Spiral Moon Fantasy Blog: goddess

Sunday, 1 May 2011

The Magic Of May

At the beginning of April I had every intention of posting on my blog several times a month. However, with art work and establishing my kitchen and apothecary garden I have been a little distracted. I am planning to (work permitting) post regularly on the subject of the garden as this will, over time, be contributing to my shop in the form of natural home grown plants that will be used in my balms,soaps and brews. I am hoping this will eventually make a more authentic product. I am also working on a little experiment in lunar gardening. I'm not sure how this will progress - but it will be an interesting time... improving the condition of the plants, the growth time and the potency so that the beauty products will be the best that I can make them.

In the meantime I am turning my attention back to the web and updating the shops,sites and blog posts.

Well May is finally here! It has to be one of my favourite times of year. A time of anticipation and excitement.
The greenwood is at its freshest - dazzling us with an array of vibrant green hues before the summer heat begins to wilt the leaves. The colours are delicate and cool with my favourite flower bluebells carpeting the woodland floors and turning them to a sea of blue.

May also has some of the most powerful symbolism of the year. Anything that represents fertility is as important for us today as it was for ancient peoples. Of course fertility is vital for life - for the crops, for animals and for us and we still celebrate it with May Day or Beltane as it is know in the pagan/Wicca world.
We have all experienced some kind of symbolism around the bank holiday! I remember Maypoles in my village and the traditional choosing of the May Queen - the Maypole representing the sexual union between man and woman.
In symbolism, the God joins the Goddess ( who has now taken on the role of mother and giver of life) in marriage. ( The Great Rite). They are equal!

Many people choose to renew wedding vows at this time of year or take part in a handfasting, an ancient ceremony that binds two people together for a given length of time - such as for a year and a day or for life. This ritual is the origin of the saying tying the knot.

Oh but do be careful what you wish for too...it's also a time when the spirits and Fae folk are at their most mischievous. They take great pleasure in playing tricks on us unfortunate mortals!

So with all these customs and playfulness and with the nights still getting lighter as we edge closer to Midsummer how could you not love magical May.

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Wednesday, 2 February 2011

Imbolg - The promise of things to come

I can't reach this time of year without seeing it as a transitional period, of new beginnings with a deep sense of anticipation (more so than new year). The first signs of spring are now evident, though we have not quite crossed the threshold of the season, the shy but robust heads of the bulb flowers are peeping through a still, frozen ground ... and finally the days are getting longer too...
It's a happy time of year when the promise of something special laces the air like a delicate fragrance.
New life in its infancy.
So we can start afresh...with new ideas, eagerness and the promise of romance.
A not so romantic element of this time of year is the spring clean. This is not only in the home but in our lives too, preparing for things to come. We have to make space in our heads for the new and the abundance that the coming year will bring.
This has always been a part of tradition and it is interwoven into the Sabbat of the season, Imbolg. In the northern hemisphere, Imbolg is celebrated around the 1st/2nd of February and although it is not quite spring, it marks the end of winter in the Celtic calender. It's a time when the feminine is honoured as the maiden of spring emerges from the old crone of winter and the cycle of life begins again.
Imbolg is also about inspiration and the Goddess Brigid who represents fire encourages that spark of life that's needed for creativity such as poetry. It's a great time to settle old scores and tie up loose ends before the onset of spring as fire purifies and prepares for the new. Brigids meaning and origin does vary slightly however, believed to be connected to St. Brigit of Ireland representing fertility, labour and healing but she is clearly a womans inspiration and a symbol of the divine feminine.

As it is the time of year for inspiration and for all things female I have selected some pieces of work from various Etsy shops that encompass this - delicate romantic hues and empowering art. Please browse my selection and remember that if you like my blog please feel free to follow, comment or visit these wonderful shops :)