May Day - a little dancing music

Duran Duran:  "New Moon on Monday." 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OxqnrFea8I 

A little something for May Day, on its 120th anniversary as International Workers' Day.  

May first is Labour Day in India and China.

Today's also the 50th anniversary for Maharashtra, which attained statehood on 1st of May, 1960.  Bombay (a state) was divided into the two states of Maharashtra and Gujarat on the basis of eheir different languages.  Maharashtra kept the old capital Bombay, which was later renamed Mumbai.

Last night, May Eve, was "Walpurgisnacht" - a  traditional witch gathering that marks the transition to Beltane, the festival of the bonfires.  It's one of the two points on the Wheel of the Year (Samhain being the other) when the barriers between the realms of earth and spirit are thinnest.  I get together with like-minded pagans for drum circles on the beach most Full Moons, but also at May Eve and/or Beltane. 

St. Walpurga was the neice of St. Boniface, who "felled" the sacred oak of Thor, defying Thor by calling upon him to strike him down, and then proceeding to begin chopping away at the oak.  A great wind suddenly sprang up, the oak toppled over, and the people took it as a sign that Thor was powerless.  Of such things are Christian saints too often made:  destruction of a culture and appropriation of its holy days.

May is also Beltane, as noted.  Ostara ("Easter") marks the official end of Winter (Vernal Equinox) , and fires are lit at dawn to note the coming of a season of new life.  Often, seeds are planted.  It's the first day of spring.

Beltane's all about fertility.  It's the point where the Oak King is born and the Holly King passes.  "The Land represented by the Goddess is now ripe and fertile and the Young God expresses His Love for Her. This is a time of joyous reveling as the first flowers of Summer are gathered in Their Honor. "  The May Pole Dance and other forms of revelry (Morris Dances) make it quite the fun, lusty time.

The Gay Pagans UK - Ireland Yahoo group had a moot today in central London.  Martin Cummins, its creator, is a lovely man.  I've not met him personally, although I saw him at one such moot - a two-hour coffee klatsch within walking distance of the British Museum, Covent Garden, Treadwells  and Atlantis bookshops and Mysteries  are all within walking distance.

I didn't much relish attending such an event, but I went because of the excellent directions provided:  "Located at the Aldwych end of Kingsway, nearest tube station is Temple, Holborn tube station is a 5 - 10 minute walk away. The venue is wheelchair accessible."

The last point about accessibility, obviously, got me there, where I connected with some fantastic queer pagans. 

So, on behalf of my fellow Anglo-Indian pagans, Wiccans, and Marxist-leaning queers everywhere, I say:  "Workers of the world, arise - and dance!"

And Blessed Be.

Peace,

Todd