At This Time
An overview of the current moment in space-time ~ May 2023
The Wheel of the Year:
Beltane
May 1
The Great Marriage
Spring Turns To Summer
Beloved Ones...beauty is life when life unveils her holy face. But you are life and you are the veil.
Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are eternity and you are the mirror.
So speaks The Prophet, the poet Kahlil Gibran
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Beltane is one of the four annual Cross-Quarter festivals, which happen in between the equinoxes and solstices and mark the turning of the seasons.
As the high holy days are major transition times, we refer to them as portals or doorways, through which we step into the next cycle of the Solar year. As priestesses, we hold the portal time especially sacred, as we bid farewell to the previous cycle and welcome the new.
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Beltane themes: Fertility ~ Union ~ Beauty ~ Life
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At Imbolc we trusted that the seed was going to awaken.
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At Ostara we reveled in the first visible green shoots.
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At Beltane, our faith is justified. All new growth is exploding. We are energized. We are excited. We are ready to move forward. But what is awakening? Flowers are blooming, beauty is at its height. We feel like we’re in heaven when we stand beneath a blooming apple tree or in a field of tulips. Earth is offering herself to us, to drink in Her beauty and know that it’s a part of ourselves. Beauty awakens in the self.
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From the dawn of hope at Ostara, we come to the lighting of the Beltane fire, the consummation of passion that ignites in love to rebuild the world anew. As the world reawakens, green explosions signifying new life all around, so we will awaken the new life within, through consummation of the energies of light and love.
In preparation for Beltane, also known as The May, why not craft something beautiful?
Make a ribbon mobile; paint a picture (or a wall); write a poem; create a special altar; plant something new in your garden; cook or bake something delicious to eat. Whatever you choose, make it something that nourishes you deeply. Drink in this life-giving energy that the earth is exuding for us now. And you will become (again) an overflowing fountain, an eternally blooming rose; your true self NOW at THIS moment.
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In the season of Beltane, we celebrate the Joy of Creativity!
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For more information and ideas about how to honor and celebrate Beltane, check out our information page by clicking the button below.
The Moon:
Eclipse Season
As May begins, we are deep in eclipse season. What does this mean?
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Eclipses always coincide with a Full Moon (Lunar eclipse) or a New Moon (solar eclipse).
They usually come in pairs, every 6 months or so (hence the term "eclipse season"). Sometimes there are three eclipses in a season instead of two.
They have to do with the Lunar Nodes (a complicated subject!)
At the eclipse season, things ignite and feel profound. What is repressed emerges, for confrontation and resolution. An eclipse is a powerful chance to observe the self and and a powerful moment to do our alchemical work of transformation.
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"Eclipses are a highly transformative time, signifying a shift from one chapter of our lives to the next."
~ Forever Conscious
The Moon will be Full in the sign of Scorpio on May 5, and this is also a Lunar eclipse. Known as the Flower Moon, this Full Moon also coincides with Wesak, which is celebrated by Buddhists the world over on the Sunday closest to May's Full Moon in honor of Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.
The Full Moon means the Sun and Moon are completely opposite each other in the sky, with the Moon fully reflecting the Sun's light. Thus the Full Moon will be in the astrological sign opposite to the Sun.
The Full Moon is a time to celebrate accomplishments, and prepare to release what no longer serves, especially in the areas related to Scorpio, such as:
Intimacy
Fertility
Death and rebirth
Jealousy
Mystery
Power
Determination
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Read more about the Lunar Eclipse here at Chani.com.
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The Moon is New in the sign of Taurus on May 19.
The New Moon means the Sun and Moon are completely conjunct (or together) in the sky, with the Moon hidden in the rays of the Sun and invisible to our eyes. Thus, the New Moon will be in the same astrological sign of the Sun.
As a new cycle begins, it's time to envision new possibilities and set intentions, especially in the areas related to Taurus, such as:
Money
Sensual pleasure
Contentment
Perseverance
Patience
Self-worth
Releasing stubbornness
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Read more about the Moon and her phases by clicking the button below.
The Stars:
Taurus Season and Gemini Season
The Sun is in Taurus from April 20 through May 20
The ruling planet of Taurus is Venus, and its symbol is the Bull.
Keywords for Taurus: Stability, security, elegance, sensuality, stubbornness, persistence
And the Sun moves into Gemini from May 21 through June 21
The ruling planet of Gemini is Mercury, and its symbol is the Twins.
Keywords for Gemini: Quick-witted, youthful, mercurial, inquisitive, clever, communication
Mercury is retrograde in Taurus from April 21 to May 14. Retrograde planets appear to move backwards in the sky, giving us an opportunity to reflect and integrate the energies we experienced while that planet was moving forward. Traditionally Mercury retrograde is a time for caution surrounding communication, technology, contracts and travel. The advice "don't sign, don't buy" may be good to follow. Plans may go awry and timing may seem "off." This is not a bad thing - simply an invitation to relax and practice patience.
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Retrograde periods are wonderful times to work with RE words: reflect, remember, relax, renew, return, resolve...
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"Mercury and Pluto will be in retrograde for most of the month, indicating a time of reflection. Having these two powerful retrogrades taking place during the Eclipse Portal feels like a signal from the Universe to go within, slow down, and really digest and integrate the energies that are unfolding." ~ Forever Conscious
For more detailed astrological information on the month of May 2023, check out these resources:
May 2023 is a power month and likely to be a turning point for many of us. Listen and trust your intuition. Allow it to be your guide as you move through whatever the month brings. A powerful mantra you can work with is- “I trust myself.”
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"The most important discipline this month is to keep your vibration high as much as possible. This includes choosing to see beauty in everything, choosing humor and playfulness instead of being irritated all the time, choosing to always see the glass half full instead of half empty and choosing to experience life as abundant in all ways."
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Read more about the Stars and Planets by clicking the button below.
The Elements:
Earth and Air
This month, with the Sun first in Taurus and then in Gemini, we feel the elements of Earth and Air deeply.
The sign of Taurus is in the element of Earth, and holds the quality of Fixed (unmoving).
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"The Sun [has moved] out of fiery Aries into earthy, grounded Taurus. Aries season tends to move quickly and can give us a burst of motivation. Once the Sun settles in Taurus, things tend to slow down, giving us the opportunity to pause. It is not always easy being faced with moments of pause. Pausing can bring up things that are not working, but it can also create time for more pleasure too. At its highest vibration, Taurus Season allows us to find pleasure in the small things, aligning us with gratitude, appreciation, and abundance. On a practical level, Taurus Season is a great time to organize your finances." ~ Forever Conscious
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The sign of Gemini is in the element of Air, and holds the quality of Mutable (motion).
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"Gemini is an air sign, which means energy will move from our lower chakras to our higher chakras, fueling our creativity and our desire to share. Gemini Season is a great time to focus on communication and working with our hands. It is also power time when it comes to recognizing both aspects of our being. We are a soul, but we are also a physical body. This is the nature of the Gemini Twins. One twin is mortal, the other is immortal, representing our temporary body and our forever soul." ~ Forever Conscious
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Read more about the Elements by clicking the button below.
Calendar
Our calendar combines the dates referenced above, as well as major cultural holidays.
Click on each event to learn more.
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TimeandDate is a wonderful reference to see exact times for your time zone.
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