Volume 16 Issue 4
Lammas 2019

Seasons of the Moon is a quarterly online magazine published by students and members of The Order of The White Moon, an eclectic international order of women dedicated to The Goddess. The Order provides personal empowerment and priestess training, and operates local groups. All contributions are original material submitted by our students and members. (We do not accept outside contributions.) Please direct comments and questions to the Ezine Editor.

Lammas 2019

Happy Anniversary OWM!
Holy Days
Lammas ‐ Origin and Custom, M)0(rrigan
Lammas Story/Guided Meditation, Lynda

Ritual Work
Lammas Ritual, Peace Whitehorse
Lilith Ritual, Mystic Amazon
Ritual for Justice, M)0(rrigan
Amunet Ritual, Crystal Fire

Thou "Art" Goddess
Return to Dust , Luma Mora
Sacred Sites
Order of the White Moon, Ajna DreamsAwake

OWM Awareness
OWM Happenings, Ajna DreamsAwake
OWM Sister Stories

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit
Зерно, Hera Nova
Praise to Green Tara, Mystic Amazon
So Mote It Be, Lady Zephyr
Lammastide, Peace Whitehorse
Cornucopia, Peace Whitehorse
The Fall of the Year, Peace Whitehorse
Mabon Harvest, Peace Whitehorse
Both Sides, Peace Whitehorse

Recipes Fit for a Goddess
Apple‐Bread, M)0(rrigan
Just For Fun
Altar Decorations, M)0(rrigan
Lammas Word Search, Ajna DreamsAwake

Happy Anniversary OWM!

The White Moon School of the Feminine Divine was established in 1999 by Reverend Luna Blanca as a way to bring women together to learn about Goddess and to empower each other. At the time, there were few texts available, nor were there many schools that were offering courses on Goddess Thealogy. OWM established an online school so that students from around the world could take the lessons and support each other in their studies. Since that time, hundreds of students have applied and worked through the lessons, becoming Lifetime Members of the Order, Priestesses, High Priestesses and Ordained Ministers.

Luna Blanca retired from the Order in 2005, but her legacy lives on in the many branch schools that continue to offer her original White Moon teachings. The Order continues to uphold her, providing opportunities for women to learn about the Divine Feminine and their own self‐empowerment.

Thank you Luna Blanca, for sharing your wisdom, your passion, and your love of Goddess with so many women.

Here's to twenty more years (and beyond …) of OWM empowering women around the world. May each of us come to know and love the Goddess within.

Happy Anniversary to the Order of the White Moon!

Holy Days

Lammas ‐ Origin and Custom

At the August Full Moon, Lug ‐ Llew Law Gyffes ‐ celebrated his wedding with the goddess of the Earth Annona, the matron with the cornucopia who nourishes the world. They will be reigning until Samhain. Their Time is the Harvest Time. Lugh's Festival was a Fire festival. Huge piles of wood were lit. The Fire symbolising the metamorphosis of the god. For 3 days ‐ so was the custom of the Island Celts ‐ Water was taboo. No washing, no bathing, no fishing, nor could a net be cast. The Corn*‐King [*British English ‐ meaning grain, crop] (Corn‐Wolf or Corn‐Bear) was brought to the village in a solemn procession and sacrificed. The Anglo‐Saxons called the feast for the blessing of the grain harvest Hlaf‐mass, from which came the name Lammas.

On the Feast of Lugh all herbs that were necessary to keep Health and Wealth of the Farm/House in the coming year were consecrated. It made sense to collect the plants in these hot days, because aroma, taste and healing power are the expression of the cosmic powers of Warmth and Light that the plants are absorbing in this time of the year. The women consecrated these herbs to the goddess. The missionary Bonifatius ‐ the same who had cut down the sacred trees of the heathens ‐ tried to ban this custom in a synod of Liftinae (in the Year 743 CE), but the Women were sticking to their ritual, and so the church allowed the tradition, but under the patronage of the Virgin Mary, saying those herbs were the flowers found in her tomb (instead of symbols of the Goddess' body). So the herbs were collected and consecrated to the Holy Mary on her Ascension day.

