Birthday treats, and Padley Gorge

It rained all day on my birthday, and we had no one round on the day, but I was spoilt by everyone for sure, here’s a snippet of the goodies.

From chocolate, powerbank, and camping cups, to pecksniff candle and spray and Jeffree star palette, to leaping hares and bath bombs, I was spoilt rotten.

We had wanted to go for a walk, but we delayed it for a few days and boy oh boy it was worth it.

Inside Bolehill quarry all was quiet, and soft. Eerie but otherworldly. I felt like I was in middle earth. Watched by sprites and fairies.

Some paths felt hidden but most were clear to see, and follow. Of course I saw cows ( they scare me)

Some off the beaten tracks are NOT family friendly, so stick to the well trodden, and more manicured paths.

Yay a stream, and waterfalls too. We have to sink our toes in if we find a safe place to do it. Feel the water element (stream), the air element (breezes), earth element (forest) and certainly fire elements (sunny and warm) today. A real spiritual connection here, so I will have to return.

It was FREEZING but I love doing it.

Lots of gorgeous places to stop and refresh ourselves and drink in the atmosphere. For a popular family friendly place, it wasn’t as busy as I expected, but we did find a few friends along the way. Another family having a grand adventure!!

Scenery is stunning, and once out of the gorge the skies and air are instantly warmer. We saw the big estate but it’s all closed for now. I like to look up at the windows and imagine a ghost quietly looking back.

On the last leg we stop off to make our scones, it’s a bit of a tradition at this point.

Now home, all I can think of is going back again. A beautiful place for Lammas to be celebrated, but at least I’ve been and felt the energies there.

Lammas Sabbat 2020

It’s already Lammas, 1st August and this year there’s no specific celebration, as I’m gearing up to see 1 daughter for the day, then 2 days later take 1 daughter to move back to Uni.

It’s been a funny ole year with Coronavirus, it’s spoiled everyone’s plans globally and played heavy on people’s mental health.

Instead we are hoping to go out and spend a night in a hotel and celebrate as a couple, over good food and wine, and hope for the brightest of blessings.

What is Lammas?

Lammas day – or ‘loaf mass’ – is traditionally when people celebrate the first wheat harvest in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and is the noted as the first harvest festival (but much earlier than THE harvest festival which is in September) of the season.

Grains that are harvested at Lammas time include, wheat, barley, oats, rye as well as the plants meadowsweet, mint, sunflower and Calendula.

The festival’s roots date back to Anglo Saxon times when the festival was referred to as the ‘feast of first fruits’. It also marks the end of the hay harvesting season.

Lammas Day is usually around the beginning of August and coincides with when tenant farmers would have presented the first crop harvest to their landlord.

Ways to celebrate

If you are lazy or as busy as me, This year I’ll be picking my black berries and wild strawberries, and combining them with my rhubarb. Perfect to store away for winter months.

Decorate the altar or your hearth with Sunflowers. Bring in that last kiss of summer before you acknowledge autumn is coming. Or if flowers aren’t your thing, gather feathers, pine cones and nice pebbles from country walks.

Visit the woods and rivers if you can, feel the Earth and Water elements, it’s what we’ve been doing all Lockdown. It’s done wonders for mental health. Seen as all our Witch events are cancelled this year.

If you can bake bread now is the perfect time to do so, but alas it’s not my skill, but instead I will drink lots of beer and that’s my mini nod to John barleycorn.

As it’s the First harvest out of 3, it’s worth starting to plan the colder months, find the books you will want to read, brush up on what skills and visit places while you can, if you can.

Brightest Blessings Witches