Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
29 Apr 2013 12 Comments
by Sue Dreamwalker
in Inner Chatter, Mind Body & Spirit, Uncategorized
Tags: Festival of Beltane, May Day, May Queen, Maypole Dancing, Morris Dancers, Pagan, Spring, Traditions, White Goddess
I remember clearly back in my junior school years the May Day celebrations. The First day of May was made more special because this was the day I started out on my Earth Journey
So
learning to dance around the Maypole was part of our village school
tradition.. We would learn the various dances, weaving in and out to
plat the brightly coloured ribbons in spiders webs and close weave
patterns.
Girl and Boy alternatively skipping around in and over each other to the lively Maypole music.
The Boys would also practice separately with their own special dance which many Morris Dancers
do with Wooden swords which after weeks of practice they perfected to
bring their swords together to hold aloft in a magical star.. The
origins of Morris Men is ‘Mary’s Men’ dancing in honour of the ‘White
Goddess’ of Spring
We
would have floats covered in flowers both real and paper ones and the
prettiest girl in the village would be picked to become May Queen..
The May Queen
represents the ‘Maiden’ aspect the Feminine, beauty and youth. Living
as I do in Robin Hood country. One of the best known maids is Maid
Marian. which could be denoted as manifestation of the Maiden Goddess of
the Greenwood.. And Robin Hood the Green Man, whose lively spirit goes
around robbing the rich to give to the poor, Symbolising again that all
should be equal under the Sun.
The Maypole
is the symbol of returning life connecting to living matter of Earth,
the colourful ribbons and dances which weave in a spiral represent the
eternal spirals of energy which come from the Sun..As we danced around
the pole we would then unwind reversing the dance symbolising the
returning of energy to the Universe in a never ending cycle or loop.. Of
course back then as children we had no idea of its origins we just
danced and enjoyed the lively music and had no concept of its Pagan
history.
Once upon a time Maypoles stood upon most village greens but the Roundheads and Reformation put a stop to anything that bore a mark of Paganism or Popery.
I wasn’t until Charles II that the Maypole was reinstated and the tradition was taken up again on village greens..
May Day is the Ancient festival of Beltane.
Beltane was the start of Summer and on the eve of May 1st Bonfires
would be lit to herald in the return of fertility to the land. Fires meaning Life and Transformation,
One tradition was that young men and women would leap over the flames
of the fires to get husbands and wives. Married women would leap to help
them be more fertile and conceive and those who just wanted good luck
would also jump.
It was also the practice to drive cattle between two bonfires which was to help ensure a good milk yield ..
In
our present day lots of our traditions are being lost and we have lost
much respect for Nature. In our village as children the community spirit
held us all together a post I did previously on this subject can be
found here
We forget the power nature holds until we are faced with her floods, winds and storms.
For
many people have lost touch with Nature,forgetting names of wild
flowers and herbs. They have substituted breathing in the healing energy
of happiness of Fresh air to taking Happy Pills thinking this will help
them find joy in their lives..
Those
ancient rituals not only served to honour the gifts Nature freely
offered, but they also served in lifting the community up to a higher
level of consciousness.
The
rites of passage are honoured throughout many cultures and our Ancient
indigenous brothers and sisters knew that to honour our Earth Mother by
living in balance within her seasons also meant that there would be a
better chance for all to succeed and prosper. Some thing I think many
have forgotten how to do today.. For many see Nature without a soul as
science seems to be meddling within its boundaries which are having a
knock on effect to how Nature itself is now acting..
We
are witnessing more storms, more unseasonal weather patterns, and I
just hope that we wake up soon to the damage we are doing to our beloved
Mother that has held us in her eternal arms for so long…
Thanks to: http://suedreamwalker.wordpress.com
by Sue Dreamwalker
in Inner Chatter, Mind Body & Spirit, Uncategorized
Tags: Festival of Beltane, May Day, May Queen, Maypole Dancing, Morris Dancers, Pagan, Spring, Traditions, White Goddess
I remember clearly back in my junior school years the May Day celebrations. The First day of May was made more special because this was the day I started out on my Earth Journey
So
learning to dance around the Maypole was part of our village school
tradition.. We would learn the various dances, weaving in and out to
plat the brightly coloured ribbons in spiders webs and close weave
patterns.
Girl and Boy alternatively skipping around in and over each other to the lively Maypole music.
do with Wooden swords which after weeks of practice they perfected to
bring their swords together to hold aloft in a magical star.. The
origins of Morris Men is ‘Mary’s Men’ dancing in honour of the ‘White
Goddess’ of Spring
We
would have floats covered in flowers both real and paper ones and the
prettiest girl in the village would be picked to become May Queen..
The May Queen
represents the ‘Maiden’ aspect the Feminine, beauty and youth. Living
as I do in Robin Hood country. One of the best known maids is Maid
Marian. which could be denoted as manifestation of the Maiden Goddess of
the Greenwood.. And Robin Hood the Green Man, whose lively spirit goes
around robbing the rich to give to the poor, Symbolising again that all
should be equal under the Sun.
The Maypole
is the symbol of returning life connecting to living matter of Earth,
the colourful ribbons and dances which weave in a spiral represent the
eternal spirals of energy which come from the Sun..As we danced around
the pole we would then unwind reversing the dance symbolising the
returning of energy to the Universe in a never ending cycle or loop.. Of
course back then as children we had no idea of its origins we just
danced and enjoyed the lively music and had no concept of its Pagan
history.
Once upon a time Maypoles stood upon most village greens but the Roundheads and Reformation put a stop to anything that bore a mark of Paganism or Popery.
I wasn’t until Charles II that the Maypole was reinstated and the tradition was taken up again on village greens..
May Day is the Ancient festival of Beltane.
Beltane was the start of Summer and on the eve of May 1st Bonfires
would be lit to herald in the return of fertility to the land. Fires meaning Life and Transformation,
One tradition was that young men and women would leap over the flames
of the fires to get husbands and wives. Married women would leap to help
them be more fertile and conceive and those who just wanted good luck
would also jump.
It was also the practice to drive cattle between two bonfires which was to help ensure a good milk yield ..
In
our present day lots of our traditions are being lost and we have lost
much respect for Nature. In our village as children the community spirit
held us all together a post I did previously on this subject can be
found here
We forget the power nature holds until we are faced with her floods, winds and storms.
For
many people have lost touch with Nature,forgetting names of wild
flowers and herbs. They have substituted breathing in the healing energy
of happiness of Fresh air to taking Happy Pills thinking this will help
them find joy in their lives..
Those
ancient rituals not only served to honour the gifts Nature freely
offered, but they also served in lifting the community up to a higher
level of consciousness.
The
rites of passage are honoured throughout many cultures and our Ancient
indigenous brothers and sisters knew that to honour our Earth Mother by
living in balance within her seasons also meant that there would be a
better chance for all to succeed and prosper. Some thing I think many
have forgotten how to do today.. For many see Nature without a soul as
science seems to be meddling within its boundaries which are having a
knock on effect to how Nature itself is now acting..
We
are witnessing more storms, more unseasonal weather patterns, and I
just hope that we wake up soon to the damage we are doing to our beloved
Mother that has held us in her eternal arms for so long…
May you all reflect in Nature
May Your Sight be Clear
May you all walk in Love
Happy May Day.
Blessings Sue Dreamwalker
May Your Sight be Clear
May you all walk in Love
Happy May Day.
Blessings Sue Dreamwalker
Thanks to: http://suedreamwalker.wordpress.com
