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Oh First Harvest, when the warm embrace of the waning summer holds us all, inviting us to reflect on our goals and the effort we’ve put forth so far this year. Personally, I’m feeling incredibly satisfied and proud, as I have recently published my first children’s book and am working out the final formatting for my debut novel. I also feel incredibly blessed to see my website and business blooming in ways that are enriching to my soul, even still in these early stages growth.
This year, the timing of our first harvest has been especially fascinating to me as well, considering all of the cosmic energies at play right now. It seems to be serving as a crescendo moment within the grand symphony that the cosmos is orchestrating for all of humanity. Consciousness, innovation, and discipline are all being shook up from the inside out, inviting us to take a stand courageously for what we believe in, and encouraging us all to decide how we want to show up in OUR future… And I couldn’t be more grateful or excited to be a part of it.
Honoring the First Harvest
Of all the names given to First Harvest, I feel a connection most to Lughnasadh. I find the story of the Celtic god Lugh and the celebration he dedicated to his foster mother to be a beautiful example of the gratitude this Sabbat represents. I especially enjoy how it touches on the effort and sacrifice that’s put forth in order to enable the abundance that we reap at harvest time.
I’m relating to this even more personally this year because of the efforts that I have been putting in towards my own harvest, as well as because of the gratitude I feel as a result of seeing some of those seeds beginning to bear fruit at this time. I also resonate with Lammas and giving the first loaf of bread back to the divine, as well as really appreciate the First Fruits Ceremony for the same reason. Truly, I’m enjoying the generosity, community, and connection that are woven into this Sabbat more than ever before.
This has had me looking for more and more meaningful ways to integrate these themes into my life. One of which is this website, providing resources and information to people about how the natural cycles of our wonderful Earth can be so incredibly nurturing, as well as providing guidance as to how we can all work with our own cycles and energy fluctuations too. It thrills me to encourage hopefulness at each and every step others take towards their goals.
In contrast to the immediate gratification and subsequent disappointment that we so often find in modern society, I have found the richness that’s available to us through these natural practices and this awareness of the cycles of life to be much more sustainable and indulgent… And I feel incredibly privileged to share them.
Community & Generosity
In truth, one of the most powerful things about the Pagan Sabbats are the opportunities they create for us to gather with community and recognize how these cycles of nature affect us all. In particular, harvest season is one of the most joyous and generous times for these types of gatherings. Lughnasadh, as the First Harvest or Summer Harvest, sort of kicks things off for this generous and celebratory time of year.
This Sabbat gives us the opportunity to gather some of what we’ve begun reaping from our efforts and start sharing them with gratitude. For me this year, it’s looked a lot like what I’m doing right now: creating educational and informative resources to help connect people with the spirit of the season. It’s not exactly as actively social as the ancient traditions might have been, but I sincerely hope that it enriches lives, just as it has bettered and made my own life more enjoyable.
In addition, my First Harvest has included things like giving some copies of my children’s book away, or letting people know where I am at in the process of final formats for my novel. For you, it probably looks completely different. Perhaps you bake a loaf of bread for Lammas and invite somebody to share it with you. Maybe you get together with your local coven or spiritual group to perform a First Fruits Ceremony, to give back to the land and celebrate the earth’s abundance together.
Regardless, there are plenty of different ways that we can embrace the spirit of community and generosity as we begin this harvest season. And yes, this is just the beginning! As Mabon and Samhain come around, we’re going to have even more opportunities to share in the richness and indulgence of this season.
Personal Reflection & Gratitude Practices
This morning, as I sat down for my daily, devotional divination, I went ahead and used the Summer Harvest Tarot Spread to get a bit more information about what it is that I am reaping this harvest season. It was beautiful. What came through touched on a lot of themes that I have been mulling through recently. It also gave me a lot of hope that, even though I’m only beginning to see the fruits of my labor, what is bubbling beneath the surface is far more significant.
For example, with the first card placements for the seeds that I’ve sown that are now beginning to ripen, I pulled cards that not only echoed back to my intentions for this year, but actually hearkened all the way back to years ago when I began this journey of personal authenticity and spiritual growth. It was really exciting to see that come out right away, because it echoes some of the murmurings I felt intuitively. It lets me know that I am picking up on what spirit is putting down, so to say.
I’m also excited to do my own First Fruits Ceremony today, which is going to have a little bit of a personal spinoff too. I’ll be including something I want to give back to the earth, representing the energies I’m leaving behind, as I’m making more room for what I’m harvesting. Overall though, I’m really looking forward to expressing my gratitude to Earth for her abundance, as well as to myself for my dedication, perseverance, and all of the effort that I have been putting into making my life so fulfilling.
Summer Harvest Opportunities
If you’re feeling called to honor this First Harvest Sabbat with more of your attention and gratitude, we have so many ideas available to you, right here on Onescence! These include the First Fruits Ceremony, the Summer Harvest Tarot Spread, as well as instructions for a Lughnasadh corn dolly craft, more information about First Harvest traditions from around the world, and a recipe for Lammas bread.
Of course, these are just a few ideas for what you can do to reflect this season’s energy and work with your intentions for harvest. Regardless of what you choose, the important thing is to honor this time of gratitude, recognizing it as an opportunity to reconnect with yourself and acknowledge your progress. Truly, any reflection that we do, and any offering of gratitude we give at this time is significant.
A few moments, a few deep breaths, and a simple offering of thanks to ourselves and the land is also a ritual. The symbolism that we can imbue, even into normal daily tasks we have to undertake, can be that much more meaningful when we are aware and intentional. So, I invite you today, no matter what’s on your plate or on your agenda, to take a few moments to acknowledge both the abundance of the land and your dedication to the life that you are creating for yourself.
Starting Harvest Season Blessed
I couldn’t be more grateful for the first fruits of my labor and effort as I am witnessing them this Summer Harvest. I couldn’t be more excited to see what’s still to come as this harvest season continues. And I am so thankful to have all of you to share this generosity of energy and appreciation of abundance with.
I hope that wherever and whatever you happen to be doing for First Harvest, that you too can tap into a deep wellspring of gratitude and appreciation for life’s richness, as well as for yourself, your efforts, and your dreams. You are the only one who can envision your goals and make them possible. I sincerely hope that you do, and that this First Harvest, you are given a renewed sense of purpose and passion for all that you are working towards.
May our harvest season continue with its bounty, as we are given even more and more evidence of how our intentions towards our goals are beginning to come into fruition. Oftentimes in this modern world, what we’re working towards seems separate, but truly, when we are engaged authentically in our lives and we’re working towards things that we are passionate about, that cascades outwards and affects everyone we come in contact with.
So, I would also like to thank you. Thank you for doing your personal work and thank you for all the ways that has an effect on your whole life, your family, your friends, and your community at large. This is a big world, but together and with focus on the things that unite us rather than the things that divide us, we can make it better. And we are, step by step, harvest by harvest!
