1 Samradh 44 - Beltane 2006 - Vol.4 No. 3
www.mithrilstar.org

The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth
to blossom, and to bring forth fruit; for like as herbs and trees
bring forth fruit and flourish in May, in likewise every lusty heart
that is in any manner a lover, springeth and flourisheth
in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all lovers courage,
that lusty month of May.

~~ Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur, 1485 ~~

MUSINGS FROM THE ARCH-DRUID
by Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear

Again the wheel turns, and we find ourselves on the cross-quarter between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. I must really be feeling "Spring fever" this year, because I have virtually stuffed this issue full of an abundance of Spring and early Summer poetry, articles and art!

You will also find herein more original offerings from more of our members than ever before - what a talented group of Bards we have! What a blessing they are to our Order... :)

Also within this issue you will find a wide range of material, including articles about Morris Dancers, Mead, a complete Beltane Ritual for Lovers, and a large section on Handfastings, since we are now in that time of year (May/June) that is traditionally popular for marriages. In fact, from the background image and many other images within, you will see that this issue is dedicated to ***LOVE*** in general...

So without further ado, let's get on with this celebration of this most popular season! :)

Now the bright morning-star, Day’s harbinger, Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her the flowery May, who from her green lap throws the yellow cowslip and the pale primrose. Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire Mirth, and youth, and warm desire! Woods and groves are of thy dressing; Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. ~~ John Milton, Song on a May Morning, 1660 ~~

Co-Hosted by
Clan of the Triple Horses Grove, Medford OR,
Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd Grove, Eureka CA
and the (New) Order of the Mithril Star, RDNA

For basic info, go here: http://www.mithrilstar.org/2006wcdruidgat.htm

For more detailed ino and agenda, go here: http://www.mithrilstar.org/gatheringinfo.htm#agenda

To register, go here: http://www.mithrilstar.org/gatheringform.htm

Note: This is not an official RDNA event.

The young May moon is beaming, love. The glow-worm's lamp is gleaming, love. How sweet to rove, Through Morna's grove, When the drowsy world is dreaming, love! Then awake! -- the heavens look bright, my dear, 'Tis never too late for delight, my dear, And the best of all ways To lengthen our days Is to steal a few hours from the night, my dear! ~~ Thomas Moore, The Young May Moon ~~

Bardic Writings from OMS Druids

Our members were certainly prolific this season - lots of wonderful stuff here!
We'd like to thank Antlerchime, Savhbh ni Daimhin, Sagnorix Beag & Ameya Spirt
for submitting their inspired works to be printed in our newsletter:

Myrdden's Dream by Antlerchime As I came to Caer Bryddwyd Horse below me hard of breath Struggling on though near to death Grant reprieve I beg of thee Porter of the gate I see Came I from the mountain sea *** In went I to have my rest Meat and mead and stories told Then went I for sleep to hold Then a vision came to me Wandered I through lands unknown Crystal towers in sunlight shown Passed I through a land of stone Panes of crystal filled the sky Horseless chariots thundered by Between the gaps in towers saw I As my breathe was worsened there Armored birds that plied the air *** Woke I from my dream of weird And left fresh-horsed at morning's light Until I Arthur's caer did sight And told all of my future dream And bade them breathe and love the wood For few in that strange vision could

The Stag of Night by Antlerchime Skylight, dazzling greenwood fire Smoke-white pillows drifting higher Ebony coals that shout with heat And melt the icicle hands and feet Foot-shaped shadows in the snow The piercing breath of breeze and flow The cold, bright moon in skies of night Above the dunes of frozen white Then from the misty drifting snow Appears a stag in blinding glow Transformed from empty ebony night Upon that glittering field of light Dim rays of stars deline the tines Of antlers white against dark pines Its eyes espy the brittle ground Its ears reach forth for every sound In smoky dreams the man takes aim With thunderous sound and spouting flame Yet in its place the stag still stands The tool of man slips from cold hands And now he cannot move at all For from the four winds comes a call Across the trackless fields of dawn Of yearning, longing, wandering on And when he awakes, the stag is gone.

