Today started out clear and cold (24F at 6 AM), then clouded up after noon and began to rain. But that didn’t thwart our annual celebration of Beltane when we mark the half-way point between equinox and solstice. A group of friends joined us, as they do every year, and we shared readings and stories, ate a long leisurely meal and immersed ourselves in the incredible power of friendship and the return of the growing season.

Beltane is an old Celtic celebration, one that dates back many centuries. We like to honor the tradition because it’s yet another chance to notice the magic and mystery of the Universe. We may not celebrate the way the pagans did in pre-christian days (no sending home the guests with a burning log from our fire), but we do have a riotous evening, and the clock struck twelve long before we hit the pillows.

Just in time for Beltane, the Juneberries have opened up. I did a test graft out in the Finley Lane orchard. The bark is slipping so I’ll be topworking in the next few days. So much power in this Earth.