​It not only demonstrates how much of an effect we really have on nature, it is pretty evident that nature can get along very well without our interference.  Without us, the balance began restoring itself and the Earth began to heal.  It’s a reminder, and a warning that we are not apart from nature, but that  we are a part of nature.

​Hello!  It's so nice to be back with you!  I'm sure everyone knows how plans can change, things happen unexpectedly and sometimes life just gets so busy that the things you want to do, that you dream of doing, fall by the wayside.

​To start, I will be listing several items of jewellery, more categories will be opening as I am able to complete more projects.  Remember!  This is all handmade, I don’t have a factory doing production work, so each piece is handcrafted and takes time to finish to my satisfaction. ​

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For all those that have been patiently waiting to hear more from Magickal Elements, thank you for sticking around! 
I’ll be seeing you soon!

Sightings of strange creatures have been the source for tales and legends for thousands of years.  Books, TV shows and movies have been based on these legends that stem from every corner of the world.  While many of these sightings can be explained as misidentifications or hoaxes, that leaves a multitude of reports that can’t be explained.  People from all walks of life have offered theories as to what these beings may be, and they range from the fantastical to the scientific.   Though dismissed as a joke by many in the conventional sciences, cryptozoology is a very real field of study.  In fact, some stories of these unknown animals, known as cryptids, have been found to be quite real.  In a previous post, I mentioned the orangutan and the platypus.  Both were subjects of legends and stories told by those who encountered them in the wild, both were dismissed as fanciful creatures that didn’t exist, and both were eventually found, documented and have become well known members of the animal kingdom today.  So don’t dismiss all these stories out of hand, people are seeing something, it just hasn’t been identified yet. 

​The best evidence of course would be an actual Sasquatch and many question the fact that one has never been captured alive or dead, and no Sasquatch remains have ever been found.   It should be taken into account that sightings are usually in very remote regions where humans have only started to explore.  Even in well-known and travelled areas of wilderness, it is extremely rare to find remains of animals.  Between predators, scavengers, insects and other natural forces, bodies are swiftly consumed and scattered.   Another theory is that Sasquatch bury their dead, humans are not the only species on this planet to mourn lost loved ones.  It has been well documented that other animals appear to have some sort of funeral rites, and elephants have been known to mourn and bury the bodies of other elephants, and even the bodies of other species. 

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​If all the tales were all coming from one region, maybe it could be dismissed as local legend, or genetic aberrations such as gigantism and hypertrichosis.  But stories of this creature are told around the world:  Sasquatch in Canada, Bigfoot and the Skunk Ape in the USA,   Yowie in Australia, Yeti or Abominable Snowman in the Himalayas, Almas in Mongolia, the Yeren in China, the list goes on.  People from all around the world are seeing something, so what is it? 

Other theories suggest that Sasquatch is a dimensional traveller, or spirit being that guards the forest.  Yet another theory proposes that he is an alien being.  Until we find conclusive evidence of Sasquatch’s existence, we’ll just have to watch, and wonder…
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​Possibly a giant sturgeon?  These are bottom feeding fish that haven’t changed much since the Triassic period.  These are big fish, most averaging 7-12 feet in length with the largest on record measuring an incredible 24 feet long!  The reptilian look of the bony plates on their backs match some of the descriptions that have been recorded. 

​Interestingly, many reports compare the animals sighted in the water to real creatures that are familiar to most people.  Dinosaurs!  The descriptions of Nessie are very similar to something from the plesiosaur family.  Mokele-mbembe bears a striking resemblance to members of the sauropod category.  Other accounts seem to describe a mosasaur.  

​I’m sure you’re thinking, “Dinosaurs? Seriously?” Actually, yes, seriously.  This is a big planet.  And most of it is uninhabited.  That leaves lots of room for big creatures to hide in.  Is it so out of the realm of possibility that there were a few survivors of the mass extinction event that killed off the rest of the dinosaurs?  It wouldn’t be the first time that an animals believed to have gone extinct 65 million years ago, turned up alive and well in the modern age.  In 1938, a fisherman found something strange in his net.  It turned out to be a coelacanth, a fish thought to have been long extinct.  Since then, there have been many more of these ancient fish found in the ocean off the South African coast.  Who knows what else is down there?

​Or perhaps there is a more imaginative explanation for Nessie and creatures like her.  Some propose that they are actual dinosaurs, travelling through some kind of portal through time.  It would explain why people aren’t seeing colonies of these creatures; there wouldn’t have to be a breeding population, animals would come through singly or in small numbers.  If not a time portal, how about a Vernian lost world, deep inside the planet?  The hollow earth theory has been part of mythology and folklore throughout the ages and around the world.  Maybe there is some truth to it after all…

We live in an astoundingly complex world.  I’m not just talking about the convolutions of human society, I’m talking about Nature; how each piece fits together and becomes essential to the workings of the planet, whether we realize it or not.  Even though our understanding of the universe is in its infancy, it is enough to fill us with wonder.

