Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvests and as such it is a time to give thanks. Although it is not the traditional pagan thanksgiving, it is a time that we have receive a bounty and so we should give thanks regardless.

Yet sometimes it is not enough to just say, "thanks" and just go through the motions. It is better to show it. And what better way to show how thankful you are then by volunteering.

But the question can often arise, "Where do I volunteer?" Before I answer a disclaimer, I am not associated with this site nor have I been paid by them. That being said, I found this site; volunteermatch.org. So you may want to check it out.

Also if you have any other suggestions of charities that are worth volunteering for, don't hesitate to post them in the comments below.

Blessed Be!

I have talked in the past about decorating a grapevine wreath with flowers, either fake or real, to celebrate the Sabbats. So with Litha past and Lughnassadh coming I figured I would share a list of flowers and things to decorate your wreath.

• Corn - In the Old World corn was grain but you can use both corn and wheat
• Berries
• Apples
• Sunflowers
  

Lughnassadh is the funeral feast of Lugh, the Celtic Sun God. The Sun begins the journey to the Underworld on this day. Winter and the Holly King begins his rule. Even though we may not feel winter for months to come the days will be getting shorter and shorter. In a later post I will cover how to make a corn dolly they can be put on the wreath as well.
If you have any suggestions let me know.

Blessed Be!

While not a specific deity, the Harvest Lord is one of the faces of the God. And since Lughnasadh falls at the end of this month, beginning of next, I figured that it would be appropriate to talk about Him.

He is the father who sacrifices all for his children. He works to bring home the "bread", literally. Because in this case he is actually the grain that is ground and baked into bread.

Since I am a Father who works so hard to provide for my family, this is an aspect that especially resonates with me. His willingness to work no matter what to provide is a lesson that I think many men in our culture need.

I have posted this poem before, but I wanted to share it again. I hope that you all enjoy.

I am the aging man toiling day after day to provide for his children. I am the Father who regardless of his worries always has a smile for his fellow man. I am the Earth aging and giving up its last crop. Yet I am also the promise of life unending even into Death. I am true love made real by a willing sacrifice. I am the yellow corn that gives life to the masses.

But still I am feared because I bring death soon, robed in black I bring the scythe that cuts down the wheat. Yet do not worry for does not the wheat continue your life? See my willing death in the waning sun and the leaves turning crimson and orange.

Yet remember my death is willing for in my death I end the battle between Son and Father and I spare the Earth. Look for me on the other side of this world in Summerland for I will be there to guide the souls of the dead and give them a chance at rebirth

Blessed Be!

Yes, it is that time again. The weekly recipe series continues. This time with recipes that include meat. I hope that you all enjoy these recipes. Blessed Be!

Baked Polenta with Sausage and Mushrooms
courtesy of katiehodges.com

1 tb olive oil
1 sm Yellow onion; chopped
2 lg Garlic cloves; minced
1 md Red sweet pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
1/2 lb Mild Italian sausage, loose
1/2 lb Fresh mushrooms, (white or brown), trimmed and thinly sliced
2 1/2 c Milk, broth or water
3/4 c Yellow cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
1 tb Chopped fresh sage
1 tb Chopped Italian parsley
1/4 ts Ground cayenne pepper
1 c Ricotta cheese
1/2 c gruyere or swiss cheese
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 tb Butter or margarine; melted
4 tb Grated parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Sauté onion, garlic, and sweet pepper until hot through. Add crumbled sausage and continue cooking just until meat changes color. Stir in mushrooms and cook until they release their liquid. Drain excess fat and set mixture aside.

Place milk or other liquid in a large, heavy saucepan over moderately high heat. Slowly add cornmeal, stirring briskly with a wire whisk to prevent lumping. Bring to a boil and cook 10 minutes or until mixture is very thick and smooth while stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove pan from heat and stir in herbs, cayenne pepper, and ricotta and gruyere cheeses. Add sausage and sweet pepper mixture. Combine all parts well and then season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour mixture into two 9-inch pie plates lined with plastic wrap. Cool on a wire rack, then cover and refrigerate at least an hour, or as long as three days.

When ready to serve dish, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut polenta in wedges and place on an oiled shallow baking pan large enough to hold polenta in one layer without crowding. Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until polenta is lightly browned and very hot when tested with a small knife in center of wedge. Serve with a topping of Tomato Sauce and sprinked with more parmesan cheese.

Game Hens with Rosemary and Garlic
courtesy of magickalmusings.net

3 Cornish Game Hens, halved
3/4 cup Olive oil
4 Garlic cloves, crushed
3 Tablespoons Dry sherry
1 Tablespoon Fine chopped fresh rosemary
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Split each bird in half. Set aside.
Using a very large bowl mix the remaining ingredients together. Marinate the bird halves in this mixture for 1 hour, turning often. Broil in oven 7 or 8 minutes on a side, or on a charcoal barbecue. I prefer the charcoal, but be sure the coals are not too hot. Cook to your liking.

Supplies:

• Five Candles -- yellow, two red, blue, green,
• A bowl of water
• A bowl of dirt
• A feather
• Bell for each of the children participating
  

Ritual:

Arrange the colored candles and other items in a circle around you. In the East put the yellow candle and the feather. In the South put the red candle. In the West put the bowl of water and the blue candle. And finally in the North put the bowl of dirt and the green candle. Light these candles as you set them out. Walk with your children from candle to candle, ringing a bell as you leave from candle to another.

Start in the East and tell them that it represents Air. Wave the feather at them so that they can feel the wind.

In the South tell them that here is Fire represented. Carefully let them feel the heat from the candle.

In the West talk to them about Water. Have them wash their hands in the water.

In the North speak about the element of Earth. Let them touch the dirt.

When you return to the Center talk to them about the Goddess and the God and how they are always there. Let them know about Love and the Blessings that the Gods can give us. If you are outdoors then have them look up at the moon. Tell them that tonight is the night of the Mother Goddess, represented by the Full Moon. While you are doing this you can light the red candle to represent the mother aspect.

Read to them the Rede of the Mother. Or just tell them what the Mother means to your family. Let them know that they are loved always and that the Mother provides for all of her children.


What Tonight is About

This Full Moon goes by many names; Buck Moon, Hay Moon or Thunder Moon. It is the time of the year when the harvest is nearly at its fullest. Also the time of many thunderstorms. It is a time to prepare for the harvests that will be coming with the next moon. So spend some time in ritual tonight taking stock of current and ongoing projects. Reevaluate your goals with the family and see if you need to change direction at all.

To help clear the air you can drum, if you have them, or just chant some songs to raise some energy to bring this goal or goals into reality.

When you are done you can break bread with your family, being sure to leave a little to offer to the Gods.

To close circle we just walk widdershins and say "Goodbye" to each of the elements.

This year has practically flown by. The Light half of the year is past and the first of the three harvests is upon us. This harvest is the one of grain, so in this we see the death of the Grain God or the Lord of the Harvest.It is also a time to harvest in our own lives those things that we worked hard to plant earlier in the year and tended over the summer.

As at Imbolc the Wheel turned towards the light, now the Wheel turns on towards the dark of Autumn and Winter. So as we go forward this month, towards Lughnasadh, take count of the harvests in your life. What things do we need to do to make those harvests succesful ones?

Blessed Be!