Blog - Jenny Heston

Winter Solstice and 9 Glorious Rituals to Tap into the Energy and Mysteries.

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
~ Lewis Carroll

I love Winter Solstice and I can feel the energy of it for a few weeks before it even arrives. It’s dark far earlier, much colder outside and there is a desire to cocoon, wear warmer clothes and eat soup (at least for me). There is a sensation of reflection, going inwards and questioning that arrives naturally from this energy. To me this is a time where I notice those “meh” moments more and really examine my life and ask the question “Am I showing up and embodying what I am called to do?” That’s why, to me, I feel it vital to take some time out to honour this energy and work with it which in turn allows me to feel aligned. In fact I feel more balanced, connected and inspired after I have taken some time.

As a kid I used to be scared of the dark, I felt it held things that were terrifying and uncomfortable. As an adult I have learned that’s not true and have become willing to walk into the darkness and allow myself to get comfortably uncomfortable and dig deep, explore the mysteries and embrace all aspects of being human. Light and dark. You can’t have one without the other! Winter Solstice invites us with a safe open hand to step into the place of mystery, the warm comforting dark that wraps around us like a cosy blankie. Whispering in our ear – rest, be, embrace, release, create, imagine, grow ……….

So what is Winter Solstice and why celebrate it? Why take the time to honour it? The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. Winter Solstice takes place on the day where the night is the longest and the hours of sun or daylight are the shortest. In fact “Solstice” comes from two Latin words: sol meaning “sun” and sistere meaning “to stand still” because it appeared as though the sun and moon had stopped moving across the sky. This longest night of the year, followed by a renewal of the sun, demonstrates the cyclical order of the cosmos. In this way, celebrating the solstice can be a beautiful remembrance that our lives are part of a larger order, always changing, always renewing. It’s a gorgeous invitation to not be afraid of the dark or the shadow, as it is in that place is where we shift, grow and recharge.

Winter Solstice has been celebrated in various forms and for thousands of years across a myriad of cultures, all who are willing to step into the darkness and wait to welcome back the light. (And if you lived in medieval times that’s pretty ballsy!

In Britain long before the arrival of Christianity. The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months. It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the Yule log. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year.

There was Saturnalia in Ancient Rome which began on December 17 and lasted for 7 days. These celebrations were held from as far back as around 217 BC to honour Saturn, the father of the gods.

Feast of Juul – This is where we get the term Yule from at this time of year, was a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the December solstice. People would light fires to symbolize the heat and light of the returning sun and a Juul (or Yule) log was brought in and dropped in the hearth as as a tribute to the Norse god Thor. This log was burned until nothing but ash remained. The ashes were then collected and either strewn on the fields as fertiliser every night until Twelfth Night or kept as a charm.

Yalda – or Shab-e-Chelleh (night of fourty) is an Iranian festival celebrated on the “longest and darkest night of the year” – Solstice. Every year, on December 21st, Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter, the renewal of the sun and the victory of light over darkness on Yalda Night.

Santo Tomas – a celebration in Guatemala where the Mayan Indians indulged in the ritual known as the Palo Volador, or “flying pole dance.” Three men climb on top of a 50 foot pole as one of them beats a drum and plays a flute. The other two men wind a rope attached to the pole around one foot and jump. If they land on their feet, it is believe that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer.

So if you were in doubt that Winter Solstice might be fictitious or flaky baky, let me assure you – nope. If I were to try and explain this celebration in a nutshell it would be a time for introspection, embracing of the shadow, a willingness to walk into the dark, to then celebrate the returning of the light within and without. This is a celebration of honouring the dark before calling into the light. Also, as a side note, Winter Solstice may occur on one day, however, this is a season of Winter we enter where we walk with the dark far more and allow ourselves to release what no longer serves us.

Let’s talk rituals – some people get really weirded out when the word “ritual” is mentioned. So let’s put some myths aside right now – there is no right way or wrong way, you don’t have to have all the ingredients for a certain ritual, it doesn’t need to be complex and over the top (but if that’s your style, go for it). I personally like simple rituals that I can do with my kids, on my own, with friends I trust and I don’t ever want them to feel like I am adding to my “to do” list, especially in this frenzied time.

