“Don’t Worry”

Lughnasadh 101: A Guide

Autumn draws near and with it, comes Lughnasadh.

Lughnasadh, pronounced “LOO-nah-sah” and known also as Lammas, is a Celtic festival that occurs from the 31st of July through into the 1st of August. It was observed fervently throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man and marks the beginning of the harvest season.

Also called: Lúnasa (modern Irish), Lùnastal (Scottish Gaelic), Luanistyn (Manx Gaelic).

Lughnasadh is the celebration and ritual of the first harvest of fruit, wheat, and grain. This festival both acknowledges and celebrates the waning of light - Lughnasadh is the initiation of Winter preparation.

It is named for Lugh Lámhfada. and is in honour of his step-mother, Tailtiu who perished of exhaustion after clearing the fields of Ireland ready to be planted, sowed and seeded. Lughnasadh was originally a set of rituals, gatherings and funerary games (named Tailteann Games, or Áenach Tailteann) in honour of Tailtiu’s death and sacrifice. 

Some Symbols of Lughnasadh:

Wheat

Corn

Barely

Oats

Onions

Grapes

Straw dolls/straw bales

Corn dolls

Wood

Tarot (strength)

Runes (Eihwaz)

The Colours of Lughnasadh:

Yellow

Orange

Red

Violet

Dark green

Brown

The Stones & Crystals of Lughnasadh:

Carnelian

Cat’s Eye

Citrine

Marble

Sale

Granite

Lodestone

The Herbs of Lughnasadh:

Heather

Blackberry

Rose

Sandalwood

Goldenrod

Important/Celebrated Foods of Lughnasadh:

Bread

Apples

Corn

Beer/Ale/Mead

Grapes

Onions

Apricot

Pear

Activities to be done during Lughnasadh:

Baking/Cooking: Sharing food is a good thing to do with each sabbat, especially those with agricultural ties. If you incorporate seasonal foods, and foods associated with the sabbat itself, it can be seen as an offering or as being done in honour of what you’re celebrating.

Take some time to enjoy nature: Lughnasadh is a time when the seasons are changing, so take this time to walk and enjoy the last that summer has to offer. Collect things whilst you walk to put on your altar if you have one.

Construct an altar: if this is something you do, decorate your altar with some of the items mentioned in the list above. If you’re pagan and have a deity who corresponds with this holiday, leave an offering on your altar. In Lugh’s case, he is a god known for his skills in craftmanship and His ability to turn His hand to anything. He is also known for playing the harp, so anything you have crafted or that has taken skill to create will be well received by Him.

Decorate your home: if you like, small decor changes can really get you in the mood and act as a celebratory act.

Bonfires: Invite friends and/or family to a bonfire. Not only is Lughnasadh a celebration of waning light and of the god Lugh, it is a celebration of fire. Share plans to remove negative habits or influences from your life with your loved ones, burn representatives of negativity, drink to future prosperity and toast to Lugh. Light a candle and do the same, if you are not yet an outed witch.

Craft: as mentioned before, Lugh is a god of craft and skill. Make something! Finish a project you’ve been putting off!  If you don’t want to do something in Lugh’s name, you can make dolls out of corn (a very traditional activity) and they can be left on an altar if you have one, used as decoration or turned into a poppet.

Acts of athelticism: The funerary games of Lughnasadh were its primary reason for creation. To honour this, you can do something on a small scale, such as jogging or yoga, or going to the gym, if you are able.

Trading: Bake some bread and give it to your friends/family/coven in exchange for herbs, or some canldes! That’s just an idea. but you get the gist of it. Lots of trading took place at historic Lughnasadh celebrations, as they assembly for this season festival was always large.

Feasting: Ties into the baking/cooking aspect, but using things that come from the first harvest is a good way to honour Lughnasadh and Tailtiu.

Pluto has five moons – Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.

If Brand Names Were Anime Characters

Credit: @sillvi_illustrations

. : MABON  INTRODUCTION : .

the autumnal/fall equinox

Mabon! - - a time of balance, mystery, and honor. Night and Day now find harmony in Autumn–a time of equilibrium (equal night and day)–a time to relax and enjoy the harvest–the fruits of our labors, from our gardens to our children, jobs, and everyday chaos.

During the 19th century, we would see agriculture become merchandized. As a result of this disconnect with nature, and lack of working directly with the harvests, we would see a change in the modern Sabbats. The great harvest supper would move from Lammas to the Autumn Equinox.

Mabon is now our time of Thanksgiving and Feast. We enjoy the food we have collected, the spiritual and emotional harvests we have reaped, and we are thankful for all we have reaped as we plant seeds for the future. Enjoy the warmth, spice, and color of the season–and remember: correspondences are what you associate with the season and always do what feels right for you and your path!

Litha Questions for Divination

Litha is the celebration of the summer solstice (June 21st), the longest day and shortest night of the year. The day is to celebrate Sun/Light/Fire deities and their power; it is a day of joy and growth as the crops/harvest comes to be. Of course, to celebrate, one might look towards divination. The day, being associated with fertility, love, power, and the bringing in of the harvest, is great for questions relating to one’s own growth and labor. 

🐰 How can I improve myself so that can I reach the height of my potential?

🐰 What are some things that I should look out for/ be aware of?

🐰 What is coming into my life–how can I best prepare for this?

🐰 What should I start bringing into my life for my growth?

🐰 What are some things that I should let go of?

🐰 What can I do to increase the rewards from my labor?

🐰 How can I ensure what I want comes to me

🐰 What can I do to help me and my partner have a good relationship?

🐰 How should I approach my love life?

