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The Witch\u2019s Wheel of the Year<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We Continue Our Journey Through the Witch\u2019s Wheel and celebrate the Harvest of Lughnasadh\u2026.<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lughnasadh (aka Lammas) is here! We share the bounty of the Season and the Sacrifice of Tailtiu….<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The blade is sharp Gather the grain Consume the energy No time to linger Grain man\u2019s sacrifice <\/a><\/p>\n This <\/span><\/span><\/span>article<\/span><\/span><\/span> is a celebration of the first harvest of Lughnasadh on the Great Wheel. This has always been my favorite time of the year. There is a decided undercurrent of chill in the air that bodes of cooler weather, shorter days and the promise of time to spend indoors in reflection. This year, in particular offers up deeper personal insight for me largely because of personal work begun on my emotional self and the re-defining of what I will release and what I will strengthen in those waters. In thinking about what form this year\u2019s sacrifice will be and what the Harvest Mother will call me to release and clear away, this work on self I have begun is the focus I will use. I have learned from the many previous cycles that the choices I make now will be those that connect me more deeply to a state of balance at the equinox and what I will offer to the Crone in final release at Samhain.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This cycle of creation and sacrifice flows as the undercurrent throughout all of our workings and peaks and ebbs in accord with the cycles of the seasons. I think back upon the sacrifices I have made as a Mother. This role is always at the core of my emotions, mind and body. The lessons of putting one\u2019s own needs aside and the depth of connection and care for those whom you love rise to the surface at this time of the year as thoughts turn towards the harvest and the importance of selectively gathering and cutting away.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I am reminded of the story of Tailtiu and her great sacrifice of clearing the forest that she loved to prepare land that would provide food for her people whom she loved more. Hers is the story of clearing away until you have willingly given every bit of yourself to the process. The resultant death is rebirth. It is rebirth to a more productive way of gathering the abundance of what you have sown. Rebirth to a new way of creating and a deeper gnosis of the ultimate release and death of what has been created. This is the death of surrender to what must be to insure that what is viable and of the greatest potential may continue to thrive. This is the sacrifice of service to something more than your own needs and held within the intent of truly being \u201cfor the good of all\u201d.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n My thoughts turn also to the great sacrifice of her foster son Lugh and the surrender of the Sun God to become one with the earth, enlivening it and standing as the sacrificial grain to continue the process the Harvest Mother had begun. This is the transformative power that takes hold when we act from a place of selflessness. This is the grain of truth that grows and nourishes the deeper hunger of our souls and offers the support, strength and courage needed to continue on. And, this is the lesson of legacy that is left behind when the purity of intent fosters the flaming will of desire to uphold the cycle that has proven its worth.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n So, today I call to the goddess as Mother within myself to wield the scythe of cutting away what blocks my clarity of vision. I call to the wisdom of the Harvest Mother to help me choose what will be gathered into the stores of my spiritual reserve and what will remain in the fields as compost so that balance may be restored in preparation for the final harvest of release. I call to the love of the Mother for her son and her community and the legacy of a life well spent and offered up in service. I call to nature and all of life to wrap me in the bounty of the harvest that I may draw to myself the wisdom and blessings of the Harvest Mother as I reap the light filled product of my own creation. Blessings of the Harvest!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Use the template below to guide your celebration, knowing that there is no right or wrong way to celebrate if intention, heart and mind are holding the highest service to Deity, yourself and community. Blessings of the Sabbat\u2026<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n **<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n THE WITCH\u2019S WHEEL OF THE YEAR<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Date: August 1.2022<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Lughnasadh (aka. Lammas)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What have I learned about Lughnasadh?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How did I celebrate the Lughnasadh?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n How did I feel after my celebration?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n What would I change-What would I add to make Lughnasadh more meaningful to me?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So Mote It Be!<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Sign Your Magickal Name Here<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n End Note: <\/b><\/span><\/span>An excellent resource for suggestions, visuals and ideas for making your Sabbat celebrations rich and visually beautiful, check out the Book Review listed here:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Book Review: The Ultimate Guide to the Witch\u2019s Wheel of the Year-<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span>Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span> by Anjou Kiernan<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n **<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n About the author:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robin Fennelly\u00a0<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span>is an Elder within\u00a0<\/span><\/span>The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>\u00a0and serves as High Priestess of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>C<\/a>oven of the Mystic Path<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>, the 12th Coven\u00a0within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches\u00a0and facilitates\u00a0classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that\u00a0serves as foundation for membership within\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Coven of the Mystic Path<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Her spiritual journey is strongly rooted in both Eastern philosophy and the Western Magickal systems from which she has formed a core foundation that is diverse in knowledge and rich in spiritual practice.\u00a0 A life-long learner, her practice has evolved from the classical and philosophical teachings of books, practical experience and enrichment of this knowledge\u00a0base by attending workshops of various spiritual traditions presented by master teachers.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robin formally came to the Wiccan path in 1994. Following a practice as a solitary for 2 years, she dedicated to\u00a0Oak and Willow Coven of The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition in November of 1996. She received her\u00a01st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Elder) degrees within the Assembly Tradition and has served as High Priestess of two ASW covens since Samhain of 2001 and the Winter Solstice of 2015.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robin\u2019s writings have been featured online, and in print Internationally.\u00a0 She has authored several books incorporating her unique style of writing making use of poetry, prose and pathworking to enhance the concepts presented.\u00a0 She has taught extensively throughout the Pagan community, including Sacred Space Conference, Spring Magick, Between the Worlds Interfaith Conference and Free Spirit Gathering Festival. Her most recent projects include a channel on youtube: <\/span><\/span>A Journey to the Inner Chamber<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span>. <\/b><\/span><\/span>She also shares audio pathworkings and ritual on her bandcamp site: <\/span><\/span>Teachings on the Path with Robin. <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Robin is the owner of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Holistic Embrace\u00a0<\/i><\/span><\/span>providing services for mind, body and spirit such as Tarot readings, Astrology reports, Spiritual Guidance\u00a0and other related offerings.\u00a0 She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania and her life is blessed by a 40+- year marriage, five children and the opportunity to work in the field of public education.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Robin\u2019s Website<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>www.robinfennelly.com<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Coven of the Mystic Path, ASW<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>www.covenofthemysticpath.org<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Her books can be found on Amazon or purchased directly through her website:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For more info<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/peeking-in-the-shadows-1.png\")
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\nScythe swings in
\nFlashing arc as
\nSheaf of wheat
\nAnd apples fall
\nThe Harvest now begun.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nLeave what you must
\nFill carefully woven baskets
\nWith the overflowing bounty.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nSwallow the light
\nFeel the great
\nBlessing of living grain\u2019s
\nSustaining of all life.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nFields are awaiting
\nThe reaping and
\nThe gathering.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\nWillingly offered
\nAs humanity peacefully
\nSlumbers sated on sacred
\nHarvest with warm bellies full.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Robin-Fenelly.jpg\")
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\nAs a teacher of esoteric and magickal studies\u00a0she uses Energetic Anatomy, Tarot, Astrology, Hermetic Qabala, Eastern Philosophy, and Numerology as the foundations of her diverse selection of workshops and writings for more than 25\u00a0years. Exploration of varied energetic protocol has been the focus of her work for some time now and the information gained through direct experience informs all of her magickal and spiritual work.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n