Happy Summer!
All around me I can Mother Earth’s harvest – berry laden branches, fields of greens, beets, carrots, grapes on the vine, plums, tomatoes, zucchini…the list goes on and on. The Earth is so bountiful that the ancients recognized 3 harvests: Lammas, Mabon, and Samhain.
Lammas is the first harvest. It is the easiest of the three and is the harvest of the grains and has been celebrated with beer and bread. The harvest is collected by gathering the crops on top of the ground and storing them in a dry place. Early veggies and edible flowers are gathered now.
Mabon is the second harvest. It is the wine harvest, time to gather the grapes and berries and the veggies that take a bit longer to ripen—tomatoes, green beans, plums. Preserving the harvest takes more work; crushing grapes and berries into juice for wine. Other fruits are put up in jellies and jams. Salmon runs are caught, smoked or salted and put away for winter.
Samhain is the third and final harvest. This is not only more work; but is a harvest that requires sacrifice. The late ripening fruits and veggies like apples, squash, and pumpkins are associated with the Halloween holiday. So are skeletons; which symbolize the culling of the herds; harvesting the weak and old animals that wont survive the winter. It give us meat for winter and leaves more food for the remaining herds. We choose which animals live or die, we cover the root stock of crops to protect the from the harsh winter—to be uncovered next spring.
As the Earth is going through its harvest season, it is a great time to reflect on what you are personally harvesting in your life. I have created the Triple Harvest spread to review each of your harvests and how you may best preserve them. You will need to draw a total of 10 runes. I have several sets of runes that I use together to allow for more than one rune to show up in larger spreads. It is not a traditional practice, but I have found it to be very effective.
Here is the layout:
1 1st Harvest 4 Helper 7 Preserver SEED 2 2nd Harvest 3 3rd Harvest 5 Helper 8 Preserver 6 Helper 9 Preserver First draw the seed rune and place it in the middle. Next, draw the three Harvest runes in order; these are the three harvests you have or will harvest this year. Follow this with the three helper runes; these are representative of the persons or processes that help you with the harvest. Last, draw the three preserver runes; these represent the steps you need to take to preserve your harvest
My seed that reaped the harvest is Othala—heritage and family. It is about being healthy and staying around a long time to provide for and enjoy my family.
My first harvest was Isa, with Ehwaz a helper and Eihwaz the preserver.
I learned to be still and calm. Meditation and visualization is key to helping me follow my instinctsand communicate clearly.Second harvest was Isa again, with Mannaz a helper and Ehwas the preserver.
Being centered and calm is effective in my work with groups. I have had to work harder to harvest gains in this area. I have had coworkers that have partnered with me; and given me good feedback on what works and what does not work in observed interactions. Again, what will sustain the gains is to trust my instincts, work for a common goal and ensure there is effective communication.My third harvest was Algiz, Laguz my helper and Dagaz my preserver rune.
I have been protected in many ways this year. My dreams have guided me in ways to improve my health. I have just started a new diet that has been very effective—I have truly started over—it’s a new day!Try it out and let me know how this works for you!
May your harvest be bountiful,
Deb
