30/07/2026
Lughnasadh may thought of as both the ending and beginning of a cycle of life experiences, as it is a celebration of life and death. The power of the sun (the God) gives life to the grain until it ripens. Then the grain is harvested, and the God is sacrificed so that life will return in the spring. The summer and light half of the year descends into winter and the dark half. The God from his zenith at Midsummer has slowly lost his energy and power and gives his life in order for life to continue. He now begins his descent into the underworld, until his rebirth at Yule.
The cutting of both the first and the last sheaf of grain was done with great ceremony. The first sheaf, often cut at dawn, was ground and baked into the Harvest Bread and thanks given for the Sun's life-giving energy reborn as life-giving bread which was then shared by the community. The first barley stalks would go to make the first beer of the season.
The last sheaf was ceremoniously cut and made into one or several corn dollies, where the spirit of the God and Goddess lived, to be kept until the following spring to ensure a good harvest. If the harvest had been good, the corn dolly was made into a Corn Maiden or if it had been a poor harvest it was made into a Cailleach. In some parts of Europe, the last sheaf was made into a large Corn Mother with a small baby inside it, representing the harvest of the following year. The corn dollies would have an honoured place at the harvest banquet table and then live in the home above the fireplace until the following year.
Other Gods associated with Lughnasadh are those with agricultural, solar and sacrificial aspects including Belenus, Cernunnos, the Dagda, Green Man and John Barleycorn. Tailtiu, Great One of the Earth, is part of one of the Irish triads alongside Anu, Danu. These Goddesses represent three distinct aspects of the birth, death and rebirth cycle. Anu is the source; Danu is the movement and Tailtiu is the endurance essential in this cycle. She represents vigour, strength and endurance. She cleared the trees from large areas of Ireland so it could be tilled, planted grains and harvested. She is mostly associated with the Plain of Brega, lying between the Boyne and the Liffey rivers, which has many sacred sites including Newgrange. Tailtiu is a Sovereignty Goddess associated with the grain harvest and with crab apples, a symbol of rebirth. Therefore, she represents the death of the growing season and the seeds of regeneration. Also, she was the foster mother of Lugh who created the Tailtean games to honour her, which took place at this time.
Other Goddesses related with Lughnasadh are associated with grain, agriculture Demeter, Epona, Freya, Nantosuelta, Persephone, and Rosemarta.
What will you reap at this time? What will you put aside to last you through the winter? How much are you willing to sacrifice for the greater good? What will you allow to die, in order for there to be growth in the spring? How can you increase your endurance?
