May 2017 Column
Happy Beltane! May
1st, otherwise known as 'May Day' is the Wiccan festival of Beltane. It's a wonderful celebration of the joining
together of the male and female energies, so it makes sense that it is a very
popular time for hand fasting ceremonies to take place (pagan weddings). These pagan ceremonies are beautiful and
involve binding the couples hands together to symbolise the joining of the two
individuals, you then jump over the broomstick together which symbolise you entering
your new life as a couple.
In years gone by Beltane was
celebrated as an early pastoral festival which accompanied the first turning
out of the herds out to wild
pasture. The cattle were driven between
the Belfires to protect them from illness and disease. Any contact with the fire was seen as
symbolic contact with the sun. Beltane
is also a time when fertility and sexuality are exalted too, as well as reaping
the harvest we have sown, both physically in the first harvest, and spiritually
in terms of karma. Traditionally a
maypole is erected (the phallus) and ribbons of all different colours are hung
from its top and then men and women both dance twirling the ribbons around the
maypole in spectacular fashion, to make a beautiful woven design which
symbolises the coming together of male and female. . So
in terms of fertility, if you are looking to conceive then May 1st is a great
time to go for it! Hang different
coloured ribbons from your bed and braid your hair (shows you are honouring the
union of man and woman and goddess/god).
Other traditional practices include jumping the Beltane fire for good luck (not to be
advised unless you are a responsible adult and it's a very small outside
fire!), and hanging a rowan branch over the fire in your home (this preserves
the fire from bewitchment as the house fire is seen as the symbolic luck of the
house). It's an interesting festival I
think as on the one hand its champions the male and female joining as one,
(fertility), procreation and the coming of sexuality in order to make new life,
and on the other hand it also celebrates the maturity of love in terms of
commitment (hand fasting ceremonies) so to me there lies a dichotomy between
the heady, lusty, first flush of love with the more considered, mature love which seems to carry more
depth. That said, perhaps this festival
simply covers the diversity of the marriage of male and female, yin and yang,
new love and mature love. Although I
have talked predominately about heterosexual love with regards to Beltane, there
is no reason why the diversity of love celebrated could not also encompass
homosexual love too. The joy of Wicca
for me, is in the fact that we respect both the natural world and each other,
and part of that respect is in welcoming people from all walks of life. We all come the same way, we all go the same
way, we all need to love and support each other.
Practical Magic
Everyone needs love in their
life, young and old. It needn't all be romantic love, clearly children need the
unconditional love from their families, and as adults some of us have romantic
love, but we also need love in the forms of friendship, support and companionship,
particularly as people get older and their life situations change. Retiring from work, being made redundant,
losing a partner, kids leaving home; these are all situations where people can find themselves 'rudderless',
so to speak and in need of some friendship.
My magical tip for this month is to make a may day lucky charm to give
to someone in need. To do this take a
small branch from a tree preferable a rowan tree (see image below), just a piece
of branch around 7 inches long, take 3 or 4 pieces of different coloured ribbon
and attach to the top of the wood then weave around the branch so that all the
ribbons are intertwined, secure firmly at the bottom. This symbol of the maypole will act as a
lucky and colourful charm for your recipient.
You can also leave tassels of the ribbons floating at the bottom of the
branch if you think it looks prettier.
Give it to the person you immediately think of that needs it.
Crystal of the Month: Malachite
I chose this beautiful emerald
green stone partly as it is the colour associated with the festival of
Beltane. It is a deeply protective
stone, absorbing negative energies from the atmosphere as we;; as well as
clearing electromagnetic pollution- you can keep it near microwaves or in the
office and it will protect you against harmful rays from technological
equipment. It is often used during
travel too, particularly air travel, so if you are afraid of flying take a
piece of malachite with you and it will calm you down as well as keep you
safe. In terms of healing Malachite is a
stone of transformation. It will show you what is blocking your spiritual
growth and help you to discard old outworn patterns of life. It is a highly adaptable stone and will give
the owner what they need in terms of support and protection. In terms of transformation, it will know how
far to push you and enable you to reach your true potential according to where
you are at right now in your life's journey.
As I sit holding it my hand and rubbing my fingers over its smooth
surface, I feel my mind's eye filling with light as if the possibilities are
endless and little opportunities are exploding into the atmosphere all
around. I hope you will feel these possibilities
too!
Archangel Michael Card
This month's angel card is
'Detach from the Situation' and suggests that you may have become too embroiled
in a situation to the point where you can't see it objectively. Take a step
back, don't allow yourself to become so emotionally involved or take other
peoples actions personally. Give
yourself permission to withdraw from the situation, you don't necessarily need
to know the solution now, have faith that it will reach a happy
conclusion. In terms of specific
meanings this card can be read as: don't take on other peoples arguments, be
compassionate without carrying others burdens, maybe it's time to leave an
unhealthy situation or relationship.
Moody Moon
This month's full moon falls on
May 10th in Scorpio at 22.42, Scorpio is one of the three water signs, and the
only water sign that will seek revenge if hurt, so beware! They really do have a sting in their tails if
you upset them! Henceforth this full
moon indicates a time when feelings will run particularly deep, try not to
allow yourself to say things you don't mean.
The new moon is on 25th May at 20.44 in Gemini, new opportunities , new jobs, interviews, anything
communication related will be great on this day as mercury the planet of communication
rules Gemini. On May 6h look out for
Eta Aquarids Meteor shower. Meteors will
radiate from the constellation Aquarius but can appear anywhere in the
sky. For the best chance of seeing them
look from a dark location after midnight.
Mars will be visible from the
west in the evenings throughout may, Jupiter will be visible all night, and
Mercury Venus and Saturn are visible from the east in the mornings.
Eat: Asparagus, new potatoes,
radishes, samphire, spinach, spring onions, watercress, bananas, basil,
nasturtium, parsley, rosemary, lamb, wood pigeon, crab, haddock, sardines,
salmon
Play: Hard to get. Aim high,
don't settle for second best. You
deserve to be number one.
Love: the diversity we have in
our communities. Different can be good, different can be scary,
be proud of your uniqueness and help others celebrate theirs too.
