Completing the Wheel: Reflections on our Lughnasadh (Lammas) Gathering
This year's Lughnasadh gathering marked something significant: our eighth Seasonal Gathering and the completion of our first full turn of the Wheel of the Year together.
A year ago, these gatherings were little more than an idea and a hope that there were others longing for slower, more intentional ways of marking the passing of the seasons. Sitting together on the sand dunes at Sand Bay, warmed by the sun and surrounded by familiar faces alongside newcomers, it felt like that hope has taken root.
As we always do, we began by taking a moment to orient ourselves to the seasonal festival and to one another. We reflected on the meaning of Lughnasadh and Lammas, shared introductions and welcomed those joining us for the first time. One lovely thing about these gatherings is watching new people arrive who have crossed paths with other attendees at other times. There's definitely some overlap in the circles we spend time in and that is a really enjoyable aspect I've discovered to living in Weston-Super-Mare. We see familiar faces again and again, making it easier to connect and find like-minded people.
The harvest was reflected in our shared meal and theme for the evening. Freshly-baked bread took centre stage as a nod to the grain harvest, accompanied by an abundance of homemade dishes. We feasted on delicious seeded spelt and focaccia breads, vibrant beetroot dip, an array of chutneys, salads and spreads, alongside wonderfully inventive bakes including aubergine brownies, ginger biscuits and peanut butter cookies. As always, everything was delightful and there was far more food than we needed.
After dinner, we wandered along the shoreline together, talking as we walked with the sound of the waves starting to make their way in. Then we returned to the circle for an evening of shared learning.
Everyone was invited to bring an offering in the form of a "show and tell"... something they had learned this year or a skill that had become meaningful in their lives. It became one of my favourite parts of the evening as we explored the importance of seed collecting and creativity, learned a little sign language, poetry, and the fascinating history of zines, and closed the evening being led in some body movement together around the fire as music played and the tide slowly crept closer.
What struck me most wasn't simply what we learned, but how naturally our conversations flowed throughout the evening. We found ourselves talking about everything from creativity and community to grief, food, nature and belonging. Again and again we found ourselves saying, "Me too." In a world that can often feel fragmented and disconnected, there is something profoundly reassuring about discovering just how much we have in common.
As the sun sank below the horizon and another beautiful sunset unfolded over the bay, I found myself reflecting on what these gatherings have become. They aren't workshops. They aren't networking events. They aren't performances. They're simply spaces where people can arrive as they are, share food, ideas, stories and seasonal rhythms, and leave feeling a little more connected than when they arrived.
Of all the gatherings we've shared this past year, this one felt especially aligned with the heart of what I hoped This Mortal Life could create. It also reminded me that what makes these evenings so special is not just the structure or the setting, but the way they are shaped collectively by everyone who attends, each person bringing something of themselves into the circle, and in doing so, co-creating the experience together.
If reading this leaves you wishing you had been there, I'd love to invite you to join us for our Autumn Equinox Seasonal Gathering on Sunday 20th September. If you're longing for intentional community, meaningful conversation, shared meals and gentle ways of marking the changing seasons, there will be a place for you here.
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