Tonight is the holiday of Lammas/Lughnasadh. In the medieval Irish calendar, it was one of the four main festivals, marking the first harvest and was traditionally a time for handfastings, market days, and family reunions. It's generally celebrated on August 1st, but since the old calendar started the holidays on the night before, it is now, officially, Lughnasadh.

In some of the Wiccan/neoPagan traditions, Lughnasadh is the first of the three main harvest sabbats (the others being Mabon, in September, and Samhain, in October.) There are rituals aplenty to thank the lord and lady for their bounty, or the god Lugh for the rain he allows to fall on the crops, but I have to admit, as far as rituals go, I'm a slacker pagan as yet. We are, simply, crunched for space and time, so most of my celebrating, I do in my head or in quiet times snatched between more mundane activities.

I choose to celebrate this Lughnasadh by counting my blessings. To my friends, those I've met in real life and those I've met through the internet, thank you. You helped me immeasurably during the rough time I had with my cat Sochi this past week, and in many other ways and many other times before. Maybe you didn't know you were helping, but you did, and I thank you.

To my husband, who keeps me grounded and keeps me from taking myself too seriously, thank you. I had to go online to meet you (and to find out we lived a few blocks away from each other) but you're still the best thing I ever "downloaded" off the internet. :)

To my daughter, who keeps me from obsessing too much on life by reminding me to find the joy in silly things...thank you. You're three feet (or a little more) of miracle---demanding, laughing, feisty, and loving ---and a miracle nonetheless.

You all have been my harvest of blessings. Happy Lughnasadh, my friends, and may your own "harvest" be plentiful.