We are delighted to offer up our Lughnasadh 2024 ritual. We're providing the ritual here so you may take it, adapt it to your needs, and run it on your own.

Lughnasadh Ritual:

Leaving of the Ego

Upon entering this space, we are all equals. Please leave your ego behind and outside of this space as we join together in fellowship.

Opening Meditation

As we gather together, let us ground ourselves in the earth, and seek our centers.

Close your eyes and open your spirits.

Draw your focus inward. Breathe slowly and deeply. Turn aside all distractions. 

Be aware of your body, of your breath, of your heart beating in your chest. 

With each breath, relax your body. Make yourself comfortable. Move and adjust your body as needed to feel balanced and at ease. Release the tension in your head, your neck. Relax your shoulders, your arms. Let your stomach soften and relax. Adjust your position until your spine feels comfortably aligned. Release the tension in your hips, relax your legs, your feet. Feel any aches and pains fade away. Be at ease.

Be aware of your spirit, your inner self. 

Observe your thoughts, your feelings. Let them wash over you, through you. Let them settle as you continue to breathe slowly and deeply. With each breath, set aside the many worries and cares that fill your mind. Focus on the calm and peace of this moment. Feel safe and protected.

Be aware of the earth beneath you. 

Feel yourself anchored firmly to the earth, to the planet that supports you, in body and spirit. Focus on your connection to the earth. Feel the tug of gravity, drawing you close, binding you to the earth. Be aware of the substance of the planet – the soil and water and air that comprise our world. Be aware of these elements within yourself: the earth that makes up your flesh, the water that flows in your blood, the breath that fills your lungs. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that links you to the larger whole.

Be aware of the spirits around you. Feel your connection to the other beings that support you, in body and spirit. 

Be aware of the web of life that surrounds you: the beings that inhabit this world with you. Feel your connection to the plants and animals and others that you depend on for life – for food, for shelter, for the very air you breathe. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that intertwines your life with the greater web of all life.

Be aware of your ancestors, of their role in shaping who you are. Feel their presence in your life – their history and teachings living on in your memory, their legacy moving forward through your words and deeds. They are a part of you. You are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power that connects you to the past, to your own history and the history of all humanity.

Be aware of the deities, of their role in the shaping of the world and civilization. Feel their presence in your life – their guidance and support and power. They call to you and invite you to learn from them. They gain power from your love, and in turn, they grant you the power to shape the world through your words and deeds. They are a part of you, and you are a part of them. Feel the magic of that connection – the power to create something new and wonderful.

Be aware of the others gathered here. Feel their presence in this sacred space. They are here in common purpose with you, to celebrate and strengthen their connection to the earth, to the spirits of land, to the ancestors, the deities, and to one another.

As we gather in common purpose, let us do so with full awareness of the connections we share and the power it grants us. 

As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, where we come together in fellowship and worship, and when you are ready, open your eyes.

Honoring the Earth Mother

We gather here today for the celebration of Lughnasadh. First though, we honor the Earth that we stand upon. Earth Mother, we call to you. You who surrounds and supports us. You who feeds and nourishes us. You who shelters and provides a home to live in. You are why we are here. Without you, we could not survive. Without you, we would not be. Today, we honor you, love you, and respect you. We all will work to make you healthy. Now, as a token of our appreciation, we give you these offerings. Earth Mother, accept our offerings!

Statement of Purpose

Today we gather to celebrate Lughnasadh, the First Harvest. The power of the Sun quickens the Earth and bringing forth her abundance. This is a moment of joy, a time to pause in our labors, to savor the many gifts of the Earth, and give thanks. 

Today we honor Lugh, the Master of All Skills, and his foster mother, Tailtiu. Today is the day for the games in honor of his foster mother. Lugh is the god of many gifts, whose skills include war-craft and state-craft, science and art. His example challenges us to develop our own varied skills and to embrace the full breadth of who we are and what we can do.

His foster mother is the goddess who cleared the plains of Ireland to make way for the people to plant and raise crops. She died of exhaustion in the process, serving the people to her last breath. Her example prompts us to give honor to all who serve the greater good, and most especially those who give their lives in such service.

The wheel of the year turns again, and we mark this moment with memory and honor, with praise and thanksgiving, and with rest and celebration.

Recreate the Sacred Center

officiant makes offerings during the appropriate sections of the text.

As we gather here, in the center are our hallows, our sacred center, each with its role in the cosmos.

We start with focusing on the well, our connection to the underworlds This is our way to the Ancestors and all who are found in those realms. To the well, we offer silver. With this offering, we connect our well to all the wells in the world, making our well `the` well.

We now focus on the fire, our connection the the upper-worlds. This is our way to the Deities and all who are found in those realms. To the fire, we offer incense. With this offering, we connect our fire to all the fires in the world, making our fire `the` fire.

Finally, we focus on the tree, our pathway between all the worlds. This is our road to travel to the realms of the Deities and the Ancestors, and all beings found outside our realm. We join this tree with the well through the waters of the well. We join this tree with the fire through the smoke of the incense. As we join this tree to the well and fire, our tree becomes `the` tree and our path.

