Summer Rituals {Lughnasadh 2014}

{This is my third and final post about seasonal rituals this past summer}

This was one of those seasons where many of the edibles that I grew ripened late, but because our summer berries were ripening on time, I decided to start my Lughnasadh observations for the beginning of August. I chose August 5th, which was the first Tuesday because I actually had that day off from work and because reaping blessings are traditionally done on a Tuesday. 

I spent a good part of the day in the garden, where I did a reaping blessing, harvesting what was ready, which was mostly herbs and flowers, and some veggies and berries.

The later part of the day was spent baking and cooking some of my earlier harvest. I made some wild berry tarts, lavender shortbread, bannocks and a summer stew. 

This year a few Gaelic Polytheists were suggesting that we do prayers for peace during Lughnasadh, which I decided to join in on. After making my offerings to Macha, I recited Badb's Prayer for Peace {found over at the Gaol Naofa Youtube channel}. After some time in prayer, I did some crafting of charms and oils for prosperity, contracts and peace. 

Towards the end of August I got together with a lovely friend for a day of going to the country for some adventures and wildcrafting. Our first stop was meant to be Simpson Hill Farm to pick up some elderberries, but we ended up missing our turn off the road and a had a happy detour into Restoule.

We ended up stopping into Board's Honey Farm to get directions to our intended destination, and while we were there we did some shopping {I had to stock up on some honey and beeswax anyways}, tour their lovely gardens and beeyard.

Since we were already in Restoule, we stopped by to visit one of my Aunt's to go out and have lunch and to visit my our family cemetery. 

We eventually made our way to Simpson Hill Farm for our elderberries and then set off to my friend's home in the country. 

Her home is surrounded by acres of lovely woodland and obviously happy flora and fauna. It is always a real privilege to spend time there. 

 

On our way back into town we went to one of my frequent wildcrafting spots where we left offerings and harvested quite a few pretties including some goldenrod, staghorn sumac berries, lamb's quarter's, daisy fleabane, sweetfern and rowan berries.

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Sláinte!

 Laurel