Saturday, July 31, 2010

A Blessed Lughnasadh!

It's cloudy, raining and far from a hot sunny summer day, but I'm thankful for the break in the heat. It won't be dampening my spirits as I celebrate the return of the harvest season and honor my patron god, Lugh.




The days will continue to grow shorter and the nights longer from here. Fields swelling with crops will be harvested and I will give thanks to the sun and the earth for not only the bounty of food they have provided, but for all of the wonderful things that abound in my life. At this point each summer I'm worn out and grouchy from the heat so I spend Lughnasadh reflecting on the things I am thankful for and offer up thanks to Lugh for all of the skills that I am blessed with. I take this time to remind me to cut myself some slack when it comes to my art and to take a break from being my biggest critic.

I'm also completely, overly, ridiculously elated that Autumn is approaching. The signs of it are beginning to creep up around my home in the form of sunflowers, harvest colored altar cloths, grinning scarecrows and pumpkins... I am craving warm apple cider and the scent of musty dead leaves. Visions of pumpkin pies and caramel apples are dancing through my head. I am tempted to wear my Autumn jacket, but know that it will be nearly 100° everyday for quite a while still. For now, I'll settle for some salad with pumpkin seeds and some savory cheddar scones.

A very blessed Lughnasadh to you all!

14 comments:

  1. a blessed lughnasadh to you as well..

    i too am anxiously awaiting the coming autumn...one of my favorite things to do lately is to look at the weather channel's website and see the sunrise/sunset times. i love seeing the length of the days growing ever smaller... :)
    blessings
    ~*~

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  2. a wonderfully blessed Lughnasadh to you too....I can feel the season being to change even if its in my perspective of items...We too have these beautiful sunflowers outside our home growing and the vines that are wrapping around the South end of our home are beautiful. I love the nights, I love your picture you created...her wisps of hair the blues and golds very beautiful...thanks so much for sharing! Brightest Blessings )o(

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  3. Blessed Lughnasadh!!!

    Your Lugh painting is gorgeous.

    I am willing Autumn to come as quickly as possible. I am also ready for apple cider, and that chill in the air. I love Autumn. And I am already planning for Samhain/Halloween...yep I'm that kind of girl.

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  4. blessed Lammas to you as well... love the picture... the coolness of autumn can not get here soon enough....

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  5. Ah Danni, you are a girl after my own heart! Autumn is far and away the most wonderful, special season. I live for Autumn! We don't get really hot summers here (just rainy ones!) but in Autumn we get the most crystal clear, cold, smoky evenings. It gets dark at about 4 or 5 in the afternoon and you can smell turf burning in the air. I LOVE it! Thank you so much for this post! You really summed up the magic of that special season so perfectly!

    I'm also delighted to see people still honouring the old gods. Lugh was actually a very important deity where I'm from and there's a ring fort not far from my house called An Grianan of Aileach that was built four thousand years ago in his honour. It's my favourite place in the whole world and I'm hoping to marry my fiance there some time in the not-so-distant future. Oh, and in Irish the month of August is called Lúnasa!

    Anyway missus, this post made me smile :)

    Blessings to you and yours!

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  6. p.s I forgot to say that your painting of Lugh and the Morrigan is beautiful!

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  7. May cool water bless you and all around you. May bread and fruit give you signs of earths abundance. May you find strength in this harvest and reap more insights into you.
    Brightest Lammas Blessings to a one of a kind sweet soul.
    The Olde Bagg

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  8. a very beautiful post

    may the wind be at your back

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  9. A very happy Lughnasadh to you too! ^-^

    You're not alone in your excitement for Autumn... I can't wait either. =D

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  10. I am very exited for fall as well
    Blessed Lammas/Lughnasadh to you and yours!
    ~Luna

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  11. Happiest Harvest! I am so excited for Autumn too. A nice cooler day here today - finally a break from the intense heat. We'll still have plenty of sun to come - but the light is fading and the scent of gardens and ripe fruit is in the air!

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  12. Belated Lammas for you, Danni!

    I'm on the extreme opposite: can't wait for Spring to arrive!!! Sun, flowers, warm breeze... sigh!

    Kisses and love from us.

    PS: Loved your sketches!

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