On today’s Full Moon, blessings to you on Lunar Lúnasa and Lunar Imbolg!
I am beginning to feel the gentle pull and shift from the peak of Summer’s fiery energies experienced at Solstice, towards the watery energies that come with the Autumn Equinox. I can definitely feel the Lúnasa influence and energies.
Although many consider that we have four seasons, for me we have at least eight, each capturing the energetics of the astronomical four seasons — associated with the summer and winter solstices, and the spring and autumn equinoxes — and those aligned with the fire festivals of Samhain, Imbolg, Bealtaine and Lúnasa.
Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere will soon be celebrating the traditional date of Lúnasa (also the Irish word for the month of August) and those in the Southern Hemisphere will be celebratingthe traditional date of Imbolg.
And although many celebrate on the traditional date of August 1st, others celebrate on the closest Full Moon — today! — to that traditional date or on the “true” date of August 7th, or simply when it feels that the season has arrived where we live. For me, that is the most important aspect to honour.
And although the energies of these two festivals may feel different — one waxing (Imbolg) and one waning (Lúnasa), they are connected by their complementary energies.
For instance, the Celtic patron deities of these celebrations — the goddess Brighid for Imbolg, and the god Lugh for Lúnasa (aka Lughnasadh) — have much in common: besides being in the Celtic pantheon of the Tuatha Dé Danann, they are patrons of two of the four fire festivals in the Wheel of the Year. Both had triform aspects. Both were considered “bright ones”. Both had many skills.
You may know Brighid as the goddess of healing, poetry and smithcraft (and her three cauldrons)! but also the goddess of animals, crops and more.We could consider Brighid as a manifestation of the Divine Feminine energies: cyclical, moving inward, nurturing, intuitive, and receptive. The Divine Feminine is the energy of being, finding her path through intuition, reflection and love.
The god Lugh was considered multi-skilled, and known to some as Samhildánach (old Irish for “possessing many arts”). He too was a smith, a poet, healer and a keeper of the flame. We could consider Lugh as a manifestation of the Divine Masculine energies: direct, moving outward, action-oriented, giving. The Divine Masculine is the energy of action, formed from the knowing of the Divine Feminine within, brought to the world with love and trust (and not to be confused with its patriarchal shadow).
Regardless of which hemisphere you are located, I invite you to consider the commonality of these two fire festivals and how they might complement each other with their Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine (and other) aspects, and how working with both energies can support you moving and aligning with the energies of the year.