Last week, we arrived at the sacred celebration of Lughnasa, a time rich with themes of first harvests, patience, trust, and reflecting on the fruits of our labor. It’s a moment to pause and consider both our hopes and fears about what we’re harvesting in our lives — and to rest — after all the hard work we’ve put in.
Lughnasa, the cross-quarter day that falls midway between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox, marks the midpoint of summer. While the days remain hot, have you noticed a shift in the energy of the Sun? The days are getting shorter, and subtle signs of the Wheel of the Year turning toward autumn are starting to emerge.
For many Earth-based cultures, Lughnasa has long been a sacred time. It’s a time to pause, to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season, and to acknowledge the labor and love invested in tending to our crops, both literal and metaphorical. Traditionally, rituals were performed to pray for a bountiful harvest, ensuring there would be enough abundance to sustain through the cold, barren months of winter.
In my own life, I see this energy mirrored in my garden, which is absolutely bursting with abundance! My apricot tree bore more fruit than ever, last month! The kale, collards, Swiss chard, peppers, and tomatoes are now thriving! And for the first time ever, I'm thrilled to see melons ripening on the vine. It feels like such a gift—a celebration of growth, patience, and the nurturing care that I’ve tried to consistently give each plant. This is the raw vegan’s dream, a living testament to nature’s generosity!
Lughnasa, also spelled Lughnasadh, is a celebration observed by the Gaelic Celts of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. It’s one of the four major cross-quarter days, along with Imbolc (around February 1), Beltane (May 1), and Samhain (November 1). These days marked the change of the seasons and were celebrated with fire festivals, rituals, and communal gatherings. For the Celtic people, Lughnasa was the beginning of autumn and the harvest season.
In our own lives, we can embrace this sacred seasonal day as a moment to pause and reflect on what is growing for us.
Some of the seasonal questions I’m currently working with include…
- What have I been nurturing in my life, literally and metaphorically? What seeds have I planted that are now beginning to bear fruit?
- Can I see evidence of growth in my personal, professional, spiritual life? How can I celebrate these successes, however small they may seem?
- In those areas of life where I may not yet see the fruits of my labor, can I trust in the unseen forces at work? Can I find patience in the process, knowing that growth sometimes happens below the surface?
I invite you to join me in self-reflection. Feel free to share what you’ve been nurturing in your life—what’s beginning to bloom for you?
Remember, you are an integral part of nature, and the same energies that drive the growth and bounty in the natural world are at work in your life, too. Even if the harvest isn't visible yet, rest assured that growth is happening.
This is a time to express gratitude for the divine forces always at work in our lives, guiding and nurturing our growth and abundance. Let’s acknowledge how hard we’ve worked to get here. Sometimes, simply living through the challenges life throws our way is an act of courage and resilience.
Let’s celebrate ourselves—and our gardens,
whether they’re filled with melons or metaphorical fruits!
Not only are you surviving, but can you see where you are also thriving, growing, and preparing for an abundant harvest in the coming months? Whether it's in your garden or in your heart, celebrate this season of growth and the promise of what’s yet to come.
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