What I Will Be Doing for Beltane
Yes, "will be doing." Some people look at the calendar and say that Beltane is this evening and tomorrow. Others celebrated last weekend, according to the "weekend nearest the cross-quarter day" rule. Only by that rule, it comes next weekend.
By the Sun, it falls on Saturday the 5th, as this archaeastronomical Web site will show you.
I plan to visit one of the archaeastronomical sites in southeastern Colorado of which I have written before. This one, the Sun Temple, as the contemporary researchers call it, will be new to me. Something is supposed to happen there on the cross-quarter days. I hope to post photos and/or video links next week.
Meanwhile, you may decide if Beltane and the other cross-quarter and quarter days is
a. Calculated by the solar/astronomical calendar.
b. Calculated by the secular calendar and celebrants' work schedules.
c. A week-long season, so the day does not matter.
If (a) or (b), is it better to celebrate early to get "rising energy" or as close to the actual moment as possible?
By the Sun, it falls on Saturday the 5th, as this archaeastronomical Web site will show you.
I plan to visit one of the archaeastronomical sites in southeastern Colorado of which I have written before. This one, the Sun Temple, as the contemporary researchers call it, will be new to me. Something is supposed to happen there on the cross-quarter days. I hope to post photos and/or video links next week.
Meanwhile, you may decide if Beltane and the other cross-quarter and quarter days is
a. Calculated by the solar/astronomical calendar.
b. Calculated by the secular calendar and celebrants' work schedules.
c. A week-long season, so the day does not matter.
If (a) or (b), is it better to celebrate early to get "rising energy" or as close to the actual moment as possible?
Labels: archaeology, Celts, Colorado, Paganism
posted by Chas S. Clifton at 1:56 PM Permalink
4 Comments:
I've heard it suggested that historically the nearest full moon might have been used. Regardless of whether that's in any way accurate, it makes some sense in itself, and conveniently falls smack in between the calendar and astronomical dates this year, May 2nd.
The full Moon comes at a convenient time this year, yes.
I celebrate by the solar calendar, and rely on that archoastronomy website to get me the dates quickly and efficiently!
But, to my mind, it is better to celebrate late rather than early, as the energy of the season is more established on the later date-if I'm making myself clear.
There's something to that full moon theory also-especially for those gatherings which may have required participants to travel.
Love,
Terri in Joburg,
not yet celebrating Samhuinn
Terri, your comment made me smile at my own reaction: "Samhuin??? Oh, uh, she is in South Africa."
Sometimes I am a little slow. :-)
You make a plausible case for later rather than earlier, I think.
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