Healing Balm: Ritual for Lughnasadh

Fragments of Carmelite Water, 2013. Photograph.

This is a ritual to be enacted quietly and unobserved on the eve of Lughnasadh. It uses Summer beads and a healing balm inspired by fragments of an ancient recipe for Carmelite Water; a healing potion created about 1379 by the Carmelite Sisters made from lemon balm, coriander seeds, cloves and other everyday herbs and spices. The healing balm is said to coax joy from the belly and is reputed to have been used as a tonic to relieve the body of the last vestiges of sadness. It is particularly effective at Lughnasadh when the energies of active growth co-exist with the gentle energies of slowing; as they begin to emerge in preparation for winter. Joyfulness and sadness meet in mutual recognition. Joyfulness listens intently to Sadness; Sadness listens intently to Joyfulness. Together they mutually transform; co-emerging through Slowing’s gentle energies.

Three days before Lughnasadh: Make nine pea-sized Summer beads from papier maché; wrapping them in summer flower petals and lemon balm leaves.

Two days before Lughasadh: Make your healing balm by adding lemon balm leaves, coriander seeds, cloves and mint leaves to drinking water. Store in an air-tight bottle.

On the eve of Lughnasadh: Take your beads and healing balm out into the world. If the world is not open to you at the moment, you can move around your flat/house. Dab a little of the balm onto your wrists, your temples, the back of your knees and your neck. Take one of your beads into your hand and feel its power. Walk for as long as you would like. If you encounter another person you might offer them your bead. You might see a tree or a wall where you might place your bead. If either of these happen, take another bead into you hand and continue. You can stop whenever it feels right to do so. Any remaining beads can be kept safely until next year. Invisible traces of the beads’ potency might permeate your very matter; transforming it.