Lammas is the time of the first harvest. Although Summer seems at its height, the days are already getting shorter and Summer will soon give way to Autumn. At Lammas the God is sacrificed to fertilise the land, as the corn is harvested to sustain the people during the long winter months. It is a willing sacrifice, as he will be reborn at Yule. Lammas is a time for completion - resolving outstanding problems or arguments and bringing projects to fruition.

Bread is traditionally baked at Lammas to celebrate the harvest. Bake a loaf and decorate it with sunflower or poppy seeds, or buy a fresh-baked loaf and enjoy it with golden butter. This is a time of abundance - celebrate outdoors with your friends and family and plenty of food and drink.

When you bake your bread, decorate the top of it with a piece of dough that represents what you wish for - a heart shape for love, coin shapes for money, etc. As the bread is baking, visualise your wish being activated and coming true. If your wish involves another person, share your new-baked bread with them.

Some advice for this season of holidays and barbeques, from our Wicca Gardening tutor, Jasmine. If you are prone to insect bites, add a few drops of citronella essential oil to about 250ml of water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray generously over any exposed skin - biting insects hate the smell.