Message of the Trees
by Druid Savhbh ni Daimhin
Calan May (Bealtainne YR. 44)

Greetings earthlings! WE are the trees, the rough-barked tall ones that stand strong in the winds yet bend with the slightest of breeze. We are here today to share our promise of hope for you, and the plant kingdoms. Why the plant kingdoms? Well that is because we are part of the plant kingdom. We grow in the cool moist dirt of Gaia herself. We root deeply into her womb succumbing to the nourishment she offers us.

As you know there are many changes abound, earth has finally reached it's 5th dimensional phase, yet now she is succumbing to a higher frequency than ever before and you as humans must succumb to this as well. Change is here permanently.

Right now at this moment I ask you to take your roots and ground them deeply into the earth. Ok? Are you at your normal grounding point? Good! Now go deeper, deeper than you have ever been before, deeper yet and more deep, there you go. Now take your branches and reach them high into the sun. Smile! Now reach them higher than you ever have before, higher, higher, very high, reach all way into that beautiful white light, there you go. Now breathe, breath in and fully expand those lungs, keep expanding.. now exhale slowly...through the mouth. Do this 2 more times.. Feel grounded? Good.

As you breath fully while expanding those lungs, visualize a light stream entering your branches, it is white/silver light. Let it infiltrate each leaf on your all your branches. Feel your leaves shimmy and shake while absorbing this light. Now open your crown chakra and let that light filter in. Expand this light to filter down your entire body and down through your roots into the earth. This is what we call anchoring the source energy. Now Draw the green light of the earth up through your roots opening your root chakra and expanding this light/energy up through all your chakras into crown and through all your leave/branches and out of your highest branch into the light. This is known as anchoring earth energy. Now you have a 2 way column of light/energy flowing through your body. Next State out loud, "I (name) accept the new 5th dimensional frequencies that resonate with the earth at this time to enter my body to balance me with the earth and to make my body whole." (You should feel your crown chakra open wider and the energy pouring in forth.) Now State out loud " I desire and accept the new frequencies of Bealtainne to pour fourth and to resonate with my body in harmony. I awaken my inner soul to these energies so I may assist the earth in her work as well as opening up my chakras for the Samradh energy that abounds to keep me healthy and happy during these Samradh months so I may be a more productive human who accomplishes my goals effortlessly while staying in stewardship to the earth. So mote it be."

There, easy yes? It doesn't take much to tap into the energy of the gods or trees for that matter. So now you have these new frequencies. Take these frequencies and feel it filling you your entire body, expand it outward, out into your aura, expand it yet further and further out. Breath. Are you palms tingling? Are your feet tingling? Feel more alive and alert? Good! While you are in this state, you are able to receive, a symbol or an ogham that you can carry forth during this season as your way of staying in touch with the frequencies. Visualize your symbol in your heart then touch your heart. The energy will course through your body each time you do this. You can also mediate with on your new frequencies and they will help change your life for the better as well as working with nature on a whole new level.

Lets speak about nature for a moment. How many of you actually take time to be close to nature to where you feel you are indeed one with her? It is always good to be about in nature for that is the way of human race. Humans of old spend 90% of their life outdoors and 10% inside. Currently humans spend 90% of their life inside and 10% outdoors. What happened here? Humans lost their ability to be in nature and weather the elements as well as being a part of nature herself. Every time you go outdoors ground your roots and spread your branches. Do this every time you step outside, soon you will notice that you will be outside more than you ever were and you are able to tolerate the weather much easier as well as centering self while remaining flexible to current natural energies that flow un-endlessly.

Thank you for your time we are always happy to chat with you and by the way, you have officially been attuned to the energies of Bealtainne through the ways of the trees :)

End of of Transmission

"Truth" By: Sagnorix Beag- sonofthegoddess (Steven W. Emenhiser) A word that corresponds to everything that is A word that corresponds to everthing that isn't A word that can never be spoken A word with no real meaning A word with all real meaning A word with no real inheritance A word with all real inheritance A word beyond any understanding A word beyond "boundaries and borders" A word with everything and nothing at once A word of knowledge and wisdom A word between worlds A word passed from tree to tree A word that can never by broken A word that can never be lost A word that can never be found A word that is ensoulded by spirit A word that is creation A word that is change A word that isn't a word A word unkown and un-told A word lost, and forgotton A word remembered and longed for A word felt by every living thing A word felt by every unliving thing A word shethed in that of reality A word beyone the ego A word lost in the mist of the Un-time and Un-Place A word without time and stratagy A word without light and beyond darkenss A word that we must find.............. * T R U T H * A word that we must find............... Truth is a word that is imagination.... Truth is a word that is inspiration.... Truth is a word that teaches Truth, Knowledge, and Nature Truth is the longing of the soul and the home comming to true inheritance To search for truth is to "truely live" And to live and search for truth, is to truely create And continuously day by day to create yourselves and the world around you as a spirit Druid, the way of truth, knowledge, and nature. Druid....The way that we must find..... Truth.... A word that we must find.... Blessings from the gods and the truth Blessings from the mother and love Blessings from the flame and heart Blessings from the soul, and light Light this candle, may this be our night May this be our night of truth and spirit The time has come to join in union With all that is and will ever be With the changing, evolving spirit With that of creation

