Lammas: Honouring the First Harvest & Our Creative Cycles

Lammas - The First Harvest Festival

As we step into Lammas, the first of the harvest festivals, we reach a moment of reflection and gratitude for the creative seeds we’ve planted and nurtured over these past months. This is the time to honour both our artistic and personal growth, as well as the shifting cycles of the natural world.

The History of Lammas

Lammas, or Lughnasadh, is an ancient festival marking the first harvest of grain. Traditionally celebrated on February 1st–2nd in the Southern Hemisphere, it acknowledges the bounty of the land and the hard work that has gone into bringing the harvest to fruition. However, astrologically, Lammas falls halfway between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox, which in 2025 is on February 4th. Named after the Celtic god Lugh, a deity of craftsmanship and skill, this sabbat invites us to celebrate our own creative talents and recognize how far we’ve come on our journey.

Celebrating Lammas in the Southern Hemisphere

Living in the Southern Hemisphere, our experience of the Wheel of the Year is different from the Northern Hemisphere traditions often found in mainstream paganism. Here, Lammas coincides with the height of summer’s warmth beginning to wane, the first golden hints of autumn approaching, and a deep gratitude for the abundance that sustains us. It’s a time to slow down, reflect on what we’ve cultivated, and prepare for the shifting season ahead.

Ways to celebrate:

• Set up a Lammas altar: Decorate with sunflowers, Banksia flowers, and other seasonal flora. Include native fruits such as finger limes and Kakadu plums for an Australian touch.

• Colours of the season: Gold, orange, deep red, and earthy browns.

• Crystals for Lammas: Carnelian (passion and creativity), Citrine (abundance), Tiger’s Eye (grounding and strength).

• Herbs to work with: Native Australian bush herbs such as Lemon Myrtle (clarity and healing), Wattle (resilience and renewal), and Eucalyptus (cleansing and protection), along with traditional herbs like Rosemary (protection and remembrance), Basil (prosperity), and Chamomile (calm and success).

• Rituals & Offerings: Bake damper infused with native bush herbs as an offering of gratitude, create art inspired by the themes of harvest and transition, or write a list of your creative accomplishments since the Spring Equinox, when we planted the seeds of what we wanted to manifest.

A Lammas Altar.

Personal & Creative Reflections

Lammas invites us to reflect on our creative cycle, beginning back at the Spring Equinox when we set intentions, through Beltane where we ignited new ideas and passions, the Summer Solstice where we basked in their full light, and now at Lammas, where we harvest the wisdom gained along the way.

For me, this journey has been deeply tied to The Unseen Woman and the experience of exhibiting her at the Merri Bek Summer Show. This piece spoke to the visibility and invisibility of women’s lives—a theme that continues to weave itself through my work. Alongside this, I’ve expanded my practice, exploring watercolours more deeply and now beginning to experiment with Procreate and digital art.

Opening my Redbubble shop was a big step. This has been an exciting new way to share my art, allowing people to bring small pieces of my work into their daily lives.

I’ve also taken a significant step by preparing to apply for my first grant, a means to continue delving into the themes of the visible and invisible. These explorations remind me that our art, much like the cycles of nature, is constantly evolving, layering upon itself as we learn, shift, and grow.

I would love to hear some of your accomplishments during this cycle, please share with me over on the socials.

Honouring Women’s Stories: A Defiant Act of Feminism

One of the most powerful aspects of this cycle was taking part in the 101 Women Project, where we honoured the women killed by gendered violence in 2024. This work felt like an act of defiance, a reclamation of space for those whose voices were silenced. The ongoing cycle of remembrance, resistance, and renewal is more important than ever. We must fight for the rights that our grandmothers and mothers fought so hard for us to have. We cannot give up. We cannot let these rights be taken from us.

As Lammas teaches us, our work—whether creative, activist, or personal—is never in vain; it is part of a larger, ongoing cycle of remembrance, resistance, and renewal.

Embracing Texture & Layers: Experimenting for Creativa

Looking ahead, I am preparing for the Creativa exhibition with Collective 24, where I am focusing on layers and textures—both literal and metaphorical. This new exploration ties back to the very essence of Lammas: layering experiences, building upon past efforts, and refining our craft as we move forward.

Playing with Texture and Layers

Introducing #ArtWitchTips & #WitchyLittleThings

As part of the next phase of #CyclesOfCraft, I’m excited to introduce #ArtWitchTips and #WitchyLittleThings—practical, everyday tips for art witches. These will be small, actionable ways to bring magic into your creative practice, aligning your craft with the seasons, lunar cycles, and personal intentions. Stay tuned for more magical creativity!