For me, a large part of paganism is the openness to the unknown.  Exploring the world believing in endless possibilities.  Think of what you may learn if you stop saying “That’s impossible!” and start asking “What if?”

The study of the unknown has always been relegated to the fringes of science.  In the past, people faced censure by the church, imprisonment and even death.  Today those brave enough to delve into this field are regarded as eccentric at best and crackpots at worst.  That is until they’re proven right.  It takes a lot of courage and conviction to be able to withstand the onslaught of disparagers.  

​When I say the study of the unknown, well, that can mean a lot of things, since there is a lot of the unknown out there!  Though I am interested in the discoveries of mainstream science, I have always been more passionate about the ‘fringe’ sciences.  Cryptozoology, ESP and psychic abilities, ghosts and the spirit world, UFOs, and all manner of things that are unexplained.  It’s way too much to cover in one little blog post, so I’m going to break it down into a series.  For now, just a brief introduction to some of the things that go bump in the night…

How about mythological animals?  Dragons, unicorns and gryphons – oh my!  Some people put them in the cryptid category, some don’t.  The main difference seems to be that the reports of these animals are generally much older.  Did the ancients find the bones of a dinosaur and come up with a dragon?  Did a sighting of a rhinoceros or an antelope with a missing horn generate tales of the fabled unicorn?  Or did they see something that no longer exists?  Evidence of new species of extinct and modern animals are discovered all the time.  Are you really ready to say that something is impossible? ​

​Ghosts, spirits and other incorporeal entities have been the subjects of many a campfire tale designed to scare and horrify listeners.  But are they just elements of a story or is there some kind of truth behind it all?  This has to be one of the more fascinating beliefs to explore because most people want to know what happens to us after death.  I’ve had many of my own experiences, which has just intensified my interest in the subject.  The popularity of paranormal research shows such as “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Adventures” have resulted in soaring interest in the field.  There are different types of hauntings, different entities that are encountered and of course, many misunderstandings and counterfeits to be debunked.  If you are reading this post and you have your own experience you’d like to share, I’d love to hear it! 

​Unidentified flying objects, aliens, abductions, cattle mutilations, straight out of science fiction right?  Very true! But science fiction has a habit of eventually becoming science fact.  If you’re not a Star Trek fan, you’ve probably heard of the show at least.  There are at least a dozen gadgets from this science fiction television series that now exist in the real world.  While you may not run into any Klingons walking down the street anytime soon, something like that may not be far off.  Think about it, the Universe is massive beyond imagination, maybe even infinite.  Billions of galaxies containing trillions of stars.  If even a fraction of those stars have a planetary system, and a fraction of those systems have a planet suitable for life as we know it, that still leaves countless Earth type worlds.  In fact NASA has already discovered rocky planets situated in the so called “Goldilocks” zone, far enough from the star to be cool enough, but close enough that it’s not frozen.  Some of the right conditions to find life as we know it.  

​There is so much of the unexplained to investigate. Time travel, dimensional portals, mass disappearances, anachronisms found in archaeological digs, mysterious people, places and things showing up throughout history. So many questions, so few answers! And it all leads me to one obvious conclusion: the Universe is filled with mystery and magick and that makes it a fascinating place to explore.

Like many people, I found that I was unable to reconcile myself with many of the tenets of mainstream organized religion, specifically, Christianity.  I found too many contradictions and inconsistencies in the teachings I was exposed to during Sunday school and church sermons.  So I began my search.  I looked at different sects of Christianity, Buddhism, Ba’hai, Hinduism, Jainism, the list goes on.  I found it very interesting to learn about the different religions and their beliefs, but though I found many of them had elements that felt right, none of them spoke to me saying “this is your path”.  

When I started looking into paganism, it felt like I’d come home.  This is where I belonged!  And yet, there were still things that just weren’t lining up for me.  There were so many different pagan paths, which one was the one for me? 

In the first half of the 20th century, a man named Gerald Gardner claims to have been initiated into an ancient pre-Christian witch coven.  He is generally credited with reviving the religion by borrowing ideas from different sources such as Freemasonry and Aleister Crowley to enrich the coven’s rituals.  Thus began the Gardnerian tradition of Wicca, one of the most well known traditions today.  It is a mystery religion, requiring initiation and years of study to achieve the 3rd degree. 

