The Spiral Dance with Hawthorne

Blessed Betane 

This week, we celebrate Beltane! Beltane is happening on Friday, the first of May! It's a festival of Fertility and Love as we welcome the flowering of Nature's Return. In our mythology Beltane represents the Mating of the Goddess and the God. It's The Original White Wedding! 

So, we'll talk in more detail about the meaning and significance of May Day from our earliest history. Plus we'll talk about the mythologies and customs that are traditionally associated with Beltane. And, while we're at it; just what the heck does "Beltane" mean?  I've got the answers right here!

Beltane's importance goes deep into our history, and it was never actually snuffed out to the Church's satisfaction. It, in fact, followed the Euopeans to these very shores. I have a reading from the American writer, Nathanial Hawthorne. He wrote a story in 1836, which was a fictionalized account taken from early colonial history. It's called "The Maypole at Merrymount". This is being presented on YouTube

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

In honor of April Fools Day, our theme this week is: The Trickster and Fool. We'll take a look at the history of April Fools Day, as well as the Role that the Fool and the Trickster play in Earth-Based religious practices.

We'll here from Joseph Campbell and his thoughts on the Trickster mythology.

Also, a quick look at the Fool Archetype in literature and myth.

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week on The Spiral Dance we celebrate Eostara; The Spring Equinox

Astronomically, the Equinox occurs on Fri, Mar 20th at 10:46 AM We'll be talking about the history of Spring Equinox - the role that it has played in cultures down the ages:

So, we'll talk about the Norse Goddess Eoster. Is she a bonefide Goddess, or just a fiction created by one author?  Does it matter, really?

Plus ya can't talk about this time of the year without mentioning Rabbits & Eggs; and, of course, the Balance of Light and Dark.

The Spring Equinox marks the point in the solar year when day and night are of equal duration, and the daytime once again becomes longer than night.

In Pagan mythology it marks the time when The God, who was reborn at the Winter Solstice, is now coming into young adulthood and is - awakening to his sexuality.

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, we celebrate The Earth.  

After we Give Thanks to the Earth, we're going to look at Earth Magick; specifically the Element of Earth - what that's meant since ancient times and what it means in ceremonial magick today. And we'll look at the tradtions of Gnomes, the Fay and Lay Lines.

And since we're celebrating The Earth, we'll celebrate the Earth Mother and specifically the Goddess Gaia.

And just to liven up the soup - Salt!

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to our celebration of Imbolc.  

We're at the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Perfectly natural to want to jump up and down and start acting like Spring is Here! Folly, pure folly! Watch out if the weather is fine on Imbolc - you might find yourself shoveling the driveway on Eostara!

But before that, let's take some time to honor the Goddess Brigid, the Triple Goddess of Poetry, Healing and Smithcrafting.

And we'll enjoy some Tres Leches cake as well!

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, we're talking about the Philosopher's Stone.  

Just what IS the Philosopher's Stone?  Where does it come from? Is it even a Stone?

This question has been bothering people for generations. Some people just give up and say it's just a lot of poetic rhetoric. Others say, "No, look! I've done it! I've got it right here!"

Some say it's all Devilry, others say it's all God stuff. We're gonna hear what Carl Gustav Jung had to say about it, then maybe we can try to sort it all out.

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

The Night is cold and Oh so long, for the lady has grown old and the god has long since died

But I learn there is reason for Hope, for there is newly born a child.

The Lord of the Sun has returned

Oh, Powers of Air, I seek the newborn child. Is he within your realm?

The powers of Air answer: Follow the Star to the Hidden cave

Oh Powers of Fire, I seek the newborn child. Is he within your realm?

The powers of Fire answer: Follow the Star to the Hidden Cave

Oh, Powers of Water, I seek the newborn child. Is he within your realm?

The powers of Water answer: Follow the star to the Hidden Cave.

Oh Powers of Earth, I seek the newborn child. Is he within your realm?

The powers of Earth answer: Follow the star to the hidden cave.

I have searched everywhere for the Newborn child. Yet, I have found him not.

Behold! the Great Mother speaks words of wisdom;

"Seek the Holy Child of Light within the hidden cave of your heart. Forever is he there and not without"

I have now found the Newborn child. He lives within me, and will soon reawaken the earth.

All praise and honor the Lord of Light. All praise and honor the Lady and Her consort.

So mote it be.

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

Secrets and Lies!. This week, let's take a look at Pagan Ethics. I promise, we'll HARM NONE!.

A good place to start is to examine just what do we mean by Ethics in the first place. When did we start thinking about Ethics? What does it mean for us personally, or as a society, or, really, what does it mean for us a satient beings? Is the consideration Ethics soley a condition of being human? 

The acedemic study of Ethics and its connected philosophies, has divided Ethics up into dozens of different Types, and we'll spend a good deal of time talking about many of the most well-known Ethical Types.

Then we'll connect all that to our current understanding of what modern Neo Pagan is,and what might or might not be expected of those of us who call ourselves Pagan.

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, we celebrate Samhain.  

"Now is the Night of November Eve, as the Samhain rites begin.

Spirits step from the World Beyond, this night when the Veil is thin.

Coming through the Land of Shadows, awakening from the World of Dreams,

joining hands with the Children of Midnight as the Moonlight Lantern gleams.

Drifting in the Wind of Evening, Chanting words in an ancient tongue,

dancing light to the music of Fearies, as the Sacred Prayer is sung.

We honor this In-Between time, this space between Darkness and Light,

While greeting the Reign of the Winter King,

On this Windy Autumn Night."

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, let's create Magick through Masking.  

We all wear masks, although the extent to which we layer ourselves or are aware of them varies greatly.

Masks are a familiar and vivid element in many folk and traditional pageants, ceremonies, rituals and festivals, and are often of an ancient origin.  

One reason for wearing a mask is to pretend to be someone or something else. The mask can be a kind of language that expresses the emotion of the figure one chooses to create.

We'll be asking What masks do you wear and why?

Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!