Celebrating Abundance: A Thanksgiving Ritual

This day of giving thanks denotes the high point of the year; the crops are in their fullness, weather is warm and the countryside is bursting forth with the beauty of life. Pagans know we have the heavens above to thank for this and the gods of nature must be acknowledged for their generosity with a gathering of the tribe and a feast, ideally in the great outdoors.  Ask invitees to bring harvest-themed offerings for the altar: gourds, pumpkins, bundles of wheat stalks and corn, fresh pickings from their garden and food to share in thanksgiving made from the same- pies, tomato salads, cucumber pickles, green beans, corn pudding, watermelon, lemon cakes, berry cucumber, apple cider and beer brewed from wheat, hops and barley. This celebration of the reapings from the summer season should reflect what you grown with your own hands. Fill your cauldron or a big beautiful colored glass bowl half-full with freshly-drawn water. Get packets of tiny votive candles for floating in the water. At the feast table, make sure to have a place-setting for the godly guest Lugh who watched over the plantings to ensure this bounty. Place loaves of home baked bread by his plate.

When all guests have arrived, everyone should add a food offering to the plate of the god and light a candle to float in the cauldron.  Cut a slice of the loaf of bread for Lugh and begin the ceremony with this prayer of thanks:

    Oh, ancient Lugh of the fields and farms,

    We invite you here with open arms,

    In this place between worlds, in flowering fields of hay.

    You have brought the blessings we receive this Thanksgiving Day.

Begin the feast and before the dessert course, everyone should go around the table and speak to their gratitude for the gifts of the year.

WeMoon Sweet Potato Cakes

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love potato cakes;  this recipe adds extra pizzazz to this favorite. 

Hearty and oh-so-healthy, these pancakes make for a marvelous meal for any special occasion would be fantastic to bring to a brunch or a Friendsgiving and might be a fantastic use of leftovers Sweet potatoes are truly beneficial to women’s health and contain estrogen; these tubers are good for you inside and outside as they also give your skin a nice boost. But, their main magic for everyone is that they a vehicle for grounding. Anytime you feel spacey or out-of-sorts or distracted, this food will serve you well, even if you just bake and eat a sweet potato.  For this savory sweet, you will need:

2 large semi-baked sweet potatoes, peeled and grated

1 small onion chopped finely

1 large carrot, grated

2 large semi-baked russet potatoes, peeled and grated

3 eggs

½ cup olive oil

Cup of yogurt

Chives, sage and rosemary

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the potatoes and carrot in a large bowl. Beat the eggs and add to the veggie mixture and mix thoroughly. Grind the rosemary and sage to a very fine powder in your mortar and pestle and add in a tablespoon of the herbs; Salt and pepper to taste. Shape into round balls, enough for 8 mooncakes. Warm the oil slowly until it is nice and hot. Place the balls in the oil and flatten into rounds with a spatula. Cook through until they are golden and beginning to crisp on both sides. Plate up and top with organic yogurt and chives. If you feeling decadent, dollop on grated cheddar and sour cream and enjoy with a circle of friends under the sheen of a bright and holy moon. Blessings to you and your soul tribe!