Happy Beltane! Scorpio Full Moon May 2, 2007
While thunder rolled to the beat of the drum, clouds swept in to cover the morning sun. Soft rains fell like music on delicate leaves and drowned in rich, dark earth. And the raindrops quenched the fires of Beltane, so they might water the seeds both mother and daughter had set in the heart of the fire. And the Faerie hill grew green with life.
“Beltane Fires”
For those of you who know me, you know how much I love Beltane, May 1st, the Celtic festival of the Beginning of Summer. I love this time of year – on the East Coast especially but not exclusively – for so many reasons. I love the blossoming Earth and I love the ‘feel’ of Spring – fresh breezes that inundate you with exotic perfumes, the miraculous sight of the first crocus and the mysterious attraction of a lilac bush. Spring excites me! I’m ready for something new! And of course, it’s also my Birthday. May definitely has my vote for best month of the year.
I love it that the Earth responds to the warmth of the growing sunlight by releasing Her energy for fertility and growth. All that Green suddenly appearing! What hope there is in that fact! When life’s concerns seem overwhelming, (especially after a long hard winter on short rations of sunlight) the return of Spring gives us new energy and the hope of new Life. We can trust this feeling, because we see it being played out in the plant and animal kingdoms, the stretching and opening to receive the fertilization they need to grow for another year. We need to do the same each year.
It is a miracle, this new life, but also a gift to Earth’s Children – all of us. We are a part of the Earth’s Matrix of Life. We need to remember that we share in this energy and can draw strength from it. Even in Her wounded state, Earth is amazingly fertile, and probably intelligent enough to be planning a comeback in the future. See how the Earth gets so lush after Winter’s starkness, with sights and sounds, smells and colors, warmth and soft breezes. And don’t forget Lilacs! As the Queen once sang, “It’s May! It’s May! The lusty month of May!” There is a need in the Earth to go wild, to open up in delight to receive the seeds offered, to radically trust in the possibility of New Life after the chaos of Death and Rebirth.
Opening to the Beltane and Full Moon energies can be powerful. The mythological image is of the Spring Maiden, the precious daughter who has been held captive in the Land of the Dead, returning to the Earth, bringing flowers with her. Just as Jesus Christ is a symbol of that rebirth on a spiritual level, so the symbol of the Spring Maiden is an image of the spirit of the Earth’s rebirth. Whether it’s Persephone, or Mary, The May Queen, or Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, the Goddess returns to us in May with joy, beauty and love, to create new life. How blessed we are!
This
year, I urge you to find a May Pole to dance around. This fun-filled
and pleasurable ritual can synchronize us in rhythm with the Earth.
For those of you who have never danced the May Pole, it is the
ancient dance of Fertility and awakening Earth Power. The Masculine
and Feminine energies of Life dance together – the Sun and Earth -
and this year add the Full Moon as well - weaving a new matrix of
energy and creative power as the veils between the worlds grow thin
and masculine and feminine Spirit unite in the Sacred Marriage.
Realities merge and interpenetrate. The emergence of new Life is
incarnated in a dance – a wild and loving and intense dance of
power. So find your favorite natural setting, your favorite people,
and dance those energies into your life!
We need to learn to resonate with the Earth’s energies to heal ourselves, others and the Earth Herself. This Full Moon is all about shifting energies and healing. The Full Moon of Scorpio units the energies of Taurus and Scorpio – Venus and Mars – Life and Death. Both Taurus and Scorpio are testing grounds for values and worth. Taurus symbolizes the Garden of Paradise guarding the Tree of Life, the values we hold most dear made manifest. Scorpio is the Serpent in the Garden, the dark feelings that want to exert power over us and force us from the Garden. Your task is to find the limiting belief that is tempting you to lose faith in yourself, to lose hope, to lose gratitude for your life. And face it and let it go. That will make the Tree of Life stronger.
It is said that the Buddha achieved Enlightenment under the Full Moon of May. He sat under the Bodhi Tree and watched all the demons, all the desires of his past lives, come to tempt him. Many people have reached a stage in our evolution where we can sit and observe our demons & our unfulfilled desires, staying connected to our Source so we can awaken to another level of consciousness. That’s another gift of this Full Moon in Scorpio. Mars, the ruler of Scorpio, is still conjoined with Uranus, waking us up to act on what we truly desire. The May dance will help you embody this energy.
The Sun and Moon in Taurus and Scorpio will form a Fixed Grand Cross (two pairs of oppositions and four squares) with Saturn in Leo opposite Chiron/Neptune in Aquarius. A Fixed Grand Cross “forces the breakdown of long existing patterns and their reconfiguration at a higher level.” Change or be changed. Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius are healing our Aquarius wounds – wanting to fit in while needing to be free; wanting to find the group that is unique to us while appreciating other groups and ideals. How can we all sit at the Round Table in peace? We can do this by looking at our self-worth and values (Taurus) and seeing what is keeping us from living them. (Scorpio) Saturn in Leo opposite Neptune/Chiron forces us face our responsibility to bring in a new vision of life. This is the year and now is the time to look at your values and bring your life into line with them. Jupiter in Sag gets into the act by squaring Uranus/Mars, so my advice is just “BELIEVE!” and trust in Life.