Welcoming the spring

Today is the Vernal Equinox - the first day of spring and the first time in the year when day and night are of equal length, but from this point forward until the Autumn Equinox we are journeying into the light.

This is the festival which celebrates the union between the God and the Goddess, between the strengthening sun and the awakening earth. It is a time of balance, of male and female energies binding together to bring forth a year of abundance and fertility.

Why not light a fire tonight or even a candle and welcome the return of the light as we spiral outwards into spring.

Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'.

Bidding Farewell to the God

Lughnasadh is upon us. It begins at sunset tonight (1st) and ends at sunset tomorrow. The word itself derives from the Irish Celtic God Lugh, who, in actual fact had very little to do with the corn harvest, but was a popular and heroic God often referred to as the shinning one and for whatever reason gradually became associated with the sacrificial aspect of the God.

Lughnasadh celebrates the beginning of the corn harvest, the last sheaf of which was thought to contain the spirit of the corn God. As such, the reaper who cut it down was considered to have taken the life of the God and it was not therefore an auspicious act to participate in. It therefore became general practice that when everything was cut except the final sheaf, that all the reapers would stand blindfolded in a semi circle and hurl their sickles at it, thus no one would know who had taken the Corn God's life.

Once cut however, the sheaf took on a different aspect altogether and was taken home by one of the reapers to be 'dressed', i.e. made into a human shape or tied with red ribbons and took pride of place at the harvest supper, sitting next to 'the master'. It was often known as a 'kern baby' and is where our term 'corn dolly' derives.

Simple corn dollies can be made at home and are still used by farmers today to bring fertility to their cattle. Fertility and abundance can however come in many different ways and should you decide to make your own dolly, even if it is simply tying together a few pieces of corn with a ribbon, make sure you hang it by the hearth until the spring equinox, at which point the seeds should be scattered on the earth to bring you abundance for the summer.

Over the next couple of days give a moment of thanks to the Goddess for the corn which sustains us and to the God as his blood is spilled upon the earth to bring us fertility for the year to come.

The Binding

Fresh on the wings

Of a March wind

You run.....

Wild and free

Yet bound,

With knowing

Yet unsure.

Feel the blood of life

Coursing through your veins.

Feel the animal passion

Rising in your loins.

Run, run, wild and free

For She is but a whisper away...

Know

That when you gaze upon Her face,

Her beauty will bind;

Your destiny beckon.

From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers' by Carole Carlton

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Sacred Holly

There has been much debate about whether holly represents the masculine or feminine principal. One school of thought considers it to be masculine because of its prickly nature and see the red berries as being symbolic of the sacrificial God spilling his blood upon the fields. Another school of thought considers it to be feminine, and that the red berries symbolise the menstrual blood of the Goddess.

The Saxons however, recognised that holly could represent both the male and female principal. They called holly without berries 'he' holly and holly with berries was referred to as 'she' holly. If more 'he' holly than 'she' was brought into the house, then the husband would rule the home for the following year, whilst if more 'she' holly was present then the wife would be in charge.

Perhaps we should all aim for a little of each in order to bring balance and harmony this winter solstice.

From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

September has always been the traditional time for feasts and fairs, with folk taking advantage of the last warm dry days before the onset of autumn and celebrating the earth's bounty with suppers and food fayres.
In Abbots Bromley in Staffordshire however, a very different type of public event is carried out every September called the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance, thought to date back at least 1000 years. Here six men carry reindeer antlers on their shoulders and dance around the whole village visiting all the outlying houses and local inns, having of course a sample of ale at each. The dance takes all day and they are accompanied by a motley crew of a male Maid Marion, a fool, a hobby horse and a boy with a bow and arrow.
Its origins are shrouded in mystery but suggestions include that it was once performed to ensure good hunting; that it was a dance to honour the sacrificial Corn God, or simply a harvest celebration which is said to bestow good luck upon all those who watch it.
It is normally held on the first Monday after the first Sunday after the 4th September but do check the web site to make sure as the date has been known to change on occasions.
If you miss the dancers going out in the morning however it's a long wait until they reappear late in the afternoon! There are stalls and a festive atmosphere in the village however and on a nice day it's worth a visit.
Read more in Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers by Carole Carlton