{"id":13769,"date":"2017-05-01T01:10:39","date_gmt":"2017-05-01T06:10:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/content\/?p=14446"},"modified":"2017-04-24T19:17:06","modified_gmt":"2017-04-25T00:17:06","slug":"magickalarts-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2017\/05\/01\/magickalarts-29\/","title":{"rendered":"MagickalArts"},"content":{"rendered":"<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t<!--\n\t\t@page { margin: 0.79in }\n\t\t@page:first { margin-left: 0.69in; margin-right: 0.75in; margin-top: 0.31in; margin-bottom: 0.69in }\n\t\tH6 { margin-top: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in; color: #243f60; page-break-inside: avoid }\n\t\tH6.western { font-family: \"Calibri\", serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal }\n\t\tH6.cjk { font-family: \"Lucida Sans Unicode\"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal }\n\t\tH6.ctl { font-family: ; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal }\n\t\tP { margin-bottom: 0.08in }\n\t-->\n\t<\/style>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>All Hail to Astrological Beltane and the Parting of the veils to New Life!<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-14447\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/magickalartsmay.jpg\" alt=\"magickalartsmay\" width=\"477\" height=\"662\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>A little background&#8230;&#8230;<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">In many traditions the date of celebration for Beltane is May 1<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><sup><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">st<\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/span><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0and that of its counterpart, Samhain is Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. Although these dates have accumulated much astral energy from repeated use, if you wish to follow the astronomical approach, which is where the origins of the cross-quarter days lay, those dates are premature.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Beltane falls mid-point between the Vernal Equinox and the Summer Solstice. Each of the cross-quarter Sabbats \u2013 Beltane, Lammas, Samhain and Imbolc fall within that half way point between an Equinox and a Solstice. And, for those ancient practitioners who strongly followed the correlate of Solar tides, this placement provided very specific energy in relationship to the line of the Sun\u2019s outpouring onto Earth, its placement during these times between and what was called into action in celebration, ritual and devotion.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">If you look a bit closer at the timing of the astrological correlates and know, even a bit, about the energetics of the zodiacal signs as they move through the Solar Year, there is a wellspring of underlying meaning that can be drawn from as you open to new levels of connection that deeply inform how you construct your personal ritual or celebration of these cross-quarter days.\u00a0\u00a0One observation is that this timing allows for points of rest and integration from one-quarter event, such as the equilibrium of the Equinoxes or the waxing or waning of the Sun\u2019s light at the Solstices, to the next.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Astrological Beltane<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>May 5.2017<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Sun in Taurus<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Waxing Gibbous in Virgo<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\">\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>All Hail to the Maiden of Fire and the Youth of Earth!<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">On this day of celebration we honor the Goddess and God as pro-creators of what will come to fruition at the Summer Solstice. She holds the fertility of a womb that is ripe and ready for the implantation of His seed of potency that offers the promise of new life from that union. Her Fires are those of heated waters that catalyze and quicken. And, His Earth is that of a seed of potential for manifestation required as the expelling of a potent energetic force strives towards taking form.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Adding to this are the astrological energies of God as the Youth wearing the mantle of Taurus, the Bull. We often speak of the fecundity of the God at this point of the Great Wheel and the Solar energy that is inherent within the God\u2019s being is amplified by that of an astrological sign of Earth that is stable, strong and able to protect and claim the progeny of his seed.\u00a0\u00a0The Bull is virile in seed and the animal instincts for survival inform the encoding of that seed to take root. Another attribution to this astrological sign is that of stubbornness. I prefer to think of it as longevity and commitment. And, are these not qualities you would seek in a mate?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">The Maiden on this year\u2019s date wears the Lunar gown of astrological Earth, Virgo. As a sign of detail and analysis, this wise Maiden offers the gift of sorting through what is possible and what is a waste of precious energy. And, although this may feel very labored and not of the wild spirit that is inherent in this sabbat, it is indeed the ability to trust in your choices that is enabling a wildness that is ready to co-create within the Lover\u2019s embrace. She is the Maiden of earth\u2019s Divinely organized Will; holding within her womb a potential for birthing anything she can imagine. