A Thought for Today

A thought I leave you with for today

The Cauldron Born

If this song speaks to you in anyway and you feel comfortable doing so please share it with us. Thank you.

Blessed be sisters, brothers, and honored guests.

June 18 Northern Hemisphere Custom Planetary Positions

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America 

June 18, 2021
01:00 pm GMT 8:00 AM CDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:27 Gemini 31
Moon:02 Libra 21
Mercury:16 Gemini 49 Rx
Venus:19 Cancer 30
Mars:04 Leo 18
Jupiter:02 Pisces 11
Saturn:12 Aquarius 59 Rx
Uranus:13 Taurus 17
Neptune:23 Pisces 11
Pluto:26 Capricorn 14 Rx

True Lunar Node:10 Gemini 38
Mean Lunar Node:09 Gemini 56 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):26 Taurus 42

Chiron:12 Aries 37
Ceres:15 Taurus 40
Pallas:26 Pisces 03
Juno:13 Sagittarius 48 Rx
Vesta:18 Virgo 11

Eris:24 Aries 42

Fire:4
Earth:5
Air:6
Water:4
Cardinal:5
Fixed:5
Mutable:9

 

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link  

Currentplanetarypositions.com 

 To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link  

For Your Local Time and Date   

The Magickal Day of Friday

The Magickal Day of Friday

 

Friday falls at the end of the work week for many of us, and that means we get a chance to relax for a little bit! Mark your Fridays with colors like pink and aqua, and metals such as copper. This is a day ruled by the planet Venus, so it should be no surprise that Venus and Aphrodite – goddesses of love and beauty – are associated with Fridays. This is a day named for the Norse goddess Freyja, so be sure to take a moment to honor her as well.

Gemstones associated with Friday include coral, emerald and rose quartz, and plants like strawberries, apple blossoms and feverfew are also related. This is a good day to do spellwork associated with family life and fertility, sexuality, harmony, friendship, growth. Take advantage of Friday’s correspondences and plant a seed, make something grow, and enjoy your blessings

*Note: There are a lot of disputes as to the origins of the word Friday, because there is still a great deal of discussion as to whether it was named for Freyja or Frigga, and whether they were the same deity or two separate ones. Some scholars believe that while they may have eventually become two distinctly different goddesses, they could have had their origins in a single, common Proto-Germanic deity.

Author

Patti Wigington, Paganism/Wicca Expert
Article published on & owned by ThoughtCo.com

June 18 Moon Goddess’ Current Phase

Today the Moon will be in a First Quarter phase. This phase occurs roughly 7 days after the New Moon when the moon is one quarter of the way through its orbit around the earth. Exactly half the moon will be illuminated and half dark. On the day of the First Quarter phase the moon is high overhead at sunset and is visible until mid-night when it sets in the west. The First Quarter phase is a one-day event and in the following days enters a Waxing Gibbous phase becoming more illuminated each day until the Full Moon.

Visit the June 2021 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.

First Quarter Phase

The First Quarter on June 18 has an illumination of 54%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On June 18 the Moon is 7.73 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.

From Moongiant.com 

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else, you know was on the date the person was born. 

18 June Southern Hemisphere Custom Planetary Positions

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia  

The date in ( ) is because of us posting this from the Northern Hemisphere. So this post goes live at 8:00 AM AEST on the date before the month. The date inside the ( ) is the date we have to use to get the timing right for you. That is also why the GMT time that shows at 10:00 PM.

18 June (17) 2021
10:00 pm GMT 8:00 AM AEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:26 Gemini 55
Moon:23 Virgo 48
Mercury:17 Gemini 02 Rx
Venus:18 Cancer 44
Mars:03 Leo 55
Jupiter:02 Pisces 10
Saturn:13 Aquarius 00 Rx
Uranus:13 Taurus 15
Neptune:23 Pisces 11
Pluto:26 Capricorn 15 Rx

True Lunar Node:10 Gemini 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:09 Gemini 58 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):26 Taurus 38

Chiron:12 Aries 36
Ceres:15 Taurus 27
Pallas:25 Pisces 59
Juno:13 Sagittarius 56 Rx
Vesta:17 Virgo 58

Eris:24 Aries 42

Fire:4
Earth:6
Air:5
Water:4
Cardinal:4
Fixed:5
Mutable:10

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link Currentplanetarypositions.com 

 To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link  

For Your Local Time and Date 

A Thought for Today

Today I leave you with this thought

Copyright Picture by Lady Beltane

We need to remember as the sands of time move onward to take time out for ourselves during the hustle and bustle of of every day life.

