August - Harvesting Karma

August- Harvesting Karma

On the first of August we celebrate Lammas (literally loaf mass)  also known as Lughnasa. This is the pagan festival which symbolises the gathering in of the first harvest.    I know we always think of harvest time as September, and of course the harvest continues to be reaped throughout august and September, but Lammas is signifying the very first harvest.  So the first crop of corn is gathered and ground to make bread which is then shared amongst the villagers, thus the term 'loaf mass'.  Wicca follows the seasons closely and celebrates the cyclical nature of our world, so it is usual to celebrate not only the changing seasons but what they mean in terms of harvest, growth, rebirth and abundance.  We cannot mourn the passing of the summer and the leaves falling from the trees because the sun will grow high again in spring and the leaves will be reborn. I suppose it is a kind of acceptance; of life, of death, of change and of renewal.  The natural world doesn't seem to mourn when the plants die down and the earth is cold and hard, it doesn't celebrate either when the earth is pulsating full of energy and life, instead it just sits in each moment, 'being' and being present.  One can see how the Buddhist ethos of remaining in the moment, in the present, relates closely to nature.  Perhaps we should strive more to enjoy our 'present' instead of looking backwards or forwards.

There is a karmic element to Lammas: we are celebrating the bountiful harvest of our crops, quite literally we are reaping what we have sown, as well as symbolically in the form of karma.  So what better time than to start sowing our own seeds of kindness every day as these not only will make a difference to our fellow human beings but karmically put us in the 'black'.    Karma and gratitude, in my book, go hand in hand.  Helping each other brings about good karma and also feels good; it makes us feel grateful for what we have and the more grateful we are, the more thanks we give for the little (or a lot) that we have.  Thus the more we feel we have, the more we will have. i.e.   what we have will seem to grow the more gratitude we show for it, if that makes sense! 

Practical Magic

This month is all about our power.  The earth's power is at its peak, it's like a big fat ball that is full of life, bursting with the vitality of the crops and the suns energy which has been building over the last few months.  We too are powerful creatures.  We can influence our reality simply with our thoughts, we have much more power and control than we believe, so we need to start believing it and creating the reality we want for ourselves.  Power is much more creative and contagious if used for good in my mind, so this month we need to start using our power in a positive way so we can help others and spread the positivity and light to make a difference to other people's lives.  It has been proven that 'random acts of kindness' are one of the keys to personal happiness.  All you have to do is one or two every day.  You would be surprised how one tiny act sets off a ripple which can reach far and wide.  A tidal wave has to start somewhere and its beginnings will be tiny.  For example, last week I rescued a honey bee that was exhausted.  It was lucky I saw it as it could easily have been trodden on.  But I managed to coax it onto a tea towel and then gently placed in on one of my roses in the garden, where it promptly gathered some pollen and then recovered quickly enough to then be able to fly away.  So what?  Well that honey bee will be pollinating many plants which in turns keeps our world ticking over.  Without bees our natural world as well as our food resources would be depleted massively.  If it wasn't for bees we wouldn't have broccoli, cucumbers, apples, cherries , or of course honey (to name just a few).  So you can see how a tiny thing like helping a bee can have a massive global effect.   Imagine then how it feels to be having a rough day and someone smiles at you, or helps you carry your shopping, or opens a door for you, gives up their seat for you, gives you the 20p you are short of in order to pay your food shopping.  Sweeping someone's path when its snowed, offering to do an elderly persons shopping, giving someone a lift, being a listening ear to someone in need, there are so many ways  in which we can reach out with random acts of kindness and in turn make ourselves, as well as the person we are helping, happier.  Let me know what you do and the results and I too will report back with my findings!

Crystal of the Month - Sunstone

This stone really is known as the happy stone.  It cannot be anything else considering it is named after the glorious sun, which in the month of August should be at its peak.  As August is such a power month I thought this stone would be appropriate.  It can be used during dark times to give you hope and confidence.  Its power can lift you out of sadness and like a magnet pull positivity towards you. 

Archangel Michael Card - This Situation Is Already Resolved

This card is a sign that the situation you are enquiring about is already concluded happily.  You may not know at present what the results or the outcome will be, but rest assured that matters have been taken out of your hands and trust that all will be well.  Try to let go of the situation and the outcome will be revealed in due course.  In specific terms this card can mean that there is nothing to worry about/ everything will turn out fine/stay put as things will resolve.

Moody Moon

There is a full moon on August 7th at 19.10 in Aquarius.  There is a partial lunar eclipse , a part of the moon will darken as it moves through the earth's shadow.  We won't be able to see it from the UK sadly, but you will in most of eastern Africa, central Asia and Australia. 

The new moon is on 21 August 19.30 in Leo  there is a total solar eclipse at 19.24.  however from the UK again we will not notice this as only 3% of the suns disc will be covered by the moon, but from the USA it will be noticeable.

In the  evenings Mercury is visible at the beginning of  the month only.  Jupiter is low in the west and Saturn can be seen in the south in the evenings.  In the morning Venus can be seen in the east.

On the 12th August there will be a Perseids Meteor shower.  If you find a good dark spot after midnight you should be able to see the bright meteor shower.  These meteors can be seen up to a week before the 12th, they are usually very bright and numerous.  They will radiate from the constellation Perseus but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Eat: apples, beetroot, courgette,  cucumber, french beans, lamb, raspberries, sea bass, scallops, venison, sardines, tomato, sweetcorn, watercress.

Play: Read Dancing At Lughnasa by Brian Friel, it's a wonderful play set in Ireland during the festival of Lammas (aka Lughnasa)

Love: Smiling. A smile away keeps the Dr away. (apparently)