RITES OF MAY

May Eve, Maifest, Walpurgis or Beltane;

no matter what you call it, its purpose remains.

Blackberry winter raises a howl come April and frost could still take the cherry blossoms or the new green beginning in our gardens. The growing season is still being chased by cold Winter-Death.

In myth, a flax-haired maiden runs to escape her pursuers. This beautiful woman in a white linen gown, her long hair bound by a golden band, holds a three-cornered mirror in one hand, and in her other, a spindle. Her shoes gleam like golden fire. She is fleeing from something or someone who threatens and she carries with her precious gifts which will bless the sons and daughters of Midgard. Leave a window open on May Eve and she may take refuge inside your house. Those who give refuge to the maiden of Spring during her flight from WinterDeath may find a gold coin left on their window sill.

All of this I’ve put together from bits and pieces. When I did my meditation on Fulla, I saw a golden coin on my windowsill. Later, I found this myth, and though it’s only bits and pieces, the story fits and gives hint of what was meant beneath the myth. A myth holds the treasure and preserves it so that it can’t completely be destroyed by those who would profit in refusing us our store of power. The conquering religion of a foreign god infiltrated and pulled their switch to many old myths, and so, the fleeing maiden in this one became a Nun whose name was Walburgis. But why would a nun be wearing expensive gold in her hair and why would she be seen with a spindle in hand and also a very magical three-cornered mirror? And what of those flame gold shoes?

I see Fulla in this myth. In some cases, Abundia (one of Fulla’s names) is mentioned briefly. I see the gifts sent from Nanna, the white linen gown and the gold band. Other gifts too were sent by Nanna from the Underworld to Frigga and others among the Goddesses (and to us). There is also a hint in this myth that these gifts were hard won and that a being who fought to control them did not want them to reach the children of Midgard. This is what I hear in the myth. I see the shoes, gold refined in fire, as they warm the earth and bring the quickening. Beltane is another name for May eve and it means the fire of the Bright One. Echoes of Baldur in that title, the  Bright God, husband to Nanna who sent the gifts. Shoes of bright golden fire hint at a light brought to earth to show the way, of the Sun-blessing on the new green of spring.

I see the gifts in this myth highlighted against the background of what we know from other myths. I see the tri-cornered mirror of manifestation. Those who work High Magic often use a triangle in their attempts to give form to spirit, when they invoke beings into this realm. A mirror is also often used for this purpose. The mirror, too, symbolizes the well of Mimir which is tended by the Norns (Urdhr, Verdhandi and Skuld), three who weave our web from that which was, that which is becoming and that which follows after.

May eve is known as one of the threshold times, often called the time of no-time. This is also Know time when the Sight is enhanced. The three-cornered mirror is a clue. May eve is a season when it is possible to gain much information and aid from those of other realms and it’s not as difficult as the High Magicians would have us believe.

The spindle is, of course, Frigga’s tool for spinning the thread of our lives, but it is also the symbol behind the Maypole. The Maypole was once called the Bilepole (in Ireland) and represented the World Tree. It represented a connector to the three worlds, Skyworld, Middleworld, and Otherworld. It is on this tree that Frigga spins the battle from afar. Three worlds are represented in the world tree, Yggdrasil: the High realm of the Gods and Goddesses, Midgard where we live and the Underworld or Hella’s realm. Hella’s realm is as cold as WinterDeath, but from it the beautiful Nanna sent gifts and in these gifts are keys to aid our own spinning.

In these myths of May eve are many ways we can use. The maiden fleeing winter is the newborn Beginning of things. She flees the destruction and mind-numbing ways that attack any beginning, the descent into darkness that precedes the time of growing. When we give her lodging, that is, when we honor her and keep our eyes open to her presence, she blesses us with abundance. Together with her, we plant seeds, nurture them and protect them and they bloom and bring harvest. It is said in one version of the myth that she hid in a sheaf of wheat. This, too, is a symbol for Fulla and for aundance.

A simple folk spell for prosperity is to leave a gold coin on your windowsill to be blessed by Abundia (Fulla), and to offer a token of appreciation for this with a simple prayer of welcome. Leave the window open the night of May eve and mark the windowsill (and all others) with need runes (Nauthiz).

Spinning the World Tree is another viable working for May eve, using different colors of ribbon or thread to represent the different aspects of yourself you wish to bring together or certain things that you wish to bring to you. Think it out carefully. By using this Spindle tree we move in the direction we want to go, with thought and foresight.

The tri-cornered mirror is another clue of hidden treasure. You might ask yourself why Fulla is bringing the mirror to Midgard and how we are to responsibly use it. FULLA, VOLLA, ABUNDIA!!!