Celebrating Personal Harvests

Blessed Lughnasadh! I do realize this is a few days late as typically this is celebrated on the first of August (or the second in some regions.) However, I had been too busy this week to post my blog on the actual holiday and the Circle I belong to, Fort Hood Open Circle, holds its rituals on the weekends, so I felt it best to wait until after that. So what is Lughnasadh exactly? It is the first of the harvest Sabbats celebrating the First Fruits and honoring the Sun God Lugh. This is where we remember all the things we have "harvested" both literally and figuratively. As my High Priestess would put it, this is the time of year for a good "Yay me!" I mean seriously, in this day and age, unless you're a total egomaniac, not many of us feel its okay to pat ourselves on the back and say "Well yeah! That was pretty awesome and I am pretty awesome for doing it!" Why? Because it is sometimes frowned upon to toot your own horn. But there is something quite healthy in acknowledging a job well done and recognizing yourself for being the wonderful person that you are!

And of course, what is a great holiday without great food right? And we all know, I love to cook so of course I love to take the time to learn what is the best thing to offer for a Lughnasadh celebration! Since this is the first harvest, pretty much anything in season is best to offer. Berries are all ripe right now, the first of the grains are being harvested and the first of the apples are ready to be picked. You can never go wrong with a nice bread, especially a cornbread, as many Native American cultures used this time of year to celebrate the Corn Grandmother. Maybe a nice fresh fruit salad? All grains are great for this time of year, so dishes of rice or even pasta served cold with some nice fresh herbs would be perfect too. Fish and lamb are the ideal meat, roasted or perhaps grilled until tender. And what celebration is complete without some nice elderberry wine, fruit meads or perhaps a refeshing herbal or fruit tea over ice with a bit of mint? Think fresh. Think earthy. Think of the things that make you happy and celebrate who you are.

I practice something known as Kitchen Witchery. I infuse all I do with energies to promote anything from love and peace to healing and prosperity. It is all in your intent behind the food you prepare. But there are specific foods with properties of their own that can aid you in this process. This being a time of personal harvest, you would want to use any food that promotes a feeling of well being, love, and joy! Apples, strawberries, lavender, tomatoes, avacado, pine nuts, fish and honey are all foods of love. Make a meal, or even a small snack of these foods to help promote a feeling of love inside yourself.  For instance: Lavender is a wonderful purification herb, as well as an herb of love. A perfect way to break your fast and keep in the spirit of Lughnasadh would be a beautiful lavender jelly spread over some fresh baked bread. Take a bite. Savor the sweet almost perfumey flavor, let it fill you. Remember all those things that have happened this past year to bring you to where you are now. Some were good, others bad. But how did you handle it? How did you make it through? You made it this far, so you did something right. Embrace that, feel that. Know that you did your best and no one could ask for more and darn it, you deserve this moment to say "Great job!"

Think of a little something for yourself and take a moment to enjoy it and have a quiet time to focus on you. Anything that makes you feel good or happy. Fresh berries are ripe this time of year, their sweetness can amplify the sweetness of a job well done. Try some fresh strawberries and cream. Add some nice bread and maybe a glass of berry mead and you have a wonderful spread for celebrating the harvest of you!

Its always good to have a moment of reflection. To remember that all you do, for yourself, your family or for others. You earned it. You worked your tushie off all year, and now you can look back and appreciate that and celebrate that you not only accomplished a lot but you made it through some tough times and that is nothing to sneeze at. Celebrate you. Because you are so totally worth it!

Brightest blessings!