Outsiders

Outsiders! You who stand against our purposes for this rite. You who only wish to cause mischief and harm. You who are beyond the light of our work. We ask you today to not disturb us as we do our work. We recognize you and your role in our lives. If you do not disturb us, we will make you this offering of beer when our rites are over.

Purification

Officiants will sprinkle the congregation with water and smudge with incense while the following is spoken

As we gather here in this place, let us once again focus on our ritual purity. Wash yourselves with the waters from the well, washing away all your cares and all your worries. Smudge yourself with the incense from the fire, to join us all in ritual. As we do this washing and smudging, see our circle become cleaner and purer until we are all here as one.

Call to the Ancestors

Officiant makes offerings of grains or alcohol when indicated.

Ancestors! We call on all those who have come before us. We call to our relatives, those that have passed throughout the years. We call to our chosen family, the mentors and heroes who walked the path before us. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Ancestors, accept our offerings!

Call to the Land Spirits

Officiant makes offerings of grains when indicated.

Land Spirits! To all the spirits of the lands around us. To all the animals we see each and every day, domesticated or wild. To all the plants that grow around us, cultivated or not. To all the unseen spirits who live amongst us. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Land Spirits, accept our offerings!

Call to the Deities

Officiant makes offerings of grains or alcohol when indicated.

Deities! To all the gods and goddesses who we work with on a daily basis and who guide us in our lives. Matron and Patrons, those we work with directly. Those of this place, we we honor as we stand in your lands. Those that are unknown to us, yet watch over us all. We call to you and we offer to you. Come, join us at our fire! Deities, accept our offerings!

Call to the Honored Beings

Lugh

We call to Lugh, the summer king, the champion of the folk, god of honor and skill. We honor you, Lugh, and welcome you to our fire. 

You are the god of all skills. Warrior and smith, physician and bard, carpenter and magician, you wear the mantle of all. No craft is beyond your accomplishment, no task unfit for your gifts. As we undertake the labors of the harvest and rejoice in the bounty of the Earth Mother, you call upon us to hone our own skills, to master the skills we have been gifted, and to strive to achieve all that we can. You remind us to nurture and strengthen ourselves, body, and spirit, that we may rise to any challenge presented to us.

Lugh, accept our offerings!

Tailtiu

We call to Tailtiu, known as flower-faced, foster mother of Lugh. We honor you, Tailtiu, and welcome you to our fire.

You took in Lugh and cared for him as your son. You cleared the plains of Ireland, that the people of that land could raise their crops and feed their people, even as the effort took your last breath. As we undertake the labors of the harvest and rejoice in the bounty of the Earth Mother, you call upon us to remember those who have given their last breath in service to others. You remind us to serve as best we can, to care for those less able than we, and to show gratitude to those who serve us in turn.

Tailtiu, accept our offerings!

Praise Offerings

At this point, anyone that has a desire to make offerings to any of the beings we have called to today. Please come forward and make them as you feel called to.

Shared Meal

Behold this loaf of bread. With this loaf, we share a meal with Lugh and Tailtiu. As we tear this loaf in half, one half goes to them and the other will be shared between us.

Bread is passed around for all to eat

Blessing of the Waters

We have made our offerings to all of the spirits. We have honored Lugh and Talitu and called to them to celebrate the life of this earth as the wheel of the year turns once more. We call to all we have honored today to bless these waters. Fill them with the powers of their blessings in return for our offerings. Spirits, give us the waters!

Behold the blessed waters!

Thanking the Beings

Thanking the Honored Beings

Lugh

Lugh, we have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Lugh, we thank you.

Tailtiu

Tailtiu, we have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Tailtiu, we thank you.

Thanking the Deities

Deities! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Deities, we thank you.

Thanking the Land Spirits

Land Spirits! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Land Spirits, we thank you.

Thanking the Ancestors

Ancestors! We have made offerings to you and you have returned the favor. For all you have done for us, Ancestors, we thank you.

Acknowledging the Outsiders

Outsiders! We asked you at the start of the rite that you leave us to work in peace. You have done so. We will honor our end of the bargain and pour you the beer we offered you earlier.

Thanking the Earth Mother

Earth Mother! We have given to you, and we have honored you. You are the reason we are able to survive in this world. For all that you have done for us both today and every day, Earth Mother, we thank you.

Closing Meditation

As we conclude our ritual, let us once again seek our centers and ground ourselves.

With spirits open, close your eyes.

Breathe slowly and deeply. Draw your focus inward.

Feel the threads that connect you to the others gathered here today – threads of common purpose and devotion, of fellowship and mutual caring. 

Feel the threads that connect you to the deities – threads of power and faith, of wisdom and trust.

Feel the threads that connect you to the ancestors – threads of lineage and history, of lore and memory.

Feel the threads that connect you to the spirits of the land – threads of life and sustenance, of beauty and wonder.

Feel the threads that connect you to the earth – threads of life and sustenance, lineage and history, power and faith, love and existence itself.

As you feel these connections, know them to be ever present. But for now, relax your focus of these bindings. Let your awareness of them soften, but never fade as you go about your daily lives. 

As you breathe, deeply and slowly, focus once again on this place, this moment, as we prepare to go forth into the world, and when you are ready, open your eyes.

And so the rite is finished, go now in wisdom and peace.