May Day 2004 2004
arranged by ---Shining Spider- 2004



The astrology of today:
Moon enters void of course 7:31 a.m.
Moon enters Libra 2:03 p.m.



The myth of the May Day:
This holiday is traditionally one based on what we know of the practices of the British Isles, with emphasis on what has survived on Irish mythology. There are four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year and the modern Witch's calendar, as well. The two greatest of these are Halloween (the beginning of winter) and May Day (the beginning of summer). Being opposite each other on the wheel of the year, they separate the year into halves. Halloween (also called Samhain) is the Celtic New Year and is generally considered the more important of the two, though May Day runs a close second. Indeed, in some areas -- notably Wales -- it is considered the great holiday. Because the mythology has gone through so many incarnations and changes I thought it appropriate to work with a newer and perhaps more intuitive symbology. The archetypes and fae we will be working with are ones found in the Brian Froud 'Faerie Oracle' tarot deck, which were also in his book 'Good and Bad Faeries'. Because of his respect for the fae, their history, and their symbology I felt comfortable connecting with his interpretations of such potent forces.

Ritual:

I. Creating A Sacred Space
A. Cleanse space
B. Ground and Center
C. Call Elements
1. Call each element
2. Once they are called all together chant:
We honor the energy of the elements within us.
We are earth. We are dark, we are heavy, we are substantial. We are grounded.
We are water. We are fluid, we are clear, we are vital. We are renewed.
We are fire. We are bright, we are hot, we are intense. We are passionate.
We are air. We are light, we are movement, we are open. We are changed.
II. Coming Together A. Calling And Honoring the Divine
To call the Goddess a participant reads:
Goddess of expression
dancer of spirit
teach us how
to let loose these binds
constricting limb
and life.

Goddess of light
we ask that
you might
shine love,
confidence,
freedom
and a love of exploration
down upon
your devotees.

Goddess of
self-expression
show us the way
to share our truth.


B. To call the God a participant reads:
God of music
carry us with your sound
to new forms
of communication.

God of
measured sound
we ask that you might
bathe us in gentle tones
teaching us the balance
of order, empathy, and harmony.



C. Myth***:
Most of our current perceptions of the faerie come from what we can piece together of Irish mythology.
In Irish-Celtic mythology, the Tuatha Dé Danann ("People of the goddess Danu") are the Irish race of gods, founded by the goddess Danu. These gods, who originally lived on 'the islands in the west', had perfected the use of magic. They traveled on a big cloud to the land that later would be called Ireland and settled there. The Tuatha Dé themselves were later driven to the underworld by the Milesians, the people of the fabulous spanish king Milesius. There they still live as invisible beings and are known as the Aes sidhe. In a just battle, they will fight beside mortals. When they fight, they go armed with lances of blue flame and shields of pure white After the Tuatha Dé Danann were defeated by the Milesians (Gaels), those members who decided to stay in Ireland formed the Daoine Sidhe. They live in hollow mounds, hence the name sidhe which literally means "people of the (fairy) mounds".. * This is the mythology that Brian Froud references in his work.

The two faerie beings I invited as aspects of the goddess and god I felt worked well together in expressing the lightness, joy and real work of today. Instead of the solar/lunar balance it is a balance of sound and movement. Do you play a tune for others to dance to, or do you move to the sound of the pipes?
III. Pathwork
There are lessons worth relearning, and that is the basic premise of the wheel year and pagan holidays. The lesson of love and pure joy is often overlooked as a non-mystery, but how are we often amazed at the joyful nature of children. In Brian Froud's tarot deck 'The Faerie Oracle' there is a card 'A collective of Pixies' (pass around pixies picture card # 48)k
The accompanying book's explanation of the card is fitting for this spring holiday:
'A pixie's got to do what a pixie's got to do, and one of the things a pixie has to do is dance. It has to be done, so that the flowers will grow and fruit, the grass will do its photosynthesis thing, the trees will put down their roots properly and other processes will proceed in their proper time and proper pace.
...
Approaching these tasks with lightheartedness is, they say, essential. It lends virtue (in the sense of potency) to their actions. Otherwise, their feet would come down too heavily and stunt the growth of things instead of enhancing it-- or they might step too lightly, and then things might grow the wrong way up or sideways. It could make the world turn wrong.
So tonight in our path-work we will seek out this collective and learn the joy of effortless and joyful dance.
Meditation:

Close your eyes

Breathe in the sounds and rustles of the room

Exhale stress, discomfort and worry

Be at peace with yourself, the moment and life.

Feel your body feeling warm and light.

Your left foot tickles. Open your eyes to a pixie no bigger than your thumb tickling your toes with a bright pink feather. When this being sees that you are awake it dances in front of you, begging you to mimic its dance.

This being tells you in its own way, that it wants you to follow it.

Follow the pixie over the grassy lands you are now in. Experience the joy of dancing and this elongated game of chase.

Feel the grass on your feet, the wind in your hair. How does your heart feel?

Follow the pixie. Who does it introduce you to?

How does it carry itself?

What does it want to show you, to teach you?

As the sun sets you realize you must say goodbye.

The pixie may offer you a gift, a rock or feather. It may give you advice on your life, or ask you to meet them in the glade again. Listen well, thank them, and close your eyes.
Feel the light against your eyelids

Breathe in peace

Exhale warmth

Listen to the rustles of the room, and the breathing of everyone in circle.

When you are ready, open your eyes.

IV. Spell-work - A. Raising Energy-
Dance 3 times, and then light candles around clockwise...
Chant:

Our feet our light
quick and free
we dance this night
wildly
as we wish to be
V. Thanking
A. Share in snacks and experiences of circle
B. Thank the god/dess
C. Thank the elements
D. Break the space
Credits:
Chant * by Lee Lanning and Nett Hart
God/dess Invoking Poetry by Shining Spider
Myth compiled by Shining Spider
Meditation by Shining Spider
Dancing Chant by Shining Spider