By Mrs. B.
For many domestic witches, finding time to celebrate the sabbats can be a challenge, even in the summer months. Between keeping the little witchlets busy and out of trouble, or schlepping them to camps and activities, or just trying to find the time to do all the usual things we have to do between work and home, finding time to fit in a sabbat ritual can be tough!
Many times we forget that honoring the seasons and deity do not have to be a huge celebration, full of casting circles, fancy rituals and huge feasts. Of course the sabbats can be one or all of those things, but do they have to be? Of course not. Honoring the change of season can be as simple as a candle lit, a prayer said, and a toast made. Just 5 minutes out of your day to reconnect with your beliefs, your deity and the earth.
For Lammas, I created a simple ritual that can be done alone or with family or friends, with minimal fuss, and in just a few minutes. Of course, feel free to use and/or change the words for your own private use.
Supplies you’ll need:
Bread (Home baked, store bought, heck, a cookie will do in a pinch)
Wine (or beer, mead, fruit juice – you know you have a juice box in there somewhere!)
A candle (A summer color is appropriate: gold or yellow, though white always works. Also appropriate? Anything that smells like baked goods – cinnamon, sugar cookie, etc..)
Optional: anything season that you’d like to set out, such as summer flowers, things harvested from your garden, a corn dolly, etc.), an appropriate incense.
Find a quiet place to sit for a moment, or gather around your table if sharing the ritual with others. Have your bread, wine and candle in front of you (don’t forget something to light the candle with). Take a quick moment to think about what Lammas means to you, and what it has meant to those who have followed the season through times past. It’s the first harvest, time to offer bread in thanks for the prosperity of the crops.
Light your candle (and incense if you are using it). Take a bite of the bread and a sip of the wine.
Say these words (or others, as you like):
On this first day of August, I light a candle to celebrate the harvest.
As the wheel of the year turns and the days start to grow shorter, I honor the Lord and Lady (or the seasons, or your specific deity) and thank them for the blessings and prosperity they have brought to me this year.
I honor those who came before me, and all things living on this earth.
Eat more of the bread, drink more of the wine, being sure to save the last bits as a sacrifice to the earth. Later pour them outside, in your garden, under a tree or into a potted plant.
If you have the time, sit for a few minutes and meditate before snuffing the candle. As you go about your day, keep negative thoughts at bay and try to mentally tally all the wonderful things that have come into your life this year.
Have a wonderful Lammas, however you choose to celebrate!
wonderful ritual simple and fulfilling, I love it and will incorporate it in my celebration this year
Wonderful ritual. Short, simple and full of intention. Perfect for any witch with a busy schedule!
.-= Danni´s last blog ..The Turning Leaf =-.
A lovely ritual
It’s perfect for the busy witch. I believe I shall adapt it for this Lammas. Thank you!
.-= ZedralZ´s last blog ..What You Want in a Kitchen Witch Cookbook =-.
Glad you guys like it! With all the stuff going on in my house, I need rituals that are fast, meaningful and simple. I figured other people need those things as well!
.-= Mrs. B.´s last blog ..Where the Hell is Tanner…. Purse Edition =-.
I just found this ritual. I love it. It is very simple and incorporates everything that Lammas is about. Thank you for sharing this wonderful way to celebrate.
This will be my first Lammas and my first time celebrating any of the seasons thank you this is simple and easy
Lovely – short & sweet! (Esp with *cinnamon apple* bread!;)
Lammas blessings to all!
I love this. I am semi-new to the craft and have always felt that honoring the Gods and holidays don’t need to be a huge celebration. Thank you for this wonderful little rite. I am quite excited to incorporate this into my Lamas celebration! :o]
Thank you for this ritual! Short and sweet and gets straight to the point! I have an EXTREMELY busy schedule and it’s nice to be able to incorporate this in between everything! Like Silverstar said, this is my first time actually celebrating Lammas and it is definately simple and easy
carmenta 7/16/12
Thank you for this simple and easy ritual,
Perfect for this busy father 😉 thank so much I look forward to celebrating this
I’m glad this was posted. It’s perfect for our circle that has just started growing. It’s a great and simple way to bring people into the celebration.
my christian mother has promised to celebrate lammas with me this year. I dont think she sit through a long ritual. so this is perfect.
This will be my first Lammas, and this ritual is great and straight forward for a novice like me.
Perfect ! Its short and simple with little required tools and still gets the job done ! <3
I love this! I would really like to do a bigger ritual, but that nasty old thing called life keeps rearing its ugly head, and I’ll barely have five minutes tomorrow. I’m also thinking of including a morning and night quick prayer, and putting bird seed out:)
I love this simple ritual. Since full moon is also tonight (Aug 1), would it be appropriate to incorporate a simple Lughnasadh (Lammas) ritual in with the esbat? Or is it more appropriate to wait and hold my Lammas ritual on Saturday, when I have more time, and when I am cooking my feast?
Thanx for the sweet and simple lammas rite, I am using it this year! Thanx again
I found this really helpful! This will be my first time doing a ritual for any of the seasons and many of the other rituals I found were long, hard, or required supplies I couldn’t get.