Lughnasadh – Demeter's Plentiful Harvest

Lughnasadh – Plentiful Harvest

Initiating the Rite

Light Hestia’s hearth candle and say:

I have come today to honor the Kindred, and to walk the cycle of the year, and explore the mysteries. Mighty Hestia, brighten this work with your fire.

Give offering to Hestia

Purification

Wash hands and face in bowl of water and center yourself for ritual.

Honoring the Earth Mother

Gaia, primal goddess of the world, great mother of all. You were the first to be born from Chaos
and from you all life has formed. With your name, we grow and change. Come forth and dwell in this space.

Give offering to Gaia

Statement of Purpose

Demeter, in her wisdom and joy, brings to the world blessings of harvest and plentiful produce.  When Persephone was lost, so were these gifts.  With the return of Persephone, these gifts were once again abundant.  With the blessings of the Earth Mother, Demeter brings us growth and harvest. We gather today to honor the gifts that we gain through her. 

(Re)Creating the Cosmos

Sacred well, waters of wisdom, connected to the rivers of the underworld, carry our words to the beloved dead.  Act as a gateway through which we can honor them.  Sacred well, accept our offering.

Give offering of silver

Sacred fire, burning inspiration, your smoke rising to the heavens high above, carry our words to the many gods.  Act as a gateway through which we can honor them.  Sacred fire, accept our offering.

Give offering of alcohol

Sacred center, mighty Omphalos, marking the center of all the worlds, carry our words to all the realms.  Act as a gateway through which we can honor the Kindred. Sacred center, accept our offering.

Give offering of oil

Opening the Gates

I call now to Hermes, messenger of the gods. Swift footed god of the roads, we ask that you meet us at the boundary and guide our journey between the realms.  Come forth and dwell in this space.

Give offering of alcohol

Hermes, I ask that you aid me in opening the gates.  Let the fire, burning bright, open to Olympus.  Let the waters, flowing deep, open to Hades.  Let the Omphalos connect this realm with all others.  Hermes, join your magic with mine and let the gates be open.

Inviting the Three Kindreds

Ancestors, you who walked this world before me.  Heroes, friends, and family.  You helped bring my story into existence, so I remember your existence by telling your story.  Meet me at the boundary.  Welcome, Ancestors.

Give offering of apricots.

Nature Spirits, you who share this realm with us.  Dryads, fawns, and nymphs.  Rabbit, lizard, and squirrel.  You share this realm with us, both when we see you and often when we don’t.  Meet me at the boundary.  Welcome, Nature Spirits.

Give offering of bird seed.

Shining Ones, mighty Gods and Goddesses.  You who influence my path, and guide those I love on their own journeys.  You form this world and our experiences within it.  I ask you now to meet me at the boundary.  Welcome, Shining Ones.

Give offering of wine.

Key Offerings

Blessed Demeter, daughter of Cronus and Rhea, Goddess of grain, fruits and bread. Like a mother, you give us the gift of life. You who made fruit to spring from the lands, so the rich land was filled with leaves and flowers. You who fill the barns with foods through your joy. We call to you today during the time of the first harvests and ask that you join us in this ritual.  Welcome, Demeter.

Give offering of grain

Prayer of Sacrifice

Place veggies into the fire.

As you bless our lives with growth and aid us in our harvest, so we share the bounty of our crops with you.  Let these gifts honor and sustain you, as you provide for us.  Demeter, accept this offering.

Take portion of sacred meal

Pour kykeon libations into the fire. 

To all who gather here, we give these gifts in love and respect.  Mighty Kindred, accept this offering.

Omen

Pull 3 stones from Greek Alphabet Oracle for omen

Calling/Hallowing/Affirming the Blessings

In the spirit of *ghosti, a gift calls for a gift. I’ve made my offerings to the Kindred, and in

return they bless these waters. Demeter, let the growth you bring to the world flow into these waters.  Let the bountiful harvest be present in our lives.  Behold, the waters of life.

Drink from the cup

Working

One of Demeter’s many epithets was “Corn Mother” who blessed the harvesters and taught all of Greece the skills of agriculture.  Today, we make Corn Dollies to honor her.

We used this tutorial:  https://www.marthastewart.com/968909/harvest-time-corn-husk-doll

Thanking the Beings

Blessed Demeter, thank you for the blessings you have given mankind, for teaching the art of harvest, and that all must move through the cycle of life. For providing us the many foods that sustain us. Divine, delightful, and lovely Goddess, for all these things and more, bounteous Demeter, We thank you!

Shining Ones, mighty gods and goddesses, thank you for joining us at the boundary tonight.  May our work continue to please you.  Shining Ones, we thank you.

Nature Spirits, you who share this realm with us, thank you for joining us at the boundary tonight.  May our work continue to please you.  Nature spirits, we thank you.

Ancestors, you who walked this world before me, thank you for joining us at the boundary tonight.  May our work continue to please you.  Ancestors, we thank you.

Closing the Gates

I call once more to you, Hermes, swift footed god.  Thank you for guiding our journey tonight. May our work continue to please you.  Hermes, we thank you.

Hermes, before you depart, I ask that you once again join me in closing the gates.  Let the fire, burning bright, be just a flame.  Let the waters, flowing deep, be just water.  Let the Omphalos standing firm, be just a stone.  Hermes, join your magic with mine and let the gates be closed.

Thanking the Earth Mother

Gaia, primal goddess of the world, thank you for upholding this rite.  May our work continue to please you.  Gaia, we thank you.

Closing the Rite

We gathered here to honor the Kindred and walk the cycle of the year.  This rite has ended, but our exploration of the mysteries continue.  Mighty Hestia, though we extinguish this flame, let your fire burn within us all. 

Extinguish hearth candle

This rite is ended.