May Day is the time when nature has truly come alive. Our ancestors joyfully embraced the fertility of Mother Earth because plant growth and pollination was everywhere, providing abundant harvests in the fall. The Celtic name for this period is Beltane, which means bright or sacred fire. During the festival, great bonfires were lit and animals and fields were blessed in hopes for an abundant year. Traditionally May Day began on the eve of May 1^st and lasted throughout the next day. It was often celebrated with feasting, dancing, and merriment all the way through May 15^th.

Beltane was a time when lovers ran off to the fields and woods together to honor the Goddess with ecstatic lovemaking.

Joyous Spring Equinox my friends,

This year in the Northern Hemisphere, the Vernal Equinox is March 20th, at 5:37 am Pacific Time, as the Sun enters Aries. Millennia ago this was considered the beginning of the New Year; hence the sign of Aries is at the beginning of the Zodiac.  The Persian New Year is still celebrated on the Spring Equinox, following these very ancient traditions

Equinox means that day and night will be balanced at the equator.  Also known as Ostara or Eostre (the origin of the name Easter), the hours of light and dark will be equal. In ancient traditions this is known as the time of Green Fire, which refers to the sap rising in trees and to the electrical energy pulsing through the rapidly growing plants.

Celebrate the Return of the Light, My Friends

Imbolc is the time of hope for new life and the return of the light.  In the US, most people think of February 2nd as Groundhog Day, the portent of how many more weeks of winter are in store. However, for thousands of years, Imbolc, meaning “in the belly” was a sign of hope as there would be lambs born in the spring. In addition they saw the noticeable signs that the days were lengthening.

Right after the truly inspiring Winter Solstice in 2020, with all the astrological portents; especially Jupiter and Saturn in Grand Conjunction in the sign of Aquarius, and the beautiful trine from the Moon to Venus; symbolizing love and connection, we found hope for the dawning of a new era.