The Element of Earth

'Earth is our home. It is our Mother, our provider. It offers us deeply wooded forests, sheltered mountain caves, rolling hills, fields of corn and a plethora of animals and plants. It is the food on our table and the touch of someone's hand. The earth is always in a constant state of flux beneath our feet, confirming that nothing stays still and that the only constant is change. The earth element is the abode of the gnome and reminds us that we are flesh and blood and should not live our lives in a constant state of otherworldliness but should enjoy the pleasures of the senses of sight and smell, of hearing, taste and touch and in doing so give thanks to the Divine essence for allowing us this experience.'

From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Elements' by Carole Carlton

Superstitions of the Corn

In Pagan times the spirit of the Corn God or Lugh was thought to be housed in the last sheaf of wheat left standing in the field and when cut the God's life would be sacrificed, spilling his symbollic blood upon the earth to ensure fertility in the year to come.
Understandably therefore plenty of superstition built up around the cutting of this final sheaf and the reaper responsible for throwing his sickle at it was seen as taking the life of the deity. To avoid this somewhat inauspicious task, the Irish Celts came up with a solution which involved everyone standing around the sheaf blindfolded in a semi circle and hurling their sickles at the wheat. In this way no one would know who was ultimately responsible for the Corn God's demise.
Once cut however, the last sheaf took on a more positive aspect and was taken home by one of the reapers where it was 'dressed' either with a simple red ribbon to represent the blood of the God, or fashioned far more elaborately into a person or shape which became known by a myriad of names according to the region. The name that stuck however was 'kern baby', from which derives the more popular name of 'corn dolly' and has since become a modern day symbol of fertility.
Enjoy this Lammas season and may the year ahead be a fertile and happy one!

The Festival of Lughnasadh or Lammas

Today at sunset (1st Aug) the festival of Lughnasadh (its Celtic name) or the festival of Lammas (its Saxon name) begins and lasts until sunset on the 2nd.

The word Lughnasadh is thought to be named after the Irish Celtic God 'Lugh the Light Bearer' as the word actually means 'the funeral feast of Lugh'. This refers to the fact that the male principal or God in the continuing cycle of the Pagan wheel, lays down his life and spills his blood upon the corn in order that the earth's fertility will be assured over the coming year.

Lammas on the other hand comes from the Saxon word, 'hlaefmass', meaning loaf festival and refers to the fact that the Saxons made a loaf from the gathering of the first grains with which to celebrate the harvest of the first fruits and honour their Gods. With the coming of Christianity this name was adopted by the church. Much folklore and legend abounds with regards to the harvesting of the corn and this will be outlined in further blogs as the week progresses. Meanwhile it may be time to make our own personal sacrifices by perhaps giving up a bad habit, or making donations of goods or time to a needy charity. It is however a time for celebration also, for out of every ending new beginnings always spring and this one heralds future fertility and abundance. So this week, make a corn dolly, bake a loaf or simply invite family and friends to celebrate the good things we all have in our lives. Enjoy!