As we enter the time of Lunasa, the ancient Celtic festival of late summer, we’re invited to pause and honor the Celtic god Lugh- known for his craftsmanship skills – as well as celebrate the harvest present at this time of the year. This seasonal shift is a gentle reminder to slow down and feel gratitude for the gifts the Earth so generously provides. It’s a time to reflect on the collective impact we’ve had on the land, and to recommit to connecting with and caring for her.
There’s a certain shift in the air now — the light lingers just a little less each day, and the warmth in the air carries the heaviness of late summer. This slowing down that feels so present in the atmosphere invites us to move with more pause, and more mindfully.
Yesterday, during a walk in between “running errands”, I had an unexpected encounter with a Luna Moth. I saw it lying in the hot grass ahead of me and it appeared to be struggling. I sat down beside it and it crawled onto me. It seemed to get much calmer in my presence. I noticed a small tear in its wing and made a little shelter for it near an enormous oak tree a few feet from where I found it lying in the blazing heat. That moment of connection that I would like to believe was mutually beneficial- it certainly lifted my spirits to be in the presence of this beautiful being(!)- is something I know I would have missed had I been rushing, distracted by my phone, or focused only on getting to my next destination.
Lunasa offers us this gift: the chance to slow down – and by doing so, move through our days with more awareness, giving us a chance to reconnect with the beauty and other life forms present here on Earth. Lunasa is an invitation to notice the subtle signs of abundance, creation, and beauty all around us.
As a way to honor Lugh during this time, the Celtic god of Craftsmanship, consider this an invitation to return to a favorite ancestral primitive skill that you may have set aside during the busy rush of earlier summer days.
One skill that comes to mind is basket-weaving. Cattails are now ripe for harvesting, and perfect for weaving baskets — a meaningful, satisfying, and ancient skill that can not only strengthen our connection to the plants and landscape that surround us, but also to our history as humans living in connection and harmony with nature.
In addition to slowing down and cultivating or revisiting an ancient earth skill such as basket weaving, another beautiful and simple way to celebrate this time of Lunasa is by gathering the wine berries and black berries that are ripening now – another sign of the sweetness and abundance that nature provides – and share these with friends.
A favorite activity I love doing with the kids in our programs is making fresh jam from these berries and serving it with Ash Cakes cooked on an open fire – “breaking bread” and sharing the abundance found in nature together. This to me feels like one perfect and simple way to celebrate this special time.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll be on the look out to harvest more berries and cattails to use in our upcoming homeschool programs.
If you’d like to learn more about our homeschool programs or join us for a weekend workshop, check out all of our offerings here.
I look forward to slowing down and really appreciating all that the Earth provides with you and your families this coming season.
Blog post submitted by our field instructor – Laura Rose