“Winter is many months of the year
But now at last Maytime is here;
And birds sing from a leafy screen
In the trees and hedgerow freshly green;
And the wood-anemone is out in the shade,
With its blushing petals which too soon fade;
Once more the bracken is unfurling there,
And bluebells gently perfume the damp air.”
– Veronica Ann Twells, Maytime
MAY – THE FLOWER MOON
May is the fifth month of the year. Its astrological sign is Taurus, the bull (April 20 – May 21), a fixed earth sign ruled by Venus. The month is named for Ma’a, a Roman goddess and mother of the god Hermes. May is known as the queen of months. It is a month of lushness and beauty. The main holiday is May Day, or Beltane. This sabbat celebrates the sacred union of the Goddess and God. It is a celebration of growth and fertility. A traditional part of this holiday is the maypole, usually a fir tree with the side branches removed–a symbol of fertility. Since growth is a theme of May, another central figure of the month is the Green Man, a male form covered with leaves and branches. He is an ancient nature spirit, who brings life to the fields and forests after the long winter. Flowers are popular during Beltane rites, which give May’s Full Moon its lovely name–the Flower Moon. Many flowers and trees that bloom this month are associated with magic. Lilacs were originally grown near the home to repel evil. Wild blue violets can be used in love magic. A steaming infusion made with dried dandelion root was used to contact spirits. The hawthorn tree is also associated with May folk magic. to make a wish come true, burn three hawthorn branches in a Beltane fire.
The More You Know
The merry month of May is named after the Goddess who is chief of the Greek Seven Sisters (the Pleiades) and the mother of Hermes. In legend, it is said that Hermes himself bestowed his mother’s name upon the month, Maia Majestas, Goddess of Spring. The Irish Celtic Queen Medb (Maeve) was an incarnation of this goddess. Later, she became the fairy Queen Mab of Shakespeare. Her sacred plant, the hawthorn, or may tree, blossoms during this month, which is one of vigorous growth. The Anglo-Saxon name of May was Thrimilemonath, “thrice-milk month,” because cows give milk three times daily during the month of May. Another old English name for May is Sproutkale, conjuring up visions of luxuriant plant growth. The runes ruling this month are Lagu (L), which signifies vigorous, energetic growth, and Ing (Ng), representing fertility and procreation. The old Frankish name of the merry month, Winnemanoth, “joy month,” describes our pleasure at the oncoming summer, as does the modern Asatru Merrymoon. the “backwoods” full moon is the Flower Moon. Ma is the customary time for revels, the Maying ceremonies and traditional love games of May Day. As the first day of summer, May Day is one of the most important days of the year. It has many alternative names. One ancient Irish name was Cedsoman, which today has become Ceadamh, meaning literally “the first of summer.” In Irish, May Day is La Bealtaine. The name Beltaine contains the element taine, which means “fire.” the first element is that of the solar deity who is called variously Beli, Belinus and Balder. One traditional name for the customary bonfires on May Eve is Balder’s balefirs.
The Celtic willow month of Saille ends on 12 May, followed by the hawthorn month, Huath. This brings protection of the inner and outer realms and is sacred to the hammer gods of thunder, Taranis, Thunor and Thor. Its sacred color is purple. The goddess calendar month of Maia fills the first half of May, ending on the 15th. It is followed by Hera, which begins on 16 May. Movable holidays in May include Mjollnir, the festival of Thor’s Hammer (celebrated on Thursday and coinciding with Ascension Day in the church calendar) and the commemoration of Buddha’s enlightenment, which occurs on the day of the full moon in May.
—The Pagan Book of Days, A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year
Nigel Pennick
Correspondences for the Month of May
NATURE SPIRITS: Faeries and elves
HERBS: Dittany of Crete, elder, mint, rose, mugwort, thyme, yarrow
COLORS: green, brown and pink
FLOWERS: lily of the valley, foxglove, rose, broom
SCENTS: rose and sandalwood
STONES: emerald, malachite, amber, carnelian
TREES: hawthorn
ANIMALS: cats, lynx, leopard
BIRDS: swallow, dove and swan
DEITIES: Bast, Venus, Aphrodite, Maia, Diana, Atremis, Pan, Horned God.
POWERS/ADVICE: This is a good time to interact with spirits and faeries, a time of intuition, powers of the God are the strongest. This is a good time to strengthen your own mental powers and feel the energy around you.
May Full Moon – The Flower Moon
Once April’s rains and winds have subsided, the sun begins to warm up the earth and we’re able to get the gardens planted. Typically, May is the month we begin to sow our crops. Get out in the garden under a Flower Moon and put your hands into the soil. 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 we all know what hares are busy doing in the spring. Celebrate once the sun goes down with a big bonfire ceremony.
Correspondences
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
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.
Also Known As: Hare Moon
—-Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com
Symbols for the Month of May
May’s Sign of the Zodiac
Taurus (April 21 – May 20)
Gemini (May 21 – June 20)
May’s Celtic Tree Astrology
Willow (April 15 – May 12)
Hawthorn (May 13 – June 9)
May’s Runic Half Months
Lagu (April 29 – May 13)
Ing (May 14 – 28)
Odal (May 29 – June 13)
May’s Birthstones
Emerald and Agate
May’s Birth Flowers
All tree blossoms, foxglove and lilac
—Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
Mandy Mitchell
Pagan Calendar for May 2016
- 1: Beltane
- 1: Samhain (Southern Hemisphere)
- 1: Roman Festival of Bona Dea
- 5: Cinco de Mayo
- 8: Mother’s Day
- 12: Celtic Tree Month of Willow ends
- 13: Celtic Tree Month of Hawthorn begins
- 21: Full moon — Flower Moon at 5:16 pm
—-Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by About.com
WITCHY WAYS TO CELEBRATE MAY
Decorate your home and altar with combinations of flowers and colors to celebrate the union between the Goddess and the God.
Work with herbs in your magic by creating spell bags and sachets. Cook with herbs whenever you can.
Create a spell for strength and wellness by lighting a Beltane candle and burning your spell written on some pretty paper.
Create a harmonious magical garden with symbols and signs of the craft. Paint pebbles and draw shapes in the earth.
Get outside and find one usable foraged ingredient for your recipes. This is also good for expanding your plant knowledge.
Connect with the God aspect by connecting with nearby trees. Spend time touching the tree and water the roots as an offering.
Make daisy chains as offerings for the Fae folk.
—Mandy Mitchell, Hedgewitch Book of Days: Spells, Rituals, and Recipes for the Magical Year
We walk the path of the Old Gods
From this moment forth
We will not walk alone
Together, we will worship
Together, we will practice our Craft
Together, we will learn and grow
We vow to work, from this day forward
In perfect love and perfect trust
According to the free will of all
And for the good of all
Creating only beauty
Singing in harmony
Our song upon the Earth
Love is the law and love is the bond
In the name of the Goddess and the God
So do we vow, and so mote it be.
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