Midsummer / Lammas / “Lunasa”
Lammas is a Sabbat celebration of summer and light. It marks the season of action, sun and prosperity. Think of bountiful harvests and expressing gratitude. The Southern Hemisphere Witches and Pagans celebrate this seasonal occasion on the 1st of February.
However, for Northern Hemisphere Witches and Pagans, the opposite season will be celebrated on the 1st of February, Imbolc, to mark the affair of spring.
Historically, the arrival of Lammas marked the beginning of the grain harvest. The Witches Wheel of The Year continually turns through the seasons, renewing annually. The Sabbats are a way to get in touch with each cycle and be present with the changes of nature.
Lammas is a midpoint between seasons. There are four cross quarter days that fall between the solstices and equinoxes. They are considered the “Greater Sabbats” marked on the Witches Wheel of The Year. These seasonal indications have been transformed and retold by many figureheads in Modern Wicca and Witchcraft subgroups.
At the core of these celebrations, we are united by our curiosity and shared belief in divinity that is present in all of nature. Magick is our will and spiritual intention transformed into ritual, practice and way of life.
Ways to Celebrate
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Bake fresh bread, cakes and goods (get creative and add seasonal fruits!)
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Host a gratitude circle and or have a picnic with family, friends or your Coven (Everyone brings their own harvest or baked goods to share!)
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Garden and collect herbs, fruit or vegetables if you have access to freshly grown produce (make sure to save the seeds for your next harvest)
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Write an intention list, burn it and use the flames to scry (bonfire, cauldron or candle scrying)
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Gratitude journal or meditation (collective and individual gratitude)
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Adorn your home with flowers and fresh herbs
For more ways to celebrate, head to our Lammas celebration blog here.
Ritual Preparation
Prepare your altar. Use fresh summer flowers, fruit offerings, candles, incense, herbs and don’t forget your cauldron. Line your magick circle with salt, and set your crystals on the four cardinal points or your prosperity grid.
The Altar
- Altar cloth
- Yellow, red, gold, brown, black and white candles
- Bell
- Salt
- Cauldron and tongs
- Resin, herbs and oil such as frankincense, rosemary, basil & rose
- Crystals such as citrine, red aventurine, red jasper, brown jasper, moonstone, carnelian
Prepare your space
To begin your ritual, create a space in which you will not be interrupted. Clear your mind and mental body through meditation or deep breathing. Use candles, essential oils, spray, smoke cleansing or any additional natural elements to prepare your space. Centre your emotions and draw upon the forces available to you.
Create your circle boundary using items such as stones, cords, ribbons, crystals, oil drops or spray, salt or salt water. A sword, athame, wand, stick, finger or hand may be used to draw out your circle. Whatever you are comfortable with using.
Open and close your ceremony through meditation, visualisation, bell sound, verbal instruction, or specific items to seal your space. This will ensure you are casting your spells and magick in a space that is shielded from the distractions of the material plane.
Sigil Activation Ritual
This ritual creates a space to meditate on your intentions for the coming seasons, to create a sigil that encompasses these intentions, and then put that energy out into the universe to assist you in achieving your goals.
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Clear your space using salt sprinkled around your circle.
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“Open” the circle by using your hand to motion a circle and add in a symbol you feel comfortable with like a pentagram, sun, or even the word “open”. You may also simply think of the words “Open the circle”.
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Set an altar cloth (or any clean cloth) on a surface, prepare Lammas herbs in a dish or cauldron and place a white candle in the centre on a candle holder.
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Use four candles to mark the cardinal points: green for north, yellow for east, red for south and blue for west.
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You may wish to move around your circle to open the cardinal points. (Do whatever you’re comfortable with: follow your instincts and witch-tuition.)
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Meditate on your goals, intentions and wishes for the coming season. Look back since you last created intentions for the year and see where you are in these, and decide upon new goals. While imagining these goals, decide upon a sigil or symbols to represent your hopes and wishes for the times ahead.
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Inscribe these sigils or symbols on a candle. You may also use oil to mark a candle with prosperity, abundance or happiness sigils.
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Sprinkle Lammas herbs over the candle.
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Light the candle when you’re ready and allow it to carry your intentions for the annual cycle of seasons. Sit and watch the flames while meditating upon your intentions.
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When you are ready, extinguish the candle flame with a tool or blow it out. Let the smoke carry your intentions into existence.
