moon fire ceremony but wanted to do a final check of email. Your entry was there. Thank you for the peaceful thoughts and feelings which I will now carry to ceremony.
How wonderful. Your ceremony sounds beautiful and you have also brightened my day to hear about it.
Thank you for your sharing Lucinda – you beautiful beautiful being xxx
Thanks for your comment too Debbie. It bought me a lovely feeling of warmth.
A joyful Lammas to you to Lucinda.
Beautiful written
And to you too Rita! xx
That’s a poem for the collection, happy Lammas to you! It was Imboloc down here yesterday, which has brought a whisper of spring with her and a reminder to choose the seeds to be sown. I’m looking forward to the reaping when Lammas sweeps her cloak across our lands
xo
Ah of course, Happy Imbolc to you there across the lands and the oceans!
xx
As always what a beautiful post and such a wonderful picture. Bright Blessings xxxxxx
And many blessings to you too sweet Fiona! xxx
Beautiful post, Lucinda, and a lovely painting xxx
Thank you Forfedha. I hope you had a magical Lammas. As such a magical being I have no doubt you did!
xx
Yay, Lammas! Wonderfully said as always.
Michael
Thanks Michael. i hope you had a lovely day x