Happiest of Lammas Blessings🌾
Prayer to the Harvest Deities The fields are full, the orchards blooming, and the harvest has arrived. Hail to the gods who watch over the land! Hail to Ceres, goddess of the wheat! Hail Mercury, fleet of foot! Hail Pomona and fruitful apples! Hail Attis, who dies and is reborn! Hail Demeter, bringing the dark of the year! Hail Bacchus who fills the goblets with wine! We honor you all, in this time of harvest, and set our tables with your bounty. So Mote it be.
Lammas, which is also known as Lughnasad, or Lughnassadh, is a pagan holiday and one of the eight Wiccan sabbats during the year. Each of these sabbat days mark a seasonal turning point.
This sabbat occurs on 1 -2 February in the Southern Hemisphere which is roughly halfway between the Summer Solstice, (Lotus) and the Autumn Equinox (Mabon).
This holiday celebrates the grain harvest.
Grain is still a very important crop throughout most of our world.
The timing of harvest was traditionally very important.
If the grain was left in the fields for too long, or if the bread made from the grain was not baked in time, families might starve and famine could occur.
It is this time of year and as the darkness of the day begins to lengthen that we find thanks for the crop we have received. Today you may not be finding gratitude for the grain but this is a time to find gratitude for the crop you are harvesting from the efforts you have put in since the beginning of spring.
This is a time to celebrate and enjoy all that we have created and celebrate the light that still remains. It is a time to make the most of every moment before the darkness of winter falls again.
It is also a time to consider what we can put away for the cold times ahead. It is a time to sort out our savings. This is a great time for preserving and jamming.
It is also a good time to give back. To share with others when you have received a bumper crop. Perhaps you have some excess time or money that you can donate to a charity.
If we want to bring this practice closer to home these next few days would be the perfect time to bake some bread and share it with your neighbours.
Lammas is also traditionally a time when we bury conflicts with others so perhaps you could offer loaves of bread as peace offerings.
Here is a suggestion for a simple 4 ingredient artisan bread you could ritually make. When making and baking this bread ensure you hold this space as a ritual. Light a candle, play some mantra. Take time thank Mother Earth for the produce you are using.
4 Ingredient Artisan Bread
Ingredients
3 Cups of All Purpose Flour
1 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Yeast
1 1/2 Cups of Warm Water
Method
1. In a bowl, stir the flour, salt, yeast and water until combined. The dough should look dry and shaggy – if it looks wet and sticky instead stir in an additional 1/4 cup of flour. Cover with plastic wrap and rest at room temperature for 8-24 hours.
2. Turn dough out onto a well floured surface and form a ball. (Place on parchment paper if desired.)
3. Rest for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, place an oven safe baking dish with high sides into the oven and preheat to 200c.
4. Cut a “X” on top of the bread. Carefully transfer to baking dish and cover. (If using parchment paper, you can pick up the edges of the paper and transfer the dough and the paper together into the baking dish.)
5. Bake covered 30 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 more minutes until quite golden brown.
6. Wrap the bread up in a beautiful towel and share with your family, friends and neighbours. Allow the bread to cool before slicing.
(Recipe from itsalwasyautumn.com)
Prayer for the Grain
Fields of gold, waves of grain, the summer comes to a close. The harvest is ready, ripe for threshing, as the sun fades into autumn. Flour will be milled, bread will be baked, and we shall eat for another winter.
Much Love and Lammas Blessings to you and your family.
So Mote it be.