The Happiness Prescription

Store up some sunshine in your stones

Lammas, which takes place on 1st August, is the first of three harvest festivals in the Pagan and Wiccan calendars. Traditionally a time of giving thanks for nature’s bounty, it’s also about beginning to prepare for the dark Winter months ahead...

Put your crystals out in the daylight now and they’ll absorb the late Summer sun’s warmth and vitality. They’ll then still be holding and radiating some of this energy in Autumn and

Winter, a time when you need it most!

Be aware that some crystals, including Amethyst, will fade in the sun and always charge crystals away from flammable materials such as curtains as they can focus the sun’s rays.

Between 30 minutes and a few hours in the sun should be enough to charge and cleanse your stones.

Once charged you can place your crystals on your Lammas altar (your dressing table will do!), along with traditional offerings such as grain, berries, grapes, apples, cider and sunflowers. Add a yellow or gold candle to honour the sun. You can also use your charged crystals in seasonal rituals or spells, hold them while meditating, or create a Lammas crystal grid.

Stones for Lammas

Perhaps unsurprisingly, sunshine-coloured crystals in yellows, oranges and reds are most strongly associated with Lammas, but a few earthy brown and leafy green stones also make the cut.

As well as expressing gratitude, Lammas is a time of releasing and letting go. If you’re looking to quit an unhealthy habit, behaviour or thought pattern both August’s birthstones – Sardonyx and Peridot – could help. Sardonyx is believed to support willpower and stamina, while cleansing Peridot can help you let go of any jealousy, negativity, guilt and painful memories. Peridot can also help you take responsibility for your mistakes.

Do you struggle with low mood and energy in the darker months? Botswana Agate, also known as the Sunset Stone, is believed to retain sunlight, bringing comfort in dark times, while soothing Citrine is associated with motivation, positivity and optimism and is also thought to absorb and ground negative energy. Representing the sun and vitality, Carnelian is another strong pick when you need a bit of extra motivation or

‘oomph’, while Golden Topaz may bring peace and calm to your mind and happiness to your soul.

Dynamic Red Jasper, purifying African Bloodstone, lucky Aventurine and the beautiful Moss Agate, which is strongly linked to nature spirits as well as prosperity and abundance, are other traditional Lammas stones that you may like to include in any rituals at this time.