Earth

Thresholds

We have now crossed over the first of three harvest gateways. The first harvest in the wheel of the year is known as ‘Lammas’ (loaf mass). At this time it is traditional for farmers not to cut the grain before this date. Grain connects us to early civilisation, to community. The tradition of baking bread from the first harvest and making a corn dolly are still very much alive in Pagan culture. To harvest was to ‘make the spirit of the corn homeless’ and so a corn dolly was made to house the spirit of the corn and show it gratitude and respect by giving it a home over the winter. Another celtic name for the festival is Lughnasadh - a time of honouring the Sun god Lugh. Druids used this festival to thank the sun god for their prosperity and give gratitude to the land and the ancient earth mother - for the continuation of our connection to the land.

The Moon - that which represents the lunar, subconscious realms is now in the sign of Leo. So the Sun and the Moon are both in the fixed fire element together.

8/8

The Lionsgate portal is open and will peak on the 8th August. This is the time to connect to the lioness courage of your heart and its connection to your spirit (you as a spiritual being ~ what makes your spirit soar?) Your soul yearns for you to be in the fullness of your journey here on earth. You can open up to deeply encode yourself with this high vibrational light coding

Exercise - plant your feet on the earth, open your arms as wide as you can and propel your heart to the sky. Ask your star family to support you and the angelic realms to reveal their support for your journey. This is the time to connect and seek clarity in your sacred heartisty.

Consider lighting a candle to support the transition and transformation that this harvest tide brings for any ancestral or otherwise healing that needs to happen.

Plant Allies

Mint ~ a favourite of the Druids and linked to prosperity. At a time where we feel grateful for the abundance of what we have reaped. Mint is a much overlooked purifier and lifter of spirits. A native saining herb. Full of volatile oils that can support us as the seasons change. Also supportive when we have painful periods. This digestive soother has a calming effect on the abdominal organs and supports them to relax.

Motherwort ~ Courage dear one. This herb supports us as new realms open and we need to open our hearts to meet them. A wonderful ally in this time of connection to the Leo lion heart and Sirius as the dog star. The brightest star in the night sky in the constellation Canis Major. Motherwort is a very strong allie that is an amazing cardiac tonic, reviver and strengthener. It has a very powerful grounding effect in situations where we need to centre our energy. This is one of my favourite allies in my toolkit at the birth altar - bringing mama into a place of security after the journey to meet her baby.

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Demeter and Persephone

In ancient Greece Demeter was the goddess of the harvest. She had a daughter, Persephone. In the widely known version of the tale - Hades (God of the underworld) captures Persephone and takes her to the underworld to be his wife. The crop began to fail as the goddess Mother was struck with grief. She went to Zeus (the king of the gods) for support. Hades had entrapped Persephone by feeding her the underworld food Pomegranate - six seeds. So when Zeus asked for her to be returned, Hades struck a deal - she had to stay in the underworld for as many months as seeds as she had eaten. So for 6 months of the year when Persephone returned to her mother the earth was fertile and plentiful with crop. When she returned to the underworld the crops would not grow. There is fascinating research regarding this story which suggests that its more modern telling was more powerful to a patriarchal social order. And again if we go further back to the tale of Venus / Innana that this may be told in a different way. I personally prefer the angle of the heroines journey - the one where we reclaim the power of the myths. The one where the women willingly go on an underworld journey - with an innate understanding of the need for balance. Even Hades (a depiction of the corruption and power over masculine archetype) was a fertility god - a nod to the need for the dark void in any growth journey). When we have Pomegranate at the altar - this fruit represents fertility and the red blood of the goddess - the splitting open of the flesh to reveal the fruits - the hidden gems in the darkness.

How language is used and how tales are told shapes our understanding and our world …

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As we lean into the harvest, the imagery of the scythe (the moon in her crescent form) how can we bring deep discernment to our journey? With the energy of Mercury retrograding from the 4th we are being asked to slow, revisit and communicate with deeper awareness

The next harvest tide will be Mabon - the harvest of the fruits in Mid September - by which time the earth will be dripping with the round bellied fruits of wisdom. Here these jewels of the hedgerow offer the archetypal energy of the wise woman as she arrives in the West. When the earth begins to dampen and moisten, through the fruits and seeds, she ensures her own continuation. Pay attention to the wisdom that is available to you between first and second harvest

Call on the Courage of the lioness from your sacred solar fires within as you tread your path with courage and conviction

Blessings on your harvest