"Give us this day our daily bread"
I’m sure most of us heard these or similar words growing up, whenever we either gathered around the supper table, went to that religious event, or came together for Thanksgiving. I would reckon it is one of the most commonly known prayers pertaining to food—and especially dealing with bread which is what this post is all about! I want to talk a little about bread, its importance within religious traditions, and some magick that can be worked with it. Sure, bread could actually signify more than actual bread within certain texts but we’re going to sift (😉) through all the material to learn just some basic facts about why bread is so significant and why the hell it’s mentioned so much! Then we will knead what we learned out and sprinkle it with some witchy magick. Okay, I’ll stop with the puns…
First off, I think the scheduling of this post is quite appropriate given that Lughnasadh was on the 1st. Lughnasadh celebrates the corn and grain harvests which is why it was also later given the name Lammas, meaning Loaf-mas) from the Church. If we think back to earlier times when the harvest was truly the difference between life or death, when there were no such privileges such as grocery stores, we can understand why grain and bread would be important. However, I aim to observe the spiritual importance of it. If we look at Paganism, it’s a representation of death and rebirth as symbolized by the Harvest Lord, The God, who sacrifices Himself every fall so that we may survive the potentially perilous winter where He is reborn at Yule, only to be once more sacrificed during the harvest season.
We create corn dolls to represent our God and to remind us of the importance of this harvest. Personally, I think it could be easy to forget the significance of such a festival when we can run down to the big chain store for loaves of bread or whatever else we may need. There are many figures during this time whom I’ll delve into a bit more later. Beforehand, I’d like to briefly look at the meaning of bread within Christianity and Judaism as it’s a universal blessing and symbol utilized. (I did try looking at Islam but found only one Hadith in regards to it but when I returned the page, it can no longer be found.) Why do we find bread within several religious traditions?
“Here is bread, which strengthens man’s heart, and therefore is called the staff of Life.” Matthew Henry
Let’s begin with Christianity. Do note that I’m not going into too much detail as this post would be perhaps the length of a book…and ain’t nobody got time for that! I think this may be something I return to explore deeper later but as of right now, we are only looking for the bare basics. Here bread alludes to God’s providing and nourishment as well as Jesus who on numerous occasions managed to feed dozens of people with bread. We know the giving of bread is a hospitable act and such acts are encouraged as it was known that Abraham’s tent was open on all sides to welcome any travelers. In Leviticus 7:12-13, we find that bread is offered to God. According to Leviticus 26:26, “a failure of bread supply was a mark of Judgement.”
There’s the mention in the Old testament, which is part of the Torah, of unleavened bread which is especially important within Judaism. During the exodus, the Hebrews were in such a hurry that they couldn’t allow their bread to rise and it became known as the “bread of affliction”. Every year for the Passover seder as well as for the entire week of Pesach (Passover), matzah (unleavened bread) is the only permissible type of bread. Chametz, or anything with leavened products, are forbidden which yes, includes sandwich bread. Put that turkey between two slices of matzot and eat up!
Another instance of bread within the Torah is manna which fell from the sky while the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. It was powdered and used to create bread and always provided enough for the family. No more and no less. Double portions fell on Friday as it’s forbidden to cook on the Sabbath. This leads to the third type of important bread—challah.
Challah is by far my favorite bread and I still bake it. Challah is the braided egg bread that is found on Jewish tables for Friday night (the beginning of Shabbat/Shabbos—the Sabbath). It can either be braided with three strands or six which have their meanings. Traditionally two loaves are baked, therefore two six braids equals twelve and it is said there were twelve loaves of bread on the altar in the Holy Temple. However, three braids can be done which could represent the three pillars upon which the world is founded: Torah (the Bible), Prayer (or acts of Service, depending on the source), and human kindness.
There is actually a video I found on Pinterest that I’ll link to here that deals with the Kabbalah behind making Challah which I think is a great idea even if you’re making regular old sandwich sort of bread since it brings in the elements and ingredients.
"The smell of good bread baking, like the sound of lightly flowing water, is indescribable in its evocation of innocence and delight." M.F.K. Fisher
Now that we’ve looked at how and why bread is important, let’s return to our Pagan perspective and have a look at a small heaping of Grain Deities (as always this is by no means a complete list!)
The Harvest Lord in Wicca
Demeter—the mother of Persephone, Greek Goddess of Grain and Vegetation
Roman Counterpart: Ceres
Gaea (Gaia)--The Earth Mother Herself from whom all life grows
Isis--"The Lady of Ten Thousand Names", taught breadmaking, alongside other skills, to the Egyptians
Osiris--Consort of Isis, taught agriculture with HIs wife, Egyptian Agricultural God who is sacrificed yearly
Geb--The Egyptian Earth God (not Goddess!)
I always think Earth Deities, particularly those who are seen to personify the earth itself, are appropriate.
Cerridwen--A Celtic Goddess of the harvest whom a symbol for Her is grain
The Dagda--A Celtic Earth-God
"No yoga exercise, no meditation in a chapel filled with music, will rid you of your blues better than the humble task of making your own bread." M.F.K. Fisher
Inviting Them into the breadmaking process can turn the mundane into something very much more beautiful and sacred. Alternatively, baking Them a small loaf alongside your own as an offering is another great gesture. However, the entire process can be magickal--if you so choose. If you watched the Youtube Challah Kabbalah video above, the process of remembering the elements during the entire process can already be explained. They are all present and were present throughout the growing of the necessary ingredients and crops. However, the magick doesn't have to stop there.
Before you begin making your dough, decide on a specific intention--healing, love, peace, joy...whatever you want. Keep this in mind while mixing the ingredients. When it comes to kneading (as I know with my dough, it takes about 10 minutes), focus on your intention. Say an incantation, chant, hum, visualize--whatever. Knead and focus on your intention.
As the dought rises, visualize and intend that your goal will rise and manifest with the dough. Then, the magick is released and realized as it bakes. When you eat it, know that you are internalizing the magick and thereby bringing your intention, your goal, to you. This would be great magick for anything earth related--prosperity, abundance--as well as internalized transformations as the bread breaks down and the magick becomes a part of you. Has your family been fighting and you would just like to add some peace and love to the mix? Bake it and serve that hot for dinner!
You can mark sigils and runes into the dough to bake. Or you could even make it with a specific intention of something you want to release and burn that bread. Or, to heal, find a body of moving water and break off pieces, tossing each in with the intent and visualization that you are releasing (insert desire here). It's one of those things that is beautiful and simple. Plus, you get to make a mess and it's okay ;)
"Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts."--James Beard
Do you enjoy making your own bread? What ways could you incorporate magick into the mix? I feel autumn and winter months are the PERFECT time to bake homemade bread! The nights are steadily growing longer (even if we haven't realized it yet!) and that makes indoor magick very welcomed!
Brightest of Blessings,
The Autumn Witch
All Sorrows are less with bread."--Miguel de Cervantes
IF YOU MISSED IT!
September's Theme will be 13 Days of Mabon, starting on the 10th! Mabon is my absolute favorite sabbat so I am extremely giddy over this theme! :)
Sources:
http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/bread-bread-of-presence.html
https://www.thoughtco.com/legends-and-folklore-of-bread-2561468
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10366-manna
http://exodusconversations.org/questions/what-significance-does-bread-have-in-your-tradition/
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