Lammas (August Eve) Feast of Bread
by Cynthia and other Winged Toads
AKA Lugnasad, The Games of Lug, Celtic god of reincarnation. Lug initiated
the festival in honor of the earth-mother Tailltiu. This is the beginning
of fall and the harvest, when the god is cut down as the corn in the fields,
sacrificing himself to life. He is the seed, planted in the body of the
goddess to rise again as the new crop. This is the time of reaping, of
gathering in the harvest of our labors.
Meet at the gate at noon.
Bring symbols of the harvest to decorate the altars, and the usual food to
share, sit upons, water toys, and whatever you need to feel comfortable for
the day.
(Otis and Cynthia will prepare the grove before we begin.)
Ground with salt water under the Oaks.
Cynthia (with athame)will lead procession with meditative chant to the
Grove.
"Bringing in the Sheaves"
Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness, sowing in the noontide and
the dewy eve:
Now begins the harvest and the time of reaping, we shall come rejoicing
bringing in the sheaves.
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, we shall come rejoicing
bringing in the sheaves.
Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves, we shall come rejoicing
bringing in the sheaves.
(Repeat chorus)
Enter grove one by one as Jim anoints with oil.
Circle the Grove with athame, salt water and incense, spiraling in as we
caste circle.
'Athame draw the circle round about, magic/power stay in world stay out.'
'Salt and sea of ill stay free.'
'Fire and air draw all that's fair.'
Pass athame to Valerie to invoke the East/Air. Robin: South/Fire. Otis:
West/Water. Scott: North/Earth. And return to the East completing the
circle.
'The circle is cast, the ritual is begun, what is between the worlds,
concerns not the worlds, yet will change the worlds.'
Invocation to Tailltiu - Sally
Invocation to Lug - Cynthia
'Oh tell me why, Oh tell me why, tell me why must the clouds come to darken
the sky?'
'Oh tell me why, Oh tell me why, tell me why must the clouds come to darken
the sky?'
'This is the wake of Lug, the Sun King. He lost his life on the solstice
day.'
'This is the wake of Lug, the Sun King. He steps into the dark and guides
our way.'
Lammas Response Chant - Cynthia and Otis
Otis: What is this day?
All: It is the day of Lammas.
Cynthia: What is the meaning of this day?
All: It is the mystery of the corn
Otis: What is the mystery of the corn?
All: That which is cut down will rise again.
Cynthia: Who will rise again?
All: We will rise again.
Otis: Who will rise again?
All: We will rise again.
Cynthia: Who will rise again?
All: We will rise again.
Raise cone of power around corn in center. Give energy to the seed and the
fruit.
Corn Blessing - Robin
'Behold the mystery...'
Bread Blessing of Each Other - Jim
Wine - Toasts of Gratitude - Cynthia
Devoke and open circle.
"Happy Trails.'
Descend to the pond.