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Many years ago, I was asked to do a ritual for Lammas. For some reason, I had a hard time identifying with this festival. I just couldn't get into it. All I had ever heard was the dying god theme - the sacrifice - and frankly, it just didn't sit well, no more than the sacrifice of Jesus, dying for my sins, did.
At the time, that was of course my ignorance of the season’s essence.
But here I was, asked to create a Lammas ritual. So, I decided I needed to find meaning in the occasion for myself - a personal experience I could relate to.
I have developed a technique for "traveling" to another place and time, the purpose being to acquire information that I need to bring forward to this time in order to apply it with wisdom; a simple crossing of the Veil, actually, to seek knowledge from the Old Ones.
I had a friend who did this with me on occasion, so I invited her to join
me on my adventure.
We cast our Circle, making sure that we traveled in sacred space, protected and safe from harm.
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I quickly arrived at my destination. I was standing at the edge of a field of fully ripened barley. It was magnificent - the sun was shining down and the golden grain rippled like waves in the sea.
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I was gazing out over this field as a proud man, for I knew that I had worked hard for this grain to be so lush, so ready to harvest. I was also feeling a tremendous sense of gratitude for this amazing harvest, about to be taken down by the scythe in my hand, for without the sun's rays, plentiful rain, and the fertile earth, my hard work would have been fruitless. The
Goddess was generous with Her favors and my heart was grateful. |
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Suddenly, I was with other people, both men and women, only this time I believe I was a woman, not sure, but we were all sitting on the floor around a low table, about the height of today's "coffee table." This table, however, had a raised edge all around it of about two inches. This table was covered with grain that had been removed from the stalk and was dry. We each had a small basket next to us on the floor and we were sorting through this grain, looking carefully, for the best, the finest and most perfect of the grain which we put in our little basket. It had to be the best, because these small bits of grain were the seed that we would save until it was time to reunite with the earth, in the carefully prepared soil, in the next growing season. This was the seed that would germinate and grow next year's harvest that would feed us the following year. Ours was a sacred task. Our lives depended on our work.
At this point, I came back to my sacred space. I had what I needed. My request was granted, my journey blessed.
This is our first harvest. It is the result our energies being applied to our intent and then blessed by gifts from our Goddess. The value of this first harvest is future growth and renewal. It is from this, most precious, first harvest that future harvests manifest. This is a "seed" harvest filled with promise and future abundance.
My life flows with abundance. I am blessed. I am seeing the results of my hard work and I am seeing how I am forever gifted with the love of my family and friends and the "plenty" of this beautiful web of life I call Goddess.
Blessings on this First Harvest
Bendis
© Deanne Quarrie 2006
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