An Invocation for Beltaine

Soul and body merging,
Time and space go surging,
At our primal urging.

Beginnings without ending,
Life and Death are blending,
Passion’s fires descending.

Dreams and Desires we’re chancing,
God and Goddess dancing,
Lover’s hearts entrancing.

Muse and Magick knowing,
Truth and Light are showing,
Beltaine breeze bestowing.

Young and Old Delighting,
Faith and Hope uniting,
Creation we are inviting.

Beltaine 2006
Copyright Ameya Spirit
For use by permission to Order of the Mithril Star,
Druid's Egg, Beltaine Edition.

What is Morris Dancing?

Excerpts from this page:
http://www.ucolick.org/~sla/morris/whatisit.html

Briefly, the Cotswold Morris is a traditional folk dance that was found in small villages around Oxford, England at the end of the 19th century. It was a central part of annual springtime rituals throughout the region. The dancers wear dozens of bells on each leg, wield sticks and/or handkerchiefs, and dance to lively folk tunes.

What is it like?

It is a high-impact, anaerobic form of dance done to live music by teams (or sides) of six who are all dressed in brightly colored kit. The stepping is done in a style designed to maximize the ringing of the bells whilst minimizing the danger of impact injury. Some dances consist of 6 solid minutes of stepping and are more strenuous than running for a mile. Dances done while waving handkerchiefs often contain spectacular leaps high into the air. Dances done with clashing of sticks could have nasty consequences to dancers or audience.

A haphazard history of the morris
by Steve Allen

Part of the mystery of the morris is that there is so little historical information about it. Some would like to believe that it is a surviving remnant of Druidic springtime rites. Others think that John of Gaunt or some crusaders brought it to England after the Moorish conquests. Alternatively, it bears some resemblance to a form of Italian court dance called the Moresca which dates from the 12th century. In short, if you ask a morris dancer on the street about the history of morris the reply is likely to be just about anything. (On the street the aim has always been to get appreciation from the audience. Scholarship is not part of the show.)

In the written record, some form of dance called morris can be documented in England as far back as the 15th century. The earliest known reference is in a will from 1458 which mentions a "silver cup sculpted with morris dance." There are other wills which describe the disposition of other similar cups; some of these cups were in the possession of the royal family. So at its earliest known point morris was already common enough to have spawned a knicknack industry.

During the 16th century the annual acounting for several churches contain expenditures for the purchase of morris bells and costumes, and also income from the rental of the same to neighboring parishes. Morris dance was performed before the courts of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and the tradition was described as "ancient" by those courtiers. Shakespeare's play Henry V would have us believe that Whitsun morris dances were sufficiently common that the French royalty knew of them.

Morris, performed by a team of men and a team of women, was the central theme of one scene in a play (The Two Noble Kinsmen by Fletcher) which was viewed by Elizabeth I at her house on Drury Lane.
Rhett Krause has uncovered evidence that morris was performed on the north American continent in 1583. According to the account of Edward Haies, captain of the Golden Hinde, his crew performed morris dances in what is now Canada for "the solace of our people, and allurement of the Savages." The manifests of other ships exploring America also indicate that morris paraphernalia were on board.

Read the rest here:
http://www.ucolick.org/~sla/morris/history.html

The May-pole is up, Now give me the cup; I'll drink to the garlands around it; But first unto those Whose hands did compose The glory of flowers that crown'd it. ~~ Robert Herrick, The Maypole, 1660 ~~

All About Mead

Excerpts from this page:
http://www.solorb.com/mead/mead.html

The basic theme:

If it's good for ancient Druids,
runnin' nekkid through the wuids,
Drinkin' strange fermented fluids,
it's good enough for me!
~~ Pete Seeger ~~

Honey is to mead as malt is to beer and grapes are to wine. –FC

For some great mead recipes & other info, visit Forrest Cook's webpage at:
http://www.solorb.com/mead/mead.html

Everything is blooming most recklessly;
if it were voices instead of colors, there would
be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.

~~ Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke ~~

Earth Prayer Mother of the Universe... Let us, when swimming with the stream, become the stream... Let us, when moving with the music, become the music... Let us, when rocking the wounded, become the suffering... Let us live for the grace beneath all we want, let us see it in everything and everyone, till we admit to the mystery that when I look deep enough into you, I find me, and when you dare to hear my fear in the recess of your heart, you recognize it as your secret which you thought no one else knew... O Let us have the courage to hold each other when we break and worship what unfolds... Let us embrace that unexpected moment of unity as the atom of God... O nameless spirit that is not done with us, let us love without a net beyond the fear of death until the speck of peace we guard so well becomes the world... ~ Mark Neppo ~ (The Book of Awakening)

The Druid's Egg newsletter is supported by our online store:

The fair maid who, the first of May
Goes to the fields at break of day
And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree
Will ever after handsome be.

~~ Mother Goose Nursery Rhyme ~~

Tuatha de Brighid - Beltaine

Beltaine: Festival of Fertility

Beltaine -The Fires of Bel: An Erotic Ritual for Two (or More) People
for the Celebration of Summer
by Good Folk

Welcome to our celebration!

Before we begin...

The altar is decorated with various wildflowers: a large vase for the altar, and four smaller bunches for the four directions, to be placed during the opening of the rite, and others strewn about.

Three light green candles are on the altar.

A white candle, a bowl of water, and an oak branch represent Fire and Well and Sacred Tree.

Bannocks and Ale, and the Bride bed are prepared.

Offering bowls and grain offering.

Musk or Lavender oil.

Silver offering.

Participants wear crowns of spring greenery and flowers.

A blanket or mattress or futon pad is arranged in the center of the room.

White candles are placed at the corners of the room, or of the mattress.

All texts are understood to contain the directions “In these or similar words.”

[B and G] represent the two participants in the original rite. Divide roles as appropriate for your group.

Preparing ourselves for our time with the Gods and Spirits

The Sacred Bath

Participants draw a warm bath prepared with Lavender bath salts, or scented with a sachet filled with Vervain,, Mint, Basil, Thyme, Fennel, Lavender, Rosemary, Hyssop, and Valerian. The bath should be decorated with white candles, and a musky incense used. Wash each other in the bath, taking time to become relaxed and centered. Then dry each other with soft towels and anoint each other with Lavender or Musk oil on the souls of the feet, behind the knees, just above the pubic area (be careful with essential oils here!), on the breasts, under the chin, and on the forehead. Dress in plain or ceremonial robes, or simple peasant garb that is easily removed. Each take a burning white taper from the bath for the procession to the Nemeton. (If there are more people than will fit in the bath, take turns stepping in and being washed ceremonially.)

The Procession

All process to the Sacred Grove and travel around it three times deosil. Light the center green candle on altar from the white tapers, then extinguish the tapers and set them aside.

Light the altar incense.

Opening Litany
(Adapted from Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews)

[G] I am the calm, I am the quickening!
[B] I am the intoxication and the force!
[G] I am the silence, I am the singer!
[B] I am the stallion galloping to its source!
[G] I am the bright pavillion and the feasting!
[B] I am the wedding couple and the bed!
[G] I am the morning chorus and the heartbeat!
[B] I am the goal to which all paths are led!

Awen Invocation

[G] From the Gods, and from the Spirits of the Earth, and from the Ancestors, may we have the inspiration of worship and of prayer.
By Fire and Well and Sacred Tree
Earth-Mother now we honor thee;
May we be hallowed one and all
That you may hear us when we call.

The Couple cense each other, with words like:

[B] Pure and hallowed may you be.

[G] So be it.

Earth-Mother and Outdwellers Offerings

[G] Earth-Mother we honor you and ask your blessing on our rite.

All take a bit of grain and place it in the Offering Bowl, with the same words. At the conclusion of the Rite, the offering will be taken outside and given to the Earth.

An offering is made to the Outdwellers, and placed outside the Circle.

Attunement

[G] rings bell 3 times.

[B] As our ancestors once did, so we do today, and so our children will do in the future. We are here to pay homage to the divine as manifest in Boinn, Lady of Fertility, and to Bel, Lord of the Sun; to the Gods, to the Ancestors, and to the Earth Spirits; to the rising light of the year. Now is the time of fertility, when the flowering plants put forth their blossoms, and Mother Earth is fertile once again. Life is now awake, and the bees and butterflies travel from flower to flower. In the meadow come together the sire and the dam. This is the Feast of Beltaine, the Fires of Bell. As the Sun now burns brightly bringing warmth to Mother Earth, so warmth stirs in the loins, and the fires of joining burn again in the sexes. In the embrace of lovers new life is created. So let us join together as one to make our offerings in joy and reverence.

[G] These are the Fires of Bel. Light has overcome darkness, and warmth is again upon our Mother Earth! Flowers bloom around us, and fill the air with their perfumed joy!

She carries the four smaller bunches of flowers to the four corner candles as she says:

[G] Offer we now these flowers of the Fields of Boinn, in thanks for the life that is eternal. Thanks we give for the generation of life, for stamen and ovule, for phalus and vulva, for
seed and egg, for fertility and fecundity, for promise of the future.

The couple goes to each candle and lights it with fire from the altar, with these words:

[B and/or G] These are the Fires of Bel, this is the Field of Boinn.

All are seated on the mattress, and there is silence for a moment. One leads the Four Elelments or other centering meditation, as usual.

Purpose of the Rite, Naming of the God and Goddess of Beltaine

[G] Beltaine is the time of fertility and warmth, of joining and conceiving. We make offerings to Boinn, and to Bel.

[G] lights the Candle for Boinn, and makes an offering of oil.

[G] Boinn, Cow-Mother and Goddess of the Moon,
River of Life, grant us this boon:
That power of joining may flow in us soon!

[All] So be it!

[B] lights the Candle for the Bel, and makes an offering of oil.

[B] Greetings, Bel, ancient God of Sun,
Smith and Herald of new life begun:
Join us now, and make us one!

[All] So be it!

Opening the Gates

[B] Let us now open the portals to the Otherworld, in Tree and Fire and Sacred Well.
Come we now to this sacred grove
in this place between the worlds,
to give honor to Boinn, and Bel.
Offerings make we now, that the portals may be opened.

[G] offers silver into the well, saying:

In the deeps flow the waters of wisdom,
Sacred Well, flow within us.

[B] lights incense from the Center Candle and places in stand, saying:

I kindle the Sacred Fire in wisdom, love and power,
Sacred Fire, burn within us.

[G] sprinkles well water on the tree on the altar, saying:

World Tree with roots in the earth, and arms in the skies,
Sacred Tree, grow within us.

[All] So be it!

Invocation of the Three Kindreds

[B] We welcome now the Three Kindreds to our Rite:
Ancestors, Earth Spirits, and Gods.

Gods, and Dead, and Spirits all,
Receive our offering, hear our call.
By Fire, and Well, and Sacred Tree,
From Land and Sky, and from the Sea,
Now come, we pray you, to this Grove,
And bring your wisdom, strength, and love!

[G] Ancestors, Old Ones, remember us as we remember you;
Ancient Ones, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love.

Hoof and horn, leaf and stone, aid us as we aid you;
Earth Spirits, hear our prayers, and accept our offering of love.

Gods and Goddesses, Shining Ones, honor us as we honor you;
First-Born of Earth Mother, hear our prayers and accept our offering of love.

All sit and meditate upon the hosts of Spirits they have called. All speak in their hearts to whichever
spirits present themselves to them.

Offering to the Beltaine Deities, The Joining of Lovers is the Embodiment of the Divine

[G] The Song of Bel:
Bold and burning, God of Light,
Bel, now bringing Love to sight:
Passion great and Body strong,
Fertile power, living song;
All are manifest in thee,
God of Fire, naked be!

She removes his clothing, and caresses his body.

[B] The Song of Boinn:
Boinn’s Moon upon us shine,
Vigot of life is always thine:
Strength of Cattle, strength of Love,
Strength of Beauty, toward us move;
Migickal thy ways may be,
River Goddess, naked be!

