Lughnasadh 2007
by Blayze

The first section is divided into two separate rituals. The men will create the sacred space for the main ritual and choose their Sacrifice and the women will prepare the Triple Goddess and the harvest basket.

Men's Ritual:
Men cast circle. All are to be bare chested. (Spirit to learn the lines of each of the elemental weapons in case one of the Elemental Guardians is chosen as the Harvest Lord)

HP Casts circle.

Quarters are called thus:

Air Facing east says:
Uiscias (wiskius), guardian of Findias and keeper of the sacred sword of Nuada, I do call upon thee to bless and witness this rite. Bring with thee the everlasting powers of Air 

Failte Uiscias.

Fire Facing north says:
Esras, guardian of Gorias and keeper of the sacred spear of Lugh, I do call upon thee to bless and witness this rite.  Bring with thee the ever inspiring powers of fire.

Failte Esras.

Water Facing west says:
Semias, guardian of Murias and keeper of the sacred cauldron of the Dagdha, I do call upon thee to bless and witness this rite.  Bring with thee the ever renewing powers of water.

Failte Semias.

Earth Facing South says:
Morfessa, guardian of Falias, and keeper of the sacred stone, I do call upon thee to bless and witness this rite.  Bring with thee the ever strengthening powers of earth.

Failte Morfessa.

HP: This is the Sacred Space, the Temple of the Fertile Field, the Shrine Of The Ripened Grain. It is Lughnasadh, the time of the first Harvest and we are gathered to prepare it's sacrifice.

Earth: We are the seeds planted in the furrows of Spring
Earth places a Sunflower seed on each man's tongue.

Water: We are the Warriors tempered by Summer Rain 
Water asperges each man

Fire: ...and Solstice Fire
Fire passes a candle around each man

Air: We are the Priests of the Last Sheaf
Air scourges each man across the back with a Sheaf of Wheat

Spirit: The Sacrifice Of The Harvest is ours to give for we hold the spark of the Dying Sun within our hearts.
Spirit marks each man with a golden circle upon his heart.

Cup bearer then takes up the Drinking Horn from the altar. He takes it to each of the quarters in turn then moves to the centre and says:

Cup Bearer: “Gods of the Earth, Of Sea and of Sky
We call upon thee when the Harvest is nigh
By grain of earth, by flight of birds, 
by fruit of river and stream
By the blood of the vine 
Of honey and wine
We call forth thy mystery”

"Leat onórach" (in your honor).

 Cup Bearer: The Harvest Horn is ready. It holds the sacred wine, the mystery of transformation. 

Cup Bearer holds up Drinking Horn then pours a small libation before the altar.

Cup Bearer: I pour a libation for Gods of Earth, Sea and Sky. I pour a libation for the God Of The Sun, of Forest, Field and Fruit.

He passes the Horn to the HP

HP: We are the seeds, the warriors and the priests. We are also the harvest. Drink deeply my brothers, for one of you will be the Spirit of the Harvest, he who drains the last drop will be our sacrifice.

Horn is passed around until it is drained. The last man to drink will become the spirit of the harvest. When all have drunk, HP places the Horn back upon the altar.

HP: Look you Gods of Earth, Sea and Sky. Look you God of The Sun, of Forest, Field and Fruit. __________ has been chosen of the Spirit Of the Harvest. 

_________ are you willing to become the Harvest Lord?

Harvest Lord: I am

HP: Then we will prepare you as warrior and priest. Our weapons are of those of battle, of mystery and of spirit.

Earth: The Shield of Earth – for the defence of the Land
Shield is buckled across his back

Water: The Cauldron of Water – for the resurrection of fallen Companions
Cauldron is placed in his left hand

Fire: The Spear of Fire – for the rays of the Sun
Spear is placed in his right hand

Air: The Sword of Air – that we attack with Wisdom not fear
Sword is buckled around his waist.

HP: For Spirit we hold the Scythe, sharpened upon the stone of Sovereignty and a reminder of the Sacrifice to come. 

HP holds the scythe across Harvest Lord's throat. 

All men begin to chant

All: Harvest Lord, spirit wise
Release the grain by sword and scythe

Men circle around HL  and HP and release the chant with a shout.

At the end of the chant the men bow down before the Harvest Lord.

HP: You have been armed as the Harvest Lord. You have drunk of the blood of sacrifice. But now you must be prepared for the mystery of your fate.

It is the women of our clan who are the keepers of this mystery and so it is to them that we call.

Maiden, Mother, Crone of Old
Come to the temple of  grain and gold
Come to the temple, women all
To hold the Harvest in your thrall!
X 3

The women now come towards the temple led by HPS. They each hold a small sheaf of grain. Amongst them are the Maiden (dressed in white), the Mother (dressed in red) and the Crone, dressed in black.

All of the women sing the Lughnasadh Song.

By Barley seed and Rowan tree
By magic strong and free
By Goddess fair with golden hair
We do call to thee.
By harvest home and Summers gold
The fields and the grain
By heated days and blessed nights
And gentle Autumn rain.
Come gather in the harvest now
Come gather in the corn
Come gather in and sit awhile
By Oak and Ash and Thorn.

The HP comes to the edge of the circle. He uses the scythe to cut a doorway into the circle for the women.

