{"id":3820,"date":"2015-07-21T17:00:38","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T23:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/?p=3820"},"modified":"2017-07-25T09:53:11","modified_gmt":"2017-07-25T15:53:11","slug":"lughnasadh-a-solitary-ritual","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/johnbeckett\/2015\/07\/lughnasadh-a-solitary-ritual.html","title":{"rendered":"Lughnasadh \u2013 A Solitary Ritual"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Holidays and holy days are better with friends and family.\u00a0 But many Pagans maintain solitary practices.\u00a0 Even if you work with a group, sometimes you can\u2019t be with them for one reason or another.\u00a0 And sometimes your group meets on a convenient day but you feel the need to celebrate on the exact day.\u00a0 Whatever the reason, many Pagans will be celebrating Lughnasadh by themselves.<\/p>\n

\"cornfield<\/a>Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvest festivals.\u00a0 It\u2019s the grain harvest, a festival that would later become the medieval Christian Lammas, or loaf mass.\u00a0 It was named for Lugh, one of the Gods of the Tuatha De Danann, but it was celebrated in honor of His foster mother Tailtiu who cleared the lands of Ireland for planting but died from exhaustion afterwards.<\/p>\n

Both the grain which is cut down to feed us and the story of Tailtiu remind us of the necessity of sacrifice.<\/p>\n

This ritual, though, does not focus on sacrifice, but on Lugh\u2019s role as Samild\u00e1nach<\/em> \u2013 the Master of All Arts, and what we can learn from Him.<\/p>\n

Setup<\/strong><\/p>\n

This ritual can be done outdoors or indoors, day or night.\u00a0 I prefer to do rituals outdoors whenever possible, but that\u2019s a personal preference, not a requirement.\u00a0 Just find a time and place where you won\u2019t be disturbed.<\/p>\n

Think of four things you\u2019re good at \u2013 four arts.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to be an expert at them, just competently skilled.\u00a0 This is neither the time for false modesty nor for braggadocio.\u00a0 You\u2019re the only human who\u2019s going to know, so be honest with yourself.<\/p>\n

What you choose is entirely up to you.\u00a0 If I surveyed everyone, I would expect to see people\u2019s professions, academic and artistic interests, religious activities, spiritual and magical practices, hobbies, family relations, athletic interests, and probably a lot of things I haven\u2019t even thought of.\u00a0 The important thing is to choose four \u2013 but only four.<\/p>\n

Now choose an object to represent each of your four arts.\u00a0 Try to be as elegant and creative as you can.\u00a0 Yes, you can use a candle or a drawing on a piece of paper if there\u2019s no object available, but it\u2019s much better if you find a physical object, even if the connection is a bit of a stretch\u2026 especially if the connection is a bit of a stretch.<\/p>\n

On the altar in the accompanying picture, the compass represents engineering, my profession.\u00a0 The pen represents writing \u2013 even though all my writing is done with a keyboard.\u00a0 I\u2019ll let you speculate on what the chalice and the medal represent.<\/p>\n

\"Lughnasadh<\/a>Set an altar in the center of your space with three candles, matches or lighter, a bell, a wand or athame, incense, bread, and a drink for offering and sharing.\u00a0 Beer \u2013 made from grain \u2013 is especially appropriate, but wine, mead, or water will also work well.\u00a0 Set your four objects at the corners of the altar and set a large white candle in the center.\u00a0 If you\u2019re indoors you\u2019ll need an offering bowl.\u00a0 Set candles in the four directions.<\/p>\n

Preparation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do whatever gets you in a ritual frame of mind.\u00a0 Take a bath, listen to music, wash your hands, change your clothes.\u00a0 I rarely \u201crobe up\u201d for solitary ritual, but I do like to wear some of my Pagan jewelry.<\/p>\n

Light the incense and do a final check to make sure everything is in place.<\/p>\n

Opening<\/strong><\/p>\n

Approach the altar and pause for a moment of silent meditation.\u00a0 Ground and center using whatever method you find most effective.\u00a0 Then ring the bell three times.<\/p>\n