He removes her clothing, and caresses her body.

They take some of the small wildflowers strewn about, and weave them into each other’s hair, on the head and in the pubic area.

Prayer of Offering

An offering of bannock is made, and cup of ale, with appropriate words of praise from the heart for Boinn and for Bel.

The Omen

One seeks the Omen through means of choice (rune, ogham, tarot, etc.) and interprets the Omen.

Receiving and Using the Returned Power

All sit.

[B] Let us now in silence or aloud offer prayer for our several needs..

Holding hands, participants express needs either silently or aloud, followed by a period of silent
meditation.

[G] Join we now our hands in communion and agreement,
Consecrate we now ourselves to one another and to the Goddesses and Gods.

New incense is lighted and pass around the circle, Sunwise, each censing the other, in token of Divine
Blessing.

The couple join in love-making on the mattress, taking whatever time is needed.
(If there are more than one couple, appropriate actions agreed upon as a group beforehand now take place.)

Other workings may be done as needed.

At the conclusion of this joining, share in Bannocks and Ale.

[B] Join we now in chant of Communion and Praise.

[All] I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the Starlit Heaven,
The glorious Sun’s life-giving Ray,
The whiteness of the Moon at Ev’n;
The Flashing of the Lightning free,
The whirling Wind’s tempestuous Shocks,
The stable Earth, the deep salt Sea,
Around the old, eternal Rocks.
(From “Patrick’s Breastplate”)

Unwinding and Ending

[B] O Vigorous Bel, Lord of the Sun,
we thank thee for thy bright presence here.
We have been honored to have your Spirit among us.
Farewell, and Blessed Be!

[All] farewell, and Blessed Be!

[G] O luminous Boinn, Lady of the Moon,
we thank thee for thy bright presence here.
We have been honored to have your Spirit among us.
Farewell, and Blessed Be!

[All] Farewell, and Blessed Be!

[G] The Goddess, the God have been honored.
This Rite of Beltaine is done.
Fire and Well and Sacred Tree,
and Gatekeeper of these portals three,
we offer thanks and praise to thee!
With welcome to the waxing Sun,
may gates be closed, and rite be done!

[B] Now our Rite of Beltaine is done.
Blessed peace on everyone,
and may we bring the light of Sun!

They dress.

[B] leads others three times counter-Sunwise around the circle, in a journey back from the Otherworld.
[G] rings the bell three times. The Rite is done.

Copyright 1998, by Good Folk
Permission to copy is granted if this notice is included
http://www.tuathadebrighid.org/beltaine.htm

A delicate fabric of bird song
Floats in the air,
The smell of wet wild earth
Is everywhere.
Oh I must pass nothing by
Without loving it much,
The raindrop try with my lips,
The grass with my touch;
For how can I be sure
I shall see again
The world on the first of May
Shining after the rain?

~~ Sara Teasdale, May Day ~~

THE STATS OF THE OMS

As of today we have 156 members, or 3.9% (+ or -) of the RDNA:

138 members are ordained First Order Druids.
6 members are eligible for ordination into the Second Order
7 members are ordained Second Order Druids
2 members are eligible for ordination into the Third Order
9 members are ordained Third Order Druids
8 members are eligible for ordination into the OMS Fourth Degree
1 member is eligible for ordaination into the OMS Fifth Degree
1 member is an ordained OMS Fifth Degree Druid
2 members are ordained OMS Seventh Degree Druids

During the season of Samradh, OMS experienced a net Membership gain of 2

Total Groves sponsored: 2 (+ 2 new Proto-Groves)
Total US Members: 131
Total Canadian Members: 10
Total UK Members: 4
Total International Members: 22
Total Countries represented: 8
Total US States represented: 37
Total Canadian Provinces represented: 6
Top 5 US States: CA=13, OR=12, WA=11, FL=11, NY=7
Total members in areas near Redwood Groves: 5

Ceridwen currently has four Advanced sessions and one Intermediate session in progress. Because of this large amount of classes, she is taking a long "hiatus" from the group class format for quite some time (at least until all of her current students graduate)...

Ceridwen is, however still offering PRIVATE TUTORING sessions! Because of the increased "personal attention" these entail, there will be a sliding scale fee required...

