LUGHNASADH (August 1st-3rd)



      Midsummer is here... and time to Praise the Reign of the Goddess. Its time to
prepare for the Harvest, the autumn season.. so we may survive the dead time of 
the year, the Bitter Winter months..

Here is a Solitary Rite for Lammas. In my Book of Shadows.. I start with an
Erecting the Temple page, then a normal thanking of the gods and goddesses 
and requesting aid or praise.. Then the appropiate Sabbat......

 For Lammas you would dress your altar with a yellow cloth and candles...
You can Spread flowers on the altar and around the circle.. as well
as anything that represents the mother earth at summer...

 You may also need a plate of cakes (or cookies), a libation dish, 
a goblet full of wine or juice, a small dagger (athame), a candle on the altar,
and candles at the 4 points, a bell (if you have one), a dish
 of salt, and a dish of oil (essential usually).

Erecting the Temple

Ring the Bell Three times, and Face East. Take the Altar candle and light the East candle saying, "Here do I bring Light and Air in at the East, to Illuminate my temple and bring it the Breath of Life." Move to the South and light that candle saying, "Here do I bring light and fire in at the South, to Illuminate my temple and bring it Warmth." Move to the West and light that candle saying, "Here do I bring light and water in at the West, to Illuminate my temple and wash it Clean." Move to the North and light that candle saying, "Here do I bring light and Earth in at the North, to Illuminate my temple and build it in Strength." Go around the East point then back to the Altar. Replace the Altar Candle and take up the Athame. Starting at the east, point the athame down and trace the circle. Direct all your energies through the Athame onto the circle. After you have finished tracing the circle, return it to your altar, then take up the bell and ring it again Three times. (A Powerful Number) Place the Point of the Athama in the Dish of salt and speak out, "As Salt is Life, let it purify me in all ways that I may use it. Let it cleanse my body and spirit as I dedicate myself in this rite to the glory of the goddess and god. (you can substitute a god and goddess in place there if you wish)" Drop Three portion of salt into the water (with your athame) while you say, "Let the sacred salt drive out any Impurities in the water, that I may use it throughout these rites." Take the salted water and sprinkle it around the circle starting at the East point. Then again with the incense, censing the circle. Back at the altar, drop a pinch of salt into the oil and stir it with your finger. Annoint yourself with the Keltic Cross on your Third Eye (drop a line down, and across in the middle of your eyebrows, known as the Third Eye) the pentegram on your chest, and the Invirted Triangle by touching your genitals, right breast, left breast, and again genitals. As you annoint yourself, say "I consecrate myself in the names of the God and of the Goddess, bidding them welcome to this my temple." Move to the east with your athama and drawn a pentagram above, but before the candle and say, "All hail to the element of air; Watchtower of the East. May it stand in Strength ever watching over my circle." Kiss the blade, than move to the south and again draw a pentagram (5 pointed star) above and before the candle. Say, "All hail to the element of Fire; Watchtower of the South. May it stand in strength, ever watching over my circle." Kiss the Blade again, then move to the west and draw the pentagram, while you say, "All hail to the element of Water; Watchtower of the West. May it stand in strength ever watching over my circle." Kiss the Blade, then move to the North and draw an invoking pentagram. Say, "All hail to the element of Earth; Watchtower of the North. May it stand in strength ever watching of my circle." Kiss the blade and return to your altar raise your athame high and speak out, "All hail the four quarters and all hail the gods and the goddess! I bid the Lord and the Lady welcome and invite that they join with me, witnessing these rites I hold in their honor. All Hail!" Take the goblet and pour some wine into the libation dish, as you say ,"to the goddess and god", then drink.... Say at your altar, "Now is the Temple erected, So mote it Be!"

(Remember never to leave the circle, unless of dire need, for a breaking of the circle, will break the bond and protection)

You may or may not perform the following, only if you wish...