#ArtWitchTips and #WitchyLittleThings

Lammas Art Journal Prompt

Lammas is a time of harvest, gratitude, and reflection. As we honour the first fruits of our labour, it’s also a time to ask: What have you created, nurtured, or learned since the Spring Equinox? What are you proud of? What do you wish to carry forward into the next season?

Art Journal Prompt: Create a page celebrating your personal harvest. Use warm, golden tones, layered textures, and symbols of abundance. Incorporate elements that represent your own creative journey—whether it’s words, images, or patterns that tell your story.

A Lammas Art Journal Page.

Additional Creative Offerings

As a special offering for this sabbat, I am releasing a free downloadable colouring page that aligns with the themes of Lammas. This is a small gift of creativity and reflection, an invitation to slow down and engage with the energy of the season through art.

Free Colouring Page for Lammas

Looking Ahead to Mabon & Aligning Art with the Season

As we move toward Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, we begin shifting our focus from outward expression to inward reflection. Just as the trees prepare to shed their leaves, we can ask ourselves: What do we need to release? What do we want to carry with us into the darker months ahead? How can we align our creative practice with the energy of this turning season?

Lammas is our moment to pause, celebrate, and express gratitude—not just for what we’ve created, but for the journey itself. The cycle continues, and with it, the ever-unfolding story of our craft, our art, and our lives.

#CyclesOfCraft is an ongoing exploration of creativity, nature, and the rhythms that shape us. As we embrace the harvest of Lammas, we prepare for the next season of change. What are you harvesting in your own life and creative practice right now? Let’s honour it together.

Embrace Innovation and Creativity with the Aquarius New Moon.

Life Update: Navigating Challenges and Finding Inspiration

Life Update: Navigating Challenges and Finding Inspiration
It’s been a challenging cycle. My second nerve block this week meant plenty of doctor’s appointments and hospital visits, keeping me away from the studio. On top of that, Melbourne’s Summer has made things difficult. My little companion Morgana has been on a holiday at my sister’s, where she can enjoy some air conditioning. As much as I’m missing her, it’s just been too hot here for her.

I was also honoured to take part in the 101 Women Project, a powerful tribute to the 101 women killed last year by gendered violence. Dressed in black and wearing red veils, we stood in silence for 30 minutes on the steps of the State Library in Melbourne. From there, we processed single file down Swanston Street to Lonsdale Street before entering the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. It was a deeply moving and visually striking display of art and activism.

Thank you to Fleassy Malay for organising this event and ensuring it was accessible for all participants. I also had the privilege of helping with the media release for the event, an honour to support such an important cause. Family and gendered violence, as well as the ongoing femicide epidemic in this country, need as much awareness as we can generate in the hope that governments will take decisive action.

On another note, I’ve been struggling with my visioning for 2025. My vision wall is still a work in progress, as the uncertainty of my health makes future planning a bit overwhelming. I’m trying to approach it with patience and flexibility, leaving space for hope and creativity to flourish.

Studio Update: Exploring Digital Art and Upcoming Exhibitions

With all the appointments this cycle, I haven’t had much time to pull out the paints. Instead, I’ve been diving into Procreate on my iPad, discovering how my collage and mixed media concepts translate digitally. It’s exciting to see the possibilities this opens up, and I’m looking forward to experimenting further.

I’ve also been researching ways to incorporate more texture into my piece for the upcoming Creativa exhibition with Collective 24. I’ve been working on the colour palettes for the marketing and social media promotions. We are in the process of setting the social media accounts, I hope to share them with you in my next blog post. It’s exciting to use some of the skills I’ve been learning here and on my own social media platforms. Speaking of which, I have just opened a Bluesky Social account! If you’re there, I’d love if you follow me, find me under Ange’s Studio, and I’ll follow you back.

On top of that, grant writing has been a major focus, as I delve deeper into my concepts around the seen and unseen realms of being a woman and living with a disability. There’s also a watercolour workshop from ArtisMagic.online waiting for me, I’m hoping to jump back into that soon.

#CyclesOfCraft Update: Lammas Celebrations and Creative Prompts

The wheel of the year is turning again as we approach the seasonal celebration of Lammas on February 4th. Keep an eye out for my special edition blog post next week, where I’ll share info, tips, and creative ways to honour this time of year.