Shamanism is a very old religion, dating back at least 10 000 years and quite possibly much longer.  The word shaman is thought to come from Siberia, and the literal translation is “he/she who knows”.  Shamanists believe that there is a world full of both benevolent and malevolent spirits.  The shaman is the bridge between this world and the spirit world.  By altering their state of consciousness, they can travel to this other world and interact with the spirits.  

Everything is sacred to the Native American culture, the land, the animals, the plants, everything.  There is a purpose and a lesson to be learned in all experiences and there are totems and spirits to help guide the way.  They recognize that humans are a part of nature, connected to all things.  They honour and respect the land and all who live on it. 

There are polytheists, who look to multiple gods, often from specific cultural pantheons.
Hellenism honours the ancient Greek gods.  This includes the Olympians, nature deities, chthonic deities and the heroes.  It is mostly a devotional type of worship, exchanging gifts and offerings for the blessings of the gods.
The Germanic gods are honoured by Heathens, Asatruar and Odinists.  The main difference between the three seems to be which subset of gods are worshipped.
Kemetics look to the gods of ancient Egypt.  I could list hundreds of other pantheons, but these are the main ones that I looked into during my search.

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Ancient Celtic Druids were the eminent professionals of their time.  Mostly remembered as religious leaders, they were also lawyers, judges, historians, archivists, doctors and political advisors.  Most modern Druids focus on promoting harmony and reverence for the natural world and practice ancestor worship.  
 

​Pantheism is the belief that the Universe is God, therefore God isn’t a creator, God simply IS.   Because all things are God, everything is connected and should be considered one entity.  A human may be different than a mountain or a tree, as a hand may be different from a leg or a brain, but ultimately all are part of a greater whole.  Unlike many religious belief systems, pantheists embrace science.  If God and the universe are the same thing, then understanding the universe is the path to understanding God. 

​Animism proclaims that you’re not the only being with a soul.  Everything has its own spirit and is alive in its own way.  Animals, plants, rocks, rivers, forests, hurricanes; all possess their own spiritual essence.   Humans are neither above nor apart from Nature, but are simply a part of it.  If you see similar beliefs in other religions, I'm not surprised.  It is the world's oldest belief system, and some think that all current religions and beliefs spring from this ancient well.

Witchcraft is a considered more of a practice than a religion.  Those who practice witchcraft use herbs and cast spells to achieve their goal; calling upon deities and spirits isn’t necessary.  It is possible to be a member of just about any religion and still practice witchcraft.  Witches can be male or female, and there are many different types: 

• Secular witches understand that the materials and energies used in practice come from the natural world, but generaly don’t consider them divine or spiritual.
• Ceremonial witches are all about the details and the rituals.
• Dianic witches focus on feminism.  No males need apply.
• Green witches connect with Mother Earth and works with Nature’s energies.
• Hedge witches venture into the Otherworld to communicate with the spirits.
• Kitchen witches take a more practical approach to their rituals and magick, and like to make their homes and surroundings sacred spaces.

I’ve said before, there are so many different traditions in paganism, it may take a while to find your own.  And if you found yourself drawn to more than one, as I did, then I encourage you to research and learn and above all else listen to yourself.  You may identify as one of these types of pagan, or with a tradition I haven’t mentioned, or you may choose to identify with none of them.  Though some may disagree, I don’t feel that there is any right or wrong here.  There is only what is right for you.

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​So which path have I chosen?  I am an Eclectic.  I call myself a pagan and I've also called myself a witch.   I don’t subscribe to any one tradition, instead I have built my own belief system stemming from my research into other paths.  I’ve learned to listen to my heart and soul, to incorporate pieces of other traditions that resonate with me, and to add my own contributions as the need arises.  My path may have a few more twists and turns than some, but that’s what makes it mine. 

A friend of mine has recently been exploring paganism, trying to determine if it’s the right path for her.  I’m answering her questions as best I can, and directing her to sites and books that I’ve found useful in my path.  She recently made a comment that really stuck with me, reminding me of some of the reasons I was attracted to paganism myself.  I can’t remember what she said word for word, but the idea was that she really wasn’t all that attracted to the spirituality aspect at this time.  The notion of gods, goddess, spirits and other beings didn’t really interest her; it was the connection to nature that drew her, and that’s what she wants to explore.

Most of my posts so far have been about the sabbats, information for rituals and other esoteric subjects.  While all that is important to my path, it was nice to be reminded of the simpler things, connecting and learning to work with nature.  Since paganism is mostly considered an earth centered belief system this seems obvious, but humans tend to get caught up with more complex ideas, and we all need a gentle hint now and again, to go back to the basics.

This year I found great joy in having my first garden.  Digging my hands into the dirt, watching things grow and produce food for my own table, not to mention for a variety of wildlife!  The vegetables and fruits I’ve grown myself taste much sweeter than the ones from the grocery store and the feeling of accomplishment and gratitude are indescribable. 

