Lammas: Festival of Bread
Happy Harvest, friends! This is the halfway point between Midsummer (summer solstice) and Mabon (fall equinox) here in the Northern Hemisphere. Lammas, aka Lughnasadh (loo-nahs-ah) celebrates Lugh, the Celtic Sun God. It’s also known as the Festival of Bread, Lugh Fest, First Harvest, and the Festival of First Fruits.
For cultural and historical context, please read my post, Lughnasadh: First Fruits.
This year I'm focusing on what we're harvesting SPIRITUALLY this autumn, especially here in the U.S., where it's less than 100 days until election day. I rarely write about politics here on my blog because it can be an intense energy and it is such a constant on social media platforms, but my heart is prompting me to speak up.
If we examine the multitude of spiritual paths and world religions, nearly all of them contain the goal of unconditionally loving ourselves and loving our fellow humans (no exceptions or exclusions). In the Midwest, many of us are harvesting our gardens to make into sauces, jams, pickles, relishes, and baked goods. There is love, grace, kindness, and generosity in sharing from our gardens.
It would be shocking if one neighbor went up and down the street destroying everyone's gardens--but that is exactly what some people seem hellbent to do, while claiming their religion tells them to hate and to hurt certain groups of people. Their cult-like leader has emboldened and weaponized their ignorance and prejudices, while spreading lies and denying things we've all seen with our own eyes.
It's spiritual to say STOP. ENOUGH.
It's spiritual to say I KNOW WHAT I SAW.
It's spiritual to say NO. STOP HARASSING THAT PERSON.
It's spiritual to boycott a corporation for funding inhumane acts such as exploitive labor, violence/war, or discrimination based on gender expression, sexual orientation, race, disability, or age.
It's spiritual to create and foster safe, loving spaces--in our home, in our neighborhood, in our workplaces, in our community, and online.
It's spiritual to volunteer for causes that promote peace, equality, equity, and justice for all. It's spiritual to respect and protect another person's definition of themselves, including their chosen name, their pronouns, and their choices for their body.
It's spiritual to vote for people who are doing their best to implement the greater good, spread love, and live with integrity in the world.
I know several of my witchy-woo-woo pals "don't give politics their energy."
I'm asking you to give this election your love, kindness, hope, and peace energy. We must share our light and promote inclusiveness in the face of those who seek to divide society and inflict harm. It is a privilege if we haven't personally experienced injustice, violence, discrimination, or hate. We can't just "not participate"--that's not "being spiritual," it is at the least willful ignorance and taking privilege for granted.
My heart has overflowed with joy and playful delight while watching the Paris summer Olympics. I sincerely hope that you've taken the time to enjoy the underdog moments and the athletes' stories of perseverance that led them to Paris. The Olympics are a celebration of diversity and teamwork, and a beautiful "harvest" of years of dedication, training, preparation, and collaboration. The spirit of unity and peace still prevail, despite certain negative elements in the world who seek any ignorant reason to be hateful.
Please join me in speaking up when strong women athletes are targeted by hate groups/people. Please join me in calmly correcting misinformation and encouraging open minds and hearts. Please join me in boldly celebrating authenticity and self-love in the face of bullies. Please join me in the blue wave of HEALING and LOVE.
In the spirit of sharing the bounty of Lammas/Lughnasadh with our neighbors, let's remember to also LOVE our neighbors, choose kindness, and stand up for peace, integrity, and inclusion. In the spirit of sharing our bounty, when radical hate tries to tear us apart, let us answer it with radical love in all our actions.
Do what lights you up,
Sadie
Author of The Recollection of Trees book series. Fifth generation intuitive. Kitchen witch. she/her.