Robin Ivy Payton
With August comes fruits of spring and summer’s efforts. On the farm and in the garden, some gather to harvest berries, corn, and other gifts of the earth. Also known as Lammas in some traditions, this festival of the loaf included baking and blessing bread from the season’s first grains. Assembling around food continues to be a primary way we socialize in present time, and in early August locally grown foods are enjoyed and plentiful at farmer’s markets, local grocers, and eateries that provide farm to table delights.
Lughnasadh: Time of the Sun King
The felt sense of Lughnasadh celebration is expressed and embedded in its name. Lugh, “shine,” and nasad, “assembly,” suggest gathering in the bright Sun during the midpoint of summer. Derived from the Celtic mythology of Lugh, a Sun god, this festival marks the cross quarter, which actually occurs days after the traditional calendar date, August 1. On August 7 or 8, the Sun reaches 15 degrees of the astrology sign Leo, and we are halfway between Summer Solstice and autumnal equinox.
Lughnasadh is a time of shift for the Sun, and waning hours of daylight become more obvious. This time is often chosen for vacations, reunions, outdoor art fairs, concerts, and other events that lend well to clear skies, warm sunshine, and colorful sunsets. A desire to prolong summer enjoyment prompts us to assemble, as if to gather summer rays and gifts before darker, cooler days arrive. We bathe in light and water, absorbing the natural shine of middle summer.
Astrology for Lughnasadh 2022
Lughnasadh follows the July 28 New Moon in Leo and precedes Aquarius Full Moon on August 11. The New Moon and Sun harmonize with Jupiter in Aries, fueling courage, initiative, and momentum. Innovative and creative methods are favored. On August 1, earthy, sensual Virgo Moon accompanies the fiery Leo Sun and, likewise, planets dominate earth and fire signs. Uranus and the North Node in Taurus together break long-held paradigms related to money, stability, and growth. Some will experience an undeniable sense of life purpose and remove all obstacles, clearing their paths to follow their calling. Conventional is replaced by ingenious and radical as these two forces combine. The Moon is void of course from 6:29 p.m. on August 1 to 12:05 a.m. EDT on August 2. Void of course Moon time lends well to parties and gatherings as it tends to help us relax socially and let tensions go.
As Lughnasadh 2022 passes, the Full Moon alights on August 11 in Aquarius, a sign of friendship, community, and collective energy. The Moon approaches Saturn, planet of karma, commitment, and consequence, presenting opportunities to resolve past injustices and to fully engage in devotion to others and our planet. At this time, Mercury, Venus, and Mars, the closest planets to Earth, move forward at their usual pace while some of the more distant planets are retrograde. Having the closer planets direct may be helpful for early August pursuits and plans.
Celebrating Love
Lughnasadh is a traditional time for weddings. One tale in Celtic lore says the Sun God, Lugh, wed Mother Earth on this day. Along with “shine,” another root meaning of Lugh is “oath.” Vows taken for life, or for one year and a day, feature Venus in either Cancer or Leo this August. For the first ten days, Venus in Cancer blesses home and family and honors the soul journey. Partners wedded now will thrive with emotional intimacy and strong roots. They kindle romance throughout their relationship and are known for unconditional love. Venus crosses the threshold from Cancer to Leo on August 11 at 2:30 p.m. EDT, and tours Leo through early September. Venus in Leo marriages flourish with social friendships, adventures, and unwavering loyalty. The Sun will be in Leo for the entire period of Lughnasadh. This Sun sign radiates a sense of playfulness, longevity, creativity, and joy for partners married from July 22 through August 22, with either Venus sign. Leo rules the heart and spine for love and courage required in enduring relationships. Attune to the felt sense of your own heart at Lughnasadh as the Wheel of the Year turns.
Aligning with Lughnasadh
Create sacred space with colors, crystals, amulets, and any other items needed for your own Lughnasadh rituals. It is traditional for altars to face west, recognizing the waning sun and sunset. Also call your attention to the south, the direction of summer season and the astrological element of fire during Leo time. Invoke the flora and fauna of the south and west. Honor the creatures associated with summer and the south, such as orioles, yellow finches, and blackbirds, whose cycle of power is now. Cougar, Dolphin, Dragonfly, and Lizard also speak from the south and are at the height of their power. Most importantly, call upon beings that hold special meaning for you. Ask for their energy, gifts, and blessings.
The plant world offers magic, abundance, and beauty. Experiencing full blooms now, remember the seeds of their origin, recognizing the passage of time and the Sun’s journey. Adorn your space or altar with sunflowers if they’re locally in season. Other flowers of yellow, gold, and orange can be planted or harvested as cut flowers. These same colors may be reflected throughout your home, with clothes, bedding, candles, or even glasses and dinnerware used during high summer. Refresh your kitchen as sacred space for baking with corn and other grains of this harvest sabbat. Corn, grains, fire, and earth inspire the colors of the season, and while orange and golds are more obvious, balance them with the greens and browns of Mother Earth.
Crystals of the same shades can be added to your altar or worn as jewelry. Citrine, yellow agate, and tiger’s-eye represent the solar plexus, the body’s center of fire. Consider using tiger’s-eye, a stone of courage in deep browns imbued with red or gold, for the spirit of the Sun and Leo season. Green crystals such as aventurine and malachite align with the heart center, ruled by the sign of the lion. While aventurine soothes the heart and balances emotional processes, malachite absorbs negativity, supports transformation, and grounds in personal growth.
Meditating on the tarot can be helpful at this cross-quarter time. Fan out your cards and select some wands (also called rods) and pentacles that draw your attention. Open your intuition beyond thinking to perceiving, and simply listen through your third eye and heart. In the tarot, pentacles symbolize earth, our harvest, and wands are the symbol of fire.
At Lughnasadh, Leo Sun rules creative force, which can be channeled into crafts and projects. Design a wand from a tree branch and add summer crystals or shells. This is a traditional time to create a besom, the broom used to clear sacred space. The broom handle symbolizes wands, the fire element, while the brush is from fibers of the earth. Seek instructions online or do it yourself with original ideas and materials. The besom can be used year-round to cleanse your space symbolically or physically. Hang it on a door for protection or display it in the kitchen as assurance that the Sun and summer’s harvest will once again return.