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Close the space to complete the ceremony. Break the salt circle, and affirm “Close Circle” aloud or internally. You may remove the imagery of the symbol within your circle that was created at the beginning of the ritual. You can also move in an opposite direction of the original circle cast.
Ritual: Intention-Setting for Lammas
In Wiccan traditions, Lammas, or Lughnasadh, marks the first harvest, a time when the Goddess manifests as the Harvest Mother, embodying abundance, nourishment, and the cycles of life. This ritual allows you to focus on your goals and aspirations for the coming seasons, setting intentions as seeds to nurture and grow.
Preparing for the Ritual
Decorate your altar with symbols of the harvest: a sickle or scythe, dried grains, fruits like apples and grapes, ivy, sunflowers, and seasonal breads. Add candles in shades of orange, yellow, or red to reflect the summer sun and the impending autumn. If you like, include Lammas incense, such as blends featuring cinnamon, frankincense, or rosemary.
What You’ll Need:
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A candle to represent the Harvest Mother, in a seasonal colour (orange, yellow, or red)
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Stalks of wheat or a bundle of dried grain
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An unsliced loaf of bread (homemade or store-bought. WEe have included the recipe for baking a ritual gratitude loaf of bread)
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A goblet of ritual wine or apple cider (non-alcoholic options are perfectly acceptable)
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Paper and pen for writing your goals, aspirations, or plans
If casting a circle is part of your practice, begin by doing so. While optional, it creates a sacred and protected space for your ritual.
Beginning the Ritual
Light the candle on your altar and take a moment to centre yourself. Reflect on the energies of the harvest and the turning Wheel of the Year. Hold the stalks of wheat in your hands and focus on their symbolism—the cycle of life, the hard work of the harvest, and the preparation needed for the colder months. Gently rub the wheat to release a few grains onto your altar, or scatter them outdoors as an offering to the Earth and the Goddess.
Setting Intentions
Sit quietly and focus on your personal journey and the months ahead. On the paper, write a list of your goals, aspirations, or plans for the coming seasons. Visualise each intention as a seed you are planting in fertile soil, ready to grow and flourish. As you write, feel gratitude for the opportunities before you and imbue your words with this energy.
Once you have finished, place your list beneath the stalks of wheat on your altar.
Sharing the Harvest
Take the loaf of bread and tear off a piece as a symbol of the Earth’s abundance. Savour its taste as a reminder of the blessings in your life. If you have a ritual drink, enjoy a sip to complete the moment of gratitude and connection.
Closing the Ritual
Conclude the ritual with a moment of silence to honour the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. When you feel ready, close your circle (if you cast one) or simply take a few deep breaths to ground yourself. Leave your altar as it is for a while, or safely extinguish the candle and store your tools.
Ritual: Fire Scrying
This follow-up ritual is a quiet and reflective practice. By burning the list of intentions you created earlier, you release them into the universe and use the flames, smoke, and ashes to scry for guidance about the season ahead. This ritual requires no chanting or reciting, allowing you to focus on the visual and intuitive aspects.
Preparing for the Ritual
Set up a sacred and safe space for this ritual. Decorate your altar with harvest symbols to honour the Lammas energy. Ensure your space is free from distractions, and ground yourself before beginning.
What You’ll Need:
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The list of intentions written during the earlier ritual
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A cauldron or fire-safe container
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Matches or a lighter
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A pinch of dried herbs (Lammas blend: cinnamon, rosemary, and chamomile)
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A heat-resistant surface or location
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Optional: A journal or notebook for recording insights
Performing the Ritual
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Create Your Space: Ensure your cauldron is placed securely on a heat-resistant surface. Take a moment to ground yourself by focusing on your breath and centring your energy.
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Reflect on Your Intentions: Hold the list of intentions in your hands and reflect on what they represent. Visualise each intention as a seed planted in fertile soil, ready to grow and manifest.
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Burn the List: Place the paper in the cauldron. Sprinkle a pinch of the Lammas herb blend over it, infusing the flames with the energy of the season. Light the paper with a match or lighter, and allow it to burn completely. Watch the flames as they consume the paper and release its energy into the universe.
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Focus on the Flames and Smoke: As the paper burns, gaze into the flickering flames and rising smoke. Relax your mind and let your intuition guide you. Allow shapes, images, or symbols to emerge from the fire and smoke. Take your time, letting the visions unfold naturally.