Now that the vegetables I planted are done for the year, I have to clean out the garden and plant the winter crops.  And I’m already looking forward to spring, fixing mistakes that I made this year, planning new techniques and anticipating next year’s harvest.   As an urban dweller, I know in my head that the seasons change and each season brings new tasks and opportunities, but this is the first time in a long time I’ve really felt it in my soul.

The weather became more interesting to me thanks to the garden as well.  I found myself keeping a closer eye on temperatures, winds and precipitation.  And because I was watching the weather more closely, I found myself appreciating the complexity and interconnectedness of the ecosystem more fully.  While I’ve always loved the power and beauty of a thunderstorm, I’m also more aware of the benefits of a gentler rain.  This year was very wet, so I’ve also been reminded to bask in the warmth and light of sunny days.   I’ve become more perceptive of the shortening days and longer nights.

I’ve been more conscious of scents, the smell of the coming rain, the flowers blooming in the yard, the aroma of freshly picked tomatoes; heaven for the senses.  Sounds are more prominent; birdsong, the buzzing of insects, the patter of rain and the rustling of wind in the trees.  It seems all my senses are sharpened and focussed.

My growing connection to the soil and the plants brings the reminder of my connection with the animals as well.   I’ve been feeling the urge to reconnect with the wild, and delve into the teachings of my non human kin.

I am very grateful to my friend and I'd like to thank you for your inspiration, intended or not.  You reminded me that whatever rituals I hold, whatever magick I wish to perform, whatever deities I wish to honour; I shouldn't forget the simple act of living in the world.  Living with the world.  Feeling the energy of the earth with your body.  Witnessing the beauty, savouring the scents. 

Litha marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.  It is the time to realize and celebrate the power of the God at full strength.  He is the lord of the forest, the Green Man hidden in plain sight in churches all over Europe.  In some traditions, this is the time when the Oak King, ruler of the light half of the year, is defeated in battle by the Holly King.  Though it’s early in the season (June 20-22) and the hottest days of summer still lie ahead, from this point on the hours of light grow ever shorter.

While many of the other Sabbats honour the God in part, the focus seems to shift more towards the Goddess.  By contrast, the focus at Litha is nearly always on paying homage to the power of the sun and masculine energies and rituals should be held at noon, when the sun is highest in the heavens.

Not surprisingly, fire is an important part of Litha celebrations.  Burning balefires were believed to help strengthen the sun.  Torchlight processions were common and burning gorse was carried around the livestock to prevent disease and misfortune.  Folk would dance around the bonfires, or leap through them as a fortifying or cleansing rite.  One of the most interesting practices was that of constructing wheels bound with straw, setting them alight and rolling them down steep hillsides.  In fact, this my be one of the few examples of truly ancient rituals surviving almost unchanged to the present day. 

Sun worship is one of the oldest forms of religion in existence and the most recognized symbol of that worship is the Solar Wheel, representing the motion of the sun.  The wheel has appeared on coins, in statues, pottery and in print for over five thousand years!  The custom is mentioned in a German work that was published in the mid 16th century: The Regnum Papisticum by Thomas Naogeorgus

This seems to have been quite a popular custom in Northern Europe and was practiced right up to modern times.  In 1909, an account was published by a folklorist of a very similar custom in Wales in the 1820s.

Though I don’t recommend setting something on fire and rolling it down a hill, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate Litha.  Use a candle to represent the Midsummer balefires, or have a bonfire if conditions and location permit.

The ashes from the Litha fire can be made into a protective amulet by pouring them into a small pouch or kneading them into soft clay and making a talisman.  Some believe this will protect you from adversity.  You could also sow the ashes into the garden to ensure a good harvest.

Along with Beltane and Samhain, Litha is a night for the Fae.  They caper and dance around the fires, playing tricks on unwary humans.  It is said that you can get a glimpse of the faery folk by peering through a rowan loop or through a hagstone (a stone with a natural hole).  Be quick! If you blink, they will disappear!

With the full heat of summer still looming, place an offering in or near a water source to encourage a continued supply to thirsty crops.  Or float paper boats with blessings down a stream.

Litha is a good time for marriages as well.  Handfasted couples from the previous Beltane have completed their year and a day trial and can make the arrangement permanent if so desired.  It’s also a good time for couples to renew their vows and rekindle their romance. 

Romantic divination is also popular at this time.  Gaze deep into your Litha fire and see what the Sun God has to say…

In this digital age, instructions are easy to find.  And if the pictures are hard to understand, there’s always YouTube!

