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Strega Notes
Strega Notes
2025 Lughnassadh / Lammas at Strega
2025 Lughnassadh / Lammas at Strega
Friday, August 1
Lughnasadh and Lammas are essentially the same holiday, celebrated on August 1. Lughnasadh is the ancient Celtic name, while Lammas is the Christianized name. The festival celebrates the first fruits of the harvest and is often associated with the Celtic god Lugh.
Lughnasadh:
Origin: Celtic, specifically in Ireland.
Meaning: Honors the god Lugh and his connection to the harvest.
Celebrations: May include traditional games, sports, and feasts.
Pronunciation: LOO-na-sa.
Lammas:
Origin: Anglo-Saxon, later Christianized in England.
Meaning: "Loaf Mass," referring to the blessing of the first loaves of bread.
Celebrations: May include bread-baking and offering the first fruits of the harvest to the church.
Pronunciation: LAM-mas.
Lugnhasadh in Wicca and Witchcraft
In witchcraft and pagan traditions, Lughnasadh holds significance as one of the eight Sabbats or Wheel of the Year celebrations. It represents a pivotal point in the seasonal cycle and carries various symbolic and practical implications. Here are some key aspects of the significance of Lughnasadh in witchcraft:
1. Harvest and Gratitude: Lughnasadh is a time to celebrate the first harvest and express gratitude for the abundance of the Earth. It provides an opportunity for witches to honor and connect with the energy of the land, recognizing the interdependence between humanity and nature.
2. Life, Death, and Rebirth: Lughnasadh embodies the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. As the first grains are harvested, it symbolizes the sacrifice of the Corn King or John Barleycorn, who represents the spirit of the grain. This theme resonates with the concept of sacrifice and transformation, reminding witches of the cycles of their own lives and the continuous flow of energy and renewal.
3. Connection to Craftsmanship and Skills: Lughnasadh is associated with the Celtic god Lugh, who was renowned for his skills and craftsmanship. As witches, this festival provides an opportunity to acknowledge and develop our own magical abilities and talents. It serves as a time to focus on honing skills, engaging in creative endeavors, and expressing gratitude for the unique abilities we possess.
4. Community and Unity: Lughnasadh emphasizes the importance of community and coming together. Witches often gather with their coven or spiritual community to celebrate the festival, share in the harvest feast, and participate in rituals and activities. This fosters a sense of connection, support, and unity among practitioners.
5. Divination and Reflection: Lughnasadh is also a time for witches to engage in divination and introspection. It is believed that the veil between the physical and spiritual realms is thin during this time, making it conducive to receiving insights and guidance. Witches may perform divination rituals, seek clarity through meditation or tarot readings, and reflect on personal goals and intentions for the coming months.
6. Nature-Based Magic and Herbalism: Lughnasadh offers an opportunity to connect with nature and engage in nature-based magic. Witches may collect and work with seasonal herbs, perform rituals outdoors, or create herbal remedies and charms associated with abundance, prosperity, and protection.
Overall, the significance of Lughnasadh in witchcraft lies in its acknowledgment of the cycles of nature, the importance of community, and the focus on gratitude, personal growth, and magical practices. It serves as a time to align with the energies of the season and deepen one's connection with the Earth and the spiritual path.
New Tarot and Oracle at Strega
Norse Pagan Summer Reading
*Norse Myths & Legends: Tales of Heroes, Gods & Monsters
*The Norse Myths That Shape the Way We Think
*The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki
*The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer
*Viking Language 1 Learn Old Norse, Runes, and Icelandic Sagas
*Viking Language 2: The Old Norse Reader
*Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway
*King Harald's Saga: Harald Hardradi of Norway: From Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla
*Scotland: The Story of a Nation
*Njal's Saga
Garden witch and Southwestern Botanicals
Summer Reading - Hardcover and paperback editions
*A Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons
*The Spirit of Botany: Aromatic Recipes and Rituals
*Botanical Medicine in Clinical Practice
*Common To This Country: Botanical Discoveries Of Lewis And Clark
*Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities
*Kew's Teas, Tonics and Tipples: Inspiring Botanical Drinks to Excite Your Tastebuds
*Kew: The Witch's Forest: Trees in Magic, Folklore and Traditional Remedies
*Witch's Herbal Apothecary: Rituals & Recipes for a Year of Earth Magick and Sacred Medicine Making
*Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon
A Metaphysical Experience
A Metaphysical Experience
Strega Notes
Strega Notes
Lughnasadh Correspondences
Lughnasadh Crystals
Crystals can be used to enhance the energy and intention of your Lughnasadh celebrations. Here are some crystals that resonate with the themes of abundance, harvest, and transformation associated with Lughnasadh:
Carnelian: is a stone of vitality, creativity, and motivation. It is used to invoke the energy of the sun and enhance the abundance and passion associated with Lughnasadh.