9 Healing Herbs for protection against sorcery, fire and hail, for a good cohabitation, and for an easy birth. Some of them were laid in the chest where crops were stored, others were put in the coffin of a deceased person. Many of the herbs were used as incense, smoked during the sacred times ‐ like the Rauhnächte (Twelfth night or Epiphany), or winter equinox. These Herbs were:

Yarrow, Mugwort, Arnica, Marigold, Sage, Lovage, Dill, Valerian, Tansy

The sacred bunches were embellished with Corn stalks, some flowering Corn weeds, like the cornflowers who brought to mind, with their blue colour, the sky cloak of the Goddess. They were then framed with shorter growing herbs like camomile, creeping thyme, cleaver, and feverfew. At the center, the goddess herself was represented by the common mullein.

My name is Morrigan. I am a Priestess of Morrigan and practice Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. I am a sister in the Sacred Three Goddess School.

Lammas Story/Guided Meditation

Note from author: This is a story/guided meditation to use as part of a Lammas Celebration. The background of the story is that the listener has been walking the Wheel of the Year. The guided meditation facilitator reads the story, asking the listeners to close their eyes, and really embed themselves in the story. At the end of the meditation, each listener should know what gift has come to them from the Goddess.

The day is blazing hot as you continue walking. You're grateful for the bottle of water you still have. You walk through the dusty fields, and notice there are farmers out doing some harvesting. They wave at you, and you wave back. You think there is another settlement ahead. A farmer driving a slow old battered rusty pick‐up with bushels of tomatoes in the back comes by and offers you a ride into the town. You accept, and thank him profusely. Your breakfast seems a long time ago. Your stomach begins to growl from the hunger of your long walk.

The farmer drops you off in the downtown area. The town is small. The buildings look old. You notice the town newspaper, a small pharmacy, a barber shop. The people you see look drowsy. You walk along, turn a corner, and smell something delicious. You spot a bakery across the street.

You go in the door, and are struck by the shelves and shelves of breads. Round loaves, long loaves, breads with herbs, dark breads, light breads, tall breads, flat breads, braided breads, spiced breads, breads with fruit, small loaves that would fit in your hand, a veritable wealth of bread. A woman comes from the back of the store, wiping hands covered with flour on her apron. She looks to be in her mid 60s. Her graying hair is braided on top of her head, and some sorts of plants are braided in it. You look and realize that she has barley, wheat, and other stalks of grain twined in her hair. Her eyes are black and snappy, and her cheeks are red. She has a name‐tag pinned to her white uniform. It says "Ceres."

"Lady" you say, and bow your head to her.

"Ah, I was expecting you today" she responds briskly. "I thought you would be in for the feast of first breads, you know. In fact, I baked something special just for you. Hold just a minute, I'll go get it." She bustles out, and you look around the bakery shop again. You realize the wall‐paper shows all kinds of cereals, fruits and vegetables. Three small tables with chairs are pushed against the wall. Just by the counter is what looks to be controls for the air conditioner, with a sign over it that reads "Don't mess with De Meter."

"Absolutely not" you say to yourself, as she comes back, with a white paper bag with string handles in her hand. She hands you the white bag, and then turns to the shelf behind her and pulls an enormous raisin cinnamon bun off a tray. She puts in it a brown paper sack. She hands both to you. You try and pay, but she waves you away brusquely. "Child, child" she says "None of that money. In payment, just work on feeding my hungry children, ok?" "Yes ma'am" you respond. She says "OK, on with you then, you've some distance to the west to journey" and she turns to go. You step out, heading west. You can smell the cinnamon rising from the brown sack ‐ and you decide you should at least see what Ceres put for you in the white bag. ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ You have received a gift from the Goddess. Take a moment to reflect, and write down what is in the white Lammas bag

Lynda is a Level II Initiate in Dark Moon's Heart School.

Ritual Work

Lammas Ritual

Chime candles: yellow, red, blue, green, white, silver
Intent candles: orange, yellow, green [I use tea lights]
Gemstones for on altar: Carnelian, citrine, moss agate, tourmaline
Altar cloth: white
Piece of fruit, fresh vegetables and napkin on plate
Fresh bread round on plate
Chalice with beverage in it
Sandalwood incense
Frankincense oil
Wand [Can be a simple stick picked up outdoors]

Ritual

Anoint candles with Frankincense oil
Purify space with Sage smudge
Light Sandalwood incense
Ground and center

Cast Circle with Wand

As I walk this circle round, I cast a sacred sphere,
A place to work my will within, and call the Goddess near.
Around, around, around I go, I walk the circle round times three.
The circle is cast, the circle is cast! Blessed be, so mote it be!

Call Quarters ‐ Light the appropriate chime candle as you call each element
[yellow, then red, then blue, then green].

I call upon the Sylphs, spirits of Air, the essence of intelligence,
liberating and stimulating, to come from the East to guard this circle.

I call upon the Salamanders, spirits of Fire, essence of strength and defense,
animating and activating, to come from the South to guard this circle.

I call upon the Undines, spirits of Water, essence of emotions and abundance,
malleable and flexible, to come from the West to guard this circle.

I call upon the Gnomes, spirits of Earth, essence of fertility and solidarity,
nourishing, binding and giving of form, to come from the North to guard this circle.

Call Spirit

I call upon the Akasha, the essence of Spirit itself,
to come from the center of the All, to join in this circle.

Light the white Spirit chime candle

Call Goddess

I call upon the Goddess, the Great One who gives all and loves all and Is All,
to come and join in this circle.

Light the silver Goddess chime candle

Give Thanks

Goddess I call to you, to give you thanks.
All that I am and all that I have has come from thee.
I strive to be One with you, Mother of All!
Blessed be, so mote it be!

Intent

The intent of this ritual is to celebrate Lammas
and the blessings of the First Harvest

Body of Ritual

Light the yellow intent candle.
Stand before the altar, holding aloft the plate of vegetables and fruit and say:

Blessed be this season of Lammas,
time of the First Harvest,
when the bounties of nature give of themselves
so that we may survive.

Oh Great Goddess, bless this harvest.
Oh Goddess of the ripening fields,
Lady of the Grain, who give sustenance to the people,
grant me the understanding of sacrifice
as You prepare to deliver Your bounty under the sickle.

Oh Goddess of the Moon, teach me the secrets of rebirth
as the Sun loses its strength and the nights grow cold.

Light the orange intent candle.
Lift a piece of fruit and bite it, savoring its flavor and say:

I partake of the first harvest, mixing its energies with mine
that I may continue my quest for the starry wisdom of perfection.

Oh Lady of the Moon, gracious one before Whom the stars halt their courses,
I offer my thanks for the continuing fertility of the Earth.
May the nodding grain loose its seeds to be buried in the Mother's breast,
ensuring rebirth in the warmth of the coming Spring.

Light the green intent candle.
Take the bread from the altar and say:

Many blessings I have been given, I count them now by this bread
of the grain of Mother Earth.

Name some of the things you are thankful for, one by one.
With each thing you name, break off a small piece of bread and eat it.
Place the bread aside so that it can be placed outside
as an offering to the faeries and animals.

Thank you Great Mother. May I never hunger!
I boldly ask that You accept my offering of this bread.
May it be used to feed Your loved ones in nature.

Consume the rest of the fruit now or after circle.
Reflect on the gifts and the harvests in your life.

Take up the Chalice, and say:

Goddess, Mother of All, bless this beverage of which I am about to partake.
May I never thirst!

Drink from the chalice.
Save some of the beverage to pour out on the ground as a libation after ritual.

Thank and Release Goddess

Thank You Goddess for Your presence which to me is so dear.
Stay if You will, go if You must, You are always welcome here!

Extinguish Goddess candle

Release Spirit and the Quarters

Thank you, Akasha, essence of Spirit, for your presence here!
Go in peace and farewell until we meet again.

Thank you, Sylphs of the East, for your presence here!
Go in peace and farewell until we meet again.

Thank you, Salamanders of the South, for your presence here!
Go in peace and farewell until we meet again.

Thank you, Undines of the West, for your presence here!
Go in peace and farewell until we meet again.

Thank you, Gnomes of the North, for your presence here!
Go in peace and farewell until we meet again.

Extinguish corresponding chime candles in turn.

Take up Circle

I take back up the energy,
I used to put the circle down,
Back into me and thus into the Mother,
As I walk the circle round.
While the circle lingers still
It is open yet unbroken,
Blessed be, so mote it be,
It is as I have spoken.

An' it harm none, this ritual is done!

Remember to ground ‐ This is important!!!

Allow intent candles to burn out safely
Place remainder of bread outside for the fairies and animals
and pour out the remainder of the beverage in the chalice

Peace Whitehorse is a graduate of The Sacred Three Goddess School and a High Priestess in the Order of the White Moon, teacher at the Peace Grove School of the Goddess and facilitator and High Priestess of the Peace Grove Coven. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and her Shetland sheepdogs, and is active in Sheltie Rescue.

Lilith Ritual for Protection, Power, and Independence

1 dark red candle to represent Lilith
1 black candle for wisdom and protection
1 candle to represent yourself
Dragonsblood Oil or your chosen oil
Cinnamon incense

Cast your Circle as you ordinarily do.
Carve Lilith or an owl on the dark red candle.
Carve a snake on the black candle and carve 'Wisdom' and 'Protection'.
On your own candle, put your name and if there is a special symbol to you, carve that.

Remember Olive Oil is always appropriate if that is what you have.
Dress your candles with the oil.

Say this invocation three times:

Goddess Lilith

Hail to Lilith, Lady of the night!
Your long hair flows outward,
Melding into the shadows
And your black eyes are ancient,
Deep with magic and secrets.

You are powerful and free,
No other being is your master.
You fly upon the wings of night,
And the owl carries your messages.
Since beginning times, you were there.

No man can tame you,
For why should you be tamed?
To be your own ruler is your nature.
The weak ones of mankind
Were afraid of you and called you
Evil.

Every inner demon
And dark shadow in the night
Has been ascribed to you, Goddess.
But your power and wild beauty
Have survived.

Teach me to be unafraid,
To feel power singing in my veins.
Help me to face and balance
The shadows in my nature,
And to be proud of my sexuality.

Protect me from the shadows
And the darkness that would harm me,
And help me to understand
The shadows that will not.
I thank you, Dark Lady.

When you are through with the invocation, dismiss the Circle,
thanking anyone you invited to join you there: Lilith,
your guides and guardians, the elements, directions, etc…

Then go to the door and open it, visualizing what you have
asked for going to the Ethers and manifesting.

Know that you have Lilith's blessing.

Send any excess energy to Mother Earth.

Let your candles burn down safely.

Beth Clare Johnson June 7, 2008
(Mystic Amazon)

Poem © Beth Clare Johnson April 11, 2006
(Mystic Amazon)

Mystic Amazon is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon and an Ordained Minister. Her hobbies include writing, folk art, folk magick, Reiki, and reading.

Ritual for Justice

Do we always reap what we sow? That may be true to some extent but every so often we just get into the energy of people without having done anything to deserve this.

In this ritual you are calling on the Maiden aspect of the Goddess, the Warrior that will help us, fight beside us in our battle.

White candle
Red candle
Green candle
Sage incense
Blue body color

Preparation

Clear your aura ‐ take a ritual bath or smudge ‐ the feeling you have is important, how you arrive there is up to you.

Light the white candles, burn the incense and cast your circle.
Sit in the circle and meditate on the subject ‐ say: I am open and receiving
This is about you getting a clear picture and feeling about the matter.

Light the red candle
Paint your body blue ‐ like the warriors of the picts did. Feel the strength and power within.
Summon the Goddess to help you, use your own words.
Tell Her the problem that you are facing aloud and ask Her for support and guidance.

Light the green candle and visualize that your problem is solved, see yourself in the desired results, in the situation you are yearning for.
See how the Goddess stands beside you to get the justice win …

Give your thanks to the Goddess.
Thank the Elements for being with you.
Extinguish the lights, feel the new strength …

You may repeat this ritual until the situation has changed.

My name is Morrigan. I am a Priestess of Morrigan and practice Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. I am a sister in the Sacred Three Goddess School.

Amunet Ritual

1 white or black candle
snake skin (maybe be substituted with serpentine crystal)
small cauldron with sand and a candle
leaves and/or berries

Assemble on Mother Earth if weather permits. The middle of the circle holds the light (the cauldron, sand and candle).

Around the sacred circle holds the offering (leaves, berries).

The calling of the Goddess Amunet (hold the serpent) as we cast our circle:

I call thee Amunet, Great Goddess and Protectress.
In our time of need, that is now,
as creator of life, Earth, Egypt herself, and nature,
I ask for guidance into our battle of living.
You are also known as a death creator.
I hold this serpent as a reminder that all must die to be renewed.
And it is so.
Goddess Bless

Crystal Fire is a Level II Initiate in Dark Moon's Heart School

Thou "Art" Goddess

Return to Dust

Return to Dust symbolizes the circle of life. The painting depicts a young nymph, playfully blowing dust from her hands as she rests in the hands of the ageless mother earth Goddess Gaia. She may not realize it, but this girl is also dust in these ancient hands. Thus, the stages of life are represented in dust, youthfulness, aging, death, and dust once more.

Luma Mora

Return to Dust

Luma Mora is an Initiate in the Sacred Three Goddess School.

Sacred Sites

Order of the White Moon

The phrase "Sacred Sites" usually conjures up images of ancient ruins such as the Temple of Delphi or Çatalhöyük, or natural formations like Uluru and Denali. But there is another version of Sacred Site, one that may seem more ethereal rather than having a physical presence, at least, on the surface it may look that way.

I see OWM as a virtual Sacred Site, one that resides in the hearts of every Sister who enrols in the White Moon lessons. OWM is a virtual community with an online presence, but what makes it truly sacred, is the way the Order manifests itself in the physical world.

It manifests when Sisters step into their personal power.
It manifests when Sisters do the hard work necessary to heal from old wounds, past hurts, and recurring patterns.

It manifests when Sisters make conscious choices about how they will spend their time or whom they will support, energetically, financially etc ….
It manifests when Sisters engage in acts of self‐love, making healthy choices, not because they feel they "should", but simply because they love themselves enough to feel worthy.

It manifests in the way Sisters carry themselves in the world.
It manifests when they walk as Priestesses, every step sacred, shoulders back, held head high, leading with their wombs and breasts.

It manifests when Sisters speak out against injustice, when they stand up for themselves.
It manifests when Sisters speak their Truth.

OWM is not what one would normally consider a Sacred Site, but, for me, the term is appropriate. OWM is a place where I feel the Divine within, where I see the Divine in my Sisters. OWM often feels like coming home, because it is home, and each and every Sister here is family. And this feeling of Sisterhood is truly a sacred site to behold.

Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.

OWM Awareness

White Moon Happenings

Luma Mora, of The Sacred Three, completed Level I to become an Initiate and Lifetime Member of the Order. Her project on Beira, Queen of Winter, appears here: https://orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/Beira/Beira.htm

Autumn Faol Dreamweaver, of the Sacred Three, completed Level II to become an Adept. Her project on Artemis appears here: https://orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/artemis_3/Artemis.htm

We are thrilled to see such amazing women make the commitment to themselves to walk this Goddess Path. Their dedication and hard work are an inspiration to us all.

In our recent OWM Board meeting, your HPs made some changes to the White Moon Curriculum, that we hope will foster a culture of service within the Order. Students will be expected to participate in the different groups available, as well as offer their services with the WTZ, Seasons of the Moon, and the Healing Temple. These changes will take effect immediately for all new Students and those who are about to begin Levels II and III. Current Students are not obliged to follow these new requirements unless they choose to, or if they would like to move on to the next Level of study. However, we strongly recommend that all Students become more active within the Order.

The updated curriculum can be viewed here: https://orderwhitemoon.org/schools/index.html

We've had some changes on our Board of Directors. HP Ka Wahine Ahi stepped down as President of the Board, after her 5‐year term ended in July. We would like to offer her our thanks and gratitude for all the work she has done for the Order. Wahine will continue to serve on the Board as Vice President of Public Outreach ‐ Prayer Ministry

HP Literata is no longer serving on the Board. She has done an amazing job maintaining our website over the years and we would like to thank her for all she has done for the Order. HP Ajna DreamsAwake has officially taken over the role of Web Mistress.

Kerritwyn has stepped into the role of Vice President for Ordinations.

The Board elected HP Ajna DreamsAwake to be the next President of the Board and Spiritual Head of the Order.

I would like to personally thank the Board of Directors for having the confidence to elect me as OWM's next President. I will strive to follow in the footsteps of the women who have served before me. They have been an inspiration and I would not be in this position today without their loving support over the years. It is an honour to be able to serve the Order and my Sisters.

We are, of course, delighted to welcome our new students in Pyramid of Light Mystery School , The Sisters of the Rising Moon, Sacred Three, Peace Grove School of the Goddess, and Dark Moon's Heart from all over the world! We are always happy when sisters find their way to OWM!

More About OWM

If you're not an OWM student and you'd like to learn more about the Order of the White Moon, the schools offering Traditional White Moon Studies, or browse the Goddess Gallery, we welcome you to learn about us!

You can connect with OWM on social media! Follow us on Twitter at @OrderWhiteMoon for regular updates on Seasons of the Moon, the Weekly Tarot Zodiac and other OWM public outreach programs. Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/orderwhitemoon.

Visit and like us! The Twitter feed and Facebook page are available to the public. Feel free to share these links. We appreciate your feedback so please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

HP Ajna DreamsAwake is the President of the Board of Directors and the Spiritual Head of the Order. She is the founder of Dark Moon's Heart School .

OWM Sister Stories

I'm an only child. I grew up without siblings. I was happy to be able to do my own thing my own way. Then, I joined OWM. I discovered that I have many, many wonderful sisters‐in‐Goddess! I'm not an only, but, one of a divine sisterhood. I cherish OWM for the invaluable personal and spiritual growth I experienced through the lessons but mostly for my wonderful White Moon sisters. I love you all!

~ High Priestess Ka Wahine Ahi
Sisters of the Rising Moon

When I was a teenager, I read about the Romani tradition that declared a menstruating woman cannot cross over a body of water because being in that state makes her impure. What did this mean about my own body? Why did people fear and loathe the functions of the female body so much?

Even as a little child, without knowing what I was doing, I began searching for the lost divinity of the female.

I found Joan of Arc in my Catholic school's library and was immediately awestruck. Here was a saint that was not martyred for refusing to marry a pagan, or for going against her father's wishes. Here was a saint that threw off the tradition of a woman's place. She had a mission and she left her mark on the world. It was not until Order of the White Moon priestess training that I learned that virgin means "a woman unto herself."

That is what I have always endeavored to be!

When I began my priestess studies, I learned the history of the Goddess from the Neolithic to now. I learned about our ancient ancestor priestesses. I suddenly understood why it was that I had always felt something pulling me that I did not understand. Because we women were always the ones who warded off evil, protected the milestones of life, lovingly ministered to the mothers in the gauntlet of childbirth, the ill in the gauntlet of sickness and the dead as they passed from this world to the next. We carried our societies along by our inborn mysticism.

I see again and again the importance that Order of the White Moon has had in my life when I see my female friends, colleagues, family members feeling sad, having little joy, being lost.

They have not had the opportunity to unlearn the patriarchal conditioning. May they also receive whatever path to divine femininity is waiting for them.

When a woman reveres a Goddess, she also reveres her Self. When we understand that God is a woman, we find our long‐lost self love. When we grasp the greatness of the Goddess, we grasp the greatness of our own power. When we mourn what was done to the Goddess, we mourn the loss of what we have always been, the healers, the creators, the mystics, the telephone between the divine and humankind.

The way we have of looking at reality has been skewed for a really long time. Women are taught that their nature is foul.

If women are given only one glimpse of God as male, as father or son, women are told that they are not divine. If they are taught that the gifts given to women are second class, they will continue to harbor a wound within themselves and be branded as outcasts among men.

Women have been perfectly made. Women were born to create the world in love.

~ Melissa Bee

After many years of drifting on and off my spiritual path, I came to realize that I needed a mentor and began researching schools. I kept returning to OWM and Sacred Three. Kerritwyn was a gentle and patient teacher who supported me as a Student and, eventually, as a High Priestess, when I began mentoring other women. One of the key moments for me was the first time that I was able to look in the mirror and love the woman looking back at me. Years later, that still resonates deeply. I used to hide my spiritual path from others, now I strive to act from that Priestess place in all that I do, being mindful of how my words and actions impact myself and others.

~ HP Ajna DreamsAwake

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit

Зерно

Zernó, zernó, from seed to fruit;
The bush, the tree, the bamboo shoot

It's time to reap what we have sown,
To show the elders what we've grown

The earth is ripe, creatures rejoice
Now let our Mother hear our voice

We bow and thank, as we collect
Sing her our songs to show respect

Like the birds inside the forest
Harvest days should not be modest

Make wreaths from sheaves of wheat and corn
And ribbons in your hair be worn

Paint your hands and lips with berries
Dance, and hug, and kiss. Be merry!

* Zerno (Зерно) is a Russian word for 'seed' or 'grain'.
The accented letter 'o' is just to show the emphasis is on that letter when reading.

Hera Nova is a Level I Student in Dark Moon's Heart School.

Praise to Green Tara

Here is the Green Tara,
Towering above the trees,
Looking upon us here on Earth,
To see how we are doing.

Her beautiful eyes are open,
The eyes in her head are three,
And one of them in her forehead.
Her hands sweep from side to side
In a graceful rhythm…
The eye in each hand, looking over;
Over the actions and beauty
Of the world and the peoples in it.

