(^152) A Wiccan Bible
Lugh is sometimes called Lugh Samhioldanach, which means ‘Lugh of the many
arts.’ Other times he is called Lugh Lamhfhada, which means ‘Lugh of the long hand.’
Although Winter Solstice and the cultural gift giving season is still several months off,
this is an excellent time to incorporate crafts into one’s Holiday activities. The weather
is good enough that spending long hours looking for pinecones, acorns, and other natural
materials to make Yule ornaments and gifts will be pleasant and fruitful.
Couple—Love sport is most appropriate to this Holiday, especially games involving
a chase theme. This Holiday often marks the first harvest, the first capture (harvest)
after a season of tending to the crops (chase). Even if finances are a bit stretched,
spending a bit of extra money on a nice dinner or entertainment with the theme of
ushering future harvests is an excellent way to include sympathetic spellcraft into this
rite. Remember, like attracts like. Lughnasadh celebrates much more than the fertility
of the field. It is also tied to the marriage and fertility rites of Lugh and his bride. This
is the day on which the first Wiccan rite of Handfasting is based, the day of the Brehon
marriages, which are trial marriages that could be undone by returning to the same
spot after a year and a day.
Coven/Household—This is a time of introspect for Covens and Households. The
first harvest has been taken in and from it one can begin to judge what the next harvests
will be like. With that information, one can begin to judge what the Winter food supply
will look like. Although most of us do not live directly off the land, there are some
equally pressing issues facing covens and households.
In general, many covens do not take on new members in the Winter because tradi-
tionally that which a coven or household requires to survive that winter (food and
supplies) has already been calculated and set aside. An interesting correlation to this
principle is that when one faces reality, a modern household or coven has certain mon-
etary requirements. As heating bills rise, household income decreases. Soon the cul-
tural Holidays will be upon us, and our income will be taxed. This is a good time to
discuss pooling resources, maybe setting aside coven monies should one member find
themselves short when trying to pay their heating bills or buying gifts for their children.
Hosting public festivals in order to raise capital for such eventualities is not overly
capitalistic.
Fall Equinox
Summer is at the death stage and begins the cycle of rebirth. Winter is reborn.
Also known as: Alban Elfer, Harvest, Mabon, Festival of Dionysus, Second Harvest,
Waning Equinox, Wine Harvest.
Date: Approximately September 21st or 22nd this Holiday is actually found in the Fall
on the day when the length of day and night is equal.
God associations: Dionysus, Damuzi.
Gemstone associations: Amethyst, Topaz.
p WB Chap 08.p65 152 7/11/2003, 5:52 PM
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