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Observe the Ashes: Once the flames have burned out, examine the ashes left behind. Note their patterns, shapes, or textures. These remnants may also hold symbolic meanings.
Symbolic Meanings
Here are a few symbols you might encounter and their potential meanings:
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Circles: Wholeness, unity, and the completion of cycles.
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Spirals: Growth, transformation, and the unfolding of new opportunities.
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Animals: Specific creatures may represent certain energies or messages (e.g., a bird for freedom or a deer for gentleness).
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Smoke Rising Steadily: Clarity, focus, and a smooth path ahead.
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Erratic Smoke: Challenges or the need to adjust your approach.
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Ash Clumps: Areas of stagnation or obstacles to address.
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Fine, Even Ash Spread: Balance, harmony, and readiness for the next steps.
Closing the Ritual
Take a moment to ground yourself after the scrying session. If any insights or messages stood out, jot them down in your journal or notebook for later reflection. Thank the elements and energies present for their guidance. Gently scatter the ashes outside as an offering to the Earth, symbolising the return of energy to the cycle of life.
Conclude your ritual with a few moments of quiet meditation or by enjoying a warm drink to reconnect with your body and surroundings.
Baking a Ritual Gratitude Loaf for Lammas
Spell Items Required:
- Yellow candle
- Herb Blend
- Paper
- Pen
- Fire-safe bowl
Ingredients:
- ½ Cup Olive Oil
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- Fresh thyme
- Fresh rosemary
- 1 Cup warm water
- 1 packet of Active Dry Yeast
- ¼ teaspoon honey
- 2 ½ Cup Flour
- ½ Teaspoon salt
In a small bowl and combine the olive oil, fresh herbs and minced garlic and set aside.
In a separate large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, honey, and yeast, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes to activate the yeast.
Add 1 cup of flour and half of the oil mixture to the yeast mixture. Stir well then let the mixture sit for a further 5 minutes.
Add in the remaining flour and salt, then mix together until a dough ball is formed.
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth.
While you knead, begin listing the things in your life that you are grateful for. You can choose to say them aloud and ‘speak’ them into the dough, allow your intention to flow through your hands, and into the dough.
Evenly spread olive oil inside a large bowl. With your finger, draw a pentacle, or a sigil of your choosing into the oil at the bottom of the bowl.
Place the dough in the bowl and cover with a damp cloth and let sit for 1 hour. Envision the protective energies from the pentacle encasing the dough, sealing in your gratitude.
Preheat the oven to 230 degrees Celsius.
While you wait, gather your spell ingredients. Take your candle, anoint it with olive oil and roll your candle in the herb blend until a generous amount coats it.
Set your dressed candle in the centre of your altar, with the fire safe bowl placed in front of it.
On your piece of paper, write what you would like returned to you for your show of gratitude and appreciation.
Next, line a baking dish of your choice with baking paper and light coat of olive oil. Add the dough to the dish, using your fingers spread the dough until its approx. 2cm thick.
Using your fingers add dimples to the surface of the dough. As you’re doing this, envision you are ‘planting’ the desires that you want to nurture before harvest.
Brush remaining oil mixture from the first step on top and let rest for 20 minutes then bake for 15 minutes (or until golden brown, and a toothpick can be poked into the loaf and comes out clean).
Once your bread has cooled, cut off a slice and return to your altar space. Place the bread in front of the fire safe bowl, then take your paper and fold it into a square.
Light the candle, then use it to light your paper on fire, carefully place it into the bowl to burn.
As you’re doing this, state your intentions and desires, making it known that the slice of bread is an offering of gratitude for all that has been provided to you this harvest. Allow your candle to finish burning.
You may eat the remaining bread as part of a feast, or throughout the week to preserve its properties within you.
HAPPY LAMMAS TRAGICS!
In the alternating rain and heat of this summer sunshine, may you be feasting on the delicious goods and nectar of your harvests. May your gardens be plentiful, and your pockets full. Whether you are surrounded by the abundance of kitchen witchcraft, the rewards of fertile work, study, self development effort and progress, or you’re basking in the love of yourself and other people: we’re all so proud of you here at Tragic Beautiful, and we’re rooting for you during this next upcoming annual seasonal cycle!
