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

Preparing for Imbolc

I know Imbolc is a couple of weeks away but many of us have already begun our preparation for this time of year. Cleaning is one of the main things we do - as we want to welcome Bride/Brigit/Brede/Bridig into a clean home on the 2nd of February.

Many people don't really think of Bride as the Goddess of the home and hearth, but she is, among other things, and among other deities. She brings that step of inspiration that hint of spring, clearing the cobwebs of winter away, igniting our creative spark.

This weekend I and my husband have cleaned out our bedroom, the fridge, one kitchen cupboard, cooker and done some dusting. The bathroom was cleaned last weekend and we will do the rest of the cupboards before the end of the week.

Taking time and breaking the job down makes it seem like much less of a hassle and mammoth task. We are lucky in this instance that we live in a small house, one bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen/living room. We have a small job really but even those with much larger homes can lift a duster, hoover, clean their cupboards and fridge out, squirt the loo with bleach etc. A couple of tasks a day has it all clean in no time.

In this we are also mentally preparing for the return of the spring, for the divine to return to our homes.

In your living room (or kitchen if this is your main room), light a white or pale green candle, preferrably beeswax, in preparation for Bride's return.

Baking is another great way of welcoming Bride. Bread or cakes are the best way to welcome her home. They are also the best way to make a house a home.

Soda Bread is a great and very, very easy bread to start with.

500g plain flour
1 tso salt
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
400ml live full fat yoghurt

Preheat over to 200C/400F/GM 6

Flour a bakig tray and a work top.

Sieve dry ingredients together, make a well in centre and add yoghurt. Mix to gooey/sticky consistency (add a hint of milk if you need).

Put out onto work top and form into a round - don't work with it too much.

Place on tray and score a deep cross on the top of the bread.

Bake for 40-45 mins. When taking out, tap base - if it sounds hollow, it's ready. Pop on a cooling tray and you can have a slice as little as 15 minutes later :D

I think this bread is better the day after it is baked.

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin