Myths and Legends of the World

Many Wiccans and Pagans celebrate Beltane.  It is one of eight solar Sabbats.  This holiday incorporates traditions from the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, but it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as May pole dancing).  Some traditions celebrate this holiday on May 1 or May Day, whiles others begin their celebration the eve before or April 30th. Beltane has long been celebrated with feasts and rituals. The name means fire of Bel; Belenus being one name for the Sun God, whose coronation feast we now celebrate. As summer begins, weather becomes warmer, and the green earth blossoms, an exuberant mood prevails. In old Celtic traditions it was a time of unabashed sexuality and promiscuity where marriages of a year and a day could be undertaken but it is rarely observed in that manner in modern times (mostly). In the old Celtic times, young people would spend the entire nig...

Message from Aeolus and Weather Channel Aeolus: Lord of the Winds April, May and June are the peak months for tornadoes in the United States. Intense tornadoes are more likely to occur during the spring. Many of the worst tornado outbreaks have struck in April or May. April kicks off what is typically the most active and dangerous three-month period of the year for tornadoes in the United States. During the 20 years from 1997 to 2016, the U.S. averaged 1,225 tornadoes annually, 55 percent of which were sandwiched between April and June. Historically, May has seen the most tornadoes each year with an average of 275. This is followed by June and April, which average 215 and 187 tornadoes per year, respectively. Eight of the 10 worst U.S. tornado outbreaks have occurred in April or May, mostly due to the fact that upper echelon tornado intensities are more likely in those months. In addition, nine of the 10 worst individual tornadoes were spawned during April, May or J...

Aries The Ram Modality: Cardinal Element: Fire Ruler: Mars Season: Spring 1st Sign of Zodiac Metal: Iron Stone: Amethyst, Diamond Color: Red Anatomy: Head, face. Keywords : active, initiating, leading, independent, aggressive, impatient, combative, energetic, pioneering, naive, assertive Aries symbol is the charging Ram, who puts everything it's got into the fight or challenge of the moment.  You're an Aries if you were born sometime between March 21st and April 21st. Comparison with its symbol, the ram: Aries is symbolized by the ram. The ram has come to represent male fertility, aggression, and courage. A ram’s horn is part of a cornucopia, the “horn of plenty”, symbolizing abundance. In history, rams were often symbols of leadership. Aries natives are said to be leaders and pioneers. Rams butt their heads into their enemies, and Aries natives are thought to approach life “head-on”. The glyph for Aries is a straightforward one — it depicts the ram’s horn...

Since it is St. Patrick's Day, I think it is time to remind the gods of old. Morrigan - goddess of war Morrigan is known as the goddess of war, with her name loosely interpreted to mean “Great Queen,” “Phantom Queen” or “Queen of Demons.” She was believed to hover over a battlefield in the form of either a crow or a raven, and supposedly influenced or predicted the outcome of the battle. She appeared to Dagda on the feast of Samhain, had sex with him, and promised to aid him in the upcoming battle. With her aid, Dagda was victorious in his battle. Aonghus - God of love and youth Aonghus, also known as Angus, Aengus, or Oengus of the Bruig, is believed to be the god of love and youth. He is associated with the valley of the River Boyne. His story is that he searched all of Ireland for a beautiful maiden. Aonghus eventually found Caer, who was with 150 other maidens destined to turn into swans on November 1, the feast of Samhain. Aonghus transformed himself into a...

Oshun is the Yoruba Orisha (Deity) of the sweet or fresh waters (as opposed to the salt waters of her older sister Yemaya). She is widely loved, as She is known for healing the sick and bringing fertility and prosperity, and She especially watches over the poor and brings them what they need. The goddess of beauty and love, especially of the erotic kind, Oshun is extremely popular among the West African followers of the Yoruba religion. Her realm also contains the aspects of love, flirtation, sensuality, beauty and the arts.  Her priestesses dance to the rhythms of the streams, rivers, lakes and waterfalls in which She rules, and that carry Her voice with the sound of the waters. As Orisha of love, Oshun is represented as a beautiful, charming and coquettish young woman. In some tales She is said to be a mermaid, with a fish's tail. Oshun is also preeminent among the female deities of the Yoruba religion and demands the respect that title deserves. When the gods were first crea...

Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also known as Carnival or Carnaval, it’s celebrated in many countries around the world—mainly those with large Roman Catholic populations—on the day before the religious season of Lent begin. Brazil, Venice and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday’s most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revelers every year. Lupercalia Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festival of Lupercalia. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether and making popular among the locals. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance...

Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the American civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until his assassination in 1968. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. He was the driving force behind watershed events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and is remembered each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. federal holiday since 1986. At the time, however, that was not the case. In 1963, most Americans disapproved of the event, many congressmen saw it as potentially seditious, and law enforcement from local police to the FBI monitored it intensively (under code name Operation Steep Hill). Indeed, it was after King’s speech at the March o...