Celebrate the season by wearing a beautiful flower crown at the Litha festivities!   (If you would prefer to enjoy real flowers in the garden, get the best of both worlds by using imitation flowers from a craft store.) 

Staffs and wands both represent masculine energies, so this is a great time to make them!  The instructions for both are very similar, size is the major difference. 

As a general rule, wands should be the length of your arm from the crook of the elbow to the tip of your middle finger.  They can be as thick or thin as you like, but keep in mind comfort and durability!

Staffs should be between shoulder height to the top of your head and thick enough to be held comfortably in the hand, often between 1-2” (2.5-5 cm).

These measurements are guidelines only, your staff and your wand are personal items; make them whatever size feels right to you!
 
Though I’ve seen staffs and wands made from other materials, they are usually made of wood.  In some traditions, the type of wood is very important as different woods have different magickal qualities.  Oak, willow and ash are popular choices, though any kind of wood will work to direct the flow of energies.

Take a walk in a wooded area to find a suitable branch.  If you can, take one that has already fallen to the ground.  If the branch you want is still on the tree, make sure you ask permission before cutting it, and respect the answer!  Whether you find a branch or cut one, thank the tree that gave it to you and leave an offering of some kind.

Trim the branch to the right size for you and remove any twigs, bark or leaves.  Sand the branch to get a smooth surface.  You now have a functional wand or staff!  Some prefer to leave it as natural as possible, others add meaningful decorative touches. 
 
If you wish, use a sharp knife to whittle a handle.  You can carve or burn runes, sigils or other designs into the wood if you desire.  You could wrap the handle or other portion in wire, ribbon or leather.  Attach a crystal to one end with glue and/or leather wrappings.  For a staff, you might drill a small hole at the top for a leather thong to go around your wrist.  Make it yours!

The crops in the fields are ripe and ready for the first harvest.  The god has given his power to the grain and become a willing sacrifice that ensures the survival of our families over the coming cold season.  At sundown on July 31st the festival of Lughnasadh begins!

Lughnasadh comes from the Irish Gaelic Lugh, a Celtic sun god and násad, meaning assembly.  Together they are frequently interpreted as the funeral games or commemoration of Lugh.  In some traditions, the god Lugh has given his life’s blood to the grain in order to ensure a bountiful harvest and the people celebrate and give thanks to the god for his sacrifice.  In other traditions, the god has given his power, entering old age but not yet departed.  In this case, the funeral is not in his honour, but that of his foster-mother Tailtiu.  She is credited with the clearing of the plains of Ireland to make way for agricultural development, and perished of exhaustion as a result.  Whether the god is growing weaker with age, or already walking the next world, his sacrifice is felt as the nights grow noticeably longer and we recognize that the balmy summer season is giving way to autumn.

Lugh is a sun god, but he is also the god of craft and skill.  It is most appropriate to appreciate the labour and skill that people have contributed to produce the harvest, as well as the gifts of Lugh.  In the modern age, few stop to think of the farmers toiling in their fields in order to put food on our tables.  On this day if no other, remember them and acknowledge their efforts in feeding the rest of the world!  For those who live off the land, those with vegetable gardens or even those who grow a tomato plant or two on your balcony, celebrate yourself and the fruits of your labours!

In many places, the first and last sheaves of grain held special significance.  The first grains would be cut at dawn, processed then baked into a special Harvest Bread loaf.  The loaf was shared with the family/community as thanks for the harvest.  This tradition was continued by the Christians at Lammas, as the first loaves were brought to church as offerings, the church would then bless the fields.

The last sheaf was also ceremonially cut, then often made into a corn dolly*.  This icon was honoured at the Harvest Feast, then would be displayed in the home over the winter, usually near the hearth or above the fireplace.  In the spring it may be buried with the newly sown grain, burnt with the ashes scattered over the fields, or returned to the earth in some other way.  This would allow the power of the harvest god to pass from harvest to harvest.

What would a sabbat festival be without a feast?  Casseroles made with seasonal veggies, pies made with berries you picked yourself, bread made from scratch; there are many so recipes online, explore and enjoy!

Lughnasadh is a celebration of the harvest, but Lugh is also the god of crafts and skills.  With that thought in mind, here are some things you can do to decorate your house and altar for the sabbat.

The bees have been buzzing about all summer long, working to collect pollen, make honey and ensure the survival of their hive.  Make some beeswax candles to remember and honour their efforts, as well as your own. 

Lughnasadh is a harvest festival, specifically the grain harvest.  Popcorn crafts are a great way to appreciate this, plus it’s an easy way to involve the kids.  Make lots of popcorn and make garlands or wreaths or any one of a number of clever ideas. 

Collect items to decorate your altar such as sunflowers, wheat stalks, popcorn, your homemade beeswax candles, a loaf of homemade bread, etc.  