In the meantime, let’s revisit this cycle’s art prompt:

Earlier this cycle, I shared an art prompt inspired by the Aquarius New Moon: "What bold visions or unconventional ideas are ready to emerge?" Reflecting on this, I’ve been exploring how Aquarius themes of originality and progress resonate with my own creative journey. As you revisit this prompt, consider these guiding questions:

• What unique perspective or idea have you been holding back?

• How can you show up more authentically in your creative practice?

• What does "progress" mean to you right now, and how can you embrace it?

I’d love to see what you create—don’t forget to tag me or use #CyclesOfCraft to share your work!

Aquarius New Moon Art Journal Prompt - #CyclesOfCraft

Artist of the Season: Alice Neel’s Visionary Portraits and Legacy

This season, I’m drawing inspiration from Alice Neel, a brilliant 20th-century American painter known for her striking portraits and commitment to portraying real life. Neel was an Aquarian herself, and her life and work reflected the humanitarian and innovative spirit of this sign.

Neel was a fearless champion of social justice, a Leftist, and a staunch supporter of Trade Unions. Her commitment to equality and human rights was evident not only in her art but also in her activism. At a time when women were not afforded the rights we have now, Neel boldly created work that celebrated individuality and diversity while challenging societal norms.

Her portraits often focused on women, marginalised communities, and her own experiences, capturing the raw and honest essence of her subjects. Two of her iconic works are:

• Andy Warhol (1970): A raw, vulnerable portrait of Warhol, capturing him shirtless with scars from a past assassination attempt.

• The Family (1970): A powerful piece that captures the dynamics of a family unit, emphasizing connection and individuality.

Neel’s fearless approach to art and life is a constant source of inspiration as I develop my own projects. If you want to discover more about this courageous women, start here.

Astrology Insight: Embracing the Aquarius New Moon’s Innovative Energy

The Aquarius New Moon is all about innovation, vision, and breaking free from the old to create the new. This is a time to think outside the box, embrace collaboration, and focus on how we can contribute to collective growth.

The world feels especially chaotic and unsettled right now, and that could be a reflection of recent celestial activity. The recent Planetary Parade and the appearance of a comet have stirred up energies, bringing transformative yet turbulent vibrations to the forefront. These cosmic events often manifest as upheaval here on Earth, urging us to reevaluate, adapt, and evolve.

Aquarius, ruled by Uranus, is a sign of forward-thinking and collective progress. This New Moon invites us to consider how we can innovate in our lives and contribute to a better future. It’s a time to set intentions not just for personal growth but also for how we can impact our communities and the world at large. Embrace your uniqueness, and don’t be afraid to share your unconventional ideas, they might just spark the change we all need.

Lunar New Year 2025: Insights into the Year of the Wood Snake

This Lunar New Year welcomes the Year of the Wood Snake. The Snake is a symbol of wisdom, transformation, and intuition. Combined with the steady, growth-oriented energy of wood, this year encourages us to shed old skins, embrace personal evolution, and plant seeds for long-term growth.

Here’s a quick look at how the Wood Snake’s energy might affect each Chinese zodiac sign:

• Rat: A year of steady progress but remember to trust your instincts.

• Ox: Opportunities for personal growth and transformation abound.

• Tiger: Creativity and intuition are heightened; follow your passions.

• Rabbit: A time to focus on relationships and emotional resilience.

• Dragon: Transformative opportunities; take calculated risks.

• Snake: Your year! Embrace your natural wisdom and intuition.

• Horse: A year for introspection and refining your goals.

• Goat: Focus on balance and nurturing your inner world.

• Monkey: Dynamic changes bring opportunities for growth.

• Rooster: A steady year for building foundations and connections.

• Dog: Trust your intuition and embrace new beginnings.

• Pig: A supportive year for self-care and personal evolution.

The transformative energies of the Wood Snake align beautifully with the themes of the Aquarius New Moon. Together, they encourage us to embrace change, innovate, and move forward with courage and intention.

2025 Year of the Wood Snake

Discover New Designs in My Redbubble Shop

If you’re looking for something special, don’t forget to check out my Redbubble shop. I’ve added some new designs as well as my classic Crow Series, perfect for gifts or a little treat for yourself.

Wishing you all a transformative and inspired Aquarius New Moon. Let’s step into this new cycle with courage, creativity, and a sense of wonder. As always, thank you for being part of my artistic journey.