Looking around the internet, I was searching for ideas for May Day celebrations. Many sites online conflate Beltane and May Day, but it was also clear that mainstream culture often sees them as two separate celebrations. Beltane, with its observance on April 30th and association with Walpurgisnacht and bonfires seems more sinister to the Mainstream, while May Day, with its emphasis on sunshine and flowers seems far more benign. For centuries, the 1st of May has been celebrated with dancing, festive foods, and children’s activities. The Maypole has become ubiquitous. Even church groups have May Day parties with children dancing around a maypole, oblivious to its Pagan origins or meaning.
In past centuries, May 1st was the beginning of the summer season. Hence, the references to the Summer Solstice being “midsummer” as it is actually the mid-point of summer, not its beginning. Many of the customs associated with May Day, including gathering various types of plants to make May Baskets and Maypole dances are still practiced in many parts of Europe and America. An excellent article is 20 May Day Traditions and Celebration Ideas Around the World by Rhythms of Play.
The early May festival of Floralia, in honor of the Roman goddess of flowers, was observed between April 27th to May 3rd
Since the 18th century, many Roman Catholics have observed May – and May Day – with various May devotions to the Blessed Virgin
In Oxford, England, it is a centuries-old tradition for May Morning revelers to gather below the Great Tower of Magdalen College at 6 am to listen to the college choir sing traditional madrigals as a conclusion to the previous night’s celebrations
1 May is also one of two feast days of the Catholic patron saint of workers St. Joseph the Worker, and
Of course May 1 is also International Workers’ Day.
Of course, the May Day food culture is alive and kicking!
Among my favorite food sites (hover your curser over the title and click to bring up the link):
I also found a charming blog, Under a Tin Roof featuring some wonderful-looking recipes I’m dying to try, including the beautiful blueberry buns shown above-right and the very interesting interpretation of “Elven” Devilled Eggs shown below.
However you choose to celebrate May Day this year, make sure it is festive and fun!
Morgana RavenTree is the National First Officer of Covenant of the Goddess, President-Emeritus of Pagan Pride LA/OC, and a frequent contributor to Southland Pagan Press.
A Transcendent Experience in Music, Dance, and Spirituality
Heilung performing at the Shrine Expo Hall on December 11, 2023 Photo courtesy of Lisa Gentry
Experimental, Germanic folk music group Heilung brought its mesmerizing performance, a seamless blend of ancient texts, runic inscriptions, and spiritual elements, to the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles on December 11, 2023. The name Heilung means “healing” in German, which is precisely the effect their live experience has on audiences worldwide. Bathed in beautiful lighting and atmospheric fog, hearts beating in time with the drums, the audience become participants in the ritual and the story as it unfolds. It is an experience like no other.
Heilung seamlessly incorporates cultures spanning the Bronze, Iron, and Viking Ages. More than music, their live performance is an immersive ceremony and a transcendent experience in music, dance, and spirituality.
Thanks to the generosity of our friends at Goldenvoice, Pagan Pride Los Angeles was able to award a pair of tickets to this amazing show to three lucky social media contest winners. We hope the memory of this special Heilung performance will bring them joy and healing for years to come.
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Join Reclaiming LA for Yule at the beach! This mid-winter solar festival marks the shortest days and longest nights of the year. We will honor the season of restorative darkness by visiting the Pacific Ocean, allowing the waters of our coastline to wash away the parts of the old year that no longer serve, and looking ahead to a time when the sun will make its return.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2023
1:30 PM: Gather on the beach for drum circle
2:00 PM: Ritual Begins
***We suggest attendees leave extra travel time to get to this location, and carpool if possible.***
The parking entrance can be hard to see. If you’ve gotten to Leo Carrillo you’ve gone too far. You can park on PCH for free and trek in, or park in the lot for $8. If you park in the lot, there are two levels of spots, and if you drive down one level, there are closer spots to the stairs leading to the beach and the ritual site. There are also ramped walkways. We will be gathering on the beach. Look for drums to find our group!
INFO
Please dress warmly; we won’t have a fire at this location.
You will be invited to go into the ocean as part of the ritual. Please bring your own swimsuit, towels, and a change of clothes if you plan to participate.
Bring something you would like to use to make sound: whether percussions, other instruments, or something unexpected!.
Bring your own sun hat, sunscreen, water bottle, etc.
There will be no shared potluck. Bring whatever snacks you will need individually.
If you are called, you may bring white and yellow flowers as an offering to the deities we work with.
All genders welcome!
Children welcome with adult supervision.
To support those in recovery, this ritual is clean and sober.
