Celebrate the Lammas Harvest my friends,
August 2nd is Lammas; the first of three festivals celebrating Mother Earth’s bounty. Baking loaves from the first grains and offering them at a communal meal has always been central to these gatherings. Most handfastings were entered into at the Lammas Fairs where country folk gathered. The custom was single persons of both sexes would choose a companion for the next year. When Lammas Fair time came again they were to wed or separate.
Traditionally, the first sheaf would be ceremonially cut at dawn, winnowed, ground and baked into the Harvest Bread that was then shared by the community in gratitude. As my friend, Amalya states: “many cultures around the world created tokens from the grain such as braided wreaths or dolls made out of the dried corn shocks and sheaves of wheat.” The overarching theme is appreciation for the Great Grain Mother and her gifts of abundance; she is known by many names but Ceres and Demeter are two that most of us would recognize. The community sharing their gratitude with a meal of the first loaves magnifies the powerful effect of collective thanksgiving.
Lupine Pods, Jaya 2018
Many law of attraction methodologies suggest we focus as much as possible on paying attention to what is working rather than spending most of our time problem solving. As simple as this principle seems, I find most people struggle to embrace this, since we are taught to do the opposite. Cultivating the feeling of happiness is essential. In a Blue Zone interview with Nicole Fuentes, professor at University of Monterey, Mexico, she lists the main reasons this city has been named the happiest people in South America. The residents have these habits in common and she recommends that we:
Spend less time alone.
Grow your circle of friends—Happiness gets amplified when surrounded by people.
Laugh more.
Find happiness in the little things
Stop glorifying being busy all the time.
Be humble.
In preindustrial cultures worldwide, harvest time was always when communities would gather and share the tasks of bringing in and storing the precious life sustaining bounty. When they gave thanks together as a community, all of Nicole’s recommendations were fulfilled.
During this Lammas please join together with some friends for a meal and laughter, knowing you are increasing abundance for everyone.
Love, Linda
lindasavagephd@goddesstherapy.com
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