Beautiful Beltane

Beltane is a magical time, when nature comes to life and the marraige between the earth and the sun is evidenced from the beauty which is all around us. The first verse of 'The Wedding' captures the essnece of this joyful festival.

'Sweet hangs her scent on the first breath of morning
Soft drapes her gown in the first light of day
Come now my Lady the Green Lord is waiting
Waiting to wed his Queen of the May'

Read more'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

April Night Sky Delights

This Saturday (21st) marks the time of the April New Moon which was known to the ancient Celts as the Hare Moon as its lusty nature was synonymous with this fertile time of year. Itwas thought that as the earth began to warm up so did human passions! Interestingly the new moon rises in the sign of Taurus, the earthy sign of physical love and sexuality.

The 21st and 22nd also bring us The Lyrid meteor shower. These meteors disintigrate as they hit the earth's atmosphere, but often produce luminous trains of dust that last for several seconds. Around 20 meteors per hour are visible and will be best seen after midnight in the north east. As long as it is clear the new moon will give good visibility.

Enjoy the show.

Read more ' Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The April Full Moon, Eostre & Christ

Tomorrow (Fri) marks 3 specific events. In the lunar calendar it is the day of the April full Moon. In the Pagan calendar it is the festival of Eostre or Ostara, Saxon Goddess of the dawn & new beginnings and in the Christian calendar it is Good Friday, the time when Christians remember the crucifixion of Christ. Despite however the unliklihood of the former two having anything to do with the latter, they are all inextricably linked.

The festival of Eostre was always a moveable lunar festival and was calculated as falling on the day of the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. When Christianity came to these islands & the powers that held sway were trying to convert the peasants to the new religion, they decided to replace the festival of Eostre with that of Easter and made a slight alteration to the date so that it was celebrated on the Christian holy day - that of Sunday.

Thus Easter is always calculated as being the Sunday following the first full moon following the Spring Equinox.

Whether you choose to honour the full Moon, Eostre or Christ tomorrow may the day bring you peace & solace.

For more information read 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers' or 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

April Fools Day

The origins of April Fools day appear to be lost in the mists of time although suggested pre-cursors to this strange custom have similarities in the Roman festival of Hilaria where jokes and laughter seemed to be the order of the day.
In the UK, the first recorded mention of such a day appears during the 14 century in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
In the UK & many other European countries jokes should only be played up to 12 noon, afterwards the joke is on the person who instigates it, whilst in other countries jokes can be played all day.
In my youth I remember the day being divided into strict segments: Jokes up to 12 noon, tripping over up to 4pm after which you could kiss the person of your choice for the remainder of the day!
Have a jovial April Fools!

Honouring the Lent Lily

This is the season of the daffodil or Lent Lily & although it is the most cheerful of flowers it does have some rather sinister undertones.
If the first daffodils you see hang their heads toward you then the year will be one of misfortune, whilst if you have laying hens then they will not provide many eggs if you bring daffodils into the house before the 1st March and if a bunch is less than 13 in number.
The Roman writer Pliny said that daffodils grew on the banks of the Acheron river & delighted the spirits of the dead who called then 'asphodel', which later derived into daffodil.
You are now safe to bring a huge bunch of daffodils into your home to honour the forthcoming festival of Ostara on the day of the April full moon.
Read more: 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

Welcoming the Seed Moon

Today at 14.37GMT the Seed Moon emerges in the sign of Aries.

To the Celts this moon signified the planting time and the promise that the strengthening sun would nuture them and bring forth summer fruits.

Tonight is auspicious for magic rituals involving new beginnings and projects, especially with its Arian aspect as this heightens leadership, rebirth, willpower and general health and vitality.

May the Seed Moon bring you many blessings.

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'.