Take note; if you’re going to ask a diviner these questions-make sure to be specific. 

whisper your promises to the trees and watch them go, melting into a maze of bark. hide your curses under wilting ferns. trust them to the earth. drop your words, plinking, into the river, and feel your heart settle among the stones at the bottom. the current will carry them home.

Tried to infuse a jar of honey with blueberries.

Yeah…that went well. I shoulda squashed them first, because now they’re just floating at the top and not doing anything.

Tried squishing them against the glass, but they’re refusing to pop.

Sad blueberry honey experiment is probs just gonna wind up on toast and will not be spoken of ever again.

Herbs for Magical Teas

Alfalfa Leaf: home protection; money draw; prosperity; security.

Bergamont: money draw; success.

Black Cohosh: relaxation; turn worries aside.

Boneset: call upon devas; divination; protection; ward negativity.

Burdock Root: protection; purification; ward negativity.

Chamomile: calmness; meditation; prosperity; purification.

Chickweed: Crone Wisdom; divination; honesty; love; trust.

Comfrey: health; money draw; safety.

Damiana Leaf: attraction; divination; love.

Dandelion Root: divination; Fairies; good luck; honor/invoke devas; psychic power.

Echinacea: body’s self-defense; empowerment; invoke healing devas.

Elder Flower: Fairie blessing; honor/invoke the Goddess; healing; prosperity; rest.

Eyebright: mental sharpness; psychic awareness.

Fennel: healing; honor/invoke Horned God; protection; purification.

Fenugreek Seed: attract money; skill in verbal communication.

Feverfew: health; protection; purification; ward sickness.

Goldenseal: healing; honor/invoke the God; joy; prosperity; success.

Hops: comfort; good health; relaxation; well-being.

Hyssop: purification; ward negativity.

Irish Moss: invoke Fairies; luck; money draw; protection.

Lemon Balm: health; love; success.

Linden (Tila): love; luck; Otherworld; protection; rest.

Mint: Devas; money; protection; prosperity.

Mugwort: Hecate; divination; inspiration.

Mullein: between the worlds travel; courage; divination; health; protection.

Nettle: healing; love; protection; ward negativity.

Orange Peel: divination; love; luck.

Parsley: purification; protection.

Raspberry Leaf: Fairie blessings; health; love; protection.

Rose Hips: divination; consecration; Elves; protection; ward negativity.

Skullcap: healing (esp. headaches); hidden knowledge; Lord of Shadows; protection; wisdom.

Slippery Elm Bark: clear communication; persuasive speech; protection from envy, gossip, and slander.

Uva Ursa: divination; honor/invoke Artemis; purification; psychic awareness.

Valerian Root: Crone magics; love; protection; purification; psychic awareness.

White Oak Bark: fertility; honor/invoke the Green Man; health; protection.

Wild Cherry Bark: creativity; divination; love.

Willow Bark: health; mental acuity; reduce headache pain.

From Ann Moura’s “Grimoire for the Green Witch”

Crystals and their Meanings

💎Sodalite - Communication, self-expression, truth

🔮Clear quartz - Awareness, amplifying energy, clarity

💎Rose quartz - Unconditional love, emotional healing, compassion

🔮Aventurine - Prosperity, well-being, good luck

💎Red jasper - Strength, honesty, stability

🔮Snowflake obsidian - Spiritual Protection, transmutation, acceptance

💎Citrine - Brightness, positive energy, clearing

🔮Amazonite - Confidence, self love, creative expression

💎Tiger’s eye - Willpower, warrior’s spirit, self-motivation

🔮Black tourmaline - Protection, banishing, security

💎Carnelian - Passion, sexual energy, creativity

🔮Hematite - Courage, inner strength, grounding

💎Malachite - Wealth, beauty, individuality

🔮Dalmatian jasper - Loyalty, family bonds, connection with animals

💎Angelite - Divine love, gentleness, healing

🔮Lepidolite - Emotional balance, stress relief, spiritual growth

💎Lapis lazuli - Psychic vision, celestial energy, nobility

🔮Serpentine - Hidden mysteries, observation, instinct

💎Black onyx - Blocking negativity, patience, determination

🔮Howlite - Calming, compromise, sleep

💎Blue goldstone - Inspiration, optimism, dreaming

🔮Rhodonite - Forgiveness, relationships, overcoming

💎Fluorite - Renewal, harmony, energizing

🔮Pyrite - Shielding, success, money magick

💎Sunstone - Leadership, generosity, blessings

🔮Blue aventurine - Hope, clear speech, empathy

💎Selenite - Purification, peace, enlightenment

🔮Prehnite - Psychic awareness, self care, discernment

💎Moss agate - Contentment, connection with nature, abundance

🔮Red goldstone - Happiness, ingenuity, boldness

💎Garnet - Self-esteem, victory, eternal love

🔮Moonstone - Intuition, sensuality, safe travel

💎Leopardskin jasper - Adaptability, shamanic journeys, animal magick

🔮Apatite - Energetic clearing, psychic attunement, authenticity

💎Blue calcite - Serenity, restoration, releasing stress

🔮Ruby fuchite - Integration, friendship, trust

💎Mahogany obsidian - Earth energy, personal power, integrity

🔮Labradorite - Awakening joy, interdimensional travel, innovation

💎Unakite - Attraction, resolving conflict,healing the past

Weird Little Habits That Are Actually Magick

Knocking on wood Blowing on dandelion seeds Using a fallen eyelash to make a wish Kissing under mistletoe Throwing spilled salt over your left shoulder Don’t put shoes on the table/bed Don’t open an umbrella indoors Finding four leaf clovers for luck Carving jack-o-lanterns Wearing masks/costumes on Halloween Using flower petals to play ‘Love-me, Love-me-not’ Wishing on a falling star

That’s all I can think of at the moment, add more!