Full Moon, Blue Moon, Retrogrades, And Fairies!

Lots of things swirling about these past few weeks, what with the five planet retrograde going on, and now we've got what we like to call a "situation". Saturday's full moon, in Sagittarius this month, is directly conjunct with Mars. Add the fact that this is a "blue moon" (the third of four full moons in a season, or the time between an equinox and a solstice), and that Mars is going "red", and you've got a big situation!

Luckily, Mercury will station direct on the 22nd, so communication, at least, will free up a bit. That doesn't help a whole lot when you've still got Mars in retrograde until the end of June. The interaction between Mars and Sagittarius this month is troubling, and the key words for this time should be "be watchful, be aware, be cautious". All the bottled up frustration of normally forthright, assertive Sagittarius may manifest inward, since outlet is thwarted by the retrograde motion. This may cause a blowup of uncomfortable proportions - the Full Moon in Sagittarius conjunct Mars Retrograde heightens our awareness of this frustration and provides a channel through which we can express our rightful, righteous anger. Unfortunately, Sagittarius is not a sign known for great tact or diplomacy, so anger here may not serve any healthy purposes and instead just add to the tension. As with our keywords for this full moon, it's a good idea to be circumspect now. Remember that with Mars retrograde, this energy is high but not well aimed and can misfire.

With all this rather unsettled energy in the air, it's time for Hoopla! Emporium's semi-regular Full Moon Celebration. Come by the store at 6:00 pm on Monday, May 23, for a short cleansing and blessing by Shaman Carol Woodliff, and a wine tasting with our friends at OddBallGrape.com! We'll have a discussion on the meaning of the 5 planet retrograde, how retrogrades affect you, and what you can do to protect yourself. Our friend Sonia Chernobieff will be here reading Tarot cards for the occasion. She's also taking appointments for Tarot readings at the store, too, so you can call and make an appointment with her!

 

 

On Saturday, May 21, Hoopla! Emporium is hosting "The Enchanted Forest - Fairy Garden 101", which features local garden designer Stephanie Clements. For only $25.00, you and one child can learn how to build a water-wise fairy garden using succulents from local company, Dominus Plantarum, and fairy garden elements provided by Hoopla. Fairy Lydee will provide entertainment, Maureen Koran is providing fairy cupcakes, and Doreen Virtue certified fairy oracle reader Alyse Korn will be here, too! Be sure to register quickly, as space is limited to 20 paid adults, and it's filling quickly! There will be plants available for purchase from Dominus Plantarum, and a special pop-up appearance by Athene Raphael, who makes the most adorable floral crowns and headwear for babies. The fun starts at 3:00, and goes until 6:00 pm. We hope to see you at any (or all) of these events!

 





 

 

Happy May Day, Or, The Magic Of Beltane!

All of us remember the Maypole, right? As a child, I was always fascinated by pictures of this festive event. Pictures of bucolic, fair-haired ladies dancing barefoot, weaving brightly colored ribbons around an upright pole, while the men of the village looked on. Turns out, this May Day is an ancient Celtic pagan tradition that was cleaned up by the Christians hundreds of years ago, much like Oestre traditions became Easter traditions.

According to the Elephant Journal, Beltane "is a holiday of union, between man and woman, God and Goddess—a celebration of the divine balance in the union of Divine masculine and feminine. Because once upon a time, the two were honored as sacred parts of the one Divine balance." In Celtic, Beltane means "bright fire". Pagans acknowledge Beltane as the time the God and Goddess reunite, after a long, cold winter apart. I think you can guess where "fire" comes in, and the Beltane rituals have long been a celebration of symbolic totems and rituals honoring sex, fire, fertility, and abundance.  

The Maypole is, in itself, a symbol of the God - the divine Male - and the women, weaving those ribbons around it, symbolize the Divine Female, or Goddess, wrapping themselves around him. As Spring blossoms, the world comes alive in color to celebrate their love. Flowers bloom, trees grow and animals return. This was once the full acknowledgment and celebration of the fertility of Spring. From The Elephant Journal, "Fire jumping took place over the town fire—for the unmarried men in the town who would leap the fire to wish for a wife, the women leaped for blessings of fertility, couples jump for luck and fertility in their marriages. The May Queen and King of the Forest, or Green Man, would be chosen from among the unmarried young adults in the community, to embody the original God and Goddess, and they were the leaders of the celebrations and fun. Their entourage would follow the couple in service, everyone dressed in costumes and adorned with flowers, leaves, antlers and other nature adornment, until the couple retreated to the forest to take part in their sacred sexual union underneath the night sky." It's also said that those who were conceived during Beltane have the ability to see fairies!

In Irish Gaelic Bealtaine is the name of the month of May, while in Scottish Gaelic Bealtuinn is  May Day. Historically, Beltane is associated with the Celtic God Bel, also known as Balor or Belenus—The God of Light and Fire who was also associated with the Sun (akin to the Greek Apollo). I think it's fascinating that this tradition almost exactly matches the Indo-European/Iranian tradition of fire jumping at their Spring celebration, or Chaharshanbe Suri. This is a ritual performed during their New Year, which coincides with the Vernal, or Spring, Equinox.

What can you do to bring this special celebration into your home? Make a Maypole! Construct a small one from common household items and decorate it with colored ribbons and snippets of fabric, or, if you have a large backyard and don't care what the neighbors think, make a full-sized one! This is also a great time to clean your home - this is where the tradition of "spring cleaning" came to be! You can burn lilac and frankincense incense, or use a sage smudge stick, to cleanse, too. This an ideal time to set intentions, especially if you're looking for love, a child, or abundance in your life. Find a quiet place to meditate, and visualize your life as a garden that you populate with what you're intending. Think about what you need to do to bring these visions to reality. This is the time when the womb of the Universe is fertile and ready for your intentions to take root, like the soils of Earth are ripe for planting, the powers in charge are waiting for you to take action on your path to your own Highest Good. 

As you celebrate this day, be inspired by Nature - Beltane was honored by the ancients as a way to remember that even time stops to make space for lovers to find each other again after the long, cold night of winter. Here's a fun video showing The Circle Sanctuary's Beltane celebration: for video click here. Remember, if you need any celebratory products, such as sage bundles, crystals, incense, essential oils, or flower crowns, Hoopla! Emporium can help. Blessings to you as you celebrate the coming of Summer!