Blessed be dear Sisters, Brothers, and Guests.

Magickal Suggestion for Thursdays

 

Magickal Suggestion for Thursdays

 

Try wearing some honeysuckle-scented perfume to encourage prosperity. Bewitch someone by wearing deep royal blue or brighten up a dreary day by wearing lucky, prosperity-drawing green. Brew up a pot of mint tea to help increase your cash flow. Try adding a pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon to an unscented candle to encourage some fast cash. Bake up a loaf of wheat bread for the family, and celebrate abundance and be thankful for all that you have.

Conjure up a witchy craft and create a philter or two for your magickal needs. Work with the deities and the magickal plants corresponding with Thursday.

How did the energies of the plants of Jupiter enhance your magick? What did you learn by working with Juno, Jove, or Zeus? The truth is that by adding these new techniques and information into your spellcasting repertoire, you will indeed advance your skills, thereby moving up in the ranks to become a more adept magickal practitioner

Just by believing in yourself and working toward creating abundance, health, and prosperity, you have already begun to transform your outlook on life. Put your game face on; think positively. Work with Thor for perseverance and courage, and apply those qualities to your own prosperity spells and healing witchery. Break out the tarot cards; How could you incorporate that symbolism into other spells of your own design?

Use your imagination, check Thursday’s correspondence list, and see what other bewitching things you can conjure up for prosperity magick all by yourself. Call on the gods and goddess of Thursday and bring some positive change, abundance, health, and prosperity into your life!

 

Source

Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

 

17 June Southern Hemisphere Custom Planetary Positions

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia  

The date in ( ) is because of us posting this from the Northern Hemisphere. So this post goes live at 8:00 AM AEST on the date before the month. The date inside the ( ) is the date we have to use to get the timing right for you. That is also why the GMT time that shows at 10:00 PM.

17 June (16) 2021
10:00 pm GMT 8:00 AM AEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)

Sun:25 Gemini 58
Moon:10 Virgo 23
Mercury:17 Gemini 24 Rx
Venus:17 Cancer 31
Mars:03 Leo 18
Jupiter:02 Pisces 10
Saturn:13 Aquarius 02 Rx
Uranus:13 Taurus 12
Neptune:23 Pisces 11
Pluto:26 Capricorn 16 Rx

True Lunar Node:10 Gemini 38 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:10 Gemini 01 Rx

Lilith (Black Moon):26 Taurus 31

Chiron:12 Aries 35
Ceres:15 Taurus 05
Pallas:25 Pisces 51
Juno:14 Sagittarius 09 Rx
Vesta:17 Virgo 38

Eris:24 Aries 41

Fire:4
Earth:6
Air:5
Water:4
Cardinal:4
Fixed:5
Mutable:10

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link Currentplanetarypositions.com 

 To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link  

For Your Local Time and Date 

A Thought for Today

Today I leave you with this thought

If you look at how the human body is made you will see we are walking, taking pentagrams. Our head is Spirit, the left arm is Air, the left leg is Earth, the right leg is Fire, and the right arm is Water. We represent our spiritual walk of life every day and do not even have to wear religious inspired jewelry to show we are proud Pagans.

I am Pagan by Spiral Rhythm

 

Blessed be my dear Sisters, Brothers and Guests

June 16 Northern Hemisphere Custom Planetary Positions

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America 

June 16, 2021
01:00 pm GMT 8:00 AM CDT
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)Sun:25 Gemini 36
Moon:05 Virgo 26
Mercury:17 Gemini 33 Rx
Venus:17 Cancer 04
Mars:03 Leo 04
Jupiter:02 Pisces 09
Saturn:13 Aquarius 03 Rx
Uranus:13 Taurus 11
Neptune:23 Pisces 11
Pluto:26 Capricorn 16 Rx
True Lunar Node:10 Gemini 39 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:10 Gemini 02 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):26 Taurus 29
Chiron:12 Aries 34
Ceres:14 Taurus 56
Pallas:25 Pisces 48
Juno:14 Sagittarius 14 Rx
Vesta:17 Virgo 30
Eris:24 Aries 41
Fire:4
Earth:6
Air:5
Water:4Cardinal:4
Fixed:5
Mutable:10

