Have a fire lit on one side of the circle. Near it, a blanket or cloth with fruits, veggies, breads, and cups of beer.

As people come into the circle, have them place their canned good offering to one side on the blanket.

Priestess:

"Place your feet firmly on the ground
Breathe deeply
Feel the life of the Earth fill you
Breathe deeply
Feel yourself touch all-that-is
Join with us, in us, and around us."

Priest:

"The festival of Lammas marks the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The days now grow visibly shorter. Lammas was the medieval Christian name for the Celtic holiday of Lughnasadh. Lammas means 'loaf-mass,' for this was the day on which loaves of bread were baked from the first grain harvest and given as offerings. It was a day representative of 'first fruits' and early harvest."

"At Lammas, the slowly weakening God sacrifices his life to feed his people. Symbolic of the harvested corn, the God takes on the role of savior, in order to preserve life on earth. This is the first of three such harvest sabbats, characteristic of the darker half of the year. His death is necessary for the rebirth of the land to take place. Called by many names, "Green Man," "Wicker Man," "Corn Man" or simply the "Spirit of Vegetation," his essence begins to merge with the harvested crops, a sacrifice that will be realized with the new growth in the spring."

"Lammas, as a fire festival and harvest festival, takes on many sacrificial themes. Our ancestors knew that in order to receive more of something, you had to give it first. In light of the first harvest, our ancestors sacrificed the best of the first crop to ensure that the later crops would be bountiful and even bigger."

Priestess:

"These wise words are my gifts to you. The harvest is preformed thrice each year, today being the first. Just as there are three harvests in a year, there are three harvests of the soul, the three circles in the path to one's destiny. The first is to reflect upon and understand one's karma and life lessons. The second is to learn self-sacrifice and thankfulness. The third and final step is to become a balanced and unified whole person. It is now your time to reflect and contemplate the things planted and harvested during your lifetime."

"Sit down upon the ground."

Give everyone a piece of bread.

Priestess:

"Take this bread. Hold it, and into it put all your fears, regrets, and unwanted feelings. Think of the things you meant to do this summer or this year, or in your life, that are not coming to fruition. What bad habits and negative feelings do you want to get rid of? Put all of these things into the bread."

PAUSE

"Now consider your farewells and sacrifices: What is passing from your life? What is over? Each time we grow, we leave a part of ourselves behind. Honor this sacrifice, say good-bye to it, and put it into the bread."

PAUSE

"Finally, think about what you have harvested this year. What seeds have you planted that are sprouting? What do you want to be the outcome of this cycle of your life? Think about this, and place this also into the bread."

PAUSE

Priestess:

"Now place your bread into the fire."

WAIT

"Now close your eyes.
Breathe one breath
As one group
As one being
Inhale... exhale...
Inhale... exhale...
Feel the energy circling around you...
Around your past...
Around the circle...
Inhale... exhale...
Inhale... exhale...
Focus your breath,
Your energy
the fears you release
the farewells you say
the hopes you harvest
Let it build...
Inhale..
Exhale..."

"One.... picture the burning of the fears and negativity"

"Two... picture the release of what is left behind"

"Three... EXHALE... pour forth from your breath
The blessed release of energy.
Release it all... shed it all...
Let it go... and let it be.
Watch it take flight."

"Now... picture the attainment of that which you desire
See your hopes, your harvest
See the new and glorious self emerge!"

"When you are ready, stand up. Feel again the ground beneath your feet. Feel the life of the Earth around you and within you. Remember this feeling of renewal of self throughout the year as you preserve your harvest later at home. Think about the fruits that you have gathered this year and how you can hold onto them. How can you keep them sweet and whole in the store of your memory? "

"Now let us share our energy with others in a healing. "

(Ask who needs to be healed, do a Bridget for Kat)

"Now come sit at the blanket, eat, drink, and enjoy the fruits of our harvest. Know also that others, less fortunate, will benefit from your sacrifice tonight, as the canned goods here will go to the Food Bank. This is a good time to talk among yourselves about the past and the harvest. It is also a good time to plan for the future. From here, we will go back to the barn for a further feast."

"It is done!"