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Susan's prompt at Mid Week Motif is CELEBRATE, with a view towards celebrating the arrival of spring, May Day or Walpurgis Night. May Day is related to the Celtic festival of Beltane and, as my roots are Irish, I decided to head in that direction.......also in my head is that most beautiful Celtic poem Deep peace by Celtic visionary Fiona MacLeod. I'll give the old noggin a whirl, stop it the third time 'round, and we'll see where I wind up.
Bedeck the lowing cattle
with yellow flowers,
and trot them round the meadow,
then send them out
to the far summer pastures,
as this soft azure evening
is falling.
All the menfolk are gathering
in the common,
to light the communal fire.
Let us gather round the flames,
faces flickering in its light,
and ask Fire for protection.
Deep peace, deep peace
is all we are asking.
Deep peace of the spring night,
filled with starshine,
and of tomorrow's golden morn,
fresh and new-rising.
I shall take my torch
and light it from the coals,
carry it safely home
to light my own hearth fire,
snuffed out by the last cold winter wind.
But first,we women-of-the-straggly-hair
must hoist our skirts up high
and take long-legged leaps
across the flames.
Set your intention.
If you make it across
the fire without being burned,
you are already blessed.
Deep peace of the first of May to you.
Deep peace of the bee-buzz in the roses.
Deep peace of the skybird's joyous call.
Deep peace.
In your heart of hearts,
may it be always newly spring.
When I lived in Tofino, at one of our staff trainings at the treatment centre, we were told about the Celtic tradition of putting out the winter fires in all of the houses, and gathering on the common - where each family took home hot coals from the communal fire, to warm their own hearth fires - something we were trying to do in the Centre - send the families home with some living coals to warm their own homes. Sigh. I miss that place.
