Lammas
By MoonRaven

The name Lammas comes from the Anglo-Saxon Hlaf-maesse meaning ‘bread-mass’. Another name for this Sabbat is Lughanssadh, meaning the Feast or Games of Lugh. Lammas is the time of the first harvest of the grain, a time of thanksgiving for the first harvesting of the fruits of summer. Traditional at this time is the celebration and sharing of the products of the first grains: bread and ale. In ancient Celtic, Gaelic and Pagan traditions, the grains of the Earth are seen as the body of the God, sacrificed at the Harvest, baked into bread and then consumed to keep the tides of life flowing. Many times the first loaf will be made into the shape of a man to represent the God or long loaves to symbolize his regenerative powers. The first summer fairs begin, often continuing through the Autumn Equinox, as the months of August and September together comprise the time of thanksgiving and rejoicing in the abundance of grain, fruits, produce and the health of our herds – all of which will provide food to see us through the barren winter. At the fairs, we still show off and have contests for the best vegetables, the most vigorous of animals just as we have for hundreds of years.

The themes of Lammas are those of Celebration, Thanksgiving and Sacrifice. The Sun was at its height of its power at the Summer Solstice and since that time nights have become longer and cooler – we know that Winter is coming even as we are surrounded by plenty. We celebrate the abundance, we give thanks for the food which ensures our survival and we must sacrifice the fruits of the harvest in order to continue living. At Beltane the God and Goddess made love, at the Summer Solstice this union of male/female; light/dark; sun/moon; fire/water is celebrated and we know that the Goddess is fertile with the God’s seed. At Lammas, we give thanks and sacrifice the body of the fertilizing, life-giving God by harvesting the grain, releasing Him to care for the souls of our ancestors in the Otherworld, knowing that at the Winter Solstice the new Sun-god will be born and the cycle will begin anew.

One of the names of the Sun-god who gives life is Lugh, who is the son of Arianhod, Goddess of Death. This shows us the paradoxical Pagan world view: opposites are components of one another – life comes from death, light from darkness, dawn from night. Everything is interconnected and dependent on that connection. When the grain is cut to make bread, this is a sacrifice of life, but so that life may continue. On August 1, the games or festival of Lugh, celebrating the life-giving powers of the Sun are celebrated. Picnics, sharing of the harvest and outdoor games of physical prowess and strength are played.


MoonRaven

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Venus
Element: Fire
Powers: Fertility, Wishes, Health, Wisdom

Spiritual or Magical Properties:

Sunflower seeds are eaten by women who wish to conceive. Wear sunflower seeds around your neck to protect yourself from illness.

Cut a sunflower at sunset while making a wish, the wish will come true before the next sunset. Sleeping with a sunflower under the bed allows you to know the truth in any matter. Grow sunflowers in the garden to guard against pest and grant the best of luck to the gardener.

MoonRaven

The God Lugh, God of fire, Crafting, Protector of the Weak
Submitted by MoonRaven

LUGH
(Pan-Celtic) [Loo] The Shining One; Sun God; God of War; "Many Skilled"; "Fair-Haired One"; "White or Shining"; a hero god. His feast is Lughnassadh, a harvest festival. Associated with ravens. His symbol was a white stag in Wales. Son of Cian and Ethniu. Lugh had a magic spear and rod-sling. One of his magic hounds was obtained from the sons of Tuirenn as part of the blood-fine for killing his father Cian. Also called Samhioldananach, meaning "master of all arts", or Lamhfada (La-VAH-dah), "the long-armed".

His sacred symbol was a spear. He was always accompanied by two ravens. Sometimes he is shown as one-eyed. Predecessor of the Germanic Wotan and the Norse Odin? He was a God of the sun, light, and the grain harvest, who is honored at the Sabbat of Lughnassadh. Like Brid, he is a deity of many skills and was even said to be able to come into human form to worship among the Druids for whom he was a primary deity. He is also worshipped as the God of fire, metallurgy, crafting, weaving, and as a protector of the weak.

Also known as Lugh of the Long Arm. He killed his grandfather, Balor, during a battle in which the new order of gods and goddesses took over from the primal gods. He defeated his enemies with a magic spear. Also known as Lug Samildanach or Lug.

