Our Sacred Mother Earth

By Alixandra Peters May!

Queen of blossoms, And fulfilling flowers ,With what pretty music     Shall we charm the hours? Wilt thou have pipe and reed, Blown in the open mead? Or to the lute give heed In the green bowers? -  Lord Edward Thurlow

May 1st is the start of the sacred celebration, Beltane. It is on this day that the Goddess and God unite. When all rejoice in the new life promised by the Spring, through the coming fertility of Mother Earth. Beltane is a merry day of joy, sexuality and magic. The fairies have just awoken from their winter slumber and all of life is exploding with unknown possibilities of the coming summer. There is much magic in the air on Beltane. The veils between the worlds are very thin just like on Samhain “Celtic Day of the Dead”. People of the old world believed that to protect themselves from any bad magic, due to the thinning of these veils, they needed to place a Rowan branch in front of their door. But, the main concern on this festival day was to honor new life without harboring any fear of the unknown.

The main festivities celebrated on Beltane were centered around fire and the Maypole. The word Beltane translates to mean fire of Bel or “Bright Fire”. Bel is the father, protector and husband of the Mother Goddess. So, to honor Bel, the Sun God, huge bon fires were lit while the people danced around, and leap over, them in honor of the God and Goddess. Cattle were herded through two bon fires; one for purification and the other for fertility. The ash from these fires were scattered and rubbed on the villagers faces to symbolize the burning away of winter.

The Maypole signified the connection to Mother Earth’s womb. The pole itself was the symbol of the god connecting with goddess as the ribbon. It was customary for the maidens and the lads of the village to dance around the Maypole. The maidens went counterclockwise and the lads went clockwise. The colors of the ribbon also had an important meaning. Green was the main color of Beltane as it signified growth and fertility. Red denoted energy and sexuality. Yellow was for happiness. White stood for peace and spirituality. The ancients also used blues, purples and pinks. It was truly a celebration of color! But what was imperative, after dancing round the Maypole with the ribbon, was the design left behind because it indicated the success of the harvest year ahead.

Well, as we can see, Beltane was all about the celebration of the circle of life. It’s about honoring and tapping into the sexual energies held deep within the earth. And with that comes all the sexual energies that we hold as well. These energies give, not just physical birth but, also creative birth. As the summer burns away the darkness of the winter our souls are sparked with the desire to create. This creation can take the form of art, food, dance or meditation. The honoring of the fire is the honoring of own passion. This day can transform your life on so many different levels, if you are willing and open to its magic! On May 1st, it is important to give thanks to Mother Goddess and Father God. Make your own fire (small and contained…safety first), place a Maypole in your yard and rejoice in the miracles of Spirit. Release your inner child and sexuality; explore these feelings as you become one with nature. Please make it a priority to show your gratitude and thankfulness during this season of change. By just reconnecting with our roots and finding our center, our lives will be so much richer and peaceful. Out of the craziness we call our lives we must find time to stop and honor the sacred. What better way and reason to stop, then on Beltane. Find the magic for yourself and understand it is always there, waiting to be accessed. It’s up to us to reclaim the sacred magic as our own. Give praise to the four elements and the four directions. Thank the fairies for their gifts. Be one with the animals. These are simple ways to reclaim our power. Happy Beltane! May this day be sacred and joyous. May it energize your inner child and sensuous spirit. Remember to explore your Sacred Mother Earth.

Alixandra Peters is the second oldest daughter of the publisher’s of Kinetics Magazine. She has been formally trained as a naturalist and horticulturist. In her spare time, Alix enjoys being a freelance photojournalist. She resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with her dog. Homer.and her three adorable cats - Skye, Jasmine and Chamile. You can contact her at Celticcat27@hotmail.com