To me ritual is intentional and all about creating space for you to tap into the seasons, the reasons and yourself. Ritual is intention made manifest into physical form. By performing simple rituals with personal meaning to celebrate the solstice, these rituals will serve as touchstones to help you cultivate an attitude of receptiveness and appreciation that will carry you through the holiday season with more ease. A good starting point might be to make a promise this winter to spend more time listening, watching, and honoring the slower, quieter rhythm of the season.

Always, always start with setting the space. Whether it is lighting a candle, hanging a wreath of evergreens or just sitting in silence for a while. Honour yourself, your connection to Gaia and Spirit, the celebration and get clear on your intention. Let’s explore 9 easy and amazing rituals to help you tap into this gorgeous energy, gain more peace and clarity and release whatever is not serving you. There is also a fabulous Winter Solstice visualisation to really help you explore the energy of this season.

Oh yes, and as an aside many of you have asked if the Solstice Special for Private Readings will be available after Solstice. Nope. The Solstice Special ends at midnight on December 21st. So take advantage of it now and if you want to start 2019 off with a fabulous private reading to help you set the tone of the year, we can do that!

9 Easy and Powerful Rituals to celebrate the Winter Solstice

9 Easy & Powerful Rituals to celebrate Winter Solstice.

Jenny Heston · 1:11 pm ·

Let’s explore some rituals to help you tap into this gorgeous energy, gain more peace and clarity and release whatever is not serving you. I’ve created a glorious guided visualisation just for Winter Solstice to really help you tap into the energy and the mysteries of this day and season.

Winter Solstice

Be Still, Be Quiet

Tools – You, a candle.

The minute I wrote that title I thought of the song based on “Christina Rossetti’s” poem – In the Bleak Midwinter.

If you don’t know this poem the first stanza is “In the bleak mid-winter, Frosty wind made moan; Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter long ago.”

Yet for some reason this poem captures the energy of this celebration. It is a time to stop, stand still. So if you are willing (appreciating we are all very busy – as we tell ourselves), take some time to just be quiet. Turn off all the electronica, the TV, the cell phone, your laptop or whatever it is. Sit in the dark and just breathe and as you breathe welcome the glorious warm dark that allows you a place to rest and create, then as you breathe out invite a golden sunlight ball to illuminate what needs to be let go of. Keep breathing in this way and with those intentions and when you’re ready gently bounce up. Turn on the lights, light a candle and eat something sunny. An egg perhaps?

Release, Cleanse and Create!

Tools – Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedar, Juniper Berries or Sage, a candle, journal for writing in. Peace and quiet for 20 minutes.

Create a space. Just sit, light a candle and give out a blessing. Anne Hayman has a lovely one that I work with – “ Bless me on this holy day, as I honor the traditions of my ancient sisters. I hold space for myself + for all living creatures on this planet. I stand strong in this long night of darkness. I trust that the light returns. I see my own energy reflected in nature as I go within, only to emerge full of light. May the blessings be… And so it is!”

Then take a bit of time to write out to write what you release, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Where are you holding it in your body and how you will feel when it is released? When you’re finished writing, rip the paper up and place it to the side.

Then using Frankincense, Myrrh and Cedar (if you are using the real thing then you will need a charcoal disc to burn them on). If you don’t have these, no panic – use Sage smudge or whatever you have. Light this sacred incense up let it waft through the air and take a moment to think about all you have released. Then with the candle you lit at the beginning, over a safe container, light up the pieces of paper you ripped up.

As you watch the flames devour your darkness and releasing see it all absorbed back into the sky, the Universe, healthy, cleaned and transferred. .

Sit for a moment with the waft of incense around you and your candle burning and say to yourself – “Light above me, light around me, light within me, light below me. My light is my strength and my protection.” You have just welcomed the light back.

So now you have created a glorious, sacred space within yourself with this ritual. What do you want to fill it with?

Imagine yourself as fully connected to the Divine and the Earth, you are a conduit in the middle. With this glorious energy pulsing through you – what do you want to create? What makes you feel energised? What makes you feel vibrant and alive? How do you want to share your light with others? Write it all down. If you use cards and feel fully connected to them, do a yearly spread. If you want some help, let me know.

When you are done, place both hands on your heart and breathe long and deep. You have just done something that is powerful and changes energy in a deep, subtle way. Breathe in, breathe out and know, trust you are a delicious being of light and love. So it is, and so it will be.

Get outdoors!

Tools – You and the outdoors.

