Lammas Candles

Lammas candles are made on Thursdays in the Waxing Moon. Burn just one, or one each night for a three day working, share with friends or burn all of them all at once or sequentially according to your Will, for any ritual or observance of Lammas or Lughnasadh, the harvest of the grain. They are labeled "Lammas Candles" on the package, but if you'd like me to label them "Lughnasadh Candles," I'd be happy to do so, just write me a not with your order.

Lammas candles incorporate the same essential oil blend that goes into the Lammas magick oil, so they would be compatible to use together for your observances.

Lammas, or Lughnasadh, is the pagan Sabbat on or about August 1st. It is most often celebrated as a first harvest holiday, focusing on harvest of grains. This is a “Cross-Quarter Day” midway between a Soltice and and Equinox. Lammas oil is created to be both celebratory and offeratory. I have tried to give it the smell of fresh bread and roasting grains along with the brightness of the waning sun, since this is the first holiday after High Summer, the Summer Solstice. Use this oil for any ritual or celebration for this time of year, and to honor the Celtic solar god Lugh, who rules the weather and harvest of this time of year.

Lammas is also a time of races, contests and games of physical skill. The landscape is a village harvest of the grain fields. This is a time of celebration (at least, if the harvest is successful and bountiful) and all the village is at work to get the harvest in. It is said that the contests begin with who can harvest the most grain. Then it was said that the laborers would leave the last sheaf of grain standing and the contestants would try to be the first to cut it down by throwing their harvesting sickles at it.

The fields are now clear, and there is all this open space which is available. Footraces, horse races, team sports, all have an open arena. This becomes a sort of Pagan Olympics, and celebration of the vigor and strength of young adulthood.

Beer is brewed from grain, so it is easy to imagine a brewfest of some sorts becoming part of the festivities.

Another fascinating motif for this Sabbat is a confessional and atonement ritual. The aforementioned last sheaf, or a Corn Dollies, or a Corn Man (the first loaf baked from the freshly harvested grain) represented John Barleycorn, a god or hero who represented the sacrifice that the Grain God made for the community’s survival. He will be mourned and buried (sometimes burned/cremated) but there is an opportunity before he is committed to the final resting place. You have the opportunity to whisper a confession, or some secret you want John Barleycorn to take to the grave with him. You can in this way be absolved of your guilt, and no other living being need know your crime.
Natural Magick Shop candles are ritually crafted of beeswax sheets, for a renewable-resource nature-friendly burn. They are infused with 100% natural essential oils and absolutes appropriate to the intention.

All candles are made on the correct day of the week for Planetary influences and phase of the Moon for Lunar powers. Feel free to burn just one and save the rest for later, or burn one each night for a three day working, or burn all of them all at once or one after another for a prolonged Astral Journey, or share with friends according to your Will.

These magick candles come three to a package, are four inches tall, and fit most standard taper holders for 3/4 - 7/8 diameter taper or household candles. But they do tend to drip (unless you fridge or freeze them, which I don't usually have the time for) so I like to burn them and all my candles on the dishes I use for candle magick, little sushi dishes work great. I also have a large black granite tile, and a beveled mirror for candle magick, where I can let them drip and puddle as they will.