Lugnasadh is many things. It is a celebration of the first fruits of the harvest. And as such, we have a wake for the Oak King. The year is in the Holly King's hands, and we celebrate that fact even as the God and the Goddess make love and she becomes pregnant with the child that will be born the following Ostara.
The Holly King is a representation of our shadow side. We have to realize that our darker emotions, our anger and our fear, are a part of us. As human beings we belong to a warrior race, represented in the Holly King challenging the Oak King and slaying him. Our challenge isn't to bury this side of ourselves, but rather to honor it. By denying our darkness, we cut off an entire side of our personas. But at the same time, we can't allow it to overwhelm us. Part of our challenge as human beings is to find balance within ourselves. Rather than allowing our anger to burn out of control and become rage, we need to harness it and use its energy to achieve our goals. Our fear is a reflection of life, not death, for we don't fear that we will die and be freed from the pain, but rather than we will experience it in our life. Anger and fear can both be powerful tools. When we become scared in a situation, it can be the catalyst than brings us to re-evaluate the circumstances.
As warriors, we must remember that our purpose isn't to conquer, but to protect. When challenged, we can call upon the Holly King, our anger and our fear, and channel the energy into constructive ends. By such actions, we uphold the Wiccan Rede. There are endless examples for us to explore our shadow side and warrior aspects: The Samurai of Japan, the Code of Chivalry of the knight, the counting coup of the Native American warrior; each of these can be an example and guide to explore our warrior nature.
Lugnasadh reminds us that even though the Holly King now rules the waning year, that we must still achieve balance. Even as we celebrate the union between the God and the Goddess, we hold a wake for the Oak King, celebrating his transition into a new level of being. The year is drawing to an end; there are only two Sabbats left. But even so we feast and raise our chalices in the memory of the Oak King. Though his light fades from the heavens, it burns on in the center of our Circles.
Lughnasadh
Approximately August 1st
Pronounced "loo-nahs-uh" and also called Lamas ("lah-muss")
Divine Myth: The Goddess and Holly King become lovers and she is impregnated with the God that will be born at Ostara. The Oak King has begun his trek to the underworld.
Keywords: Harvest, First Fruits, Preparation