Is there a trail you can walk or a field or bank of snow you can lie down in? A perch that provides the perfect view? Perhaps it is the top of your apartment building or a rocky outcrop. Wherever it is, even it is in your yard, find a quiet place to just acknowledge and BE.

Create a Giving Tree

Tools – Food in the fridge, popcorn strings, a tree, candles.

This is deliciously easy and can be done on your own, with your partner or with your kids. Create a giving tree (this is where the idea of Xmas trees came from). Make some strings of popcorn and berries, apple slices or whatever you would like to do. I have done nuts on strings, apple slices covered in peanut butter embedded with seeds, popcorn and cranberry strings.

Take all your glorious offerings to the tree you picked, whether inside or outside in the dark and as you hang your strings on the tree whisper to the tree and to yourself how you welcome the light back so that there is more than enough abundance for everyone and every being. Stand back in the dark and revel. Then light your candles up and just take some time and appreciate where you are, your glorious tree, the offerings you made and the light coming back. If you want to burst into song with something like “Here Comes the Sun” by Simon and Garfunkel, then you so need to send me a video!

Invite People for Dinner!

Tools: You, friends or family, candles, food and a willingness.

This is a celebration time and what better way to celebrate than share food with others. Sharing food is an important part of any celebration, it is particularly meaningful during Solstice as it represents faith in the return of the sun and the harvest. So have a friend or more than one over for dinner! Light some candles, share your goals, intentions and what you want to “harvest” in the next 6 months.

Turn off the Lights!

Tools: You, lights and thermostats?

This is super easy, turn off all the lights in your home, turn off your furnace, radiators, , baseboard heaters or whatever form of heat you have. Open the doors and windows wide and allow the cold air to flood in and breeze through (I highly recommend you bundle up).

In that soft darkness sit and BE in silence for a good 5 minutes or more. With the combination of dark, cold and silence it cultivates a stillness in yourself. You may feel a tad wiggly or odd but just keep breathing.

I used to do this with the kids when they were younger (and this is also my youngest monster’s birthday) it was quite profound to see what came up and out. When you are done with the dark (and don’t run from it), go around and gently close the doors and windows, put on your heating supply and as you do send a little blessing out “As the darkness begins to retreat and light beings its return once again – I am grateful”.

Then light candles galore (this welcomes back the sun), sing songs, share food and stories and what came up. And most importantly relax, enjoy and celebrate! If you are doing this on your own, after you have lit your candles, put on music that makes you feel awesome. Move your body and eat something delicious that is not your norm and give huge thanks.

Walk into the Dark

Tools – evergreen boughs, candles, apples and again – a willingness.

I have done this one for quite a few years with my kids and friends and it is stupendous and delicious. The Spiral Walk.

A few days prior to Solstice we would go gather a truck filled with cedar boughs (keep in mind I do live on the side of a mountain). Then on the white snow we would create a spiral that you could walk like a labyrinth. In the centre of the spiral would be a tree stump covered with nature’s offerings – berries, shells, pinecones and crystals and a large candle.

The evening of Solstice we would all gather together and each have an unlit candle in an apple and the only lit candle was in the centre of the spiral. One at a time gently holding the unlit candle a person would walk the spiral and as they walked into the darkness, towards the light they would whisper what they wanted to release. When they hit the centre they would light their own candle and as they walked slowly back out of the spiral they would say what their creation, hearts desire, manifestation was going to be.

When they saw a lovely spot that resonated for them they would put their apple candle on the spiral and so it would go. By the time this ritual was done the spiral was lit up all over the place and then we would go inside, turn on all the lights and eat a meal and celebrate together. Have to say, every time we have done this as a family the spiral has been lit up all night and the centre candle has never gone out, no matter the snow or the winds.

Gift and Share

Tools: You, your stuff, large bags.

You’ve heard the saying “What is one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” What better way to release and invite in the abundance that comes with the sun than releasing things you don’t need. Now I’m not talking about those tatty, ripped stained jeans – but what about that sweater you haven’t worn in years, those jeans that are lovely but you don’t like? Things like that. What about the food in your pantry that was given to you or brought to a gathering that you are never going to eat as it isn’t your thing? (For me I think of nuts as I don’t eat them).

So intentionally gather these things together and as you bag them up to drop off where they can be really used, set the intention of releasing for yourself and that you have created space in your physical life for more abundance and light and that your donations are welcomed and helping someone who will really enjoy them and appreciate them.

