Lughnasa

Lughnasa (loo-na-sa) is a Celtic festival celebrated in early August, usually August 1st. It's called a cross-quarter day because it falls approximately midway between summer solstice and autumn equinox, marking the end of summer in the Celtic tradition, and the beginning of the harvesting season.

The name Lughnasa comes from Lugh, the Celtic God of harvests, crafts, and the lightening flash, and nasad, which was an assembly or gathering. Lughnasad was a gathering to honor and appease Lugh, so he would hopefully not throw a summer storm temper-tantrum, and ruin the harvest.

Lugh is a master of all crafts, and is known for sharing his knowledge with humans. I feel a connection to Lugh-- he is the image of God as an Arts and Crafts Teacher! 

But he is also the trickster face of God-- chaotic, disorderly, operating outside the framework of right and wrong-- sending lightning at inconvenient moments. This isn't a comfortable image, but I have to face the fact that my spiritual life isn't always comfortable; sometimes what I harvest is tough to chew.

Agenda Today:

1. Journal Queries
2. Make gingerbread
3. Start an Earth-Quaker name tag

4. Play-dough

1. Journal Queries:

All of the cross-quarter days are times of transition from one focus to another. At Lughnasa the shift is from growth to harvest.

What has been growing in my life that is ready for harvest now?

How is my harvest proceeding? 
Is the Trickster in charge? If so, how am I handling that?

2. Make gingerbread:

The Anglo-Saxons called this cross-quarter day Lammas, or "loaf-mass", for the blessing of bread made from the first harvest of grain. In ancient tradition, the grains of the Earth are the body of the God, sacrificed at the harvest, ground to flour, baked into bread and then consumed to keep the circle of life turning.

I usually make bread today, in some form: Biscuits, muffins, corn bread; today - I plan to make a gingerbread man!

3. Make an Earth-Quaker name tag:

Since Lugh is the god of all crafts, all of us craftspeople, artists, and entertainers get to show off our talents today. 

I've got lots of projects started (and unfinished), but today I began another:  A name tag to wear to events, to replace my plastic one, and declare my status as an Earth-Quaker (that should start some interesting conversations!)

Supplies: Tree cookie (slice from a tree branch), pencil, transfer paper, wood burning tool.

I drew my name on paper using a simple font, and transferred it to the wood with graphite paper. Then I started to burn it in using my wood burning tool.

4. Play-dough:

I think Lugh would enjoy play-dough! And it's one of my grandson's favorite things (another child of chaos).

He helps me to cook it, and then plays with it when it's still warm. He likes to pull it apart into small bits, roll it into balls, poke it, and make snakes.

Ingredients: 

• 1-c. flour
• 1/2-c. salt
• 2 tsp. cream of tartar
• 1-c. water
• 2 Tbsp. oil
• 1-tsp. food color

Combine all ingredients in a pot and mix until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring to prevent lumps, until the dough pulls together, then knead.

Last week I gave my grandson a big wad of play dough and a box of sticks
and he made this sculpture.