A sacred pause to honour your harvests
I love reflecting on these ancient traditions and celebrations because of how they honour the cyclical changes in the outer world. These changes invite us to reflect on how they impact our inner world, our body, and how we can celebrate and honour ourselves. We are part of this whole.
Lammas celebrates the Gaelic festival of Lughnasadh on the 1st August. This is half way between the summer solstice (June 21st longest day, most light in northern hemisphere: when the sun is furthest north from the equator) and autumn equinox (equal day and night: when the sun is exactly above the equator). Like many other Pagan festivals it became part of the Christian calendar when it became renamed as loaf mass day. It is a celebration of the end of haymaking which began after midsummer. I love that there is a sustainable community in Pembrokeshire which has named itself Lammas.
In Ancient Chinese, the equivalent time of year, an honouring of harvesting is 8th August. I love that it is the 8 th day of the 8 th month. For me it is an invitation to connect with our 8 extraordinary vessels and our connection to the infinite.
Celebrate the gifts of nature.
It is an opportunity to celebrate the gifts of nature. Look around you and receive its nourishment. Here in the south of France, I can see the hay bales in the fields and the colours of the sunflowers.
The plum trees are laden down with their fruit. We have been picking and preserving our plums, as bottled fruit and jams.
In our garden we have courgettes, tomatoes, sweet corn, lettuces, radishes, cucumber.
Here in France people tend to think of 15th August as a turning point. The weather becomes cooler and there are often heavy rain storms. However this year the land is already very dry. We haven’t had rain for a couple of months. Each year is different and we are reminded of that too.
Honour your inner harvest
Take time to honour the cycle you are in. Whatever is going on, like in nature, there is always something to be grateful for, something you are harvesting.
Reflect on which projects are coming to fruition and how can you support them. You can journal and set intentions.
I find working with touch, especially the 8 Extraordinary vessels offers a powerful way to tune into yourself and connect with your body’s wisdom. You could go and receive a shiatsu. Here is one of the videos I have created on self massage.
You could movements which speak to you. Here is my playlist of movements many of which are working with the Extraordinary Vessels.
You could create your own ceremony alone or with others. Light a candle for what you’re harvesting.
Enjoy creating your own rituals and I would love to hear what they are.
