Well it was on my bucket list for years: Go to an honest-to-goodness Wheel of the Year sabbat and enjoy celebrating nature with other people. This year I left my solitary shoes behind, and jumped into a celtic ritual with a group of wonderful people – who were

A) sane
B) not judgemental
C) inclusive and happy to share knowledge
D) full of bright conversation and
E) mead drinkers (Yes. MEAD.)
Lughnasadh celebration hand in hand with other people: check!

Lughnasadh is a celtic celebration when the beginning of harvest season is honoured. It’s the time of the year that falls smack dab in the middle of the Summer Solstice and the Fall Equinox, and it’s one of the 4 Gaelic seasonal festivals. (Samhain, Imbolc and Beltane being the other three.)

Faye, the charming druid-celtic-reiki healer who held the celebration at her home has been practicing druidry for 14 years, and had the celebration prepared (with notes!) in advance. It was easy to follow along with her Lughnasadh traditions. She has a beautiful mini stone circle on her property, and her celebration included a sage smudging, opening the circle, a guided meditation along with some guitar, thanking mother earth and Lugh for the year’s harvest, and contemplating the year to come. It was wonderful and meaningful to be invited to share in their celebration. While I don’t consider myself a druid – my celtic roots call me to celebrate nature and the changing of the seasons, so it was wonderful to participate! Next bucket list item: The Fall Equinox / Mabon festival with people.