Be the Seed (or Bulb)

Tools: You, Seeds, Some dirt, A Bulb

This is a fun one to do with kids, especially if you are living somewhere where the snow has hit and everything is going to sleep for a while. I would do this with Hyacinth bulbs. Get a little pot, fill it with dirt (if you are using seeds such as beans you can use an egg carton). Gently take your seeds or bulb and whisper over them your intentions for the upcoming spring and then tuck them into the dirt. Give them a little bit of water and wait. Now why this as a ritual Jenny? Think about it, you are the seed as we head into the Winter Season, this is a time to curl up in the Earth (Gaia) and snuggle down and allow your desires to perk, grow and slowly put out roots, just as the bulb or seed does. It’s a fabulous physical representation of creation and everytime you give it a little bit of water or look over at it you know, deep in your core that as the seasons change and you get clear, the plants flourish!

There we have it! Easy, intentional ways of celebrating the Winter Solstice! Thus, wishing you a stupendous Solstice and a massive release and intention setting. Remember there is no right way, you just have to take the time, set an intention and do it. Oh yes, and don’t forget as some of you have asked – the Solstice special on Private Readings ends at midnight on December 21st.

Happy holidays to all of you, whether it is Hanukkah, Christmas, Solstice or none of those. May you feel peace, may you feel love, may you allow yourself to BE and explore the mysteries found in the glorious warmth of the darkness and tap into your light.

The Tale of Stingy Jack and the Jack O’Lantern.

Jenny Heston · 7:55 pm ·

Pull up a seat, have a cuppa tea and let’s tell the wee tale of a man, a miserable mean man called Stingy Jack. Why do we tell this tale? The Jack O’Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish History. Many of the stories center around Stingy Jack.

Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who took pleasure in playing tricks on just about everyone: family, friends, his mother and even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. After the Devil climbed up the tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. Unable to touch a cross, the Devil was stuck in the tree.

Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the Devil had promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses, and the Devil climbed down out of the apple tree.

Many years later, Jack died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was mean and cruel, and had led a miserable, worthless life on earth. Stingy Jack was not allowed to enter heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and wouldn’t allow him to enter Hell. Now Jack was scared. He had nowhere to go, but to wander about forever in the dark Netherworld between Heaven and Hell. He asked the Devil how he could leave, as there was no light.

The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell, to help Stingy Jack light his way. Jack had a turnip with him, it was one of his favourite foods and he always carried one with him. Jack hollowed out the turnip and placed the ember the Devil had given him, inside the turnip. From that day onward Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his “Jack O’Lantern.”

On all Hallow’s eve, the Irish hollowed out turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O’Lanterns.

Super New Moon in Leo with a Partial Solar Eclipse and Private Reading Special

Jenny Heston · 12:00 pm ·

Here we go, are you ready for the 3rd Eclipse in 4 weeks? As so many of you have been asking for private readings, especially with all this deliciously, delightful chaotic energy abounding I felt strongly moved to make this available and to take 20% off in honour of this time. This Eclipse Special is available from today (the 10th of August until 20th). For more information you can find and book your particular reading on the Private Reading page. Now onto what is happening with this eclipse.

This partial solar eclipse happens on a Super New Moon on Saturday August 11th. Remember that we have talked about how eclipses bring up the hidden and there is an energy of transformation and change? Thus, if you had any doubt that the Universe is inviting you to transform, change, step up authentically and with courage – kick that doubt to the curb! As my old Auntie would say – you can’t afford the luxury of disbelief.

Pretending it’s not happening, sticking your head in the sand or wanting to hide out for the next few months will not serve you. Whether you like it or not – Life is going to find you and invite you to come play in the dance of change.

Eclipses bring things to an end and open the door to something new beginning (which can be very exciting, but also terrifying, especially if it is something that you weren’t expecting!) Here’s a great analogy by Susan Millar:- “During an eclipse period, it is as though you will walk over a rickety old bridge. As you walk across this bridge, over a very deep, rugged, treacherous ravine, you may be a little nervous. Once you make it to the other side, the bridge will collapse and you will see the pieces fall far into the deep, perhaps making you jittery. The bridge snaps just as you get to safe ground, but you realize, first, that you could have been on that bridge when it fell (but you weren’t), and more importantly, you will never again be able to walk back over to the other side. Once we go through an eclipse, we can never go back to the former situation again, for the universe wants us to make progress, not go back to good old days. That option is taken away, forever. The only way with an eclipse is forward. If you find later you don’t like where you wind up, you can always have the option to make changes up ahead, but again, they must be future choices, not ones that bring you back to the past.”

