Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth

In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.

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Bringing Home the May

So, here's irreducible Beltane.

First, wear green.

Early, early, early on May morning, go out to the woods.

There collect what's wild and green and growing. That's called gathering May. If, in the process, you happen to make a little surreptitious love, so much the better. That's gathering May, too.

Bring home the May (and you really do have to sing as you do this).

Deck yourself, the door, the table, with the magical greenery that you've gathered.

Then to the feast, and all the joys of the Day.

The magic here is self-evident.

The woods are calling. Do you hear?

 

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow, follow me.

Whither shall I follow, follow, follow?

Whither shall I follow, follow thee?

To the greenwood, to the greenwood, to the greenwood, greenwood tree.

 

(Elizabethan)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Poet, scholar and storyteller Steven Posch was raised in the hardwood forests of western Pennsylvania by white-tailed deer. (That's the story, anyway.) He emigrated to Paganistan in 1979 and by sheer dint of personality has become one of Lake Country's foremost men-in-black. He is current keeper of the Minnesota Ooser.

Comments

  • Kimberley
    Kimberley Wednesday, 25 April 2018

    I am new to this blogging thing. I have been studying Paganism for a long time but have to do it in silence as do many. I would like to know more about this Bringing Home the Green. Green is my favorite color and I am an earth sign. Everything around me right now are in different shades of green.

  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch Thursday, 26 April 2018

    Check out the May chapter in Ron Hutton's Stations of the Sun, Kimberley. Then, if anything catches your eye, follow up the footnote and you're off.
    Luck of the hunt to you, Kimberley, and a merry May.

  • Michele Brazelton
    Michele Brazelton Wednesday, 25 April 2018

    I have no reason to think you will remember me but just today my son (who is 19 now!) Forest said "do you remember that guy who was at that festival we used to go to who told the awesome story about that woman who was ...not Santa? I love that story. " I said yah that was Steven! I told him to give me a minute to think about what Steven's last name was. Then I looked on YouTube and found you telling the very same story! And as we both sat all attention on you on my phone we realized we were there in your audience both then and now! And that is the end of the story and that is the beginning of the story and thank you for being you!
    All my love,
    Ivy

  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch Thursday, 26 April 2018

    Here's the newest Berhta piece:
    http://witchesandpagans.com/pagan-culture-blogs/paganistan/twin-cities-killer-targets-mall-santas.html
    And now farewell Berhta, welcome Beltane!

  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch Thursday, 26 April 2018

    Ivy, you've brought a smile to my face. My very best to you and Forest both, now that Berhta has finally beat a retreat and Beltane's on the way. (BtW, there's another Berhta story and a couple of songs on my album Radio Paganistan.)
    Sun and Moon on your path, and may our ways cross again soon.

    Steven

  • Steven Posch
    Steven Posch Thursday, 26 April 2018

    I'd never really thought about Berhta as the Anti-Santa before.
    Thanks Forest!

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