Lughnasadh/Lammas and Imbolc

I call this festival Lughnasadh but many call it Lammas. Either way, it is almost upon us. Today is Lughnasadh Eve,, tomorrow (1st Aug), is Lughnasadh or Lammas. In the Southern Hemisphere it is Imbolc, one of my favourite festivals. I do hope they get snowdrops south of the equator because to me that is the ultimate symbol of Imbolc!!

Lughnasadh is a wonderful time of year. It is fecund, bountiful and celebratory. It is the mid-point between Mid Summer and the Autumn Equinox. It is the start of the harvest time and so was when people would have more to eat than any other time of the year. This is a corn festival, a time of grain and gold/sunshine yellow and bronze, bread making and games, of weaving corn dollies. It is also a time of the waning moon.

Deities at this time include Lugh, Demeter, Ceres, Tailtiu. It is a time of the mother deity, of the fullness of life, and knowing when to celebrate. To stop and take in the joys life has to offer. It is the time of reaping the rewards of a year of hard work.

We are still in the last stages of the Holly moon, so we are still working with our passions and self confidence. The next Celtic Tree is the Hazel, which will begin on Monday, 5th August. This is where communication and knowledge come in, as the power of the sun starts to dwindle a little.

At this time of year I like to burn a fire - clear out the rubbish from my body and renew good health. If you don't have access to somewhere that you can start a small, controlled fire, pass a candle all around yourself, or get someone to do it for you - over your whole body. As you jump over the fire/have the candle pass over you, think about bringing in the positive energy that can heal and letting out all toxins and negative energies.

Getting out is essential at Lughnasadh - even if its just a five minute walk/stroll. Any kind of physical activity is good, especially outside. Feel the sun on your skin (or if its cloudy, imagine it). Enjoy this last couple of months of light before we a plunged into the short, cold days of winter.

I like to bake for this festival - cornbread is best but to be honest, this is a grain festival, so any grain will do, including wholemeal, which is much easier to make.

BB and have a wonderful Lughnasadh!

On another note, my second book, The Island of the Mist, is now available on both Kindle and paperback formats:

Kindle: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-Kingslayer-Series-ebook/dp/B0092TUS7U/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346945410&sr=1-2

And paperback: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346506656&sr=1-2

and in the US: http://www.amazon.com/Island-Mist-N-Roy/dp/147921292X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346946271&sr=1-2&keywords=the+island+of+the+mist

My first book, The Stone in the Sword, is now reduced in price: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Sword-ebook/dp/B006ZQIEPG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327179005&sr=1-3