So are you getting the message?

The job of an eclipse is to shine a glaring ray of truth to the part of your life that is being touched, and truth will likely arrive in a startling way. Eclipses are brilliant illuminators, revealing a truth about a condition that you never in a million years knew existed. Once you are given the information, the news can act as a catalyst to a major decision or action you will take. Most often we are shocked or surprised by the information that comes to us, for the eclipse is one of the most dramatic tools the universe uses to get you to sit up, pay attention, and take action. Eclipses are always your friends, for they are there to help to protect you. Always be grateful for truth.

This eclipse happens on a New Moon in Leo and on a numerological level it is pretty key. Let me explain what all that means. First, Leo is governed by the sun and the energy is hot, fiery and passionate and all about having the courage to really step forward and into something different with intention and authenticity. And if we look around at Mother Nature she is showing us this in various ways. The whole of Southern Europe is in a massive heat wave, experiencing temperatures that are brutal. Here in my little neck of the woods (literally) we have had heat warnings due to how hot it is and the sky is thick with the smoke of forest fires galore. Now, I don’t know about you, but when it’s this hot I find it very challenging to want to do anything other than curl up in a dark cold room. But this is where intention, passion and working with the fire within you and the courage to take a step comes into play.

As Kari Samuels shares with us:- “This Supermoon eclipse is teaching you to let go of anything getting in the way of you expressing your authentic nature, so you can fully step into your power! It’s happening on the 11th day this month, in an 11 Universal Year (2+0+1+8 = 11).

11 is the number of Illumination

This season of eclipses has brought you many revelations, making you fully aware that you deserve better!

You’ve been receiving many divine downloads about what you can no longer tolerate, and what you need to do to change your life.

Summon up the courage of the lion to believe in yourself so you can make the changes you need to manifest your heart’s desires.”

This is a glorious opportunity and time for change, growth and expansion even with the discomfort and challenges we may have also encountered. As Lena Stevens shares with us:-

“The theme of this new moon is “new directions”. With new insights, hard lessons and a creative outlook, you can use this New Moon to consider a new direction in some area of life.

Take some time to ask these questions: “What am I completing? What do I need to complete? What truth is allowing me to shift priorities? What truth is supporting me to cut something loose? How is this making space for a new direction? How can I support my creativity to take advantage of the opportunity?

This eclipse (as the last two were also) is surrounded by intensity, unpredictability and irritability. Be assertive about your truth and your new direction without being reactive to any judgments or negativity from others. This is your time. Celebrate it by honoring the sun’s energy, your own will, creativity, and ability to manifest a new direction for yourself.”

So an invitation for you on this glorious New Moon Eclipse.

Take some time to write down your New Moon wishes. Sit out in the garden, by the water – where ever feeds your soul and write up to 10 wishes for YOU (not someone else) that you would like to create with this powerful energy of change and transformation. Okay?

Then plant them. Literally dig a little hole where ever you are and pop them in the ground, or send them out to sea with big blessings and releasing time lines and the form that they are to come to you in. This is a gorgeous practice and if you have a tough time writing what you would really like, write what you don’t want and then flip the verbiage.

And remember that there is something incredible waiting for you on the precipice of your destiny. It’s all there within arms reach, are you willing to be bold enough to reach for it and move through change and transformation? Also, do take advantage of the Eclipse Reading Special to help you attain courage, move with grace and ease through change and transformation and really manifest what your soul desires. Enjoy!

What, Why and How to Celebrate Lammas.

Jenny Heston · 12:00 pm ·

Happy Lammas! (No, not Llamas, there are no llamas here). Also known as Lughnasadh.

What is Lammas and what relevance does it have in my life you may be asking yourself. Firstly, I will say it is a celebration, and who doesn’t need a glorious reason to celebrate!? Secondly, let’s go explore what it is – so are you sitting comfortably? Have a nice cuppa tea to hand, or a cool glass of water? Then let us begin.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago in the wonderful Gaelic mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God (Lugh, Celtic God of Light and the son of the Sun) transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested. So we have a dying, self-sacrificing and resurrecting god of the harvest, who dies for his people so that they may live. Sound familiar?

