Welcome Lúnasa!
A major Celtic holiday Lughnasadh (Lúnasa in modern Irish) is being celebrated on August 1. Mistakenly called a harvest festival, it’s actually an anticipation of the harvests beginning in five to six weeks and was named for the Celtic god Lugh. Celtic gods were known for their unpredicatable temper tantrums and Lugh was no exception. Lugh, master of all crafts from smith to harper to poet to sorcerer, had a nasty temper frequently resulting in violent late summer storms. These storms could wreck crops just before they were gathered. Distracting him by using music, dance and theater would hopefully allow him to look favorably upon them and grant a bountiful harvest . Dance, music and street theater festivals were held so as to ensure a good harvest.
While I don’t feel like dancing right now, I am drumming and singing. I drum and sing my appreciation for all plants, winged ones, creepy-crawlies and swimmers, for the dryness and the dampness, for winds and stillness. Between the heat and the dryness, a soaking rain (without the violent storms) is appreciated. Even with these challenges, our local herb farmers continue to grow vibrant medicinals. Harvesting and preserving plants is peaking now and for the next several weeks. We’re expanding our relationships with other small organic herb growers to source the best and most vital herbs.
Our 8 sessions of the Medicine Makers Series is coming to a close with the last class being Broth Making. The harvest of our earlier actions is coming into fruition and now the cycle turns to the next season. Heather is offering her free class Walking the Seasons: Mid-Summer on Zoom in mid-August to help guide in this transition.We’re gearing up for Fall and Winter health challenges and have some new products coming out in early/mid August in addition to some new on-line classes. Enjoy the richness of this season, a time for our hearts to open to the beauty and abundance surrounding us. Take this deeply in and build your inner fire to sustain you in difficult times.