SPIRIT

Now discuss the nature of the Lammas Sabbat. Like all Sabbats, Lammas has many aspects any of which you might choose to emphasize. In discussing the nature of Lammas you might say something like:

"Lammas is the festival of the Harvest. At this time the life of the God begins to wane -the days are growing shorter, the crops in the fields are being felled: slowly but inexorably the Earth is moving on toward inevitable Winter. We think of this as the God laying down His life that all may live. This concept has special significance at Harvest time, because we are conscious of the sacrifice of the grain and other plants we have raised for food: but in truth it is a constant, for life is sustained only by death. All living things depend upon death -for all we eat was once alive. Even the plants which thrive on light cannot exist except through the death of others, for the soil in which they grow is composed of decay from generations of dead foliage and the bodies of dead animals. This is a sobering thought and should inspire us not to horror of death but to deepest gratitude. For all things which die, however unwitting at the physical level, have made a choice from their soul. When we speak of the death of the God it is in part to this law of being that we refer. Let us reflect therefor upon all those that have given their lives to our sustenance, as we one day shall in our turn likewise do."

ACT OF POWER
Offering First Fruits

Lammas is the ceremony which marks the beginning of the harvest season, and as such it is appropriate to make an offering of the First Fruits of the season at this time. This is essentially a thank offering for the abundance of the Earth, and a prayer for a fruitful harvest. It also honors the death of the crops, which are understood to be living things, and gives thanks for the sacrifice they have made so that we might live.

Select some nice fruits and /or vegetables for the offering and arrange them attractively. Grain, such as wheat or corn (maize) is also appropriate. Ideally it is best to use produce which has been grown in a personal, hands-on manner, as in a household garden or a small farm. But not everyone gardens or knows a good farmer’s market and you shouldn’t let that stop you. It’s the thought behind the offering that counts –and the thought is gratitude.

All the food we eat ultimately comes from the Earth, some foods more directly than others. As Pagans we should remain mindful of this and not be seduced by the availability of pre-packaged foods into forgetting that all food owes its origin to the Earth and represents a gift of life. But thanking the Earth is only part of the purpose of the offering, for we must also thank the plants themselves –and indeed all of the food we eat.

Everything we eat, whether animal or vegetable, was once a living thing –plants are no less living things than animals, they only experience their life differently. These things have sacrificed their lives for us, and we should honor that sacrifice. It might be argued that the sacrifice is not always willing, and at a conscious level that may be so –but from the level of the Higher Self the sacrifice must be a willing one, or it would not be made. This too is part of what we honor at Lammas.

Therefore prepare your offering with this is mind.

After you have cast the Circle, invoked, and spoken about the nature of Lammas, present the First Fruits offering. The presentation can be as creative as you might like. You may have a special person designated to present the First Fruits, perhaps costumed for the part with a seasonal tabard or with a wreath of wheat or harvest fruits on their head. Or if your ritual space is large enough, it might be nice to have a bit of a procession, with one or more people ceremonially conveying the First Fruits to the altar perhaps accompanied by drumming or a harvest chant.

When the offering has been installed at the altar, you might say something like this:

“This is the time of thanksgiving for the harvest to come, when we shall reap the bounty of the Earth. In this age of year-round pre-packaged food we often forget the importance of the harvest, and how much we depend upon the Earth for life. At this time of year, let us remember that we are all sustained by the Earth our Mother, the physical embodiment of the Great Mother Goddess Whose Spirit inhabits all the galaxies and universes of existence. Let us be thankful for our life: Thankful for our food: And thankful for all the other harvests of our life, through which our existence is enriched. Let us each consider the things which make our lives sweet and give thanks to the Goddess our Mother for them. I myself am thankful for …”

Name something that you are thankful for –something that is important to you and which you are grateful to Deity for.

Now go deosil around the Circle –have each person name one thing that they are thankful for in life. Depending on the number of people present you may want to go around the Circle more than once –but do not make it too long, lest you lose the people’s excitement.

