31/01/2026
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πβοΈ In a couple of days, the Hay Moon reaches its peak during the sabbat Lughnasadh, the first harvest festival of the year here in the Southern Hemisphere.
You may also hear this sabbat called Lammas, which is Old English for loaf-mass. Although these names come from different cultural backgrounds (Lughnasadh has Irish, Welsh and Gaulish roots and Lammas is an Anglo-Saxon Christian practice) both honour the beginning of the grain harvest and the abundance of the season - when the first bread made from the new grain was blessed and shared in community gatherings.
This time of year sits firmly in high summer. The land is full, the days are long, and energy is strong. Itβs a moment to acknowledge the work thatβs been done and bless the fruits that are beginning to show.
Thereβs another layer to Lughnasadh thatβs worth remembering. As summer starts to pass, much of the plants begin to turn to seed. Grasses harden, flowers fade into pods, and the focus shifts from growth and fruition - to fertilisation and future potential.
Seed carries intention forward. Seeds ensure continuation, nourishment, and life beyond oneself.
Because the masculine offers the creative potential of seed, aswell as the historical Celtic tales of the sun god, (Also called Lugus or Lleu Llaw Gyffes), Lughnasadh is one of the few points in the ritual year that openly honours the divine masculine. So much so, that during the feminist spiritual movements of the 1960s and 70s, some witches chose to step away from Lughnasadh because of its masculine associations.
Here are some ways to mark this Full Hay Moon, acknowledge the constellation of Leo & the holy days of Lughnasadh:
πΎ Give thanks for what is already growing or ready to harvest in your life.
π Share food, especially whatβs seasonal, local, or made by your own hands. It's the perfect time for picnics and pot-lucks.
π Make or break bread. If you're a wheat-free or gluten-free witch like me, enjoy other grains like Rye, Buckwheat or Quinoa.
πͺ Honour your strength - physical, emotional, and practical.
π¦οΈ Allow your talents to shine.
β¨οΈ Reflect on where your energy has been well spent, and where it needs tending.
π± Set intentions for carrying momentum forward into the coming months.
βοΈ Offer thanks to the land, the gentle, nourishing rains and our mighty sun.