Considered the chief Lord of the Tuatha De Danaan, the Celtic Zeus. His archetype appears to derive from an early solar deity, and he has many epithets and sobriquets, among which: Lamhfhada, Long-arm, referring to his skill with spear or sling; Samildanach, much-skilled, having many talents; Ildanach, seer; and Maicnia, boy-warrior.

Some scholars believe he was originally a king of the Fomorians who was adopted by the Tuatha De Danann and then by the Celts. He sided with the Tuatha in the Second Battle of Tireadh (Moytura) and led their forces against the Formorians. It was here that he killed his grandfather Balor, a sacrificial God whom Lugh was destined to replace. Though he was a divine being, he was said to have an earthly father. Because of this association, he is seen as a bridge between the human and the divine worlds.

More statues and holy sites were erected to him than any other Celtic deity, and many of these sites remain for us today. His continental name was Lugus. He is often equated with the Greek God Apollo.

Also: Llugh; Luga; Lamhfada [lavada - of the Long Arm]; Llew; Lug; Lugus; Lug Samildanach (many skilled); Lleu Llaw Gyffes ("bright one of the skillful hand"); Lleu; Lugos

Power Meditations
By Demna Gwynnvyd

Daily meditations even 5 minute and 1 minute power meditations are incredibly important parts of Everyday magick. Power meditations are an impressive manner of performing specific magickal spells for any reason one can imagine.

There are multiple methods of performing a 5 minute Power meditation including but not limited to: Power Phrase or Mantra and Power Symbol a.k.a. sigil or icon. The Power Phrase can be simply a question you need an answer for or a desire you wish to manifest. A Power symbol is merely some symbol that has a specific meaning to you. You can use one from an older system that you've researched well or you can create your own. To do so just get creative, a method I find very usefull is Austin Osman Spare's method of sigil creation. Which is to write out your desire and then mark out all repeating characters, next simply connect or overlap the remaining letters into some kind of symbol which will now be the symbol for the written desire. To use this symbol simply take a minute or two to clear your mind and just focus your eyes on this symbol thinking of nothing, just staring at the symbol. Do this for a few minutes a day and you will be amazed how quickly the desire will manifest.

As for the 1 minute Power Meditation you have to practice it a little but once you get it down it can be a very useful and powerful tool you can use anytime you need to focus, especially if you need to focus really hard with limited time. The easiest method to achieve the mindstate needed for this is self-fascination. I find something in front of me that is shiny or stands out in some way and just try to stare at the object until everything around it kind of darkens, at this point you should be in a semi- to fully clear mindstate, at this point it seems as though time slows down a little. This is the goal mindstate, from here if you created a Power Symbol and it happens to be your object you're focusing on, it should pass through to the subconscious much quicker thus manifesting it quicker. You can also use this state to "zone in" on a thought, concept, or even expand your awareness by simply feeling first your body then your aura and as you expand your awareness to your aura you can begin to imagine it extending.

until next month,
Blessed Be!

Demna Gwynnvyd

Corn Wheel
By MoonRaven

Lammas is the time of the first harvest, and grains, especially corn, are abundant. The eight ears of corn on this wreath represent the eight sabbats. The shucks look like the rays of the sun, a very fitting symbol of the season.

You will need:
1 round wire or other hoop on which to build the wreath
8 ears of corn of equal length -- dried or fresh
Cardboard
1 short piece of ribbon or twine (for hanger)
Glue
Florists wire (optional)



Fashion a round hoop wide enough to accommodate the length of two ears of corn.

Using ribbon or twine, form a loop to serve as a hanger. Tie or glue this securely to the hoop.

Position the eight ears of corn inside the circle, paying close attention to the illustration. Be sure to keep the hanger/ribbon positioned at the top of the wreath.

Tie or wrap the corn shucks around the hoop. (They can be held in place with florists wire, if need be.) Use stray ends of the shucks to cover the hoop completely. (If using dried corn, the shucks should have been soaked in water before starting.) Use florists wire to keep the shucks in place.

Cut a small, round piece of cardboard. Lay the wreath on the table and position the cardboard circle in the middle of the hoop. Using a glue gun or some other fast drying glue, adhere the tips of the ears to the cardboard circle on the BACK SIDE of the wreath, being careful that the cardboard is not obvious from the front. You may want to cut out the middle of the cardboard circle so it can not easily be seen from the front.