Citrine: is a crystal of abundance, prosperity, and manifestation. Its golden color aligns with the harvest season and can help amplify positive energy and attract abundance into your life.
Green Aventurine: is the stone of opportunity and luck. It resonates with growth, prosperity, and the energies of the earth. It is used to connect with the natural cycles of abundance and support manifestation during Lughnasadh.
Clear Quartz: is a versatile crystal that amplifies intentions and energies. It enhances clarity, focus, and spiritual growth during Lughnasadh rituals and meditations. It can also be used to infuse other crystals with its energy.
Moss Agate: is a stone of growth, fertility, and new beginnings. Its green and earthy appearance makes it a perfect crystal to connect with the energy of nature during the harvest season.
Sunstone: embodies the energy of the sun and brings warmth, abundance, and joy. It can be used to enhance vitality, creativity, and motivation during Lughnasadh celebrations.
Amethyst: a crystal of spiritual growth, intuition, and transformation. It can assist in deepening your connection with higher realms, gaining insights, and embracing personal growth during Lughnasadh.
Pyrite: is associated with abundance, prosperity, and manifestation. It can help you tap into your inner strength and manifest your goals and desires during the harvest season.
Red Jasper: is a stone of strength, stability, and grounding. It can provide stability and courage during times of change and transformation, supporting you in embracing the energies of Lughnasadh.
Tiger's Eye: is a stone of courage, abundance, and protection. It can help you stay focused, grounded, and confident as you navigate the energies of Lughnasadh and embark on new beginnings.
Remember, when working with crystals, it's essential to cleanse and charge them with your intention before using them for Lughnasadh rituals or meditation. Choose the crystals that resonate with you personally and feel aligned with the energy and intentions you wish to cultivate during the festival.
Gifts at Strega
Jewelry, Wood Boxes and Glass Jars
Herbs, Candles, Crystals, & Sages
So many witchy things at Strega
Strega Notes
Strega Notes
Lughnasadh Correspondences
Lughnasadh Herbs
Lughnasadh is a celebration of the harvest season, and various herbs hold significance during this festival.
Meadowsweet: is associated with Lughnasadh due to its traditional use in herbalism and folklore. It is known for its sweet aroma and is often used in teas, herbal preparations, or as an offering during rituals and ceremonies.
Calendula: also known as marigold, represents the sun's energy and is often used in spells, charms, or as decorative elements during the festival.
Chamomile: symbolizes relaxation and tranquility. It can be used in teas or as an ingredient in bath rituals or incense blends to promote a sense of calm and peace during Lughnasadh.
Lavender: is a versatile herb known for its calming and purifying properties. It can be used in Lughnasadh rituals to promote relaxation, enhance spiritual connection, or as an offering to honour the season.
St. John's Wort: is a herb associated with the summer solstice and Lughnasadh. It is often used for protection, healing, and warding off negative energy. It can be utilized in herbal preparations, charms, or as an offering during rituals.
Rosemary: is a powerful herb associated with purification, clarity, and protection. It can be used in Lughnasadh rituals to cleanse and bless the sacred space or as an ingredient in cooking and feasting.
Sage: is a sacred herb known for its cleansing and purifying properties. It is commonly used in smudging rituals to clear negative energy and create a sacred atmosphere during Lughnasadh celebrations.
Thyme: is associated with courage, strength, and purification. It can be used in Lughnasadh rituals to invoke the energies of endurance, resilience, and protection.
Yarrow: is associated with divination, healing, and psychic abilities. It can be used in Lughnasadh rituals to enhance intuition, facilitate inner reflection, or create protective charms.
Mugwort: is traditionally associated with magic, dreams, and spiritual practices. It can be used in Lughnasadh rituals for dream work, astral travel, or as an offering to honor the spirits of the land.
When working with herbs, it's important to research their properties, safety guidelines, and ethical sourcing practices. You can incorporate these herbs in various ways, such as making herbal teas, creating incense blends, crafting sachets, or using them in culinary preparations during your Lughnasadh celebrations.
