The Empress - Beltane - Spring Celebrations

This morning as I went to draw my daily Tarot card from my Mythic Tarot deck, when I thought to myself, I wish I'd draw The Empress because she's been on my mind after spending lots of time getting ready for gardening and watching all the signs of Spring that I've been so looking forward to. Well the Empress it was! The exact card I drew from my deck, and was very happily surprized! It was a great affirmation.

Lately The Empress, the Earth Mother, the matriarchal goddess, ruler of all nature, the protector of all young creatures has been coming up in conversation and thought. In Greek myth she is embodied by the goddess (Demeter) who governed the cycle of nature and the life of all growing things.

 On Sunday, tomorrow, April 30th will be the eve of Beltane, that typically begins the evening before the last night of April. It is the very ancient Celtic celebration of fertility and Spring. Many cultures have celebrations surrounding Spring and fertility however I have a special personal affinity to Beltane because of my Celtic roots that run deep.

Beltane is a celebration of new life, fire, passion, rebirth and the fertility of Spring. It is the holiday of union between Goddess and God, between male and female energies. It's time to welcome the abundance of the fertile earth.

Am Beannachadh Bealltain (The Beltane Blessing)

Bless, O threefold true and bountiful,
Myself, my spouse, my children.
Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession,
Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn,
From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From sea to sea, and every river mouth,
From wave to wave, and base of waterfall.
Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone,
Taking possession of all to me belonging.
Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest,
Protecting me in truth and honor.
Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones,
Blessing every thing and every one,
All my land and my surroundings.
Great gods who create and bring life to all,
I ask for your blessings on this day of fire.

Wild Flowers - Catherine Meyers

The Lovers - Wayfaring Stranger

This card I drew today I relate to as a Gemini., which is the astrological sign associated with this Major Arcana card, The Lovers. What is represented here is both earthly and divine love, and all the challenges that accompany the choices in love, and the development of the individual. We all are challenged by these choices in love, both earthly and divine.

Today it's become more difficult I believe, to make these choices because we can feel overwhelmed by so many serious pressing problems that we feel pressured by, in an ever complicated world. My thoughts today on Earth Day especially turn toward Earth and Heaven and how they are directly related.

 I ask myself, how do to make Earth more like Heaven? I know I absolutely have to maintain my hope for our world, just as the Creator points to a higher love, that gives us hope.

There's a Capella song recorded by the Smithsonian Folkways in the old English-language religious music in the classic traditional, Appalachian mountain song. I Am a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow, which I first heard in the public library, when I was living in Toronto back in 1980.

 Way Faring Stranger is no doubt another interpretation of the same song. I find the lyrics hopeful and not so desperate as the first version of I am a Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow. Regardless, this song has stayed with me all throughout my life, because it reminds me to keep focused on a higher love, that offers hope when we are home, in the place where we no longer feel like we are wayfaring strangers.



Wayfaring Stranger - Traditional - Author Unknown

I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
Traveling through this world of woe
Yet there's no sickness, toil nor danger
In that fair land to which I go
I'm going there to see my father
I'm going there no more to roam
I am just going o'er Jordan
I am just going o'er home

I know dark clouds will gather o'er me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie just before me
Where the redeemed shall ever sleep
I'm going home to see my mother
She said she'd meet me when I come
I'm only going over Jordan
I'm only going over home

I know dark clouds will gather 'round me
I know my way is rough and steep
Yet beauteous fields lie out before me
Where God's redeemed, their vigils keep
I'm going there to see my mother
She said she'd meet me when I come
I'm just a-going over Jordan
I'm just a-going over home
I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm just a-going over home

Nine of Swords - The Stream of Goodness

We find in the Nine of Swords Orestes, who is trying hard not to listen or pay attention to the menacing and tormenting Furies, with the dark and gloomy clouds approaching in the horizon. He's trying to fight against the kind of free floating fear and anxiety we all experience from time to time, often a result of worrying about the past and projecting into the future. Both are useless to engage in, can only produce an unsatisfying and unhappy present and future, instead of the quiet satisfaction, peace, serenity and gratitude, that accompanies living a rational life.


 I spend much of time trying to fill my thoughts with what's been referred to as living in the 'stream of goodness.'
 Being an imperfect human being, with worry and anxiety like every one else, I do well to guard against all the things that come with self- pity, dishonesty and self-centeredness and eliminate them as soon as they enter my mind, so I can  find peace with my Creator, my neighbour and myself.

 I have to put the God of my understanding in charge of my thinking, in order to eliminate needless worry and the anxiety it causes me and go with the flow of the stream of goodness.


 I love this song by the very talented Canadian singer song writer Sarah Slean, I happened to hear the other day. Unfortunately the youtube version isn't available, but did find the lyrics which express my feelings about the 'stream of goodness'.

Holy Ground

God is looking in the mirror
into the fathomless depths of your eyes
whose tears are the only holy water
by which you will kneel and be baptized
there ain’t nobody sicker than the seeker
who hardens himself against love
perhaps that’s what I see in him
and I want to heal in him
because I see it in myself
song of sacred places raining down
everywhere you wander is holy ground
the streets, the streets are brimming
and the beggar is walking with the king
they’re groping in the dark for it
but never in the heart for it
where the only kingdom is
and the kingdom is…
song of sacred places raining down
everywhere you wander is holy ground

Five of Pentacles - Mercy

Daedalus is seen here having to let go, leaving his past success and acclaim behind, as he's lost all his wealth, experiencing poverty, insecurity, and he's full of worry over his adversity. More profoundly he's lost his self-respect, having confused his self-worth with material security, causing him to loose his sense of direction and faith in himself.

When we edify material success, whether it be in the form of people, places or things, there is a price paid. Ultimately we  must take responsibility for the part we've played in becoming our own worst enemy, like Daedalus has become.

However personal transformation is always possible, the kind that goes soul deep.
 Making a conscious choice to be kind toward ourselves and to forgive whatever it is that we have done, or how others have wronged us,  forgiveness can make the difference between starting over and redefining what it means to be successful and bring us to wholeness once again.

As Anne Lemott states is her new book, Hallelujah Anyway Rediscovering Mercy, " The way to feel whole is through mercy." 

 We harden ourselves in many ways to life Anne Lemott says. By practicing forgiveness and kindness we can soften that hardness. Denying others forgiveness and kindness, we deny ourselves, and visa versa.
In order for kindness and forgiveness to prevail, there will be no cruelty, but only mercy.

Page of Wands - The Creative Messenger

I see the Page of Wands as a being very much the creative messenger, reminding us to be nurturing and gentle with ourselves in order to discover, nurture and take care of, and believe in our creative gifts.

Pages is always indicative of messages and this Page of Wands embodies the mythic image of Phrixus sensitive, caring and a youthful innocent. Due to this innocence and sensitivity there exists a susceptibility to outside influences, both positive and negative.

This Page reminds us to be take our creativity seriously, to be our own advocate, our biggest champion and that we need to believe in ourselves and our abilities with enthusiasm. We need and to be open to discover our great creative gift, our true value that was also given to Phrixus from Zeus.

Often many of us grow up in families and environments where these basic values and beliefs are not instilled, which makes it difficult, but not impossible to bring and actualize into our adult life. However having mentors and extended family can help immeasurably and can make all the difference.

There is no need to stay in a state of not knowing our creative self-discoveries and capacities that reflect the powerful possibilities of our creative imagination.