Beltane is celebrated at the end of April and the beginning of May so today is a good day to celebrate what is the potency of the Earth. This is the time of unity, of creativity, of manifestation. The unity of opposites to create new life, new ideas and new change.

The earth is bursting with life here in the northern Hemisphere, she is vibrant and green. There is abundance all around us. We can hear the birds song fill the air, flowers are everywhere and lots of animals are having there young. Rain is falling, the sun has returned, life is bursting through, the sap is rising in the trees.

And with it is the call to celebrate the fertility of the earth, to look at ways to ensure that it continues to remain fertile. We all know that our natural environment is being destroyed at an alarming rate, be it from over farming, deforestation, pollution and industry. One way is to educate ourselves about permaculture, about renewable energy, to start living more sustainably and self sufficiently.

In Ireland there is a long tradition of decorating a tree on the first of May, the tree is usually a Hawthorn Tree, which you decorate with ribbons , thread and flowers, this is still something that is still done today. It is done to appease the Fairy folk, who often come to visit at this time of the year and to ensure that they did not bring any bad luck your way.

Traditionally at this time of the year people would celebrate the union of the Horned God and Fertile goddess which ensure the fertility of the land. It is a time to acknowledge the female and male energies and their union, a union of opposite forces where the knowledge and power of both is honoured and shared. Through this union they become the fertile force of transformation and acceptance. Maypoles were put up in towns and villages where people would dance around it whilst holding long ribbons which would become wrapped around the pole. This is to symbolize the joining of the male and female energies.

Image Source:https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-maypole-2561629

We all hold both masculine and feminine energies within us and now more than ever we really do need to learn to bring both into balance. To accept both and honour both. In order for us to lead healthy whole lives we must learn to embrace, the strong and subtle energies, the act of giving and receiving, the desire to nurture and protect. So today is a day to recognize these energies, identify with them and acknowledge them with us.

Growing up in Ireland, the church repressed sexual expression and especially the sexuality of women. Of course Mary had to be a virgin, they was no way that women could be seen in any other way, they had to know there place, to be guided by men, taken by the hand. This is so not in keeping with the traditional celebration of the fertile goddess, who is strong and wild.

Image Source:http://wisemovement.be/2018/01/31/feminine-and-masculine-energy/

There is no place in the church for the open union of the male and female energies. Within the church both men and women have very different roles, very clear roles, so that to suggest any unity between the energies that make up the suggested stereo types is not accepted. Out of all the ancient celebrations this one is probably the hardest one for some to connect with because of the centuries of shame and guilt tied in with the church when it comes with celebrating your sexuality.

We are meant to celebrate and honour the sacredness of love and sexual pleasure. To let go of the shame that has been placed on it. It is such a vital part of our existence and something that helps us to continue to grow, we are meant to experience pleasure, to experience the act of giving and receiving.

In one way we have gone from no exposure to over exposure yet a healthy dialogue has not been established. A lot of young people are getting educated from the media rather than from their families, we need to talk more openly about sexual education. How it is being approached and how it is put in place. I see young people becoming more sexual earlier, but not in a respectful way.

We are living in a time where it is acceptable for one to use their sexuality to get what they want, or to sell something. To me, there seems to be a huge lack of understanding and respect for one's body.There still is a huge lack of respect for the different ways in which others express their sexuality. That some people are discriminated against because of there sexual preferences, how long must this continue. I want my children to have a healthy relationship with their sexuality, with their bodies, to honour and respect themselves and others.

Image Source:https://medium.com/inequality/shh-to-your-sexual-preference-e75c4744e9b0

So on this day of celebration, lets look at bringing ourselves into balance, to embrace all sides of ourselves. To celebrate the many differences we all have and to learn to honour our own bodies. How beautiful that we are all so different, yet so similar.Lets take the time to create the most fertile environment in which we wish to grow.Be aware of where we are in our lives and what it is that we need and want and send those intentions out into the world.

1st Image Source:http://caplibre.over-blog.com/

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