Gifts at Strega
Jewelry, Wood Boxes and Glass Jars
Herbs, Candles, Crystals, & Sages
So many witchy things at Strega
Strega Notes
Strega Notes
Lughnasadh Correspondences
Lughnasadh Altar Ideas
Decorating your altar for Lughnasadh can be a beautiful and meaningful way to set the atmosphere and honor the spirit of the festival.
1. Colors: Incorporate the colors associated with Lughnasadh, such as gold, yellow, green, orange, red, and brown. Use altar cloths, candles, or ribbons in these colors to create a vibrant and seasonal ambiance.
2. Harvest Symbols: Place symbols of the harvest on your altar to represent the abundance of the season. This can include freshly harvested fruits, vegetables, grains, or herbs, such as wheat stalks, corn husks, apples, berries, or sunflowers. Display them in baskets or arrange them in a pleasing manner.
3. First Sheaf of Grain: Include a representation of the first sheaf of grain, also known as the "Corn King" or "John Barleycorn." This can be a small bundle of wheat or barley stalks tied together and placed prominently on the altar. It symbolizes the sacrifice and the cycle of life, death, and rebirth associated with the harvest.
4. Candles and Fire: Use candles to represent the transformative power of fire and the energy of the sun. Choose candles in warm colors like gold, yellow, or orange. Consider including a central candle to symbolize the sun and its role in the growth and ripening of crops.
5. Symbols of Lugh: If you resonate with the Celtic god Lugh, include symbols associated with him on your altar. These can include representations of the sun, tools of craftsmanship, or images of the god himself. Statues, artwork, or symbolic objects that connect you to Lugh can be included as a focal point.
6. Nature Elements: Bring elements of nature into your altar decor. Incorporate fresh flowers, leaves, acorns, or pinecones to represent the natural beauty and the changing seasons. Add small potted plants or herbs to symbolize growth and fertility.
7. Harvest Tools and Crafts: Include items related to traditional harvest activities or crafts. This can involve placing a sickle or scythe on your altar to represent the act of harvesting or showcasing handmade crafts like woven baskets, corn dolls, or braided wheat decorations.
8. Symbols of Unity and Community: As Lughnasadh is a festival of community, consider including symbols that represent unity and connection. This can involve small figurines of people holding hands, images of gatherings or feasts, or symbolic representations of friendship and support.
The most important aspect of altar decoration is personal meaning and intention. Feel free to customize and add elements that resonate with you and your spiritual practice. Let your creativity guide you as you create a sacred space that honors the spirit of Lughnasadh and celebrates the bountiful harvest.
Gifts at Strega
Jewelry, Wood Boxes and Glass Jars
Herbs, Candles, Crystals, & Sages
So many witchy things at Strega
Things unique, unusual, and slightly witchy!
Strega Shop is a retail metaphysical store and a community gathering place with scheduled workshops and classes for continuing education, fine tuning your crafts, and discovering new skills. Find candles, crystals, antique and new jewelry, altar items, incense, sage, herbs, books, tarot and oracle
Strega is Cochise County's source for metaphysical needs.
Merry meet friends
Sadly, Tariff costs have hit Strega, resulting in retail price increases.
I didn’t expect to see prices increase as a result of the tariffs this soon; but, tariffs are here now. A 25% - 45% tariff tax will be added on items marked with the Tariff Stamp at checkout beginning on Saturday March 29
Strega had products purchased before the tariffs went into effect. This meant the pricing on many items would not be affected until we sold what was on hand. Now, most of our pre-tariff stock is sold out.
As tariffs eventually will affect all the items on Strega shelves over the coming weeks, we will be adding a distinctive "Tariff Stamp" to the signage and price tags, which indicates the price of the product has increased due to tariffs and a 25%-45% tariff tax will be added at checkout
Most US-based wholesale suppliers have raised their prices by 30% to match the tariffs charged to foreign importers (China, Mexico, EU, and Canada); a tariff increase of 25% has been added to all new purchases and deliveries by both my foreign and domestic wholesale suppliers..
If / When the tariffs are lifted, and wholesalers reduce their prices, we will return to regular pricing.
Look for the TARIFF sign/stamp at the shelf to identify tariff affected items
This symbol indicates the product is coming into the US from the European Union, Canada, Mexico, or China, et al, and has had a tariff imposed that affects its price.
Government imposed taxes affect all products, including US made products that include parts/ingredients coming in from import countries
If the tariff is removed, the price will be reduced accordingly
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