If you wish to take advantage of this offer, or need more information about it, send an email to: Ceridwen  Subject line: AstroPagan private tutoring

You will then be contacted immediately and a private database and schedule will be set up that will conform to your own personal needs - NO WAITING! All of the pertinent charts and tables will be calculated and sent to you, as you need them. Each lesson will be offered whenever YOU are ready for it - no homework deadlines! - and if you need to take time off at any point for personal business or holidays or whatever reason, your schedule will be adjusted accordingly!

OR..

If you are interested in a private consultation about your Astrological chart, please visit her home page at:

http://hunters-moon.org

It was the month of May, the month when the foliage of herbs and
trees is most freshly green, when buds ripened and blossoms
appear in their fragrance and loveliness. And the month when
lovers, subject to the same force which reawakens the plants,
feel their hearts open again, recall past trysts and past vows,
and moments of tenderness, and yearn for a renewal of the
magical awareness which is love.

~~ Sir Thomas Malory, La Morte d'Arthur ~~

Invocation to Flora By the flowers of the field, Oh Lady of delight By the crops Thy blessings yield, Oh Maiden clear and bright We invoke Thy presence in kernals and sheaves We see Thy face in the moonlit leaves. Come now to us, extend Thy grace Come into our circle within this holy place. Daughter of the earth, drinking sunlight, Queen of plants, sister of night. By leaf and twig, by root and bough By water and earth, come to us now. Bring us Your grain the staff of our lives. Bring us Your fruit wherever it thrives. Mistress of herbs unlock Your power And lead us into Your leafy bower. In love and joy we call Your name With comforting hope You ease our pain. We see Thee in the swelling bud, We feel Thy stirring in our blood; O Lady clear, we feel Thee near. In spring a Maiden with flowers crowned. In summer and harvest, the Mother renewed. In fall and winter the Hag holds sway Yet the Maiden remains but months away. Great Triple Goddess, the seasons flow And ebb to Thy will, as You come and go. ~~ Author Unknown ~~

ALMANAC

Today is Beltane, Calen Mai, or May 1, 2006 CE.

The Festival of Beltane began at Sunset on April 30th.

It is the 1st day of the Season of Samradh, and the 1st day of the Month of Mi na Bealtaine.

It is also Monday, in the common tongue, or Dydd Llun in Welsh.

It is the Druidic day of the Willow.

The Reformed Druids of Gaia were formed on this day in 1961, at Carleton College in Northfield MN.

4 Samradh. Sun is at 15 degrees Taurus. Many Druid groups celebrate Beltane on this day. It is also National Naked Day.

12 Samradh - FULL MOON Celtic tree month of Hawthorn begins

20 Samradh - The Sun enters Gemini.

21 Samradh - Birthday of Gwydion Pendderwen, Pagan Bard.

26 Samradh - NEW MOON

27 Samradh - Birthday of Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart.

32 Samradh - Me·n Samradh (June) begins (a Thursday - Dydd Lau - Day of the Oak)

40 Samradh - Celtic Tree month of Oak begins.

42 Samradh - FULL MOON

52 Samradh - Midsummer / Alban Heruin, or the Summer Solstice. The Sun enters Cancer.

56 Samradh - NEW MOON

62 Samradh - Deireadh Samhraidh (July) begins (a Saturday - Dydd Sadwrn -- Day of the Coast Redwood).

66 Samradh - YR 40: The members of what was then called the "Covenant of the Mithril Star" unaminously joined the Reformed Druids of Gaia , thus becoming the "(New) Order of the Mithril Star," one of the "side orders" of the RDNA.

67 Samradh - Birthday of the His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama. He will be 71.

68 Samradh - Birthday of Robert A. Heinlein, author of "Stranger In A Strange Land." Celtic tree month of "Holly" begins.

71 Samradh - FULL MOON

73 Samradh - Birthday of Henry David Thoreau, author and naturalist.

83 Samradh - The Sun enters Leo

85 Samradh - NEW MOON

91 Samradh - Birthday of Ellen Evert Hopman, Druid herbalist.

92 Samradh - The Season of Foghamhnar begins at Sunset (1 Foghamhnar, 1 MÌ na Lÿnasa, August 1, 2006). The Festival of Lughnasadh begins at Sunset.

