This evening is reckoned as the beginning of the high holiday of Beltaine by many. Some observe it on the first of May and others observe it on the astronomical cross quarter day. Still other people reckon it by the first full moon following the first of May. There are many variations.
My altar is aglow with candles. If I had the means, I'd have a bonfire and be celebrating the season with my pagan friends. Unfortunately, we can not have all that we wish. Beltaine has been a special holiday for me. It was the first of the high holidays that I celebrated with my husband after our handfasting near Mabon. (Familial obligations and other comittments made celebrating Yule, Imbolc, and Ostara not possible. It was a surprise visit from him when I was away that allowed us to celebrate Beltaine together.)
It was the fire festival that Rose had given me the goddess pendant that I treasure, as part of a fertility rite that I sincerely believe helped my husband and I conceive our children. It is one of the high holidays that I can feel the presence of the Sidhe most strongly about me. It was one of the high holidays that I was able to celebrate with Stargazer when we were at college. I am sure, even now, these two blessed women smile upon me from the otherside. With them, I am sure, is my aunt Shawn who helped guide me down this path.
Beltaine opens the door to the summer season and brings the blessings of fertility upon us, for which I am immensely grateful. I haven't any wondrous words of wisdom for you tonight. I exhort you, instead, to immerse yourself in the pulse of life that throbs about you. Eat food that delights you, drink beverages that you enjoy, and do that which makes you feel happy and alive. The Gods have blessed us with life and urge us to celebrate it.
May you be blessed this Beltaine.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Veil.
Like several other pagan women (and possibly some pagan men), I am called to veil myself. Where some do so out of modesty or similar sentiment (especially in the Christian communities), I do so because my Goddess told me to cover my hair from those who would not respect me and to protect my power from those who would profane me. It is for this reason that I cover my hair and am striving to learn more techniques to do so gracefully.
It may sound silly, but the type of veiling that I do is increasingly pushed towards the type that is seen in traditional European Mariological iconography. I'm not entirely sure how to work this into my wardrobe, but I've been realizing it isn't just an aesthetic preference. Some how, I am supposed to do this. As I look at the different images, I am really intensely studying the way they are approached and finding that some of the icons are almost physically impossible with out a MASS of pins. And then there are ones like below where it looks just draped over the head. I'm stumped on how to recreate this and not have it blow away. A work in progress.
It may sound silly, but the type of veiling that I do is increasingly pushed towards the type that is seen in traditional European Mariological iconography. I'm not entirely sure how to work this into my wardrobe, but I've been realizing it isn't just an aesthetic preference. Some how, I am supposed to do this. As I look at the different images, I am really intensely studying the way they are approached and finding that some of the icons are almost physically impossible with out a MASS of pins. And then there are ones like below where it looks just draped over the head. I'm stumped on how to recreate this and not have it blow away. A work in progress.
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