Lammas, also called Lughnasadh (pronouced loo-nassa), falls at the beginning of August. It is one of the Pagan festivals of Celtic origin, which split the year into four. Historically it was celebrated as a harvest festival at the time of corn harvest, when Pagans started to reap the benefits of the seeds they had sown; a time when they would celebrate the fruits of their labour and the mystery and abundance provided by nature and the earth.

For these agricultural communities Lammas was the first day of the harvest, when the fields would be full with an abundance of corn and the farming to reap the crop would begin. The harvest period would then continue until Samhain in October time when the last stores for the winter months would be put away.

As someone who loves the cyclical nature of the seasons and the seasonal shifts that occur in both our outer and inner worlds, as women, I find I am connecting more and more to these Celtic festivals that mark seasonal change through my yoga practice and in life.

On my recent holiday at the beginning of August (Lammas), to the abundant, fertile mountain area of the Languedoc-Roussillon area of France we stayed at a peach and nectarine fruit farm surrounded by trees and big mountain views. I became very aware of the power but also vulnerability of the Earth around us and of how completely uncontrollable many factors are for those involved in farming when dealing with forces of nature that are constantly impacting the weather, climate and therefore their crops and fruits.

There was also a mountain forest fire close by to where we stayed, the effects of the smoke that was left behind could be felt and seen for miles… a good reminder of how we need to look after and respect the beauty and vulnerability of the Earth around us.

And so the same can be said for ourselves. Therefore this Lammas time can also be a time for self reflection for the seeds we have planted in our own lives and any flowers or crops that might have grown so far this year from our efforts.

Lammas gives us the opportunity to give thanks to the Earth for her abundance and to express our gratitude for our own personal harvest.

– From ‘Earth Wisdom’ by Glennie Kindred

It can be a great time to practice gratitude or loving kindness meditations and to really think about that you are grateful for and who.

It can also be a good time to start to bring more fluid watery yoga sequences into your yoga practice to help you to bring a quieter focus to your yoga practice as the fiery potent summer energy wanes and we are once again drawn to turn our attention inwards as we move towards Autumn Equinox in September.

Some fabulous seasonal Yoga resources, inspiration and practices can be found here.