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Virgo\u2019s energy is one of strengthening a foundation that works in accord with the natural ebb and flow of what its wishes to create. Given that this energy is held in a Moon tide that is waxing towards its full expression, that foundation will serve to provide the fertile womb of potential for what will \u201cbecome\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0And, that becoming will emerge and take clearer form as the Moon Maiden languishes in the a waxing phase of newness as Sun and Moon, Youth and Maiden continue their consummate efforts, as both unite in the fertility and strength of Taurus.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">This sacred union of Earth reflecting on itself (Youth) and (Maiden) could be likened to the container that provides the structure and just enough containment to allow a quickening of its combined union to take hold and burst into the life that emerges from this space.\u00a0\u00a0The heat and light of the sun are required to quicken the seeds that lay beneath ground that is fertile and supportive as roots take hold and stem pushes through.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>The Veils of Beltane and Samhain<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">We hear much talk of the \u201cparting of the veils\u201d that occurs during the season of Beltane and Samhain. These are times when the separation between the earthly realm and the other worlds is thinner and the inhabitants of each may more easily interweave ad interact with the other. I have always envisioned these two distinct, yet similar parting of the veils as one of ushering new life and one of re-connecting with those lives that have departed. In my imaging, the Maiden dons the veiling that entices and calls forth the desire of the Youth to mate and from that mating as the veil is lifted, the seeds and embryos of new life have begun their time of fertilization and the ultimate birthing of new form to come. I have always felt that these veils between the worlds were softer and gentler in both their opening and closing. Unlike those of Samhain that generally feel very dense (and crowded), almost an overload of sensation as those departed crowd in to make their presence known and share their messages.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"_GoBack\"><\/a> <span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">At Samhain, this Veiling is one of the grieving Wife; having seen the demise of her Lover (Lammas\u2019 Sacrificial God) and is heavier and laden with the energy and tears of sorrow. She ages from this sorrow; yet deep within lay the seeds of new life waiting to be brought forth at the Solstice. These veils hold the wisdom of those who have left behind the physical existence and loved ones and their sorrow has become the tomes from which the living will draw their lessons of hope in wait of the growing light to be held at the Solstice.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><b>Another Type of Sacred Union<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">So, why do I keep going back and forth between Beltane and Samhain? We can consider both as being reflections of the other. We can expand the story of consummate union of the Maiden and Youth and use the dynamics of each as feeding the desire of the other towards creation. Beltane\u2019s Fires of new life will become those of wisdom that pass through the veils of Samhain. And, those who exist behind the veils of Samhain have potential to be those called back into life at Beltane.\u00a0\u00a0This is the truth of our own nature. We are born, we live, we die and during this lifetime we are continually creating from the inner union of the Sun and Moon, Male and Female and all that contribute towards the consummation of our intent.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">May the blessings of this Beltane grace and inform all of your creative efforts. May those gifts of yourself that need uniting and a space of loving care be gifted by the passions of Beltane\u2019s fires. And, may you always be mindful of the Great Wheel as a continuum; each flowing into the other and each reaching across to what will be at the half turn of that wheel.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Blessed Be!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h6 class=\"western\"><em><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Image Credit:\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><em><span style=\"color: #333333;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">Emily Balivet 2011<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All Hail to Astrological Beltane and the Parting of the veils to New Life! &nbsp; &nbsp; A little background&#8230;&#8230; In many traditions the date of celebration for Beltane is May 1st\u00a0and that of its counterpart, Samhain is Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. Although these dates have accumulated much astral energy from repeated use, if you wish to follow the astronomical approach, which is where the origins of the cross-quarter days lay, those dates are premature. Beltane falls mid-point between the Vernal Equinox and the Summer Solstice. Each of the cross-quarter Sabbats \u2013 Beltane, Lammas, Samhain and Imbolc fall within that half way point between an Equinox and a Solstice. And, for those ancient practitioners who strongly followed the correlate of Solar tides, this placement provided very specific energy in relationship to the line of the Sun\u2019s outpouring onto Earth, its placement during these times between and what was called into action in celebration, ritual and devotion. If you look a bit closer at the timing of the astrological correlates and know, even a bit, about the energetics of the zodiacal signs as they move through the Solar Year, there is a wellspring of underlying meaning that can be drawn from as you open to new levels of connection that deeply inform how you construct your personal ritual or celebration of these cross-quarter days.