Summer Quarter, 2009
June to August
Sabbats For The Quarter
By, Keary
Litha/Midsummer - the first Sabbat we’ll see this quarter is going be that of Litha or Midsummer. This year Litha will fall on Sunday, June 21st.
Litha is where we celebrate the height of the sun in all its power and glory. This is where the days of the year are the longest. The Oak and the Holly King battle once more, with the Holly King winning and reigning during the days of decreasing light.
There are various rituals that can be conducted depending on your preferences. The best way to celebrate this particular sabbat would be to recognize the soon to be shortening of days. This is the season of humor and jest, mirth and joy. Keep in mind however that it is also a time of reverence.
Lughnasadh/Lammas - the second Sabbat we'll see this quarter is going be that of Lughnasadh (loo-nah-sah) or Lammas. This year Lughnasadh will fall on Saturday, August 1st.
In Celtic mythology, the Lughnasadh festival is said to have been begun by the god Lugh, as a funeral feast and games commemorating his foster-mother, Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. The first location of the Ãenach Tailteann was at the site of modern Teltown, located between Navan and Kells. Historically, the Ãenach Tailteann gathering was a time for contests of strength and skill, and a favored time for contracting marriages and winter lodgings. A peace was declared at the festival, and religious celebrations were also held
Lughnasadh marked the beginning of the harvest season, the ripening of first fruits, and was traditionally a time of community gatherings, market festivals, horse races and reunions with distant family and friends. Among the Irish it was a favored time for handfastings - trial marriages that would generally last a year and a day, with the option of ending the contract before the new year, or later formalizing it as a more permanent marriage.
God Of The Quarter
By, Aislin
As we celebrate Lughnasadh, it seems an appropriate time to pay homage to Lleu Llaw Gyffes. He was born during a test to see if the Goddess Arianrhod is a virgin. Abandoned by his mother, his uncle Gwydion cares for him, and finds a foster mother for him. When he reveals the child to his mother, she is furious and curses him with three things, only she can name him, only she can arm him, and that he would have no human wife.
She is tricked into naming and arming him, and his Uncle makes for him a wife of flowers. His wife tricks him and betrays him to the man she fell in love with, who kills him. He turns to an eagle and flies away later to be restored to his human form and cared for by his uncle once again. He later challenges the man who killed him, and kills him in return, then confronts his unfaithful wife and turns her into an owl.
He is associated in some circles as another facet of Lugh, the Irish God of harvest, the sun, and in other circles fertility, arts and/or science. Feast this season, but leave him a seat at the table.
Goddess Of The Quarter
By, Aislin
As we honor Lugh, so shall we honor his mother Taillte. Though not much is known about her, she nursed Lugh, the Sun God, for this article, and she was asked to clear a large forest to me made into a field for the growing of grain.
Upon finishing this task, she collapsed and died. On the first harvest of grain and fruit, he asked declared a holiday in her honor, which is celebrated as the festival of Lughnasadh, where we compete in the Tailteann games and feast in her honor.
She was a much loved Foster Mother, and is highly revered for having given so much of herself for her people to eat, and for her son. There is a town named for her, now called Teltown.
It is customary among some to honor the Gods and Goddesses of the harvest by making for them a sacrifice of fruit and/or grain (bread) to keep the rest of the crops that could not be harvested good as they ripen. Here is to Taillte! *Also spelled Tailte*
Animal Of The Quarter
By, Aislin
The Raven & Magpie - the raven is a very popular bird in mythology and superstition with a wide range of names for it from trickster, provider, and the creator, to servants to the Gods, and bringers of light. Because many groups of people look at the raven as a negative omen, I have chosen to represent this beautiful bird for its more positive aspects.
In some Gypsy cultures, for example, it is good luck to see a raven; in others, if the raven is in even or odd numbers. The reason they are linked with death so often has more to do with them being carrion eaters, and seen so often after a battle, and less to do with what happens after you should see one. On the other hand, this might be perceived as a good omen; birds that might eat the dead, but help to carry the soul to its final resting place, wherever you believe that may be. Any time I have seen the raven, I have been brought good luck, money, happiness, or just good news.
On the other hand, the raven shares a genus with the crow, and a magpie is part of the crow family, and I truly believe that magpies are evil. Magpies are mimics, kleptomaniacs, extremely intelligent, and sly, and have been known to carry off, and drop to kill, kittens. Of course, this is only my humble opinion. I have read that among the Kirghis people, the direction a magpie is heard from has relevance in determining if it is good or bad news. From the North - evil, South - a remarkable occurrence, from the East - guests, and from the West - a journey.
Which reminds me of the Wiccan Rede’s wind directions; When the wind blows from the south, love will kiss thee on the mouth, heed the north wind’s mighty gale, lock the doors and trim the sail, when the wind blows from the east, expect the new and set the feast, when the wind blows from the west, departed spirits have no rest. So maybe, the magpie isn’t all evil for everyone; just fortune tellers with a macabre sense of humor.
Tarot Card Of The Quarter
By, Keary
The Tarot Card this quarter is the 6 of Wands. The 6 of Wands represents succeeding in your acheivements. It signifies a change occurring where not only will you succeed, but your success and acheivements will be noticed by others.
This card can refer to any area of life, but usually signifies job and business affairs. If you’ve been struggling to find a job, perhaps this will change with Autumn and the coming of the 6 of Wands. Keep an eye out for business ventures and job opportunities as they will be ready for the taking!
In matters of Love the 6 of Wands may represent finding love, or having your significant other notice all the little things that you do for him or her. Surprise the one you love by going out of your way and doing something special and random!