The women keep singing as they walk around the circle 3 times.

HPS: We are the keepers of the mystery of the Harvest and we have heard your call. Do you have a sacrifice for us?

HP: Yes my lady.

HPS: Then choose 5 men to hold the mystery of the harvest.

The women give the 5 men their bundles of wheat. The Mother, Maiden and Crone stand by the altar. The HP gives the scythe to the HPS.

The men then begin to circle around the HL. They hold the wheat. The HPS begins to sing the Song of Amergin. The HP repeats each line in English. When the Song stops, the men stop circling and form a star with their wheat.

Am geath I m-muir  			I am the wind on the sea
Am tond trethan			I am the stormy wave
Am fuaim mara			I am the sound of the ocean
Am dam secht ndirend		I am the bull with seven horns
Am seig I n-aill			I am the hawk on the cliff-face
Am der grene				I am the sun's tear
Am cain lubal				I am the beautiful flower
Am torc ar gail			I am the boar on the rampage
Am he i l-lind				I am the salmon in the pool
An loch I m-maig			I am the lake on the plain
Am bri a ndai				I am the defiant word
Am gal I fodb feras feochtu		I am the spear charging to battle
Am de delbas do chind codnu	I am the God who put fire in your head

HPS: 5 is the star at the centre of all
The circle surrounds... never ending

You are the Harvest Lord, you stand within the star of wheat bound by Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit. You are the Sun but we are the Earth, the depths of mystery.

HP motions the men to lower the star of wheat to the ground and step back.

HPS: And so let the rites of the Goddess, The Three in One, begin!

Maiden steps forward. 

Maiden: I am the white raiser. I sowed the seed at the beginning of time. I am the Virgin soil, the Maiden of Blossoming Apples. I am the new life, the new beginning. Each year I receive your offerings as I offer myself to you. 

She takes the seeds and scatters them in a circle around the star of wheat.  As the mother steps forward she goes to the altar  sets down her empty apple seed bowl and takes up the basket with the bowl of flour.

Mother steps forward

Mother: I am the red reaper, I cut the first grain as I cut the first cord between Mother and Son, Mother and Daughter. My breasts are the fertile soil and my hair is the golden grain. I am the blood of the harvest who nurtures the fruit of mystery.

She pours wine in a circle around the star of wheat. As the crone steps forward she goes to the altar and sets down her empty jug of wine. She takes up another jug of herbed water.

Crone steps forward
Crone: I am the dark winnower. I separated the first seed from its shell. I bring death in life and life and death. I am the fallow field that lies in wait, that marks the past and future both. I am that which lies beyond the silver sickle, the dark circle in the night sky. No shield can hold before me.

She spins the flail and walks around the star of wheat and picks it up. 

Maiden and Mother step forward. Crone strips the grain into a basket held by the Maiden. Inside the basket is a bowl of flour. Mother pours the water into the flour. Crone mixes it to a paste.

The Maiden, Mother and Crone hold up basket / bowl and say:

“Three In One and One In Three, light and bright and dark are we!”

Crone: Although the spirit of the harvest resides in this man, this sacrifice, so does a small part of it reside within you.

She takes the basket & bowl and takes it to each person in the circle. She marks each person on the forehead with the flour paste.

As the Crone is walking around, the Maiden and Mother place the jug and the flail upon the altar.

When the Crone is finished marking each person, she moves the Spirit Of The Harvest and starts to paint him with the flour paste. The Maiden and Mother join her to paint him also. HPS takes the basket when they have finished.

Mother: This is your harvest!

The maiden takes a red ribbon from her waist and ties it around the left wrist of the Spirit Of The Harvest.

Maiden: I claim thee as the seed!

Mother takes a red ribbon from her waist and ties it around the right wrist of the Spirit Of The Harvest.

Mother: I claim thee as the child!

Crone takes a red ribbon from her waist and ties it around the throat of the Spirit Of The Harvest.

Crone: I claim thee as the sacrifice.

HPS takes the Scythe and cuts a gateway in the circle.

The Maiden, Mother and Crone lead the Sacrifice from the circle and do with him what they will.

Cakes and Ale will be waiting for them in the temple.

When the four have left HP takes the basket of stripped grain and takes it to the four quarters saying:

HP: Accept this offering of Grain O dwellers in the East / North / West / South.

HP and HPS come together to perform Cakes and Ale using the harvest basket for the food.

Quarters are then farewelled.

Air Facing east says:
Uiscias (wiskius), guardian of Findias and keeper of the sacred sword of Nuada, I do thank thee for blessing and witnessing this rite. I thank the everlasting powers of Air .

Slán Uiscias.

Fire Facing north says:
Esras, guardian of Gorias and keeper of the sacred spear of Lugh, I do thank thee for blessing and witnessing this rite. I thank the everlasting powers of fire.

Slán  Esras.

Water Facing west says:
Semias, guardian of Murias and keeper of the sacred cauldron of the Dagdha, I do thank thee for blessing and witnessing this rite. I thank the everlasting powers of water.

Slán  Semias.

Earth Facing South says:
Morfessa, guardian of Falias, and keeper of the sacred stone, I do thank thee for blessing and witnessing this rite. I thank the everlasting powers of earth.

Slán Morfessa.

HP to close circle.