Say \u201cI come to this place and this time to celebrate the holy day of Lughnasadh<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pick up the wand or athame, or if you prefer, just use your index finger.\u00a0 Move to the East, pause, then slowly walk the circle clockwise, drawing the circle as you go.\u00a0 See the circle rising in deep blue light.\u00a0 Make a complete circle, and see the ends joining together.<\/p>\n

When you return to the East, set down the wand or athame and light the quarter candle.\u00a0 Say \u201cSpirits of the East, Spirits of Air, I call to you.\u00a0 Come into this circle, I ask, and share your wisdom. On this sacred night of Lughnasadh, welcome Air!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Move clockwise to the South.\u00a0 Light the quarter candle and say \u201cSpirits of the South, Spirits of Fire, I call to you.\u00a0 Come into this circle, I ask, and share your inspiration.\u00a0 On this sacred night of Lughnasadh, welcome Fire!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Move clockwise to the West.\u00a0 Light the quarter candle and say \u201cSpirits of the West, Spirits of Water, I call to you.\u00a0 Come into this circle, I ask, and share your love.\u00a0 On this sacred night of Lughnasadh, welcome Water!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Move clockwise to the North.\u00a0 Light the quarter candle and say \u201cSpirits of the North, Spirits of Earth, I call to you.\u00a0 Come into this circle, I ask, and share your stability.\u00a0 On this sacred night of Lughnasadh, welcome Earth!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Move clockwise back to the East, then return to the main altar.<\/p>\n

Invocations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Light the first candle on the altar and say \u201cSpirits of the land, spirits of this place, you who were here long before me, I invite you into this circle.\u00a0 Join this celebration of Lughnasadh, I ask, and accept this offering of food and drink, given in hospitality and in love.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Raise the bread and beer in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the beer onto the ground or into the offering bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cLand spirits \u2013 hail and welcome!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Light the second candle on the altar and say \u201cAncestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, you whose child I am and on whose foundations I build, because of you I have life.\u00a0 Join this circle, I ask, and add your blessings to this rite.\u00a0 Accept this offering of food and drink, given in hospitality and in love.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Raise the bread and beer in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the beer onto the ground or into the offering bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlessed ancestors \u2013 hail and welcome!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Light the third candle on the altar and say \u201cLugh Lamfada, Lugh of the Long Arm, You who led the Tuatha De Danann to victory over the Fomorians; I ask Your presence and Your blessings as I celebrate this festival named for You and celebrated in honor of Your foster mother.<\/em><\/p>\n

Samild\u00e1nach, Master of All Arts, I ask Your blessings on the harvests of the fields and on the harvests of my life.\u00a0 May I learn from Your great example.\u00a0 Lugh, please accept this offering of food and drink, given in hospitality and in love.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Raise the bread and beer in offering, then crumble the bread and pour the beer onto the ground or into the offering bowl.<\/p>\n

\u201cLugh \u2013 hail and welcome!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Main Working<\/strong><\/p>\n

Move to the near left corner of the altar and pick up the object you placed there.\u00a0 Hold it in your hand and feel its solidity.\u00a0 It is real, as is your skill in the art it represents.<\/p>\n

Remember why you chose this art for this ritual:\u00a0 the satisfaction it brings, the good your practice of it creates in the world, the necessity that someone do it.\u00a0 Whatever your reason, remember it and feel it, even if you can\u2019t fully articulate it.<\/p>\n

Now, how did you develop this skill?\u00a0 Remember books, classes, and lessons.\u00a0 Remember watching intently as a parent or teacher demonstrated how to do it.\u00a0 Remember admiring skilled artists and trying to learn from them.\u00a0 Remember hours and hours of practice, failed first attempts, better second attempts, and even better efforts later on.\u00a0 Remember how you got good at what you\u2019re good at and feel it, even if you can\u2019t fully articulate it.\u00a0 Take as much time as you need.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re ready, set the object back on the altar.\u00a0 Pause, take a deep breath, and move clockwise to the next object on the far left corner of the altar.<\/p>\n

Repeat the process for each object in turn.\u00a0 Pick up the object, feel its reality, remember why you chose it, remember how you got good at it, then return it to the altar.\u00a0 Pause, then move clockwise to the next corner of the altar.\u00a0 When you\u2019ve completed this for all four objects, return to your original position in front of the altar.<\/p>\n

