Month at a Glance: May

Please Note: On-going series will be interrupted from time to time to present posts related to unexpected events, or celebrations occurring within the Turning of the Wheel of the Wiccan Year.

May

May represents the rebirth of the Earth in the saga celebrated within the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. Once April's rains and winds have subsided, the sun begins to warm up the earth so gardens and crops are planted. Followers enjoy getting out in their gardens under the Flower Moon and putting their hands into the rich soil of Mother Earth.

Spring is a time of fertility, and May is a fiery month indeed – full of lust and passion! It's sometimes called the month of the Hare Moon – and it’s known what hares are busy doing in the spring.

Moon Phases – North America

New Moon: May 14; 01 hour, 04 minutes
First Quarter: May 20; 23 hours, 43 minutes
Full Moon: May 27; 23 hours, 07minutes
Last Quarter: Jun 04; 22 hours, 13 minutes

Correspondences

In Wicca, followers honor or attune to the energy/power of a goal or seasonal occurrence by selecting natural objects and deities to better bring that target goal or occurrence into clearer focus prior to meditation, or for use when working with them in magick. These are referred to as “Correspondences,” and they generally have been linked by practitioners to that goal’s energy/power or seasonal occurrence since antiquity.

Thus, the following have been shown to “correspond” or be linked with May:

Colors: Red, Orange, Yellow
Gemstones: Ruby, Garnet, Amber, Apache Tear
Trees: Hawthorn, Rowan
Gods: Kali, Priapus, Cernunnos, Flora
Herbs: Cinnamon, Members of the Mint Family
Element: Fire

May 01 – Beltane

Beltane, May 01, 2010, is one of the eight Sabbats (Holy Days) celebrated by Wiccans and other Pagans in the Wheel of the Year.

Beltane is a celebration of the union of the union of the Goddess and the God – a celebration of fertility and new life.

Beltane is one of the four "fire festivals" or "greater sabbats". Although the holiday may use features of the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as maypole dancing). Some Wiccans celebrate 'High Beltaine' by enacting a ritual union of the May Lord and Lady.

Even some of the folk traditions which are still followed today can find their roots in the ancient celebration of love, sex and fertility. The May Pole was originally designed for Beltane, the Pagan fire festival that celebrated the abundance of spring. The pole and ribbons of the May Pole represented the phallus and semen and maidens danced about the maypole to evoke fertility and prosperity for the summer. This festival, which was celebrated on May 1st, was named after the Celtic God, Bel, a fire God of fertility, love and passion but was eventually dissolved into folk custom and renamed May Day.

The May Pole, an ancient pagan phallic symbol representing the king and spirt of vegetation (in Celtic lands referred to as The Greenman, or Oak King), is planted into Mother Earth to symbolize union and balance.

It was on May Eve that the Tuatha Dé Danann (Tribe of the Goddess Danu) arrived in Ireland. They are masters of enchantment, and in May their magic is the strongest.

Brigid (Brighid), known in Ireland as the Goddess of fire and inspiration, also represents THE GREAT GODDESS, Danu. Brigid is also known as Queen of the Faeries.

To celebrate Beltane with the Spirits, say:

Star light, star bright,
I call the faeries forth tonight,
Come and celebrate with me,
Dance and sing, so mote it be.

May 05 – Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It was on May 5th in 1862 that 2,000 poorly trained Mexican peasants, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza, fiercely fought and won the Battle at Puebla against a regiment of 6,000 French soldiers under the command of Napoleon III.

In modern times on the Fifth of May, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by native Mexican (and American) people everywhere. In Mexico, several towns elaborately reenact the Battle of Puebla in a day-long dramatization that includes acting and speeches. In America, Cinco de Mayo is an opportunity to celebrate Chicano culture in general, and is celebrated with huge fairs that include Mexican singing, dancing, feasting, costumes, sports activities, fireworks, and entertainment. Mariachi bands play while dancers perform native Mexican dances such as the Mexican Hat Dance and the Raspa. Speeches and parades encompass a large part of the celebration too. These events are one way in which people celebrate the friendship of the United States and Mexico.

This observance of the Cinco de Mayo victory is a special symbol for all Mexican people who celebrate their rights of freedom and liberty, honoring those who fought and won against greater odds. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" has come to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

May 21– Gemini

Moon moves into Gemini, the sign of the Twins. Its power stone is citrine, and its birth stone is the beautiful diamond.

The ruling planet is Mercury. In mythology, Mercury was the messenger between the gods and men. He is depicted wearing a winged helmet, and has wings at his ankles, enabling him to deliver messages with great speed. Ironically, it is because of his swiftness that he was also adopted by the god of thieves!

May 27: Full Moon – Hare Moon or Flower Moon

In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time. Thus, the name of this Moon. Other names include the Full Corn Planting Moon, or the Milk Moon.

May is rebirth of life upon the Earth. With its reputation for being prolific, no creature is more suited than the hare as this month’s symbol.

This is a good time to work on magic related to careers and jobs. Thinking about switching to a new position, or perhaps trying a new field altogether? Want to take a class or get your degree? Take the seeds you've planted last month, and allow them to bloom and grow in your favor. Do some fire divination this month to help guide you on your way. This would also be a good time to plan a ritual to reaffirm your goals.

From me to you: May the peace of Danu remain in your hearts, now and forevermore. Tod Estu.

— Danu’s Daughter