Love is to the heart what the summer is to the farmer's year -
it brings to harvest all the loveliest flowers of the soul.

~~ Author Unknown ~~

Summer Weddings

Summer is the season of love, or so it may seem from the number of weddings that take place in Britain during the months of May to September. Around sixty per cent of all marriages in England and Wales take place during these months and there are various reasons why so many couples set their heart on a summer-time wedding.

The fragrance and beauty of an abundant supply of flowers is just one reason and although many varieties can now be obtained out of season, grown in greenhouses or imported from abroad, seasonal flowers are more likely to be fresher and less expensive. The summer offers a wonderful assortment of roses, carnations, gardenia, daisies, freesia and orchids.

Tradition may also play its part in the popularity of summer weddings. Pagan custom considered the summer a good time to marry because of the sun's association with fertility. June especially was considered to be a lucky month. June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage, who vowed to protect those who married in her month.

The fragrance and beauty of an abundant supply of flowers is just one reason and although many varieties can now be obtained out of season, grown in greenhouses or imported from abroad, seasonal flowers are more likely to be fresher and less expensive. The summer offers a wonderful assortment of roses, carnations, gardenia, daisies, freesia and orchids.

Tradition may also play its part in the popularity of summer weddings. Pagan custom considered the summer a good time to marry because of the sun's association with fertility. June especially was considered to be a lucky month. June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage, who vowed to protect those who married in her month.

Essentially it is actually the weather that lies at the heart of many couples' decisions to marry during summer, and July stands out as the most popular month.

~~ http://www.thisisthemidlands.co.uk/midlands/features/MIDLANDS_FEATURES_LEE7.html ~~

Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind & true, When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate. If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know. Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man. Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day. Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you'll go. Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred. Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine. If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry. If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember. When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last. ~~ Traditional ~~

Summer is the time when one sheds one's tensions with one's clothes,
and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit.
A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief
that all's right with the world.

~~ Ada Louise Huxtable ~~

Wedding blessing Mìle fàilte dhuit le d'bhréid, Fad do ré gun robh thu slàn. Móran làithean dhuit is sìth, Le d'mhaitheas is le d'nì bhi fàs. Translated as: "A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief, may you be healthy all your days. May you be blessed with long life and peace, may you grow old with goodness and with riches." ~~ Attributed to the Rev. Donald MacLeod, minister of Duirinish, Skye, Scotland c. 1760 ~~

The trees that have it in their pent-up buds
To darken nature and be summer woods

~~ Robert Frost, Summer Woods ~~

The Mother Grove wishes all of you
a most inspiring Beltane, a joyous Midsummer,
and abundant blessings throughout the season!

May you never thirst!

Arch-Druid Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear, Managing Editor/Webmaster
El Arseneau, Preceptor
Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd Grove

NEXT ISSUE WILL BE PUBLISHED ON Lughnasadh - 1 Fogharhnar YR 44

WANT TO JOIN THE ORDER? http://www.mithrilstar.org/join.htm

WANT TO DONATE TO THE ORDER? http://www.mithrilstar.org/donate.htm

The Druids Egg -- 1 Samradh YR 44 -- Vol. 4 No. 3
Send letters, submissions to mithrilstarnews-owner@yahoogroups.com
There is no guarantee that your submission will be published.
All submissions become the property of OMS.

“mead” pic from: http://www.realbeer.com

"new eyes" pic is from: http://www.epilogue.net/cgi/database/art/list.pl?gallery=635

"NuadaMorrigan0" pic is from: http://www.jimfitzpatrick.ie/gallery/index.html

All other pictures are believed to be public domain, gathered from around the internet over the years. and/or sent to us by friends. However, if there is an image(s) that has copyright
information associated with it and the copyright holder wishes for it to be removed, then please email us and we will remove it. Or, if any of the artwork is yours and you
just want us to give you credit (and the piece can remain on site), please
send us your link/banner and we will be happy to do so.

Published four times each year by The Mother Grove of the
Order of the Mithril Star
Cylch Cerddwyr Rhwng y Bydoedd Grove, RDNA
Eureka, California USA
"An autonomous collective of the Reformed Druids of Gaia"
Copyright © 2006

No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced by anyone for any purpose
without the express written permission of the
Arch-Druid, Ceridwen Seren-Ddaear