August invites us into a sacred pause — a moment to soak in the warmth of summer, sip iced herbal teas, and delight in sun-ripened corn, tomatoes, peaches, and berries. But beneath the surface of our modern lives, an ancient rhythm pulses: this is the season of the first harvest.
In the Northern Hemisphere, August 1 marks Lammas (or Lughnasadh), a traditional festival of gratitude and abundance, falling midway between the Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox. In early agrarian communities, this was a time to honor the grain — wheat, oats, barley — that sustained life through the seasons. And in Celtic mythology, the god Lugh was honored. It was a communal celebration of baking, reaping, and giving thanks.
Many Native American traditions also honor the corn harvest during this time. The Green Corn Ceremony is filled with dancing, purification rituals, and giving thanks to the Corn Mother, a powerful symbol of life and nourishment. Among the Hopi, the Snake-Antelope dance (held every other year) reflects the sacred relationship between humans and the land.
Photo by Nina Luong
Ritual: Give Thanks to the Earth
As you enjoy your next piece of corn on the cob, bite into a fresh bagel, or stir up a quinoa salad — pause. Offer a quiet “thank you” to Mother Earth, the farmers, and the elements that helped grow your food. Gratitude transforms the ordinary into the sacred.
Vow to Love — Another or Yourself
Lammas was also a traditional time for handfasting — a simple marriage or commitment ritual in which the hands are tied together to symbolize the binding together of two lives performed in front of witnesses. The couple vow to be together for a year and a day. After that time they were free to stay together or part ways.
If you’re in a partnership, consider exchanging vows in a meaningful way, even if it’s just the two of you under a tree or on your terrace. If you’re solo, create a vow to honor, love, and accept yourself as you are, and as you are becoming.
Ritual: Your Harvest Intention
This is a powerful moment to call in your harvest for the rest of the year. Try this:
Take a husk of corn and remove the kernels.
On the husk, write your harvest intention — what you wish to grow or receive.
Select kernels to represent the skills, gifts, and support you already hold.
Wrap the kernels inside the husk and tie it with 7 knots, using string or raffia. Each knot symbolizes a step you’re willing to take, or a prayer you’re offering.
Leave it in nature as a sacred offering.
Be a Good Neighbor
Create a harvest basket filled with fresh fruit, bread, herbs, or vegetables from your garden or market. Add a small note of appreciation or a favorite quote. Tuck in a sunflower, a bottle of homemade juice, or anything that sparks joy. Give it to a neighbor, friend, or someone in your community who could use a little light. Generosity is a blessing multiplier.
Let This Be a Celebration
Even amidst uncertainty, there is always something to honor. Let this be a time to slow down, offer thanks, share what you can, and celebrate all that is growing — within you, around you, and in the world.
With love & gratitude,
Barbara