Try canning some of your harvest, or venture down to the farmer’s market and buy some local produce, so you can appreciate it in the winter months when it’s harder to come by. 

* Instructions on how to make a corn dolly can be found here.

With celebrations starting on the eve of April 30th and continuing through May1st, Beltane is one of the four fire festivals held throughout the year. Known by many different names (May Day, Roodmas, Walpurgisnacht, Belotinia, Cyntefyn, Cethsamhain and Nos Galon-Mai, to name but a few) the purpose of the festival is essentially the same. It is a celebration of life and fertility, the starting point of summer and a welcome for the return of the sun.

The word Beltane is thought to originate from the Gaelic words bel or bhel, meaning to shine, and ten or tene, meaning fire. So Beltane literally translates as “bright fire”. Another theory asserts that the word derives from Bel, a Celtic sun god (aka Bile, Beli, Belinus, Belenos), and translates as the “fire of Bel”. The Bel fires or balefires were lit both as a welcome to the Sun God, and as an invocation, inviting his blessings and protection.

​Beltane is the counterpoint to the festival of Samhain. Where Samhain is the start of the season of darkness, sleep and death, Beltane begins the season of light, life and activity. Like Samhain, Beltane is a time when the veil between worlds is thin and magick fills the air.   

According to some, this is the time the faerie folk return from their winter homes and on Beltane Eve, the Queen of the Faeries roves about the land on her white horse, tempting people away to the land of the Fae. Legend says that if you sit beneath a tree on Beltane night, you may hear the bells on the Queen’s horse, or actually see the Queen Herself. If you hide your face, She will pass you by, but if you look at Her, She may spirit you away.

​Like all festivals at this time of year, Beltane is focussed on life, abundance and fertility. One ritual was to drive the herds between two needfires (fein cigin), in order to bring luck, purify the livestock and to ensure their fertility. Hearth fires were extinguished and then rekindled from the balefires. Ashes from the Beltane fires were scattered on the fields to ensure bountiful crops.   

It is at Beltane that the marriage of the God and the Goddess is celebrated. They come together in a sacred union, and the Goddess conceives, ensuring that the Wheel will turn once more. The Great Rite is held at this time, re-enacting and celebrating this union.   

The Great Rite isn’t the only sexual Beltane tradition. Young people, betrothed or not, went "a’maying." They would spend the night in the woods or the fields, making love all the night through, then return with armfuls of the first May blossoms to decorate their homes. The older, married people were allowed, on this one night, to set aside the restrictions of the marriage vows. It would come as no surprise that there would be several new additions to the community nine months hence!

​Dancing around the Maypole is another popular tradition, staged around the world. In many pagan traditions, the maypole is rife with sexual symbolism.   

This may be an accurate description of the symbolism of the modern maypole, but it is hard to believe the ancient Celts had yards of ribbon handy to wrap the pole. In fact, the early Maypole dances were likely simple circle dances held around a living tree. Trees were seen as sacred symbols by the ancient Celts, whether they were seen as phallic symbols, I don’t know. In the Middle Ages, mummers likely added ribbons to the dance to make it more theatrical, and the evolution of the Maypole Dance brought us to the modern performance.

With so much focus on fertility, sex and marriages, it would be astonishing if weddings and handfastings weren’t popular at this time.  However there are two opposing trains of thought on this:

1. By emulating the marriage of the God and Goddess, a couple honours them and their joining would be blessed. 
2. May is the month to celebrate the marriage of the God and Goddess, and all honours should be theirs alone.  So by entering into a legal and permanent marriage at this time, a couple would essentially be stealing their thunder. 

Bonfires, handfastings, couples gone a’maying……what else is there to do on Beltane? Feast of course! Serve some of the first fresh veggies in a savoury stew, make a nice dandelion salad, and enjoy some bannock for your main meal. Fresh fruits and some fried honey cakes make a wonderful dessert. Celebrate the abundance of the season!

Now comes the complicated part; the dance itself. An even number of dancers is easiest, but an odd one out won’t ruin the weave, it’ll just add a little knobbly here and there. If you have an even number of male and female dancers, that’s great. Traditionally, women start on the inside of the circle and move clockwise, men on the outside and move counter clockwise. If there aren’t an equal number of men and women, just have everyone count off in twos.

Group 1 will start in the inner circle, group 2 on the outer. Hold the ribbon in the hand closest to the pole. As you move around the circle, pass first on the left, then the right, then the left again, weaving in and out. If you are passing on the outside, hold the ribbon up so the inner person can pass under it. Keep going around and around until everyone runs out of ribbon, then knot all the ribbons at the bottom.