Her strong, graceful feet walk on,
Each having an eye in it to see,
Each sensing and knowing all things.

Green Tara, beautiful green, lovely one,
Queen of Nature.
Green Tara, protect us and show us
The way toward the Light,
To feel our Light Within, O Mother.

Green as the trees are,
Green as the grasses
Green as some of the animals
Sparkling, clean green as in waters.
Listen to us, O Mother,
As we praise you.
Enlighten us. We look at you in awe,
Marveling at your grace
And the depth of your compassion.

Protect our Earth, Help us
To protect the resources here.
Protect us all from evil beings.
Help us be kind and caring
And protect the innocents,
As you do, Gracious Mother.
Help us with our healings,
Adding your energies.

Grant us your happy laughter,
Let us rejoice at what we have
And make better what we can,
Appreciating the Earth's bounty.
We feel joy at your approach.
Bless us, Green Mother.

Mystic Amazon is a High Priestess of the Order of the White Moon and an Ordained Minister. Her hobbies include writing, folk art, folk magick, Reiki, and reading.

So Mote It Be

I gathered my articles together
To prepare my Altar
Candles, incense, oils, pen and paper
Decorating with care.

Cast my Circle
Calling in all Elements
Meditated, said my prayers
Gave my thanks.

Grounded.
Opened my Circle
Feeling energized and happy,
I enjoyed my mooncake.

Something not quite right
I thought to myself,
Oh My Goddess
How could I have forgotten.

Opening the Kitchen door
Into the cold night's air
I yelled with all my might
"SO MOTE IT BE!"

Did I hear an echo?
Why yes I believe I did.
My Sisters yelling "SO MOTE IT BE"
Back to me!

Lady Zephyr was a High Priestess of OWM who, sadly, passed away suddenly in 2015. Although she resides in the Goddess' embrace, we can still feel her presence in the poetry she shared.

Lammastide

We rejoice in the Earth's good bounty,
First of harvest festivals three,
Corn and wheat are coming in,
Fruit of vine and fruit of tree.

Thor's wife Sif had golden hair,
Until that Loki's cutting spate.
The dwarves spun new hair for the lady,
And Loki then escaped his fate.

Harvest the grain by waning moon,
Dig the potato and cut the peat,
Now is time to celebrate,
Drink the wine, good things eat!

Winter still a good ways off,
Life is easy, life is good.
Gifts of gloves are tradition,
Hold the games in honor of Lugh.

Wean the calves, first fruits are ripe,
Enjoy them now while there is plenty,
Dog days of summer are upon us,
Love the life the Goddess sent thee.

Get the baskets and Boline,
Lammas is upon us now,
Fall is coming surely by,
Time to put away the plow.

Summer still, but first of harvest,
Coming in for us to taste,
Lammas, also Lughnasadh,
Has come upon us with much haste!

Cornucopia

It lies on its side,
Full of the bounty
Of the field and grove.
Shaped like
A curved cone,
Its wicker shining in the
Lowering sunlight.
A misshapen basket.
Reach in, take an apple
Or some corn or squash.
A pear or some grapes.
Whatever strikes your fancy.
Colored leaves are
Falling all about it.
It is the Mabon Cornucopia!

The Fall of the Year

Fall. It radiates coolness
After the hellish heat of summer.
Such a relief it is to us
As the Wheel turns once again.

Autumn. Leaves are turning,
Showing off their splendor.
Nights are cooler
And days are for sweaters.

Mabon, marks the delineation
Between Summer and Fall.
Sweet Mabon, the second harvest.
Time of field corn and apples.

Lay in the cold weather stores,
for the winter comes, and soon
The snows will be upon us.
The fields cleared and fallow.

Then the long wait begins.

Mabon Harvest

Harvest time is now in full swing,
Boughs bend down with apples sweet.
Gardens given up their bounty,
Grapes for wine and pears to eat.

Cucumbers and peppers picked,
Tomato harvest now is done.
Fall is here and winter nearer,
With the waning of the sun.

Light and dark equate again,
Autumn Equinox is here!
Hospitality, forgiveness
Share the food and mead and beer.

Settle your accounts and debts,
Burn tobacco, cedar, hops.
Honor passed as pass the gravesite,
Look out for the great Cyclops!

Grapes and acorns, nuts and wheat,
Dogs and wolves and birds of prey,
The harvest and the aging Gods
Are symbols of this special day.