\u00a0\u00a0One observation is that this timing allows for points of rest and integration from one-quarter event, such as the equilibrium of the Equinoxes or the waxing or waning of the Sun\u2019s light at the Solstices, to the next. Astrological Beltane May 5.2017 Sun in Taurus Waxing Gibbous in Virgo \u00a0All Hail to the Maiden of Fire and the Youth of Earth! On this day of celebration we honor the Goddess and God as pro-creators of what will come to fruition at the Summer Solstice. She holds the fertility of a womb that is ripe and ready for the implantation of His seed of potency that offers the promise of new life from that union. Her Fires are those of heated waters that catalyze and quicken. And, His Earth is that of a seed of potential for manifestation required as the expelling of a potent energetic force strives towards taking form. Adding to this are the astrological energies of God as the Youth wearing the mantle of Taurus, the Bull. We often speak of the fecundity of the God at this point of the Great Wheel and the Solar energy that is inherent within the God\u2019s being is amplified by that of an astrological sign of Earth that is stable, strong and able to protect and claim the progeny of his seed.\u00a0\u00a0The Bull is virile in seed and the animal instincts for survival inform the encoding of that seed to take root. Another attribution to this astrological sign is that of stubbornness. I prefer to think of it as longevity and commitment. And, are these not qualities you would seek in a mate? The Maiden on this year\u2019s date wears the Lunar gown of astrological Earth, Virgo. As a sign of detail and analysis, this wise Maiden offers the gift of sorting through what is possible and what is a waste of precious energy. And, although this may feel very labored and not of the wild spirit that is inherent in this sabbat, it is indeed the ability to trust in your choices that is enabling a wildness that is ready to co-create within the Lover\u2019s embrace. She is the Maiden of earth\u2019s Divinely organized Will; holding within her womb a potential for birthing anything she can imagine. Virgo\u2019s energy is one of strengthening a foundation that works in accord with the natural ebb and flow of what its wishes to create. Given that this energy is held in a Moon tide that is waxing towards its full expression, that foundation will serve to provide the fertile womb of potential for what will \u201cbecome\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0And, that becoming will emerge and take clearer form as the Moon Maiden languishes in the a waxing phase of newness as Sun and Moon, Youth and Maiden continue their consummate efforts, as both unite in the fertility and strength of Taurus. This sacred union of Earth reflecting on itself (Youth) and (Maiden) could be likened to the container that provides the structure and just enough containment to allow a quickening of its combined union to take hold and burst into the life that emerges from this space.\u00a0\u00a0The heat and light of the sun are required to quicken the seeds that lay beneath ground that is fertile and supportive as roots take hold and stem pushes through. The Veils of Beltane and Samhain We hear much talk of the \u201cparting of the veils\u201d that occurs during the season of Beltane and Samhain. These are times when the separation between the earthly realm and the other worlds is thinner and the inhabitants of each may more easily interweave ad interact with the other. I have always envisioned these two distinct, yet similar parting of the veils as one of ushering new life and one of re-connecting with those lives that have departed. In my imaging, the Maiden dons the veiling that entices and calls forth the desire of the Youth to mate and from that mating as the veil is lifted, the seeds and embryos of new life have begun their time of fertilization and the ultimate birthing of new form to come. I have always felt that these veils between the worlds were softer and gentler in both their opening and closing. Unlike those of Samhain that generally feel very dense (and crowded), almost an overload of sensation as those departed crowd in to make their presence known and share their messages. At Samhain, this Veiling is one of the grieving Wife; having seen the demise of her Lover (Lammas\u2019 Sacrificial God) and is heavier and laden with the energy and tears of sorrow. She ages from this sorrow; yet deep within lay the seeds of new life waiting to be brought forth at the Solstice. These veils hold the wisdom of those who have left behind the physical existence and loved ones and their sorrow has become the tomes from which the living will draw their lessons of hope in wait of the growing light to be held at the Solstice. Another Type of Sacred Union So, why do I keep going back and forth between Beltane and Samhain? We can consider both as being reflections of the other. We can expand the story of consummate union of the Maiden and Youth and use the dynamics of each as feeding the desire of the other towards creation. Beltane\u2019s Fires of new life will become those of wisdom that pass through the veils of Samhain. And, those who exist behind the veils of Samhain have potential to be those called back into life at Beltane.\u00a0\u00a0This is the truth of our own nature. We are born, we live, we die and during this lifetime we are continually creating from the inner union of the Sun and Moon, Male and Female and all that contribute towards the consummation of our intent. May the blessings of this Beltane grace and inform all of your creative efforts. May those gifts of yourself that need uniting and a space of loving care be gifted by the passions of Beltane\u2019s fires. And, may you always be mindful of the Great Wheel as a continuum; each flowing into the other and each reaching across to what will be at the half turn of that wheel. Blessed Be! Image Credit:\u00a0\u00a0Emily Balivet 2011<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":208,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/208"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13769"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13769\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}