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link  

Currentplanetarypositions.com 

 To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link  

For Your Local Time and Date   

16 June Southern Hemisphere Custom Planetary Positions

The time for the Custom Planetary Positions is from the local time in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 

The date in ( ) is because of us posting this from the Northern Hemisphere. So this post goes live at 12:00 PM AEST on the date before the month. The date inside the ( ) is the date we have to use to get the timing right for you. That is also why the GMT time that shows at 2:00 AM.

16 June (16) 2021
02:00 am GMT 12:00 PM AEST
Zodiac: Tropical (Standard Western)Sun:25 Gemini 10
Moon:29 Leo 27
Mercury:17 Gemini 45 Rx
Venus:16 Cancer 30
Mars:02 Leo 47
Jupiter:02 Pisces 09
Saturn:13 Aquarius 04 Rx
Uranus:13 Taurus 10
Neptune:23 Pisces 10
Pluto:26 Capricorn 17 Rx
True Lunar Node:10 Gemini 39 Rx
Mean Lunar Node:10 Gemini 04 Rx
Lilith (Black Moon):26 Taurus 25
Chiron:12 Aries 33
Ceres:14 Taurus 46
Pallas:25 Pisces 45
Juno:14 Sagittarius 20 Rx
Vesta:17 Virgo 21
Eris:24 Aries 41
Fire:5
Earth:5
Air:5
Water:4Cardinal:4
Fixed:6
Mutable:9

If you need to calculate the planetary positions for a specific use and time, click on this link Currentplanetarypositions.com 

 To figure out GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) to your local time use this link  

For Your Local Time and Date 

Birthday Horoscope Of People Born On June 16 Zodiac Sign Is Gemini

JUNE 16 birthday horoscope predicts that these individuals are dreamers with fertile imaginations. The June 16th zodiac sign is Gemini. You may be someone who has a prophetic quality as your instincts are usually on point. You have a strong sense of premonition.

Also, you are youthful but possess a persuasive personality. You could be known to take frequent breaks. This is so you can rest your mind and clear out any negative forces that may try to invade.

Usually, Gemini is motivated, focused and creative but you can become easily frustrated and find faults because you are not the most patient person.

The Gemini, according to the June 16th horoscope profile,  are visual communicators equipped with many interesting topics. You are likely versatile and receptive. Those born on this day are caring emphatic individuals.

Your concern for others is accompanied with a sense of logic and an appreciation of life. Usually, you are inquisitive and have to evaluate everything. Your cool exterior is just a cover-up for a social and friendly personality say the June 16th birthday meanings. You love mixing with people and making new friends.

According to the June 16 astrology analysis, a Gemini is usually found in a relationship that is committed. You love the togetherness of a long-term partnership. You seek stimulation and are typically emotionally open as your instincts guide you.

You are sensitive when you need to be, and you know when you should pull back from a situation. Romance comes easy to you, the dreamer. The June 16 birthday characteristics predict that you appreciate a partner who understands your need for freedom.

When you are together, you like to relax your mind and body, but you can be playful and are inclined to pamper your partner. You like to touch, so a massage is very likely to be one of your and your partner’s ways to connect mentally and physically.

Being born today on June 16 suggests that you are a determined and motivated person. Usually, you shoot for personal happiness with a positive attitude. You tend to look for a job that gives you satisfaction rather than one that offers an office with a view.

You “keep it real” as you face difficulties with a free mind. You can be slow to make decisions that would give you a potential to grow financially. Maybe you should take a few calculated risks every once in awhile.

Favorable professions allow you to express yourself, as you love to talk. You are intelligent, and you would make a persuasive salesperson. You also like to write in which you are excellent. A Gemini born on this day are a combination of financial planners and extravagant spenders.

According to the June 16 zodiac analysis, your health is generally good. It is a rare occasion that you become ill as you take care of yourself. You like looking your best. Those born on this day enjoy cooking up delicious and beautiful looking dishes.