If you’ve placed a wreath on the top, it will slide down the pole as it is wrapped and will eventually sit on the ground at the base.

Of course any dance isn’t complete without some fancy steps and music! Many dancers wear bells while dancing the Maypole. Using a step between a jog and a skip, come down in time to the music or chant so that the bells mark off the beat. Morris music, or traditional pipe and drum tunes would be appropriate to the occasion.

If you are having a children’s Maypole dance, it’s easiest to have all the dancers go around in the same direction. It may not look as fancy, but that’s not the real point behind it. This way the kids can participate in the festival in a fun and appropriate manner.

Most religions are centred on living your life in accordance with a certain set of guidelines which encourage a particular lifestyle. These guiding principles have two goals; living in a way which pleases a deity which in turn accomplishes the seemingly more important goal of determining where you’ll end up when your life is over. 

For most Christians, it’s a choice between an eternal paradise in Heaven, and eternal torment in Hell.  In some denominations there is also Purgatory, which is where you might end up if you’re not good enough to go the Heaven, but not bad enough to go to Hell.  In Purgatory, you would suffer in penance for your sins; until they were ‘purged’ from your soul and you could enter Heaven.  Other Christian sects believe that there is nothing after death, until Judgement Day comes and the dead are resurrected.

The concept of a Heaven and a Hell is not unique to the Christians however.  Ancient Greeks believed that the souls of the virtuous and the heroes went to a paradise called Elysium, while the wicked were sent to be tortured in the depths of Tartarus.  They even had a purgatory of sorts, the Fields of Asphodel being the destination for souls who did nothing really bad, but didn’t attain real greatness either.

Many of the Eastern religions include the concept of reincarnation; the belief that after death, a soul will begin a new life in a new body.  Most people who embrace the idea of reincarnation agree that the purpose is education.  The soul learns something from each life lived, until the education is complete and the soul ascends to the next level of being.

In Egyptian mythology, the soul had to undertake a perilous journey through the underworld, dealing with terrifying creatures and gods.  Once past these obstacles, they would plead their case to Osiris, but the final decision was really made by weighing the heart of the deceased against the feather of Ma’at.  If the heart outweighed the feather, the deceased was devoured by Ammut and blotted out of existence entirely.  If the heart and the feather balanced, they would be sent on to the Field of Rushes, a place which mirrored the life they had just left, with sky, land, water, crops to plant and harvest and gods to worship.

In Norse culture, the three most widely recognized locations for the dead are Helheim, Valhalla and Fólkvangr.  Valhalla is ruled by Odin, and his valkyries choose those who enter.  Freya selects those who enter her domain of Fólkvangr.  All others apparently go to Helheim.  There is some debate about the differences, as it seems there is only one Old Norse text that clearly distinguishes between the halls of the dead;  the Prose Edda.   This is a collection of Norse mythology, written by Snorri Sturluson, a thirteenth-century Christian scholar.  In this book, he states that Valhalla is a home for those who fall in battle, while Helheim is the home of those who die in other ways, such as sickness or old age.  Most other accounts agree that there is very little difference between the Norse lands of the dead.

I’ve mentioned more than once that pagans don’t necessarily believe in the same things.  This applies just as much in how the afterlife is viewed.  It seems that every set of beliefs comes with a different spin on what happens after the body dies.  Reincarnation is popular among pagans, as is the concept of a place to rest between lives.  Many call this place the Summerland, a kind of paradise where the soul can reflect on the lessons learned during their time on the Earth plane. 

Believers in reincarnation may also believe that during this time of rest and reflection between lives, the immortal soul chooses what lessons to learn in the next incarnation.  In order to arrange events to learn these lessons, they are also able to choose when and where they are born, and who their parents will be.  This knowledge is unavailable to the conscious mind of the physical body, making the experience and the lesson that much more valid.  Other believers in reincarnation also have faith in the concept of karma; that your actions in the previous life determine the events of the present life.

The time of rest and reflection between lives is not a vacation for the soul.  On the contrary, the soul needs to take the time to fully assimilate the experience gained during the physical life, consider the ramifications of their actions and integrate the lesson learned into their understanding of the universe.  In some beliefs, this is also the time that the soul does penance for any wrongs or injustices performed during life.  Though the conscious mind does not have complete access to the soul’s full memory, the soul will remember every word and action from life and will now be able to see the full impact those actions had on others.  All the masks fall away to reveal the truth behind any of the rationalizations or excuses the conscious mind used to sanction any wrongdoing.

The amount of time spent in the Summerland between lives is variable.  For some, rebirth to a new life may be almost instant.  Others may spend weeks, years, decades, or even centuries to fully absorb the lessons they’ve learned.  Some older souls may also choose to spend longer periods in the Summerland as teachers; helping younger souls who are struggling.