When you have all named something(s) you are thankful for, it is time to Bless the First Fruits offering. Turn to the offering and speak over it. You might say something like:

“Holy Mother, on this most sacred day of Lammas we honor you as the source and sustenance of all life. Lady of the Sickle, Who provides for Her children that they may not starve in the months ahead -we thank You with all our hearts.

“It is You Who ordains the cycle of life and death upon which existence depends and to which all things are bound: even the God, Your Consort, Who turns the Wheel of Life yet is bound to it also. As the crops fall in the fields, and the Sun wanes in the sky, as the foliage begins to turn color in the descent toward Winter, the God sinks slowly toward His own death, making His willing sacrifice that all may live. It is even so with all things.

“Creator and Destroyer, You have ordained that life must feed on life to live –that the old must die and be transformed that the new may take shape. We give thanks, O Mother, for the food provided to us through Your love and foresight. We thank You, and we thank the souls of the food likewise for their sacrifice.

“We are all united in the dance of life and death, and each of us in turn must make our own sacrifice. As these have sacrificed to sustain us, one day we too must make our sacrifice and repay the debt. One day we shall die, and our bodies be eaten by worms and creatures of the Earth, ultimately becoming part of the soil from which new plants shall grow and upon which new animals shall feed. This is the balance of life. All debts must be repaid. All wheels in their time must turn full circle. When the day comes for us, may we be as gracious in making our sacrifice for them as they have been in making their sacrifice for us.

“Holy Mother, Bless then this offering in token of this eternal compact! Let it be a bond of love between Yourself and us, between ourselves each and the other, and between ourselves and our food that we may ever be mindful of the price of life. In the name of the lady of Life and Death may the Blessing Be upon this offering!”

Now draw down energy into the offering –imagine it as a shower of light descending upon the offering and filling it totally.

Now you might want to offer a chant in the Goddess’ honor –perhaps accompany it with a dance. A good chant might be:

"Arise! Arise! And spread Your wings!
Mother of all living things!

"Arise! Arise! And spread Your wings!
Goddess of Eternity!

When you have finished, direct the energy raised by the chant and dance to the Goddess. You might do it like this:

“Imagine a ball of light building in the center of our Circle. See it growing brighter and brighter. Into this ball of light send love and thanks to the Goddess. O Goddess, we ask that you accept this humble offering from us, in token of the love we bear you! May the Blessing Be upon You now and always!”

Imagine the ball of light rise up, and up, and up until it disappears and goes off to Goddess. Or alternatively you might imagine the ball of light begin to grow smaller, and smaller, until at last it disappears and goes to the Goddess. Either is equally good.

“So Mote it Be!”

All
“So Mote It Be!”

Now continue with the rest of your ritual.

WATER

For this ritual we are going to use a group Blessing for the Chalice. For obvious reasons this Blessing is best with a small group.

Fill the Chalice with the desired beverage. Then raise it up and hold it in the center of the Circle. Ask everyone present to place one hand upon the Chalice and join you in Blessing it. You might lead them in the Blessing like this:

“Become aware of your Heart Chakra. Imagine it filled with clear white light, shining and glowing with love and strength. In that light feel the love of Spirit, moving within you.

“Now send energy from your Heart Chakra through your hand and into the Chalice: Energy filled with love, with joy, with creativity. Fill the Chalice with energy. See the Chalice filled with shining light, radiating out in all directions: growing stronger and stronger.

“O Mother Goddess! O Father God! Beloved Ones! Join us we pray in Blessing this holy Chalice! Lend Your energy to ours! Bless this Chalice with love and strength! May it be as a bond between us –a bond of enduring love. A bond between Yourselves and all of us: A bond between ourselves and one another. Behold! May the Blessing Be!”

Now pass the Chalice deosil around the Circle, letting each person drink. You should go last and offer the last bit to Spirit.

Or if you prefer you can pass out paper cups, and fill them from the Chalice, asking everyone to wait and drink together. Make sure to fill one cup for Spirit. If you do this, you may wish to offer an appropriate toast such as:

“To the Lady! To the Lord! To us!”

ALL
“To the Lady! To the Lord! To us!”