30/07/2025
Dear Ones,
Lughnasadh seems especially important to me this year because of the world we are living in. Here’ why why I feel this way.
Lughnasadh means "Lugh’s assembly," or "gathering." It is that holiday in the Celtic Wheel of the Year that marks the halfway point between Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox. August 1st is the official day the god, Lugh, chose this time to host "the Funeral Games" (the precursor to the Olympic Games) in honor of his stepmother, whom he adored. She is Tailtiu, the Goddess of the Harvest. She used her magic to till the lands of Ireland so her people could farm. She dug out rocks, cleared forest lands, etc. and kept at it until she finally died of exhaustion when she was through.
So Lughnasadh honors both grief and joy . . . sadness for the death of Tailtiu and a joyful celebration in gratitude for her life. In modern times, it honors the sadness of the waning warmth and light of summer and the coming fallow times, and also the joy and gratitude for Mother Earth’s bounty -- Lughnasa is also called the The First Harvest or the harvest of the fruits.
But, this year, it is extra important to me.
We need the aspect of joy to antidote the collective grieving we are experiencing in the world. I see it as an act of rebellion and resistance against isolation and separation from each other. We seem to be losing our sovereignty and agency over our own choices. In this moment, it seems to me a revolutionary act to gather together in joy . . . to delight in the company of our family and friends . . .
So let’s assemble. Let’s have an ASSEMBLY OF JOY!
• Joy as prayer.
• Joy as rebellion.
• Joy as radical resistance.
• Joy as an offering.
• Joy as medicine for our souls.
My love to all,
Jade