When a soul has finished their education, they may become teachers and guides for younger souls, and many believe that they eventually ascend.  Again, there are many beliefs about what this transcendence actually means.  Some believe that the soul becomes a being of pure energy, able to go wherever they wish in space/time.  One variation of this belief is that the soul may take on physical form on occasion and are the gods and angels that interact with physical beings.  (Ghosts are another subject entirely, one that I will talk about in another post.)  Others think that the soul leaves the physical universe and begins an existence on a purely spiritual plane.  Still others believe that the soul gives up its individual identity to become one with the universe, or to merge with and enrich the consciousness of the Divine. 

All in all, the afterlife is a touchy subject for many, as beliefs vary widely.  I haven’t even scratched the surface with this post.  I can’t tell you what comes next, no one can.  I can tell you what I believe and what I think, and that’s it.  I can point to evidence and circumstances that may validate my beliefs, but it’s a very subjective thing.  Another person may use that same evidence and circumstances in support of contradictory ideas.

I do believe that there is life after death though I don’t think it’s the black and white view that so many religions teach with a paradise for the virtuous and eternal torment for the wicked.  Life is complicated and messy, just because the physical part is over, doesn’t mean the power behind it has changed. 

I don’t believe that there is a deity waiting to judge us and mete out punishments or rewards.  Our souls see the naked truth of what we were in life, and we judge ourselves.  A person who was evil in life won’t suddenly become saint like in death.  The soul of that person will see the truth of what they did in life, and then have to face consequences of their own device.  This is how the soul learns.  But no punishment is forever, no crime deserves eternal damnation or destruction.   When that soul has come to terms with their wrongdoing, then they go to the Summerland, to rest and reflect, and choose what lesson they wish to learn when they are reincarnated.

Obviously then, I do believe in reincarnation.  I believe that the soul is a being of energy, and it uses physical incarnations as a sort of school.  The circumstances and experiences of each incarnation are chosen by the soul before birth.  That does not mean that the person’s life is scripted from beginning to end.  Rather, some events are chosen, but how the person reacts to it, the decisions they make from that point on, that is what determines what experiences they have next. 

I believe that as the soul grows and gains knowledge, the more spiritual an incarnation will become, the more in tune a person is with their soul and the more access they may have to the full knowledge of their soul.  These may be the people that claim to remember details of previous lives and those that seem to be wiser and more mature than their years.  Often, these are also the people that display psychic gifts such as empaths, seers and so on.

I am also one of the few that believe souls can reincarnate in non human forms.  It depends on the lessons to be learned and quite frankly, I think that humankind can learn a great deal from those so called “lower life forms”.

I believe that the paths of souls can become entangled as well.  The same souls may run into each other life after life after life.  Perhaps the souls are attracted to one another, becoming soul mates, and so choose to encounter each other whenever possible.  In some case, the opposite has occurred and souls encounter each other until they can learn to resolve whatever conflict has arisen between them.  Or perhaps they are just on the same path for a time, learning the same lessons and have chosen to be with each other for support.  Though the conscious mind may not realize it, the inner soul will see the truth.

The oldest souls that still choose to reincarnate do so more as guides and teachers.  These souls tend to spend more time in the Summerland in the same roles.  These souls are on the verge of ascension.   When a soul is ready, they exist as pure energy.  What the soul chooses to do at that point is up to them.  They may leave this universe, or stay and become those we know as gods or angels.  Or they may choose to merge and become one with the Creator. 

So because I believe there is life after death, that must mean I’m not afraid of death, right?  Yes and no.  I’m not afraid of death; I believe with all my heart and soul and mind that it’s a transformation, not an end.  Do I want to die?  No of course not!  The belief that death isn’t the end does not mean that this life is any less precious, or desirable.  There are things in THIS life that I still want to experience, tasks I still want to accomplish.  I feel that this is a mistake that many religions make; they teach that the only purpose of this life is to secure your place in the afterlife.  The purpose of this life is to live!  To experience!  To feel!  If you spend your life only worrying about where you’ll end up after, then what was the point of living at all?  Though I may not get it right all the time, I want to live life until the day Death comes, and then I will look forward to another type of adventure.

Do I mourn when loved ones leave this life behind?  Of course I do!  I’ll meet them again somewhere, sometime.  But here and now, it hurts and I grieve just as much as anyone else. 

Death is not a comfortable subject to talk about, I understand that.  No matter what your beliefs, it is never an easy thing to lose a loved one, or to face the thought of your own mortality.   But I don't believe that it is something to be viewed as the ultimate enemy, something to be hated and feared.  It is the end of one thing, allowing something new to begin.