Also, you make your scheduled medical appointments. However, as a negative, you take exercising lightly. Staying active is good, but you cannot tone your body or get the full benefits that exercise can provide. You also need to take note of your circulatory systems. Working out will well increase blood flow and aid in staying fit and trim.

The June 16 astrology birthday meanings show you to be convincing, charming and positive individuals. You have excellent intuitive skills that make you an exceptional business manager.

You may be weak in the areas of tolerance and decision-making. Those of you born on this day are easily hurt. Your negative birthday character traits are probably that you are self-centered and controlling.

 

Famous People And Celebrities Born On June 16

John Cho, Geronimo, Stan Laurel, Eddie Levert, Phil Michelson, Rich Nash, Erich Segal, Tupac Shakur

See: Famous Celebrities Born On June 16

This Day That Year – June 16 In History

1779 – Spain, a hostile enemy of England, goes to battle in defense of the United States
1880 – The first Salvation Army in London
1909 – Glenn Curtiss buys a commercial airplane for $5,000
1943 – Two people died in Beaumont, TX race riot

June 16 Mithuna Rashi (Vedic Moon Sign)

June 16 Chinese Zodiac HORSE

June 16 Birthday Planet

Your ruling planet is Mercury that symbolizes expression, coordination, curiosity, versatility.

June 16 Birthday Symbols

The Twins Is The Symbol For The Gemini Zodiac Sign

June 16 Birthday Tarot Card

Your Birthday Tarot Card is The Tower. This card symbolizes excellent changes in your way of thinking and looking at issues. The Minor Arcana cards are Ten of Swords and Queen of Cups.

June 16 Birthday Zodiac Compatibility

You are most compatible with people born under Zodiac Sign Libra: This is an entirely energetic and stimulating love match which is full of passion, love, and understanding.
You are not compatible with people born under Zodiac Sign CapricornThis love relationship will require a lot of work and patience to survive.

See Also:

June 16 Lucky Numbers

Number 4 – This number signifies an eye for details, management and coordinating between people.
Number 7 – This number signifies meditating on issues and coming to conclusions with a logical mind.

Read about: Birthday Numerology

Lucky Colors For June 16th Birthday

Orange: This is the color of joy, rebirth, vibrancy, healthy and an uninhibited personality.
Yellow: This color is often associated with brightness, new beginnings, happiness, purity, and visibility.

Lucky Days For June 16th Birthday

Wednesday: The day ruled by planet Mercury that helps in the proper management of projects and excellent synchronization skills.
Monday: The day ruled by the Moon represents sympathy, caring, intuition, love, and feelings.

June 16 Birthstone Agate

Your gemstone is Agate that helps overcome fears, increases strength and is a symbol of good luck.

Ideal Zodiac Birthday Gifts For People Born On June 16th

A smartphone for the man and an exciting book for the woman. The June 16 birthday personality loves gifts that will them develop their psychic skills.

Click here to read anyone’s birthday horoscope 

Daily Chakra Healing (Part 2) Monday – Root

MONDAY: ROOT

Today’s focus is safety and shadow side, stagnation. This chakra helps us cultivate the foundation necessary to survive and thrive, and without this stable base, it’s challenging to manifest what we need. We might feel as if we’re one step forward and two steps back, never able to gain a solid footing. On the flip side, we can become so attached to stability and supports that they become constraints, preventing us from evolving and remaining flexible. Today, get curious about where you feel safe or unsafe (physically, emotionally, spiritually, or intellectually) and where you feel stuck. If you imagined breaking free from stagnation, what might that look like, and what thoughts and feelings arise?

Color: Red

Location: Base of the spine

Crystal: (wear, carry, or meditate with): Garnet, hematite, red calcite, jasper

Food and Drink: Red potatoes, red beans or lentils, radishes, beets, rooibos or hibiscus tea, dandelion root for deep grounding

Copyright Melissa Tipton Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2020 Pages 11 to 15.

Daily Chakra Healing (Part 4) Wednesday – Solar Plexus

Wednesday: Solar Plexus

Today’s focus is responsibility versus control and the interesting, often inverse, relationship between the two. Controlling behavior whether directed at ourselves or others, often conceals unconscious responsibilities that must be owned if the controlling patterns are to be healed. For example, if you struggle with micromanaging your diet, this could conceal a need to own your own emotions and embodied experiences. It can feel easier to hyperfocus on controllable factors, like what to eat and how much, instead of exploring the messier emotions surrounding those food choices. Today, get curious about aspects of your life that feel controlled or overly rule-bound. What feelings come up when you ponder lose reins? Can you take responsibility being fully present with the feelings, and if they reveal a need for change, how can you take the next step in that direction?

