Embrace the Harvest Spirit
Lughnasadh is a time to express gratitude for the bountiful gifts of nature. Connect with the essence of the harvest by setting up a seasonal altar adorned with freshly picked fruits, grains, and wildflowers. Light candles in warm hues to invoke the spirit of the sun and Lugh’s energy.
Harvest Feasting and Sharing
Gather your coven or loved ones for a hearty feast! Prepare dishes using the first fruits of the season, such as apples, berries, and corn. Share the meal, and as you eat, reflect on the interconnectedness of all living beings and how we are sustained by the Earth’s abundant offerings.
Dance and Music
Lughnasadh is a time of celebration and merriment! Organize a joyful outdoor gathering or a magical bonfire night. Dance in circles, play instruments, and sing songs to honor the god Lugh and invoke the element of fire. Let the rhythmic beats carry you into a state of trance and connection with the changing seasons.
Nature Walks and Foraging
Spend time in nature to truly feel the heartbeat of the Earth. Take a meditative walk in the woods, breathing in the crisp air and observing the signs of the changing season. Engage in foraging (mindful and responsible) and use your finds in craftwork or your feast.
Storytelling and Gratitude Rituals
Gather around the fire and share stories of Lugh, his bravery, and his skills. Perform a gratitude ritual, where each member of the gathering expresses thanks for the blessings they have received over the year. This practice promotes a sense of community and reminds us of the abundance in our lives.
Herb Bundles and Incense
Craft herb bundles or make incense using aromatic herbs associated with Lughnasadh, such as lavender, rosemary, and chamomile. As you burn them, let the fragrant smoke purify the space and carry your intentions and offerings to the heavens.
Create a Grain or Corn Dolly
Crafting a grain doll is a meaningful way to symbolize the harvest and honor the Harvest Mother. Use dried corn husks, straw, or any natural materials available to you. These handmade treasures can be placed on your altar or hung in your home to attract abundance and prosperity.
The Grain Mother, also known as the Kitchen Witch Dolly or Hexenküche, is a symbol of good luck and protection against cooking disasters, according to German folklore. These dolls originated in German and Scandinavian traditions, and the practice of braiding wheat stalks is popular in Europe. As the Grain Mother, she bestows good luck and protection during the winter months.
Corn husk dolls have a rich history among American Indigenous people, tracing back to the early days of corn agriculture. Legend holds that the Spirit of Corn, one of the Three Sisters, created a doll from her husks to entertain children. By crafting and embracing ancient traditions personally toes to you, you can honor the spirit of abundance and connect with the cycle of nature.
How to make a Grain Mother or Corn Dolly
You’ll need:
- 15 stalks of wheat (or any grass grain that you can find. Or, double the raffia)
- 48 strands of raffia (3 bunches or 12) and a few more for tying.
- Husks from 2 ears of corn
- First, braid your raffia so that you have about a 6-7 inch braid.
- Tie it off so that you have one side braded, and the other side long and lose.
- Tie the long and lose side, so that you can cut it from the braid wile keeping the strips together.
- Next, bundle the wheat stalks together and arrange them so they look like a broom.
- Cut the lose strands of raffia from the braid, then cut those strips in half so that you have two bunches of lose raffia (keep them together as best you can) and one braid. Set the braid aside as that will be the arms.
- Holding your wheat bunch upside down, tie one raffia bunch 3 inches above the wheat seeds.
- Tie the second raffia bunch 2 inches below that, right where the wheat seeds begin. This will create the skirt.
- Slide the braid in the middle of the raffia and wheat stalks. I suggest putting it a little higher than I did here.
- Secure it with a strand of raffia in a crisscross pattern.
- Trim off the wheat stalks from the top (head) portion
- To create the head, gather the husks of two ears of corn (save two pieces for later)
- Turn it so the lose sides are up, then pull them down, one at a time, around where you tied the bunch. Holding it in one hand, use the other hand to slide the doll under the lose/open husks.
- Secure the head in two places, above the arms at the neck area, and below the arms at the waist. This will add a little more to the skirt section as well.
- Take the reserved two corn husks, and crisscross them from the back of the waist to the front. Tie/wrap with one more strand of raffia at the waist creating a belt
- To make a broom, use one stalk of wheat (trimmed from the head portion) and tie a bunch of raffia about 1 inch from the top. Flip it around and pull the strands down and tie just below where the strands bend. Bring arms together and tie the broom with them.
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