ACCESSIBILITY
The ritual space is approximately 100-120 yards from the parking lot. To get to the ritual space, one must descend two standard stair cases or ramped walkways from the lot and then a short staircase to the sand. The ritual will be held on the sand by the beach, where it’s relatively level. There are very few sound reflective elements near the ritual space that would reflect sound back to attendees. We are planning to complete the ritual before dusk, as the beach closes at sundown. We have written this accessibility statement to be as inclusive as possible so that people with accessibility concerns do not have to do the labor of asking.
If we have overlooked some aspect, please email us at info@reclaimingla.org, and we will do our utmost to answer.
It is sunset, and I am standing on a ridge in East Orange, in the wildlife corridor between Irvine Regional Park and Peters Canyon Regional Park. A healthy-looking coyote has woken up and is on the hunt. A lone purple sage plant, the only known specimen to grow south of Blackstar Canyon, is beginning its fall growth period. A tarantula hawk is building a burrow, in preparation for its prey that will be walking the land as the day comes to an end. A white-tailed kite hovers nearby, scouring the landscape for dinner. Each week I visit this piece of land and get to know its inhabitants more and more. To developers, it is just empty space ready to be turned into a profit. The developers look the other way from teeming life already there, from the wealth that is the expansive vistas of this open space.
I raise my hands in the east to begin the Sphere of Protection ritual which is a fundamental part of my Druid practice. I have crafted a unique version of this working, calling in elements with imagery of the local wildlife and banishing that which threatens it. The Sphere of Protection culminates in a blessing which I can only hope will hold the land in its web of safety for another week.
It is hard to imagine all of the threats our native species face. This entire wilderness area was burned by wildfire in 2017. However, the most intense pressure on wildlife comes from urban sprawl – the noise, pollution, and habitat fragmentation that comes from careless human behavior. But even our sympathetic city council is not willing to stand up to big business, even to request a new Environmental Impact Report for this particular project to update the 2005 (!) original.
Would you like to learn more about connecting to this threatened land, and lend your magic for its protection? Join me for a solstice land blessing on December 23. And support our magic with action: sign the No Orange Heights petition. Our few remaining open spaces in Orange County are so unique and precious. We can’t afford to lose another acre.
Rev. Heather Westenhofer (she/her) is an artist, registered yoga teacher and ordained minister of the Sacred Well Congregation. Heather is currently working through the Bard Apprentice curriculum of the Ancient Order of Druids in America and serves on the Ritual Planning Committee of Reclaiming LA. Sometimes she can be found on Instagram at suburbanartemis.
A: Rainbow Lagoon Park, 400 E Shoreline Dr, Long Beach, CA 90802. Click HERE for a Google map of the location.
Q: How do I get to Rainbow Lagoon Park?
We suggest you use this link for directions from your location. You may also follow one of the routes below.
A: From Orange County: Take 405 North to 22 West; continue straight onto East 7th St., turn left on Alamitos Avenue, the continue onto E. Shoreline Dr. Look for sign for Rainbow Lagoon Park.
From Burbank: Take i-5 South to I-710 South to West Shoreline Drive (keep left). Take exit 1C on left toward Downtown long Beach/Convention Center/Aquarium. Make a U-turn at Linden Ave. Look for sign for Rainbow Lagoon Park.
From Pomona: Take I-10 West to I-710 South to West Shoreline Drive (keep left). Take exit 1C on left toward Downtown long Beach/Convention Center/Aquarium. Make a U-turn at Linden Ave. Look for sign for Rainbow Lagoon Park.
Q: Where should we park?
A: The parking lot immediately next to Rainbow Lagoon (to the right of the highlighted area on the map above) is managed by the City of Long Beach which sets the parking fee. Last year it was $15 flat fee. If this lot is unavailable or full, parking is also available across the street at Shoreline Village for approximately $10. Finally, there are 3 very large 3-story parking lots (A, B & C) owned by the City of Long Beach accessible from 4 different streets – 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. They are about a 10-15 minute walk from Rainbow Lagoon Park along Pine Street to the west of the park. Two additional lots are located between Long Beach Blvd. and Pine St. THE FIRST 2 HOURS ARE FREE. No validation (restaurant or bar) required but you do still have to have your ticket with you. Maximum for the day is $12. Lots A,B & C accept credit cards. There are NO HUMAN ATTENDANTS on location. However, Lot C does have cash acceptance machines. You can pay with a credit card at the gate as you’re leaving but the cash machines are only at a few points within the lot. Please check local maps and read the signs in the area. Beware the one-way streets!
Q: Will there be any activities for children?