Color: Yellow

Location: Upper abdomen

Crystals: Citrine, topaz, yellow tiger’s eye, sunstone

Food and Drink: Bananas, melons, olive oil, cinnamon, rosemary, chamomile tea, water with lemon juice

Copyright Melissa Tipton Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2020 Pages 11 to 15.

Daily Chakra Healing (Part 6) Friday – Throat

Friday: Throat

Today’s focus is productive dialogue versus monologue, bot internally and with others. Dialogue invites new perspectives and requires flexibility, while monologue sticks to the script and is immune to change. Our thoughts can remain open and curious or resist new perspectives. In conversation, we can allow ourselves to be surprised, to truly listen and be present, or we can wait our turn to resume or monologue. Notice how dialogue builds on the previous chakra: for example, we’re more apt to welcome change and surprises when we feel safe (root), and we’re less likely to make negative assumptions when we fell connected (heart). Both fellings foster healthy dialogue over fearful, rigid monologue, Today, practice being present and curious in conversations, whether they are happening internally or with others. When your mind is certain, say, “I wonder what other possibilities exist — I’m open to perceiving them.” Be fully present in the conversation. Don’t worry about what you are going to say next; simply savor the details, said and unsaid.

Copyright Melissa Tipton Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2020 Pages 11 to 15.

Daily Chakra Healing (Part 8) Sunday – Crown

Today’s focus is surrender versus escapism. The Divine works through us, not for us; we must serve a responsible cocreators of our life. Too often surrender is interpreted as a come-what-may approach, but there’s more nuance to healthy surrender. What must be released are the ridge plans of the ego in favor of trusting that taking the next step is enough. Once that step is initiated, we will be given the next, but we won’t be shown the entire map before we agree to leave the house, nor can we escape the responsibility of taking action in the absence of complete knowledge. This is the dance of surrender. Today, explore your plans and goals. Do you have any? Are they set in stone? Pare it down to just the next step, asking for guidance and allowing your intuition to inform you[r] actions. If you’re guided to follow- up step that deviates from the ego’s plan, can you surrender, taking action with openness and curiosity?

Color: White or purple

Location: At or just above the top of the head

Crystals: Herkimer diamond, quartz, selenite, moonstone

Food and Drink: Yogurt and kefir, nuts and seeds, especially almond and sesame, sea salt; lavender or lotus tea

Copyright Melissa Tipton Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2020 Pages 11 to 15.

Crafting Your Own Sacred Schedule – Part 1

What days of the year are most important to you? Are you making a place for them in your practice, or are you by-passing them altogether? What makes your year go’ round? These are important points to consider when finding your life rhythm and setting a sacred schedule for your own Wheel of the Year.

All too frequently, new practitioners approach this path and feel they must absorb a whole new system directed by a book. That includes celebrating the Wheel of the Year down to the letter, even if it doesn’t make sense for your location, background, beliefs, myths, real life experiences, and so on. This approach can leave you feeling out of touch with what’s happening around you or even make you wonder if you’re doing witchery all wrong.

But there are very few hard and fast rules in Witchcraft — instead, they’re are many suggestions and recommended guidelines. The Wheel of the Year model, as it appears in most books over the last fifty years, is a relatively new construction pieced together from different traditions, I’m not pointing out this fact to knock the system — it does work well for many people. Yet it can be all to easy to forget that the Wheel of the Year is a guideline, not a rule to be adhered to religiously or exclusively. The intention behind its information is to give modern Pagans a cycle they can connect with. How you mark or celebrate the seasons, mythic changes, and important dates will depend heavily on the foundation of your personal practice.

Take into consideration that the popular version of the Wheel of the Year is heavily steeped in Celtic myth. What if you wish to delve into your Slavic, Japanese, or Brazilian heritage? Every culture has its own vibrant collection of myths and sacred days. Sometimes they overlap with the eight sabbats, similarly landing on solstices, equinoxes, or the cross-quarter days, but sometimes they don’t. For example, the Slavic/Russian sun-oriented fest of Kupala occurs in early July while Obon, a Japanese festival that honors the dead falls in mid-August.

