I spent my teenage years in a quintessential English village, the last bus home from the nearest station arrived back at 9pm. In the early hours, after a gig, I often walked the ten-mile journey home, sometimes the compassionate driver of a police car would give me a lift back to the vicarage, much to my parent’s embarrassment. The Mayday celebrations were the highlight of village life, Morris dancer’s and maypole dances took place by the Church set on a slight hill, surrounded by the remnants of a stone circle and a former centre of the Knights Hospitallers. And the pubs were open all day!
This year’s ritual took place in our grove around a magnificent fire, we erected a Beltane pole and selected a May queen (or crone in this case) through the traditional method of ‘spin the bottle’. We tied greenery to the pole with our thoughts and hopes for Beltane, sent healing to those unable to attend due to illness and to those grieving the dead (traditional at this time). Beltane is a rich source of traditions most of which are not strictly English, but like so many pagan festivals convey a particular zeitgeist from all across Europe.
Several years ago, I attended a talk by Peter Grey on Rewilding Witchcraft, I found the whole experience unsettling, as he outlined the death of the earth and the role of witchcraft in acknowledging this. His version of the future seemed bleak, in contrast with my optimism.
As George Monbiot points out – we have two options; the environment or capitalism.
Thankfully, this simple option has given birth to an extraordinary response from Extinction Rebellion, who in turn have presented a highly effective non violent protest. At the end of last year, the groups I work with launched a sigil – placed on bridges along the south coast to summon an egregore – the Leveller, to highlight corporate greed and usher in the demise of capitalism. This seems to me the most appropriate use of witchcraft and in the true spirit of Aradia. Many within Extinction Rebellion have adopted Peter Grey’s manifesto, so this Beltane, please consider his words.
“Witchcraft is the recourse of the dispossessed,
the powerless, the hungry and the abused.
It gives heart and tongue to stones and trees.
It wears the rough skin of beasts.
It turns on a civilization that knows the
price of everything and the value of nothing.”
Witches heal and harm, cure and curse. We have everything to fight for and nothing to lose. Witchcraft is rebellion.
Nicholas O'Connor
29 Apr 2019Rebellion – always has been so, I think. Contextually speaking, we can look back to Ursula Southell, Hannah Green and James Murrell – all of whom plied their trades well, even when witches were persecuted. We may cast spells for the protection of the earth and its wildlife, but the inevitable result of our eco-blindness will be our own demise. Gaia will always survive the loss of any species, following an ELE, and replenish itself. Neither ice-caps nor rain-forests are ancient. But, your points are well-made and our magick needs to be focused on preserving this planet for our descendants.
Stormee
29 Apr 2019Thank you Jonathan for this blog. As a symbol of greed, narcissism and selfishness, Trump works because he is visible and highly public. As a man I can’t find anything to recommend him.
This was a satisfying ritual. Happy Beltaine, or fiery bale to you.
Annie
30 Apr 2019I was that witch!
Yes indeed…./|\