Take a deep breath.\u00a0 Now visualize and feel energy flowing from each object into the large white candle in the center of the altar.\u00a0 Are all the colors the same, or do different objects and the skills the represent emit different colored energies?\u00a0 Do all the energies flow similarly, or do they flow at different rates and intensities?\u00a0 However they flow, see them flowing into the candle, filling it with power.<\/p>\n

When the energies have filled the candle, light it.\u00a0 As it burns, feel the powers of these four arts swirling and mixing in the candle.<\/p>\n

Say \u201cLugh Samild\u00e1nach, You are Master of All Arts.\u00a0 I am master of these four.\u00a0 Grant Your blessing, I ask, that I may learn all the arts necessary to complete my Great Work in this life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Break off a piece of bread and hold it up in offering.\u00a0 Crumble some on the ground, then eat the rest.\u00a0 Feel yourself taking in the blessings of Lugh.<\/p>\n

Pick up the beer and hold it up in offering.\u00a0 Pour some on the ground, then take a sip yourself.\u00a0 Feel yourself taking in the blessings of Lugh.<\/p>\n

Take a moment to feel and appreciate all that is going on:\u00a0 the power of the objects, the power of the central candle, and the mighty presence of Lugh.\u00a0 When the time feels right, return the glass to the altar.<\/p>\n

Farewells<\/strong><\/p>\n

Say \u201cLugh, Master of All Arts, I thank You for your presence and Your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever.\u00a0 Hail and farewell.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Say \u201cAncestors of blood and ancestors of spirit, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever.\u00a0 Hail and farewell.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Say \u201cSpirits of the land, spirits of this place, I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever.\u00a0 Hail and farewell.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Closing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Say \u201cSpirits of the North, West, South, and East, Spirits of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air,<\/em> I thank you for your presence and your blessings. May there be peace and honor between us now and forever.\u00a0 Hail and farewell.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Pick up the wand or athame, or if you prefer, just use your index finger.\u00a0 Move to the East, pause, then slowly walk the circle counterclockwise, pulling up the circle as you go.\u00a0 See the last of your circle disappear as you return to the East.<\/p>\n

Ring the bell three times.<\/p>\n

Say \u201cThis rite of Lughnasadh is complete.\u00a0 Hail and farewell<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Afterward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take a breath.\u00a0 Turn on some music, or if you were playing background music, change to something lively and vocal.\u00a0 Drink some water. \u00a0Turn on the lights. Do something to reorient yourself in the ordinary world.<\/p>\n

Extinguish the candles and the incense, then begin to pick up and put away.<\/p>\n

If you performed this ritual indoors, dispose of the offerings in an appropriate manner.\u00a0 I prefer to deposit them outdoors in an inconspicuous place where they\u2019ll be eaten by wild creatures.\u00a0 Depending on where you are, you may need to do something else.<\/p>\n

You may wish to write about your experience in your journal, particularly if your experience was strong.\u00a0 Focus on recording the experience, not on your interpretation of the experience.\u00a0 You have the rest of your life to figure out what it all means, but you have only a short time before your recollection of the events begins to fade.<\/p>\n

* * * * * * * * *<\/p>\n

May you be blessed by the Master of All Arts, may your harvest be bountiful, and may your Lughnasadh be bright and joyous!<\/p>\n

\"Lughnasadh<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many Pagans maintain solitary practices, and even if you work with a group, sometimes you can\u2019t be with them on the holy days. Here\u2019s a solitary ritual for Lughnasadh, to honor the Master of All Arts and to celebrate the arts in which we are skilled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1129,"featured_media":3822,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[721,531,718,720,4,5,719],"class_list":["post-3820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ritual","tag-lammas","tag-lugh","tag-lughnasadh","tag-master-of-all-arts","tag-pagan","tag-paganism","tag-samildanach"],"yoast_head":"\nLughnasadh \u2013 A Solitary Ritual<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Many Pagans maintain solitary practices, and even if you work with a group, sometimes you can\u2019t be with them on the holy days. 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