There’s also the problematic trappings of culture that insists on separating the sacred from the secular. Big festivals and fest days help bring a community together, but that doesn’t mean they are more special or powerful than days that have a deep personal meaning in your own life. When we are able to see the correlations between the big moments and our day-to-day lives, we enhance our ability to connect with the world around us. The more we can honor and celebrate the seawsons in our own lives, the deeper our practic becomes.

Copyright by Laura Tempst Zakroof Llewellyn;s Witches’ Datebook 2020 Pages 20 to 23

Crafting Your Own Sacred Schedule – Part 5

Family and Familiar Feasts

Is there a particular occasion that has been long celebrated in your family or has a speical place in your heart? Carry on that tradition then! Even if it is tied to a religious tradition that you no longer follow or is completely secular in origin, consider what makes that day special to you. Is the meaning rooted in who was in attendance, the time of year, or what meal was always served? Think about what spiritual or magical context that feast has for you now. Traditions survive through a healthy mixture of both preservation and change.

Copyright by Laura Tempst Zakroof Llewellyn;s Witches’ Datebook 2020 Pages 20 to 23

Crafting Your Own Sacred Schedule – Part 7

Follow, Your Roots

Not only is it important to acknowledge the patterns of the land where you live, but you may also find exploring your roots very inspiring. Where are your ancestors from? What traditions and celebrations did they observe historically? You probably won’t find books on these subjects in the New Age section of the library or bookstore — instead you’ll want to wander over to anthropology and folklore sections. If a particular tradition or day really resonates, consider how you can sincerely explore it. Are the people who live in that area today still observing it? Can you find videos online of the festivities? It might be worth a trip to immerse yourself more and see what you can discover about your roots.

Copyright by Laura Tempst Zakroof Llewellyn;s Witches’ Datebook 2020 Pages 20 to 23

May Day [Beltane] by Jami Shoemaker – Part 1

When I was a little girl, my sister and I would celebrate the first of May by making little paper baskets and filling them with candy. We would then sneak around the neighborhood to our friend’s houses, leave them on the doorsteps, ring the bells, and run away, screaming with laughter. The trick was never to reveal your identity to the recipient of the gift. Little did I know at the time that we were celebrating an old custom that harkened back to ancient times.

Origins

Like any celebration based on ancient agricultural practices, it is impossible to know the exact origin of out May Day. Celebrations of spring are found in cultures all over the world, with similar themes of renewal, planting and growth, the gathering of flowers, and playful celebrations.

However, much of the meaning behind modern Pagan custom can be traced to Celtic origins, or at least with attribute to the Celts. We know that they divided the year into two seasons: summer and winter, the dark and life halves of the year. Within this they honored four major turning points, Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh, with fire festivals.

These festivals coincided astrologically with the Sun at 15 degrees Scorpio, Aquarius, Taurus, and Leo, respectively. This made these pivotal points each a type of “moveable” feast originally, like the solstices and equinoxes, which vary by a day or two from year to year. But due to changes in calendars over time, eventually the first day of the months of November, February, May, and August were earmarked for these festivals, evolving into what Witches call the Great Sabbats, with the celebrations commencing at sunset the eve before.

The flexibility in the actual date is followed by some Pagans today, and May Day, or Beltane, celebrations calculated this way are called “Old Beltane.” This explains the custom in ancient Ireland of celebrating the first day of summer on May 6. This day was given to Inghean Bhuidhe, the Yellow-Haired Girl, one of the three sister-goddesses who brought in the seasons: the First of Spring, the First of Summer, and the First Harvest.

The return of the light was called Cetsamhain (“opposite  Samhain”) or Beltaine in Ireland, Galan-Mai in Wales, and in Scotland, Beaultiunn, on the Isle of Man, it was known as Day of Summer and in Germany, Walpurgisnatch. The medieval church renamed the holiday Roodmas, hoping to shift the emphasis from the phallic Maypole to the Holy Rood, or Cross, and celebrations once marked by Pagan frivolity were usurped by festivities held in churchyards.

Copyright Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2001 Pages21 to25