Allow the glue to dry and hang.

MoonRaven

I Am A Witch
By Stormhawk Evanmoon

I am a witch, that's what I be,
Will you take a walk with me?

I'll tell you a tale of an age gone by
When men ruled the ground and dragons the sky.

The dragons were peaceful yet strong in might,
Yet men feared them and killed them on sight.

Their treasures they stole and kept in their keeps,
This made the dragon's ire and anger run deep.

For the ignorance and greed of man as a whole
Will forever damn the dragon's immortal soul.

The dragons fought back with claw and fire,
Like thunder they rolled over hill and shire.

They killed every man who held dragon gold,
Leaving the children to tell the stories of old.

I am a descendant of those children, you see
I am a witch, that's what I be.

Lammas Bread
Submitted by MoonRaven

Ingredients:
2 cups warm milk
2 packages dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons soft butter
2 cups flour (unbleached)
1 cup rye flour
2 cups wheat flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Mix milk, yeast, salt, honey, and brown sugar in large bowl.
Cover and set aside in a warm place for half an hour.
Add unbleached flour and butter. Stir until bubbly. Mix in rye flour and wheat flour. Flour hands and knead dough. Place in greased bowl, cover and put in warm place for an hour. Divide in half and make 2 slightly flattened balls, place on greased cookie sheet. Set in warm place until dough has doubled.

Take athame and cut a pentagram on the bread and say:
I invoke thee beloved Spirit of the Grain. Be present in this Sacred Loaf.

Beat egg and water together, then brush over loaves. Bake at 300 degrees F for 1 hour. Enjoy!

Amber
By Zandrixia

Amber is fossilized tree resin. Copal is geologically younger than Baltic Amber.

Corresponding Astrological Signs: Gemini, Leo, Aquarius

Color: Gold brown

Chakra: Hara Chakra

Purifies body, mind, and spirit.
Balances electromagnetics of the body and allows even flow of energies. Provides a positive, soothing energy. Spiritualizes the intellect. Amplifies one's energy field. Helps remove energy blockages, strengthens physical body. Excellent for enhancing altered states of consciousness. Stabilizes the entire hara system and emotional body. Promotes the certainty of one's path and choices, mental and emotional strength.

Facilitates energy balancing and cleansing, all-aura healing. Refills, protects, and repairs aura tears from too rapid emotional or karmic release. Removes psychic attacks, lessens damage from anesthetics, or other negative agents. Protects against psychic attack, psychic draining, or energy intrusion by others.

By SDCW

Question: I'm 15 years old and have met someone who is Wiccan. They have told me that they have been to the "Temple" and told me I should go too. I would like to know what I have to do to become Wiccan. I have never been very religious and go to church a few times a year.

Answer: Being 15 years old is a difficult age, with so many things to deal with in ones life. Although you are young, we have children much younger in the craft, as well as in our own church. Saying this, their parents are fully aware of what they are doing as well as support and encourage their participation. Have you spoken to your parents about the Wiccan religion? If you feel you cannot speak to them about this, maybe Wicca / Paganism is NOT the right choice for you at this point in time.

First, I'm concerned that you wish to change your religion and second, that you never really had one prior to this. I must tell you that we encourage all of our youth, as well as others, to explore as many of the worlds religions as possible prior to making a commitment to begin to search the path of Wicca / Paganism.

Obtain some books, read them and totally understand what it is that Wicca represents. You can check our Library section for some book recommendations, as well as the Magick Moon.

The steps to being considered a seeker in the Wiccan religion is proving for one year and a day that you are faithful and DO wish to "live" the Wiccan path. This is NOT a religion for just the weekends. This is a religion that is lived to the fullest each and every day. Once you are accepted as a seeker by the church, you would then become a seeker for one year and a day to begin the journey of enlightenment and learn the basics of the religion. Then you would become a student of the first degree for one year and a day. After this step if the church elders feel you are NOT ready, they have the power to set you back into the cycle to begin this journey all over again until you DO show the growth required to proceed.

You see, we take this very very seriously. We also know that there are individuals out there that Wicca will NOT be the right path for. We feel that the religions of the World all fit together so that we can all find the path that may be right for us. We wish you much success on your journey.