A: Pagan Pride Day is a family-friendly event! Bring the whole family for a day of fresh air and fun. There will be a Children’s activities area featuring face painting, games, art activities, and plenty of fun things to do! Look for the designated Children’s Area. (children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult). There will also be children’s Mystery Bags at the Front Booth. Children’s Mystery Bags are only $1.00.
Q: What about pets?
A: Rainbow Lagoon Park is pet friendly! The City of Long Beach requires pets be kept on-leash at all times. You must be prepared to pick up any pet droppings immediately and dispose of them properly.
Q: What about food & drink?
A: Several food trucks will be onsite offering a variety of tasty dishes, including vegan options. Also, you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch, but please use the designated trash and recycle bins. Pagan Pride LA/OC sells beverages at the Pagan Pride booth, where any profits directly support Pagan Pride.
Q: Will you collect food donations this year?
A: Yes, we will have an area set up for collecting food donations for a local food bank or other charity.
Q: What about Pagan Pride-themed souvenirs?
A: Pagan Pride LA/OC Merchandise will be for sale at the Front Booth. Official Pagan Pride Day tees will be printed on site and/or available for purchase online.
Q: Will you have Mystery Bags this year?
A: Yes! Stop by the Front Booth and pick up some of our Mystery Bags, containing treasures donated by members of the Pagan community.
We are committed to providing a safe, enjoyable environment for all. Please read and adhere to the following rules.
No weapons of any kind, including Athame.
No fire, including candles or burning incense.
We will have an onsite Security team to help ensure a safe and secure environment for all. If you witness any unsafe or suspicious activity, please look for a Security team member. You can identify them by the black t-shirts with the word SECURITY printed in white.
Schedule is subject to change. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/paganpridela where any updates to this program will be posted. Help us save paper and cut costs by keeping this digital program handy while enjoying Pagan Pride Day.
If you are not yet a member of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) Orange County Chapter, now is a great time to sign up. It’s your chance to enjoy many ARCE membership benefits and become part of our mission of facilitating the study, excavation, preservation and renovation of important historical artifacts and sites from the Pharaonic through the Medieval Period.
“The purpose of human beings is to pour blessings on the earth from cradle to grave.”
Norma Meyers
The Autumn Equinox marks a balancing point between summer and winter, when day and night are of equal length. While many may celebrate this as a season of harvest and autumnal beauty, here in Southern California, we are near the end of the dry season, when the waters of the Los Angeles basin rest at their low point, where fires and desert winds are common, and where the land thirsts for the rains that come with winter. In this season, we gather in community to work an experimental, multi-year spell intended to deepen our relationship with the land we call home, to work to align our magical practices with the land we are on, and to pour out blessings for the place that sustains us.
Park at: Merry Go Round Lot One, Los Angeles, CA 90027
We’ll be gathering on the grassy part visible from the road as one drives up from Griffith Park Road to Lot One. For mapping, the geo coordinates are: 34.132157, -118.281742, and the Plus Code is: 4PJ9+V8 Los Angeles, California. $0 – $20 suggested donation
INFO
There are no seats at the ritual location. Please bring a chair or blanket that will allow you to be comfortable during the ritual.
Bring percussion instruments for the drum jam if you are called!
Wear comfortable shoes for walking.
Wear clothes you feel comfortable wearing in a public park (e.g. this may mean shorts and a t-shirt instead of your usual ritual wear)
The ritual will be held fully outdoors.
All genders welcome!
Children welcome with adult supervision.
To support those in recovery, this ritual is drug and alcohol free.
ACCESSIBILITY
The ritual space is approximately 100-120 yards from the parking lot, with a shallow downhill grade. There is a well-packed dirt trail leading from the lot, as well as a fully-paved street. There is a curb-cut near the ritual site. Street parking may be available directly across from, and level with the ritual space, but can be limited. Organizers are happy to help folks get to the site as best we can. The ritual will be held on a grassy area that is relatively level, but does have small dips and divots. There are very few sound reflective elements near the ritual space that would reflect sound back to attendees. We are likely to complete the ritual around dusk, and there is no street lighting. We have written this to be as inclusive as possible so that people with accessibility concerns do not have to do the labor of asking.
Parliament of the World’s Religions is the world’s largest interfaith global event that occurs periodically in various locations around the world. In 2023, the event was held August 14th through 18th. in Chicago. This year’s theme was “A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom and Preserving Human Rights”. Within that overarching theme were a number of tracks in the program, including climate action, global ethics, peace and justice, indigenous issues, and the next generation of women. It is important to remember that PWR is a global interfaith event, not a pagan festival. Nevertheless, some of my time at PWR was spent on activities in and around The Women’s Village.
