New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
| Color of the day: Red
Incense of the day: Lavender The evening of July 31 is the beginning of the Celtic holiday known as Lughnasadh (the Feast of the God Lugh). In Christian times, it was called Lammas (Anglo-Saxon for "Loaf Mass"). It has always been a special holiday for me, as it is my birthday! Lugh instituted this sacred time to honor his foster mother Tailtiu, who cleared the land in preparation for agriculture. Various divine women were honored at this time in Ireland, including Lugh's wives Naas and Bui, the sorceress Carmun, and the goddess Macha. These goddesses seem to have given their lives or energies in order for the land to prosper. Thousands of years later, we can invoke their sacred names once more and make an offering of first fruits or a sacred loaf, lighting a flame in remembrance of their sacrifice. |
