It's nearly August, and this witch's thoughts turn to thanksgiving. Yes, we start our harvest festivals now.

We are approaching the festival of First Fruits. Some call it Lughnasad, and observe the ritual sacrifice of the God of Grain. This is a traditional chant:

Hoof and horn,
Hoof and horn,
All that dies
Shall be reborn.

Corn and grain,
Corn and grain,
All that falls
Shall rise again.

As a Goddess woman, this doesn't quite align with my views.

Goddess is abundance, generosity, sharing and nurturing. Where there is abundance, there is no need for sacrifice. We celebrate Her bounty and are embraced by Her nurturing. We use Her gifts joyfully, and joy becomes our gift back to Her.

This year I plan to celebrate by enjoying the abundance of the greenmarket, and by sharing the bounty with friends. The fruits of my creativity this year will be on the altar along with the fruits and vegetables of the season.

My personal harvest is beginning in abundance this year. I have seen once again that Magic works. I have finally found my artistic 'voice' as a weaver (and if you don't know about that, you haven't been reading my blog, Http://www.tromp-as-writ ).

I wish you the blessings of the harvest. May yours be as abundant as mine!

Blessings on the first harvest.

Today is Lughnasadh, the first of three Wiccan harvest celebrations. Traditionally, this is the time to harvest grain and to pick the first fruits. This is the time to make bread and honor the sacrifice of the grain that keeps us well-fed. I will be making a simply delicious dill and cheddar beer bread from Farmgirl Fare.

In our lives, the plans we made in the darkness of winter should be nearing completion. We still have to pay attention to the details, but this is not an ideal time for going off in a radically new direction. This is the right time for making the absolute best of what we have in front of us.

My plan for this year was to have no plans. I promised myself some unstructured time to experience the joy of living in the moment. I sowed the seeds of randomness and impulse. What has grown from that?

I am growing a healthy crop of knowledge and appreciation for fine teas and tisanes.

I have made connections with the local Wiccan community. Sometimes it has been frustrating, and other times enlightening. That's how it feels to grow.

I am spending time with people who matter to me.

I am tasting joy.

Make hay when the sun shines. Make love when it rains. When you are fully present in the moment, you know what you should do.

What are your first fruits of the season? What are you beginning to harvest in your life?