New Moon Rising

Lammas

By Jason Rath

Lammas is a time to reap what you have sown this year. Traditionally, it is a time of sacrifice—to give something up to the God and Goddess—so that you shall prosper and continue to reap the benefits of Mother Earth. It is the time of the Great Harvest. In turn, Lammas is a time to display your compassion for the Earth—to reaffirm your duty as caretaker of Mother Earth. It is also a time for feasts. Lammas is similar to the Holy Sunday observed by the ancient Jews. It is a good time to make and consecrate talismans and magical jewelry of all sorts. Lammas is a time to enjoy the benefits that life offers, and to pay respect to the God and Goddess for this pleasant time.

Since Lammas falls between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox, it is associated with the sun's decline. Thus, Lammas is a time to prepare for the future and winter. It is often a good idea to visit the mountains and meditate on the changes in the scenery—the leaves on the trees and animals gathering food for winter. Last year, I visited the mountains outside of San Diego and saw Mother Nature's creatures preparing for the future. This inspired me to prepare spiritually for the upcoming months. It taught me to take the time to plan for life's unexpected and unavoidable problems. You may find it beneficial to do the same. —J.R.

Solitary Lammas Ritual

This ritual is for Lammas night, though you can perform it at any convenient time. Also, you can perform it during the new or full moon. Your altar should face the northern Quarter in honor of the Earth and the Great Harvest. Upon your altar you will need a plate of salt, cup of water and candle or image representing the God and Goddess. You will also need a purple candle (representing the Moon), a yellow candle (representing the Sun) and Quarter candles. Place some spices from your kitchen or garden on your altar. Add some summer flowers and any other emblems you want. Remember to put on the altar those items you wish to consecrate. You might also want to prepare a vegetarian meal for a post-ritual feast. Bread and wine/ale should also be on the altar, along with your ritual tools. The following Lammas herbal mixture aids all magical operations. Finally, bring a gift for the God and Goddess. Use something that you feel is fitting for this time of year, such as a cob of corn or a hand full of rice.

Lammas Incense:

2 parts Sandalwood

1 part Cinnamon

1 part Angelica

1 part High John the Conqueror Root

1 part Frankincense (You can use myrrh, I prefer frankincense myself.)

Opening the Temple:

Pick up your cup of water and hold it high above your purple (Moon) candle. Sprinkle a little Salt into the water, and then walk clockwise about your Circle area saying:

I cleanse and purify this Circle with water, the blood of life. So mote it be!

Return to the altar and replace the Cup. Light your incense. Pick up the stick or censer and hold it high above your yellow (Sun) candle. Then walk clockwise about your Circle saying:

I consecrate and cleanse this Circle with the fire of the heat of day. So mote it be!

Return to the altar as before and replace the censer. Stand before the altar and say with all your heart:

Today is a day for harvesting the kindness of the great God and Goddess. I stand here as a servant of Mother Nature, to take care of Her as She takes care of me. So do I remind myself, and reaffirm to the Old Ones, that I shall keep close the words of the Law: "Do what thou wilt, as long as it harms none." I shall watch over the Earth, caring for Her creatures as if they were my children.

Trace a white circle three times about the Circle area and say:

I trace this Circle as a boundary between the realms of Man and the hidden worlds of the gods. This place is hidden in Truth. Here I can practice my rites in safety and power. Assured by the presence of the Old Ones!

Invoking the four Quarters:

Call the four Quarters, beginning in the east moving clockwise. Be sure that you light your Quarter candles after you call the elementals and extinguish them after the elementals leave.

Invocation to the East:

Hail creatures of Air, bodies of heat and moisture! Come, oh gentle eastern breath, come here and join my Circle. Bring sounds of joy and laughter, oh sylphs of friendly winds. Stand and watch this eastern Quarter and let no evil come near. So mote it be!

Invocation to the South:

Hail creatures of Fire, bodies of flame and light! Come, oh gentle warmth, come here and join my Circle. Bring strength and energy, oh salamanders of flame. Stand and watch this southern Quarter and let no evil come near. So mote it be!

Invocation to the West:

Hail creatures of Water, bodies of crystal blue seas! Come, oh gentle waves of love, come here and join my Circle. Bring compassion and peace, oh undines of calm waters. Stand and watch this western Quarter and let no evil come near. So mote it be!

Invocation to the North:

Hail creatures of Earth, bodies of gemstone splendor! Come, oh builders of form, come and join my Circle. Bring beauty and fertility, oh gnomes of deep caverns. Stand and watch this northern Quarter and let no evil come near. So mote it be!

Relight the incense and be sure your quarter candles are still lit. Walk to the center of your Circle and call forth the God and Goddess in your own words. When you feel their presence, listen to the things they have to say to you. Meditate on the meaning of the Harvest and how you can learn from the act of death and rebirth. Ask of the Goddess that which you desire. Then hold your sacred gift high above your head saying:

As I give this gift unto the gods, may they give guidance. As I give this gift of love, may they see that I am healthy. As I give this gift of sacrifice, may they teach me the secret ways. For I give this gift as a symbol of my devotion. So mote it be!

Now turn to the east and kneel and say:

Blessed be this gift, Oh Sylphs!

Kneel in the south and say:

Blessed be this gift, Oh Salamanders!

Kneel in the west and say:

Blessed be this gift, Oh Undines!

Kneel in the North and say:

Blessed be this gift, Oh Gnomes!

Finally move to the altar and set the gift in front of the God and Goddess image/candle.

Now perform any other magical work, such as charging your talismans. If you wish, sing, chant or do whatever you feel is appropriate. Afterward, perform the Great Rite and close the Circle.

The Great Rite:

Raise your cup of wine and say:

Blessed be this sacred wine, this womb and cup of life. May it fill my soul, giving me strength of heart and knowledge of my Lady's secret ways. So mote it be!

Set down your ritual cup in the center of your altar. Pick up your ritual dagger and pierce the wine and say:

As the man is to the woman. So this blade is to the cup!

Raise your plate of cakes and say:

Blessed be this sacred bread of life!

Eat the bread and drink the wine.

Dismissing the eastern Quarter:

Oh sylphs of peaceful winds, I thank thee for coming here to aid my work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever and come when I call thee again. So mote it be!

Dismissing the southern Quarter:

Oh salamanders of glimmering light, I thank thee for coming here to aid my work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever and come when I call thee again. So mote it be!

Dismissing the western Quarter:

Oh undines of continual ebb, I thank thee for coming here to my aid work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever and come when I call upon thee again. So mote it be!

Dismissing the northern Quarter:

Oh gnomes of darkened palaces, I thank thee for coming here to aid my work. Return now to thy place of dwelling. Be there peace between us now and forever and come when I call thee again. So mote it be!

This concludes the Lammas rite. Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again!