Lughnassad/Lammas 2003 arranged by ---Shining Spider- 2003 The astrology of today: Moon- waning moon enters Libra The myth of the Lughnassad The name Lughnassad roughly translated in Celtic means loaf mass. This is the first of the three harvest festivals and is sometimes considered the beginning of fall. This day originally coincided with the first reaping of the harvest. It was known as the time when the plants of spring wither and drop their fruits and seeds for our use as well as to ensure future crops. The theme of sexuality and reproduction is carried over into Lughnasadh from our Summer holidays as well to ensure the remainder of a good harvest. I chose Aztec Gods because of their focus on corn which is a big crop all around Maryland and iconic for fall and the harvest. I. Creating A Sacred Space A. Cleanse space B. Ground and Center C. Call Elements 1. call each element 2. together chant**: We honor the energy of the elements within us. We are earth. We are dark, we are heavy, we are substantial. We are grounded. We are water. We are fluid, we are clear, we are vital. We are renewed. We are fire. We are bright, we are hot, we are intense. We are passionate. We are air. We are light, we are movement, we are open. We are changed. D. Cast Circle II. Calling And Honoring the Divine A. A. To call the Goddess** (Aspect Mother) a participant reads: Great Mother of ancient people, We call upon you To bring us your love and nourishment, your joy and creativity. Help us to give birth to our desires and to bring our dreams to fruition. Mother of all that lives and flourishes in this season, we honor and welcome you. B. To call the God** (aspect Father) a participant reads: Gentle God of grain and sun, we call you to join us tonight. hear the chorus of our voices and connect with our intent. Many-skilled one, powerful one, lend us your confidence and art that each of us may reap a rich harvest. Blessed God of Grain, we honor and welcome you. C. Myth: Cinteotl and Chicomecoatl The name of Chicomecoatl is translated as "Seven-Serpent" and her cult is very ancient. The ceremonies dedicated to this goddess were celebrated in the month of "prolonged fast," during which altars in homes were decorated with maize plants and in temples its seeds were blessed. She was the Aztec goddess of maize during the Middle Culture period. As a goddess of foodstuffs, sustenance, and thus she was the most important patron of vegetation, presiding over the maize cult. She is sometimes called "goddess of nourishment", a goddess of plenty and the female aspect of corn. Every September a young girl representing Chicomecoatl was sacrificed in a pretty gruesome way. The priests decapitated the girl, collected her blood and poured it over a figurine of the goddess. The corpse was then flayed and the skin was worn by a priest. She comes in various appearances: a girl with water-flowers, a woman whose embrace means certain death, and as mother who carries the sun with her as a shield. She is regarded as the female counterpart of the maize god Cinteotl, their symbol being an ear of corn. It is hard to tell whether Cinteotl was considered her consort, or if he was a male version of her as the religion shifted. Either way, their festivals were the same in meaning and practices. I was told years ago that the Celtic tribes did something similar every Lughnassad. An sacrifice/emissary was burned to tell the gods what the tribe was in need of. No religion is without its history of human sacrifice. The Harvest was not so metaphorical for any of these people. Animals would be killed for flesh to preserve over the years, as grain was thrashed and converted into foodstuffs. A good harvest would keep the people safe until next spring, a bad one could kill everyone. This is why through out so many cultures the harvest holidays were so entrenched with bloody imagery. III. Pathwork A. Projects Completed. The biggest sacrifice we make is time. Time to our jobs, time to our families, time in traffic, and time buying food. All of this sacrifice often keeps us from what we love: art, meditation, nature, and the people who enrich us. B. Meditation* All sorts of things are enriched by a jump in the fire. From the Pheonix myth to Iron fire has transformed and made truer both metal and spirit. Even corn kernels! We are removed from pop corn by the microwave bag, but if you've watched it ever, popping corn is really a magical thing. So now we like the corn and the phoenix are going to jump into the fire, and take a risk with our talents and sacrifice ourselves for ourselves. Blue flame tears away the shell of you, leaving the authentic you to burst forth. Close your eyes Quiet your mind. Feel the darkness surround you. Listen to your breath. With each inhalation feel calmer With each exhalation feel more relaxed. Your breath is now steady and calm. You notice now that the darkness is really the night sky. Above you stars shine and the moon glows. You look down from the sky and see dark green pastures and far in the distance the glow of a bonfire. You decide to find that fire. The walk is calm, and you notice the night air is slightly cool. The ground is still full of summer heat, but the scent of the breeze tells you that fall is right around the corner. As you walk to the hill with it's fire (which is closer now) you pass crops in varying stages of growth. Everything smells rich and alive. You are now at the hill. The grass is green, but it halts a few feet from the fire, which is surrounded by dry earth and rocks. You do not know who lit it, but it feels safe, and beautiful. You sit and stare at the flames for a while. Notice the colors red and orange, but a strange blue flame in the center. See what the fire has to say. You start to hear drumming. The direction isn't clear, perhaps it is the memory of the land or the fire itself but the speed is steady, and each thump is resonant within you. The drumming's speed increases; you hear a voice say 'What do you fear, what is holding you back' The drum and the words echo through your head. What is it that you fear, what is in that is holding you back, what is it that is keeping you from completing your goals? What is it that is stealing your time? The drumming speeds up... suddenly you know what to do... taking a few steps back you then stop, take a breath and then you run through the fire shouting that thing that is holding you back, shouting what it is that you fear. You land on the other side of the fire anew. It is as if a husk, a shell of something has fallen off you. Take some deep breaths, and feel the air around you, how cool it feels to your skin that has survived the fire. Look up at the sky and see the stars shining, and the moon glowing. Close your eyes and listen to your breath. Feel your heartbeat and its own calm rhythm. Listen to your breath. With each inhalation feel calmer With each exhalation feel more relaxed Quiet your mind. Feel the darkness surround you. Listen to your breath, your heart... You are back in your body now, in the circle among friends. Now... open your eyes. IV. Spellwork A. Raising Energy-Now that we are stripped of what was once holding us back, let us raise the energy we need to sustain us through our projects, our goals and growth. Growth Chant****: Together we dance round and round to raise a cone of power, divinity hear our sound, ourselves we wish to empower So mote it be! V. Thanking A. Share in popcorn and discuss what is holding you back B. Thank the god/dess C. Thank the elements D. Break the space Incense: provided by the Store Credits: Chant * by Lee Lanning and Nett Hart God/dess Invoking Poetry ** by Shining Spider/Laura Craig Mason Meditation *** by Shining Spider/Laura Craig Mason Growth Chant**** by Shining Spider/Laura Craig Mason Crafts- Corn dollies |