Celebrate Lammas - Harvest Your Abundance!

Happy Lammas!! Or Lughnasadh if that's what you like to celebrate! While usually I like to include a little bit of history on what the holidays mean, I'm just going to point you to my first post Celebrate Lammas ~ Count Your Blessings! where you can find out some more information (and goodies!) about it and give you a little cliff note version here. Lammas is the first of the three harvest celebrations; the other two being Mabon and Samhain. It is a cross-quarter holiday, halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumnal Equinox (Mabon). On the Wheel of the Year, it is opposite Imbolc. While there's still plenty of time left in the growing season, this is a good time to make a blessing for further abundance to come into your life and to be grateful for what's already been achieved! This summer seemed to be a scorcher for a good part of the US.. I didn't notice it too much being in FL, but many of my friends in OH said it was either too hot or too rainy and they didn't get to enjoy the summer very much. But the cooler temps with bonfire get together's and the anticipation of getting the kiddos back into the routine of school is being welcomed! But since it's the cooler season now there is some GREAT gardening that can be done! So check out Vegetables and Herbs to Plant in August or I'm sure you can check the month of September too if you need some time to prepare, and also your USDA Hardiness Zone so you can better plan what you can plant as well! It's so wonderful when you're able to harvest your own food and you can feel a sense of accomplishment that comes from nurturing a plant while mother nature does her thing!

Now.. I'm sure you're wondering what's with the picture I used too! Maybe you saw it posted on my instagram or twitter account! It's the goody I'm including for this post! This is my Lammas Harvest Tarot Spread! And here's how it works... The layout itself is a basket! There are 6 cards to symbolize balance, service, home and domesticness, and responsibility. The number 6 in numerology also has ties to agriculture.. see how it all ties in!? Here is what each card represents...


Card #1 - Where I am at.. I received the Queen of Pentacles! I took this as a good sign that I'm making the right choices in my business decisions.

Card #2 - Where I need to have more focus.. I got The Shadow Side since I am using the Witches Tarot, but most know it as The Devil. I'll take that as a sign that I need to make sure that I don't lose sight of what's in front of me and get too wrapped up in my work!

Card #3 - Where will I find my strength.. With the Six of Pentacles I'm taking that to give as much as I receive!

Card #4 - The help I will receive unexpectedly.. Oh the Fool.. you just never know the potential that is there until you try something different!

Card #5 - What comes next.. The Emperor blesses me with a solid foundation from the experiences I've learned from!

Card #6 - The bountiful fruits of labor.. Celebration in my creativity and lasting friendships from sharing and caring! Fabulous success!!


Guess what.. I also have the printable available too!! So if you'd like to add it to your journal, here is the doc and pdf files you can download! Take some time to count your blessings and to think about what more you would like to accomplish before settling into the Winter slumber!

As always, if you'd like me to take a look at things for you with a reading I'd be more than happy to! Just send me a message at my email or facebook! Also.. if you missed my tweet earlier; I am currently offering a special of an hour worth of chat reading for $100!! This can be spread over multiple sessions!! I hope you're enjoying your week so far!! Only a couple more days til the weekend! Woo hoo!!!


Many Blessings!
Andi

Celebrate Lammas ~ Count your blessings!

Lammas, often called Lughnasadh, is the first harvest celebration and while it does mark the middle of summer, most will see it as the beginning of cooler weather as Autumn starts to descend. It is a cross-quarter holiday, halfway between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumnal Equinox (Mabon). On the Wheel of the Year, it is opposite Imbolc. Since this is the first of the harvest festivals, and there's still plenty of time left in the growing season, this is a good time to make a blessing for any further abundance to come into your life.

At this time we are thankful for the first harvests of the season, mostly grains and fruits, and will include these in our sabbat feast. Traditionally this is a time to bake bread. If you've never made bread before, it can be somewhat tricky. Mostly because humidity (and sometimes altitude) plays a BIG factor in letting the dough rise! I've learned this the hard way that bread you make in CO, will not be the same sort of bread you get in OH or even FL and little tweaks will need to happen. Now, I would include my super secret bread recipe, but lemme tell ya.. it's a PAIN to get right. So in order to save everyone's sanity, I'm going to put up my second favorite bread recipe; CORN BREAD!! I absolutely love corn bread!! It's also really easy to make! Here's what you'll need:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup white sugar (I've also tried this with 1/3 cup of white and 1/3 cup of brown sugar! YUM!)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease an 8 inch square pan or a loaf pan.
2. Melt the butter on the stove or in microwave. Stir in sugar. Add eggs and beat until blended. Combine your milk with baking soda and stir into butter/egg mixture. Then add in cornmeal, flour, and salt.. There'll be some lumpiness so don't drive yourself crazy trying to get it smooth. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. For the last few 1-2 minutes you may want to baste with some melted butter to get a nice crispy, golden brown crust.

Now besides being thankful for the fruits of our labor, this is also a great time to focus on the skills that we have since this is also known as the Festival of Lugh. Lugh is not only a God of Light, but also of arts, crafts, and skilled work! With honoring the God Lugh, games and sports are played to celebrate strength and good health. What better than an afternoon game of horseshoes in the backyard! Since we're talking arts and crafts, items made for the household at this time are also blessed with good fortune. And because we're talking about a harvest holiday here and I love crafting incense from home grown herbs and flowers, what better than a Lammas incense recipe!!

1 part Acacia, 1/2 part Anise, 1 part Chamomile, 1/2 part Cinnamon, 1/2 part Meadowsweet, and a few drops of Apple blossom oil

Combine all the dry ingredients together and apply a few drops of oil for your scent preference. Apple blossom is rather strong so take it a drop at a time!! Once you mix it all together, set it out in the light of the sun for it to be blessed before burning!  

Lammas, like Beltane, is a traditional time for handfastings. If you're already married or in a committed relationship you may consider a  renewal of vows or a statement of your commitment! Family plays an important role as well. Give your loved ones a small present to show your appreciation! As Summer's end nears, remember its warmth and generous sunlight as the nights become longer we are reminded that nothing in the Universe is constant. 

I can be reached for life awakening readings at LivePerson and email or facebook. If you'd like any further information on personalizing your spiritual path you can send me a message at my email or facebook.


May this Lammas bless you all with lots of love, and have a plentiful harvest!