God prepares now to depart,
And grow from weakness to be strong
Nestled in the Goddess' womb,
The days grow short, the nights grow long.

We celebrate the second harvest,
Cold, long winter closer now,
Put away what will be needed
Until it's time to pull the plow.

Prepare ye now for time to come.
Winter's cold and soup be thin.
Weave for warmth and can the goods,
For 'til the Sun is high again.

Both Sides

A Witch is both light and dark,
White and black, bite and bark.
And all the shades of gray there are,
Without which she shan't go far.

She can be "good", she can be "bad".
She is often happy but sometimes sad
To do the things she needs to do.
Without dark, light has no hue.

Positive workings by waxing moon,
Negative workings by waning's gloom.
Sometimes she is good and nice,
Other times, poppets on ice!

So if a Witch you see today,
Be sure to step out of her way.
Does not pay to anger a Witch,
Lest you and a green frog make a switch!

Light without dark cannot exist,
Open hand and strong, closed fist.
Hex to throw and will to bend,
Magick used to achieve an end.

Recipes Fit for a Goddess

Apple‐Bread

The Irish goddess Tailtiu reconnects us with the earth's cycles and the spirit of excellence. Her foster son, Lugh created the Tailtean games, which took place during Lammas. Lammas is the first of three Harvest festivals and so, preparing dishes with the first fruits or grains of the harvest is one way to honour Tailtu.

Ingredients

500g (2 cups) Apples
250 g (2 cups) Flour
150 g (⅔) Sugar
2Pkg [16 g] (4 tsp) Vanilla‐Sugar
Vanilla‐sugar is a common ingredient in traditional German recipes. It may be found in the specialty foods section of your local grocery store.
½ Pkg [7.5 g] (1½ tsp) Baking Powder
4 eggs
Cinnamon

Mix the flour, sugar, vanilla‐sugar, baking powder, eggs and cinnamon. Peel the apples, remove the core and cut the apples into small pieces. Add them to the batter.

As you stir, chant,

Flour from grain, the spell begins, let the power rise within;
Apples from trees, now impart, Tailtiu, bring _ _ _ to my heart.*

Fill the blank with a word that describes the area in which you want to encourage improvements or develop mastery.

Put all in a greased pan, bake for 40 ‐ 45 minutes at 160° C (325° F).

Eat the bread to internalize the energy

* From our Level I text ‐ 365 Goddess by Patricia Telesco

My name is Morrigan. I am a Priestess of Morrigan and practice Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. I am a sister in the Sacred Three Goddess School.

Just For Fun

Altar Decorations

Orange and Apple Candle Holders

For the orange candle holders, you need thick‐skinned oranges. Cut the top, with a sharp knife or athame, use a spoon to scrape out the flesh. Now you can put a votive candle or tea light in the orange.

For the apple candle holders, you just take some nice red apples and take out the core with some special knife ‐ or any sharp knife ‐ until the candle fits in.

My name is Morrigan. I am a Priestess of Morrigan and practice Shamanism, Runes, Tarot and Usui Reiki. I am a sister in the Sacred Three Goddess School.

Lammas Word Search

lammas puzzle

lammas word list

To download and print a PDF copy of this puzzle Click here

Thanks to http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com for assistance in creating this Word Search puzzle.

Ajna DreamsAwake is a High Priestess and founder of Dark Moon's Heart School. Her personal journey of self‐discovery continues as she supports and guides women along their own healing paths.

The articles featured in Seasons of the Moon are written and/or submitted by members of the Order of the White Moon and are their own intellectual property. Please feel free to share this publication but do give credit where credit is due and link back to the source.

Thank you for reading, we hope that you have enjoyed it just as much as we have enjoyed presenting it to you.

Many blessings to you and yours,
Seasons of The Moon Staff

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Seasons of the Moon Home

Volume 16 Issue 4 Lammas 2019

Lammas 2019

Holy Days

Lammas Story/Guided Meditation

Ritual Work

Lammas Ritual

Lilith Ritual for Protection, Power, and Independence

Ritual for Justice

Amunet Ritual

Thou "Art" Goddess

Return to Dust

Sacred Sites

OWM Awareness

The Bardic Soul: Poetry and Song for the Spirit

Recipes Fit for a Goddess

Apple‐Bread

Just For Fun

Altar Decorations

Volume 16 Issue 4
Lammas 2019