Stand and Speak out, "Once more do I come to show my joy of life and re-affirm my feelings for the gods. The Lord and the Lady have been good to me. It is meet that I give thanks for all that I have. They know that I have needs and they listen to me when I call upon them. So do I thank the god and goddess for those favors they have bestowed upon me." In your own way give thanks and/or request help on things you need. (not desire) Ring the bell Three times and say, "An' it harm none, do what thou wilt. Thus runs the Wiccan Rede. Whatever I desire; whatever I would ask of the gods; whatever I would do; I must be assured that it will harm no one, not even myself. And as I give so shall it return threefold. I give of myself, my life, my love and it will be thrice rewarded. But should I send forth harm, than that too will return thrice over." Here you may sing a song or chant, or play an instrument. Then recite, "Beauty and Strength are in the Lord and the Lady both. Patience and love; Wisdeom and Knowledge."

The Following is the actual rite of Lammas to be performed after the above,

Walk, dance, sing about the circle as many times as you wish, to stir up energy and praise for the gods and goddesses. When finished stop and speak out, "The powers of life and death are held by the gods, Great is the power of the mighty ones, god is old yet young, and the power is his." Bell is rung seven times and say, "In the midst of the Lady's rule do we remember her brother/lover/husband. Great is his power through his union with the Goddess. And through his death and rbeirth, as the younger son, Is the harvest assured and the power passedon, To grow and spread wide to all he loves. Remember the Lord, yet in him ever see the Lady. Praise the lady and, through her, the Lord." "Blessed be the Lady of the Circle and blessed be her Lord. May the surplus be drawn from the land. That the body may be filled with strength. Power to the Lord and power to the Lady. Let the old wane, that the young may wax anew. Ever turns the Wheel. Ever onward." You may Dance, or sing and chant about the circle. You may shout "Lugh!" as you dance or "the goddess" If you dance, you must stop after twelve circles... Stand and say, "Lady and Lord, we thank thee, For all that has been raised from the soil. May it grow in strength from now till harvest. We thank thee for this promise of fruits to come. Let the power of our Lord be in each and every one of us At this time and throughout the year." "So mote it be."

The Feast

Thus comes the feast and drinkage of the sabbat. Sit in front of the altar and fill the goblet with juice or wine and say, "Now is the time for me to give thanks to the gods for that which sustains me. So be it. May we ever be aware of all that we owe to the gods." Take the Athame and place it in the goblet.. say, "In like fashion may male join with female, for the happiness of both. Let the fruits of union promote life. Let all be fruitful and let wealth be spread throughout all lands." Take a drink from the goblet. Now touch each cake with the athame and say, "This food is the blessing of the gods to our bodies. Let me partake of it freely. And, as I share, let me remember always to see to it that aught that I have I share with those who have nothing." Eat a cake, when finished say, "As I enjoy these gifts of the gods, let me remember that without the gods I would have nothing. Be happy. Share and give thanks. So mote it be!" Now you may sit and remember the beauty of the summer, the goddess, friends and love. When finished,

You may now Close the Circle.....

Stand and speak "I came here in love and friendship; let me part the same way. Let me spread the love I have known in this circle outward to all, sharing it with those I meet." Raise your athame and salute, "Lord and Lasy, I thank thee for sharing this time with me. I thank thee for watching over me, guarding and guiding me in all things.

Love is the Law and love is the bond. Merry did we meet, merry do we part; merry may we meet again."

"The Temple is now cleared! So mote it be!" If you have summoned specific elementals to guard your points, such as the Gnomes of the North, Undines of the East, Salamander of the South and Slyphs of the west, you must salute each point and release them with perhaps something such as, "I thank thee "name of element" for guarding and watching over this point in my circle. I release thee now and will call upon thee again when in need. So mote it be" Do it on each point, and with the Athame!

Parts of the above are taken from many books, primarly Scott Cunningham. I rearranged it for Solitary... In the Future I will seperate the erecting parts and closing..
Book of Shadows


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