I absolutely love this Julie, the fact that this time is upon us had completely passed me by. Although owls have been coming into my awareness this week and I wrote a post about blooming, so it was there somewhere! The prompts are great and I will definitely make space for this over the next couple of days. So much is stirring. So much is rising. xx
Oh I look forward to reading that! Blooming is quite the theme of this time right now inwardly and outwardly. Beltaine blessing to you Louise, may your heart bloom with sweetness and your fires be strong with vitality. 🔥❤️🔥
Julie, the way you've told Blodeuwedd's story really moved me. Your poem, especially. It immediately connected me to my mother. Like so many women of her era (and before and after her, as well), her role was to be beautiful so as to please and reflect well, to be obedient, to serve. After a lifetime of this, her rage over having been pigeonholed in these ways came erupting through the surface of the Alzheimer's Disease that gave her an eventual exit. Maybe I can view her disappearance into the "dark" of Alzheimer's as her version of exile to owl-dom. I love the framing that Blodeuwedd's exile was not a punishment, but a symbol of her wisdom. Thank you for this, and Beltaine blessings to you! 🌸🌷🌺🪻🔥🌿❤️🔥
So powerful Keith! Yes that time was wrought with conditioning women to be beautiful and obedient wives. My mother was one too. She was Harriet to Ozzie as my father. Oh they both lived out that fantasy and lie. When I was 16, she did come more into herself. She raged. Which was good for me to see. She went back to work, which was healing for her. But like you say Keith when it's suppressed it can come out in times of dementia and Alzheimers. My mom had dementia in her later years, she wasn't very nice to my dad, but she was always sweet with me. Keith, that must have been hard to experience all that, and I am glad that this post with Blodeuwedd is able to give you some context for that. I feel this is true! Beltaine blessing to you Keith, may your inner fires burn bright with vitality, passion and creativity. 🔥❤️🔥
Thanks so much, Julie. Yes - so many women of the Ozzie and Harriet era had to figure out how to sink or swim in terms of self-respect. I’m glad for your mom and you that she was able to externalize some of that rage earlier on, and that she was able to direct it to some extent (and not toward you!). Grateful for your empathy and understanding…and blessings, too!
Julie, your celebration of Beltane is ab-soul-utely captivating! I love how you weave Blodeuwedd’s tale into a powerful symbol of feminine sovereignty and wild, intuitive magic. Your rituals and reflections are both inspiring and grounding - thank you so much for sharing this burst of creativity and poetic light!
Thanks Shellie, I really loved exploring her myth and life. And when I found this photo, bingo!!! Beltaine blessings to you Shellie, may this fire sabbat time be filled with wonder and joy! 🔥❤️🔥
Thanks so much Robin, I have been wanting to write about her for awhile now! This time of Beltaine seemed the perfect time. And Beltaine blessings to you too, may this be a fertile time of fun and pleasure! ❤️🔥❤️
Ahhh, Julie, this is just stunning!💖💖 I felt completely carried into the color, scent, and hum of the season through your words—and your ritual invitation is so rich and beautifully laid out. I especially want to say thank you for weaving in the story of Blodeuwedd; I always love learning (and re-learning) the stories our ancestors told, and I’m so grateful to you for helping keep them alive and reclaimed in a way that speaks to the deep feminine. The way you reframed her "betrayal" as a return to her own wild agency really lands for me. Oh my gosh, I just LOVE that! Blessings to you this Beltaine season, my dear friend—may your blooms and flights be joyful and true. 🌸🦉🔥
I absolutely love this Julie, the fact that this time is upon us had completely passed me by. Although owls have been coming into my awareness this week and I wrote a post about blooming, so it was there somewhere! The prompts are great and I will definitely make space for this over the next couple of days. So much is stirring. So much is rising. xx
Oh I look forward to reading that! Blooming is quite the theme of this time right now inwardly and outwardly. Beltaine blessing to you Louise, may your heart bloom with sweetness and your fires be strong with vitality. 🔥❤️🔥
I may have kissed the sun, but I fell in love with the shadow
Fantastic post. I learned a lot from this. Thank you for sharing Julie.
Thanks Prajna - And Beltaine blessings to you, may this time be filled with fiery pleasure and mystical surprises! 🔥❤️🔥
Julie, the way you've told Blodeuwedd's story really moved me. Your poem, especially. It immediately connected me to my mother. Like so many women of her era (and before and after her, as well), her role was to be beautiful so as to please and reflect well, to be obedient, to serve. After a lifetime of this, her rage over having been pigeonholed in these ways came erupting through the surface of the Alzheimer's Disease that gave her an eventual exit. Maybe I can view her disappearance into the "dark" of Alzheimer's as her version of exile to owl-dom. I love the framing that Blodeuwedd's exile was not a punishment, but a symbol of her wisdom. Thank you for this, and Beltaine blessings to you! 🌸🌷🌺🪻🔥🌿❤️🔥
So powerful Keith! Yes that time was wrought with conditioning women to be beautiful and obedient wives. My mother was one too. She was Harriet to Ozzie as my father. Oh they both lived out that fantasy and lie. When I was 16, she did come more into herself. She raged. Which was good for me to see. She went back to work, which was healing for her. But like you say Keith when it's suppressed it can come out in times of dementia and Alzheimers. My mom had dementia in her later years, she wasn't very nice to my dad, but she was always sweet with me. Keith, that must have been hard to experience all that, and I am glad that this post with Blodeuwedd is able to give you some context for that. I feel this is true! Beltaine blessing to you Keith, may your inner fires burn bright with vitality, passion and creativity. 🔥❤️🔥
Thanks so much, Julie. Yes - so many women of the Ozzie and Harriet era had to figure out how to sink or swim in terms of self-respect. I’m glad for your mom and you that she was able to externalize some of that rage earlier on, and that she was able to direct it to some extent (and not toward you!). Grateful for your empathy and understanding…and blessings, too!
Julie, your celebration of Beltane is ab-soul-utely captivating! I love how you weave Blodeuwedd’s tale into a powerful symbol of feminine sovereignty and wild, intuitive magic. Your rituals and reflections are both inspiring and grounding - thank you so much for sharing this burst of creativity and poetic light!
Oh Deborah, I really appreciate your words here, I am deeply touched. And Beltaine blessings to you and yours! 🔥❤️🔥
Beautiful post...in every way. And I think the best portrayal of this goddess in the photo you shared.
Thanks Shellie, I really loved exploring her myth and life. And when I found this photo, bingo!!! Beltaine blessings to you Shellie, may this fire sabbat time be filled with wonder and joy! 🔥❤️🔥
It's good to see the story of Blodeuwedd here, Julie. The interpretation resonates. Happy Beltaine fires.
Thanks so much Robin, I have been wanting to write about her for awhile now! This time of Beltaine seemed the perfect time. And Beltaine blessings to you too, may this be a fertile time of fun and pleasure! ❤️🔥❤️
Ahhh, Julie, this is just stunning!💖💖 I felt completely carried into the color, scent, and hum of the season through your words—and your ritual invitation is so rich and beautifully laid out. I especially want to say thank you for weaving in the story of Blodeuwedd; I always love learning (and re-learning) the stories our ancestors told, and I’m so grateful to you for helping keep them alive and reclaimed in a way that speaks to the deep feminine. The way you reframed her "betrayal" as a return to her own wild agency really lands for me. Oh my gosh, I just LOVE that! Blessings to you this Beltaine season, my dear friend—may your blooms and flights be joyful and true. 🌸🦉🔥