RITE FOR LUGHNASA
In certain branches of the traditional Craft, Lammas is celebrated as a festival of the God who, while at the height of his powers, must meet his death with the cutting of the corn. As a counterpoint to the Imbolc festival- celebrated by the women of the coven as a festival of the goddess- Lammas is celebrated by the men as a festival of the god. However, they may decide to admit the women by consensus. If the women are permitted then they must take part as warriors in the rough games that form part of the rite. The culmination of these games is the selection of the champion who acts as sacred king in a marriage with the goddess of the land. He is marked with a tattoo that will last until Harvest Home at Herfest (21st September). He promises to sacrifice himself then for the good of the land. The sacrifice he makes is that of John Barleycorn when he breaks the bread at the harvest feast, but the duty and honor of the role is very real- should he fail to keep his promise the coven and the land will suffer.
The men proceed to the ritual site and set up the circle without the women. They may choose to dress as warriors with ritual woad or henna tattoos and animal totem masks or shields. The magister opens the circle wearing a stag mask.
Priest: Lord of the Sun, the Hunt and Fire, Lugh, be with us now before the time of thy departure. We call upon thee this night for this is the time of thy festival. Come unto us we beg, and honor our circle. Come, before the time of departure is upon us, come and bless this rite.'
The men now perform any magic they wish to share between themselves. This may include secrets of hunting magic, stories of the god, dances, totem work, drumming etc. The priest then steps forward.
Priest: 'This is the festival of man, the hunt and the harvest which provide for the time of darkness. Yet the God stands alone without his proper consort. She must grieve for his departure and take him into the dark places. The women folk have been excluded on this night. How say you, servants of Lugh, shall we let them enter?'
If the men decide to admit the women of the coven each woman is challenged at the edge of the circle and asked what skills she brings to the assembly. She must reply according to her real skills, such as 'I am a poet', or 'I am an artist', or 'I keep the hearth fire', or perhaps if she is a policewoman, a soldier or martial artist 'I am a warrior'. If the men decide not to admit the women (though in practice it is virtually unknown for them to refuse them) they must continue the work of the night and close the circle alone.
The Warrior's Cup is passed round and the games are then celebrated with contests of skill and strength. For some ideas see Chapter Seven. Drumming, merriment and calls of encouragement accompany all the games. When a champion has emerged the atmosphere becomes solemn.
The champion is led to the coven's Fal Stone and if possible is seated upon it or otherwise places his hand upon it. He is crowned with a wreath and swears:
Champion: My triumph I dedicate to the Goddess of the Land. With my strength and courage I will defend the land and all upon it. With my skill and knowledge I will protect and guide my brothers and sisters of the Craft. All this I swear in the name of the Goddess. This too I swear- that when the forces of dark and light stand in balance I will return and make sacrifice.
Priest: Witness now that our God is dying, but know that even in his death he gives his strength to the grain and his life to the harvest.
The priest takes up the loaf and breaks it saying:
The year did spin and spring come round
While our dear Lord lay in the ground
Till rain fell thick upon his bed
And slowly then he raised his head
And grew apace till Midsummer's Day
When with his flowering bride he lay
But the year spins round and he must die
And as a seed must once more lie
We hunt him down with sharpened sickle
To pierce his heart and see blood trickle
To flay his skin from off his bones
And grind him up between two stones
Our dying Lord has lost his head
But with his death we have our bread.
He takes four fragments of bread and places one in the north, one in the east and one in the south saying at each: Lord, give us your protection.
Each person present then eats part of the loaf. A cup of wine is blessed and passed around the circle.
The circle is closed, but feasting and storytelling follow.