The power of the sun goes into the grain as it ripens. It is then harvested and made into the first new bread of the season. This is the Saxon hlaef-masse or loaf-mass, now lammas. Seed grain is also saved for planting for next year’s crop, so the sun god may be seen to rise again in Spring with the new green shoots, as the sun also rises in the sky. There are many traditions and customs all over the country that are still carried out at harvest time today.

So Lammas is the first Harvest Festival of the year, it is a time of awareness that the strength of the Sun (Lugh) is beginning to wane and there is a shift and change afoot. Active growth is slowing down and the darker days of winter and reflection are gently and slowly raising their heads. It happens normally anywhere from July 31st – August 2nd, though some will tell you it can happen between August 1st and September 1st.

“ At Lammas the Goddess is in Her aspect as Grain Mother, Harvest Mother, Harvest Queen, Earth Mother, Ceres and Demeter. Demeter, as Corn Mother, represents the ripe corn of this year’s harvest and Her daughter Kore/Persephone represents the grain – the seed which drops back deep into the dark earth, hidden throughout the winter, and re-appears in the spring as new growth. This is the deep core meaning of Lammas and comes in different guises: it is about the fullness and fulfillment of the present harvest holding at its heart the seed of all future harvest. (It is a fact that a pregnant woman carrying her as yet unborn daughter is also already carrying the ovary containing all the eggs her daughter will ever release – she is already both mother, grandmother and beyond, embodying the great Motherline – pure magic and mystery.)”

So as the grain harvest is gathered in, there is food to feed the community through the winter and within that harvest is the seed of next year’s rebirth, regeneration and harvest. The Grain Mother is ripe and full, heavily pregnant she carries the seed of the new year’s Sun God within her. There is tension here. For the Sun God, the God of the Harvest, the Green Man, or John Barleycorn, surrenders his life with the cutting of the corn.

What are some of the symbols, plants and colours of Lammas you ask?

Green, Gold, Mint and Sunflowers! Mint is one of the revered plants of the Druids and Its magical properties are both protection and healing, and at this stage in the year, its properties of drawing abundance and prosperity, are most appropriate. Why sunflowers? Think about it, we often take sunflowers for granted, yet by this time of year their flower heads are full and heavy with that wonderful spiral of seeds and they spend the whole day gently turning their heads to gaze at the sun. In the Aztec temples of the sun, priestesses carried sunflowers and wore them as crowns. They symbolize the fertility of the Solar Logos.

I found a glorious little ritual for abundance to do on Lammas that you might want to try. (Courtesy of The Goddess and Green Man).

Lammas Charm For Gathering In Abundance

You will need:

A broom or besom. Don’t worry if it isn’t a traditional besom, any broom will do as it is always intent that is important. If you have no broom collect a bundle of twigs and tie them at the top with Lammas ribbon to make a hand broom shape. The besom/broom is a potent symbol of hearth and home, found in some form in almost every household. It is a traditional magical tool useful for everyday charms as it has the imprint of its owner firmly on it. Sweeping is a natural gathering gesture.

Ribbon. A piece of green ribbon (for abundance), a piece of gold ribbon (for prosperity and gathering) or ribbon in Lammas harvest colours would be equally suitable.

A Sprig of Mint. Ideally a sprig of mint from your garden (but you can get this from any supermarket), or dried mint – put it in a pouch. The mint represents abundance and plenty and is easily accessible to the urban hedgewitch.

Take your broom and tie your ribbon around the stave or top. Tie in your sprig of mint or securely fasten your pouch. Take your broom outside, place both hands on the stave and focus on your intention – gathering in your harvest for winter. Turn slowly three times in a clockwise direction then start to sweep towards your door saying:

“By one, two, three and four, sweep Lammas gifts to my door. May abundance be a constant friend, by my hearth till Winter’s end.”

Repeat this three times, then take your besom/broom back into your house and put it in its usual place. You can leave the ribbon on for as long as want to, for a lunar month, or until winter is done. If you have made your own broom you can place it where you consider the heart of your home to be. The mint can be returned to the earth with thanks.

If you do not have an outside space you can sweep from your front door inwards to either your kitchen or hearth using the same charm.

So now you know what Lammas means, why it is celebrated and have a fun and easy ritual to perform to honour it, and bring in abundance. So go grab your broom and start sweeping!

11 is the number of Illumination

jennyheston

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