Happy Beltane, y'all!

[MorningGlow]

Sunny but cold 'round these parts--sigh--no nekkid dancing this year yet AGAIN. Unless we get clearance from the town for some giant bonfires. Gotta look into that for next year.

Have a good one! :hi:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Blessed Be!

And Happy Beltane to you as well.

Is the May Pole part of the Beltane celebration? If so, what is its significance? Thanks!

[MorningGlow]

3. Oh yes as a fertility symbol

Quite phallic, no? Young couples used to dance around the maypole and bravely leap over bonfires (also for fertility) before pairing off and traipsing into the woods for...you know. :D

I always found this holiday's co-opting by the Christians quite amusing--taking a day devoted to boinking and devoting it to the Virgin Mary.
:rofl:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Jumping over bonfires is also a Zoroastrian tradition

though they do that during Nu Rooz, at the vernal equinox. The idea there was to "burn away" any bad thoughts and deeds of the past year.

[southerncrone]

18. I conceived my daughter 20 years ago on this Beltane!

She is a beautiful, earthy Capricorn princess!

(I know I'm a day late posting this; was busy yesterday!) :evilgrin:

May we all blossom forth!

[wickfordbard]

12. The May Pole

is phallic, but the dance itself symbolizes the weaving of the masculine and feminine energies of life. Beltaine is the time of renewal, so you get to renew those energies within and without.

I've written more in my newsletter this month.

Wickfordbard

[MorningGlow]

14. Very good point, Wickfordbard

It's too easy to fall back on the "fertility" angle for all pagan rites, just as the anthropologists and archaeologists do, without addressing the spiritual. Thanks! :hi:

[I Have A Dream]

2. Happy Beltane back atcha, MG!

I'll skip the nekkid dancing regardless of the temperature. :)

:hi:

[MorningGlow]

4. Well, in all honesty, me too

I wouldn't want to scare the poor innocent woodland creatures, let alone my peers!
:rofl:

[lildreamer316]

13. Seems to me this is the perfect day for me

to celebrate my profession, LOL!!
Hmmm. Someday one of the clubs should throw a may day celebration. I could really use it as a good excuse to go to work.
Sorry, thought it was funny!

[silverweb]

5. Happy Beltane!

One of my favorite days of the wheel... :hi:

[Matariki]

7. Hurry - if you haven't already done so - run outside and wash your face with dew!

[LiberalEsto]

8. Beltane blessings

And a happy May Day to all of you!

[Shine]

9. My moon circle of 12 women danced around our maypole last night

Blessed be! :hi:

[stellanoir]

10. Oh you god forsaken heathens !!!

KIDDING

Happy Beltaine !!! (I spell it that way 'cause I'm a Celt)

Wickfordbard used to throw phenomenal Beltaine parties when she lived around here.

She's written amazing stories about every single Pagan holiday. That's one reason among many for which I call her the Story Lady. I'm gonna call her and try to goon her into posting the one for Beltaine on this thread.

Then I'll go dance nekkid with a slinky around a May Pole and probably get really entangled in the ribbons.

So if you don't hear from me for a while, you'll know why.

:grouphug:

[wickfordbard]

11. Beltaine Story for you all

Happy Beltaine! My favorite festival!

Stella called me this morning to urge me to add a link to my Beltaine Story. I've just finished my newsletter, where there's a link but I'll put the link in here as well.

<http://www.starofthebards.com-a.googlepages.com/beltainefires>

Tonight I'm going to a magical Beltaine party here in Vegas. I can't wait.

Love you all.
Wickfordbard



:party: :party: :party: :toast: :toast: :toast: :bounce: :bounce: :loveya: :loveya: :pals: :pals: :yourock: :yourock:

[Mojorabbit]

15. What a lovely story

A wonderful read on a wonderful day!
Thank you for sharing it.

[stellanoir]

16. Though Beltaine has passed I'm

kicking for post #11.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. I was invited to a Beltane fire

which was started just before sunset. We honored the snakes and the spirits of the land--there is a large energy vortex at the Foundation--it was very nice.