In 2018, PWR Toronto featured a “Red Tent” inspired by the 1997 novel by Anita Diamant (later turned into a film and mini-series). It was based on the idea that Hebrew women of biblical times had a red tent where they would sequester during their menstrual cycles and participate in private women-only rituals. PWR 2018 featured an actual, large, Red Tent decorated with several altars, carpets, a large canopy, everything to make it a special, private space for women. Nevertheless, there was some controversy about the Red Tent concept and the fact that Transwomen were not welcomed into that space (I heard about the controversy after PWR, not during). Fast forward to 2023. Although the official program still listed the Red Tent, in 2023 the actual space was renamed the “Sacred Space for Women”. It was not a tent, but a small room with red curtains, a few tapestries and a small altar. Although I meditated in there, I did not attend any of the rituals held in that space. Rather, I spent a good amount of time immediately next door in “The Women’s Village”.
The “Peace Quilt” was displayed immediately outside the Women’s Sacred Space.
In contrast to the Women’s Sacred Space, The Women’s Village was open to men. There were men going in and out of this space and no one made a fuss about it. The “walls” of the village were made of hanging tapestries called “Women’s Voices”. Each section was made by a different woman, whose portraits and stories were displayed on the outside of the village.
“Women’s Voices” tapestries around the Women’s Village
My week began with the activity “Seeding the Women’s Village”. Each woman (and men, too) was invited to add decorative items to the altar. Contributions included feathers, shells, bits of cloth, paper, etc. Some items were provided for those who hadn’t brought anything to contribute.
The Earth Altar (left), the Mother Tree (top right) and the Staves for the Next Generation of Women (Iower right) in the Women’s Village
Tuesday was perhaps the most important day for the Women’s Village and it began with the Ceremony of Water. It was identified as ”women only” in the program, but there were men present. The priestess (whose name I didn’t catch, but she lives in Southern California) specifically mentioned that “all those who identify as women are welcome.” She and two other priestesses, one indigenous (Great Grandmother Mary Lyons) and one Priestess of Oshun, led those assembled in the blessing of the water for Oshun. The assembled were invited to pour waters into a large vessel. Many of the women brought waters from various places, as far away as Ireland, Canada, Australia and many other places across the US as well. The three lead priestesses brought their own waters of the world to contribute as well. Once everything had been passed around, the water was poured into a fountain, which would remain there for the rest of the week. Some water was then drawn from the fountain, to take to the Women’s Assembly upstairs.
The Water Ceremony (left) and the Fountain of Oshun (right) in the Women’s Village
We made a procession from the Women’s Village on the lower floor to the upper floor where the main hall was located. Along the way, we chanted and drummed and whooped and hollered and generally made noise. We went through the basements and up the escalators, to and then around the assembly room. As we entered, there were many women who were already sitting in the assembly room, and most of those groups of women got up and joined us as we walked around. It was a very powerful moment.
Entering the Women’s Assembly with the water of Oshun
The Women’s Assembly, which covered only about 2 hours, featured several notable speakers, including Great Grandmother Mary Lyons (she said her Indigenous name, but it was very long and I wouldn’t be able to spell it), Phyllis Currott, and Cynthia Conti-Cook (also Indigenous). Phyllis read the Declaration of Women’s Rights to the assembly.
The only other event I attended that was specifically related to Women’s spirituality was a presentation on Wednesday August 16th “One Step Sideways: When the Divine is Feminine.” There were several times when multiple sessions of interest to Pagans were scheduled for the exact same time, so it was impossible to attend multiple events.
The session was presented by a panel including Rev. Angie Buchanan, Rev. H. Byron Ballard, Rev. Christopher LaFond, Dr. Derek Sabri, and Drake Spaeth, Psy.D. All confirmed they are Animists and that understanding our relationship with the Divine Feminine influences our relationship with the planet Earth. The deliberate elimination of the Divine Feminine from the conversation of monotheistic patriarchal religions has resulted in wounds that may not be recoverable from without Her inclusion. They also disputed the contention within interfaith groups that all religions come from the same source, and said that worship of the Divine Feminine is not about Goddess-worship or identifying with women (as evidenced by the fact that most of the panel was actually male). Interesting stuff.
I participated in many other sessions, but they weren’t related to this theme. The next Parliament will likely take place in 2025 or 2026 somewhere outside the U.S. Nevertheless, I look forward to going again.
Morgana RavenTree is a former President of Pagan Pride LA/OC and has been a practicing witch for 45 years.
Southland Pagan Press Contributors 