May the sun’s rebirth at Yule bring renewed light to your heart and soul. As we embrace the longest night, may we find peace in the stillness and wisdom in the silence. Blessed be this season of renewal and hope.
Category: Seasons
Mabon 2024
Mabon Blessings
As the wheel of the year turns to Mabon,
We give thanks for the harvest’s bounty.
May the balance of light and dark guide us,
And the wisdom of the season fills our hearts.
Winter Solstice 2023
As the sun pauses in the sky, let your heart be filled with light and happiness. Happy Winter Solstice! Thank you all for your support this past year. I will be taking a break until after the New Year. So I wish you Bright Blessings through the New Year.
Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain
Hopes Last Longer than Their Disappointments
Hopes last longer than their disappointments.
An abandoned hope can haunt its house for years,
Longing to breathe life into its spirit,
Longing for the salience of its youth.
O phantom hopes, do not despair! For someone
Will soon take up the gauntlet of your dreams,
Embrace you as the child of their passion,
Embody you in the flesh of their desire.
Nor will a kind and just hope ever die.
Copyright by Nicholas Gordon
Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh Handfasting Traditions
One of the customs that was practiced at Lughnasadh was handfasting, a form of trial marriage that lasted for a year and a day. Couples would join hands and exchange vows in front of witnesses, usually at a sacred site or a hilltop. They would then live together as husband and wife for the duration of the contract. If they were happy with each other, they could formalize their union with a permanent marriage. If they were not, they could part ways without any stigma or penalty.
Handfasting was a way of testing the compatibility and commitment of the partners before making a lifelong decision. It was also a way of honoring the fertility and abundance of the land and the harvest. Some couples would exchange gifts of grain, bread, or fruit as symbols of their bond.
Handfasting is still practiced today by some modern pagans and Wiccans who follow the Celtic traditions. They may use ribbons or cords to tie their hands together and choose colors that represent their intentions or elements. They may also incorporate other rituals, such as jumping over a broomstick or a fire to seal their vows.
Handfasting is a beautiful and meaningful way to celebrate Lughnasadh and the harvest season. It is a way of honoring the past, the present, and the future of love and life.