Willow Goddess: Celtic MayDay Blessings

Kathy Crabbe, Daffodil & Solara, 2001, watercolor on paper, 8.5 x 11”.

Kathy Crabbe, Daffodil & Solara, 2001, watercolor on paper, 8.5 x 11”.

Welcome, with your lovely greenwood choir, summery month of May for which I long! ~ Welsh, 14th Century

When the gates of Beltaine swing open on May 1, sunlight and blossom welcome the procession of the year into the green halls of summer...we celebrate life, growth, love, and sexuality: "the force that drives the green fuse through the flower," in the words of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. ~ from Kindling the Celtic Spirit by Mara Freeman

Kathy Crabbe, Willow Goddess, 2000,silk dyes on silk, 8.5 x 11”.

Kathy Crabbe, Willow Goddess, 2000,silk dyes on silk, 8.5 x 11”.

Druidic Sacred Tree Saille - The Willow 5th Lunar Month Bird: Hawk Color: Haze Gemstone: Blood-Red Carbuncle

Beltane is the 2nd cross-quarterly festival day and is sacred to Sappho, the poet, Fairy Queen Brigid and the goddess Dana. Midway between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, it celebrates the full blossoming of the spring. At May Eve, the goddess is one of Love and Death such as Freya, Frigg, Holda, Held, Hilde, Goda, and Ostara. Traditionally, this celebration was an orgiastic revel which celebrated the Maiden's coming of age and the rebirth of flowers and the fertility of the Earth. ~ Paraphrased from Year of Moons, Season of Trees, Mysteries and Rites of Celtic Tree Magic by Pattalee Glass-Koentop

The paintings above are available as originals, prints and cards. Please email me for more information.

More Celtic Tree Musings can be found here.

Spring Intention Setting

Equinox Musings ~ March 20, 2011 ~ 4:21 pm pdt ~ Sun enters Aries

"The New Year is not January 1st! The new year is the Spring Equinox which occurs on March 20 (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) when the Sun enters 0 degrees Aries by geocentric astrology.

The Spring Equinox is the time to identify the intentions we wish to fulfill during the four seasons. Ideas correctly seeded at the Spring Equinox manifest for a year. During the Summer Solstice, the time has arrived to birth these ideas into recognizable form, like a forming fetus. The Fall Equinox is the time to flesh out, balance, and assess these creations and to weed things out that just are not working. Then the Winter Solstice is the time to enter into deep contemplation to imagine how our personal creations assist others and the planet."

~ Barbara Hand Clow

To stay up-to-date with the seasons and moons, subscribe to my bi-monthly Creative Soul Museletter, plus receive a free gift: a Creative Soul Blessing!

Leo Full Moon - Fueling the Heart's Fire

Leo Goddess - Cybele. Watercolor on board, 24 x 30 inches. © 2010 by Kathy Crabbe Leo Full Moon - Fueling the Heart's Fire by Guest Astrologer, Emily Trinkaus

The Full Moon in fiery Leo on February 18th (12:36am PST, to be exact) calls for reconnecting with your heart, expressing your individuality, and celebrating the Light.

At the Aquarius New Moon on February 2nd, you planted seeds for your future vision. Aquarius is the sign of community and the collective, and the New Moon initiated a new beginning in sharing your gifts with the world.

Now, the Leo Full Moon brings you back to this present moment, illuminating your heart's true desires. This Full Moon asks: What really makes you happy? Are you devoting so much energy to others that you're neglecting your personal happiness and creative expression? Are you taking time to celebrate, or are you living in the future?

At the time of the Full Moon, the Sun is straddled by Neptune -- the planet that rules our inherent interconnectedness with all life -- and Chiron the Wounded Healer. The Full Moon's interaction with these slow-moving planets amplifies our felt connection with the suffering of the collective, possibly putting a damper on the festive Leo energy.

If we can open to the feelings that arise, rather than closing our hearts to the pain, we have the opportunity to heal and release old wounds, and increase compassion for others. From this heart-centered place, we can see with innocent eyes, opening new possibilities for inspired action. What is the most creative response to the current crises? What is the unique gift you have to offer? How can we as individuals bring more Light to the planet in these dark times?

emily trinkaus, guest astrologer for kathycrabbe.comEmily’s Bio http://virgomagic.com

I fell in love with astrology when I was 13 and read Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs. Suddenly the world made sense! I’ve been a passionate student of the cosmic science ever since. The more I learn, the more I’m humbled by its elegance, power and profound mystery. I started giving readings professionally in 1999.

I also have a background in creative arts – writing, painting and movement – and founded Portland Women Writers. I love working with other artists and writers to offer support for breaking through blocks and increasing access to the creative flow.

Museletter: Full Moon in Cancer - Opening to Inner Wisdom

Full Moon in Cancer - Opening to Inner Wisdomby Guest Astrologer, Emily Trinkaus

The Full Moon on January 19th (1:21pm PST) animates the watery, feminine, sensitive sign of Cancer, stirring up strong feelings and intuitive insights. Cancer the Crab rules the inner realm of home, family and deep emotions, and this lunation highlights what you need to feel nurtured, supported and secure.

At the Solar Eclipse on January 4th -- a super-potent New Moon -- ambitious new beginnings were set into motion. In earthy, pragmatic Capricorn, the Eclipse focused intentions on professional goals, long-term commitments, material success, and taking on greater power and authority. The Eclipse ideally served as a catalyst to activate your higher purpose, your true work in the world, and to inspire concrete steps to bring your vision into reality.

Now, the Cancer Full Moon asks: Is your outer-world mission aligned with your feelings and intuition? To effectively pursue worldly ambitions and fulfill your purpose, what kind of foundation, container, support system do you need? How can you create a balance between nurturing your personal life and achieving your goals?

Magnifying the power of this lunation, the Full Moon forms a harmonious trine (120-degree angle) with the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction in Pisces. Uranus is the Great Awakener, the principle of revolution and liberation, while Jupiter expands what he touches. This aspect opens the potential for flashes of intuitive awareness, magical synchronicities, and freedom from old emotional patterns and programs.

The shadow expression of all this watery energy is emotional overwhelm, leading to depression, crankiness, and the desire to escape into your favorite addictions.

Cultivate the higher expression of this Full Moon by calling in and honoring your favorite goddess; nurturing yourself and loved ones; nesting and devoting yourself to home-improvement projects; taking a long bath or otherwise communing with the water element; and, most importantly, taking time to simply feel your feelings.

emily trinkaus, guest astrologer for kathycrabbe.comEmily’s Bio http://virgomagic.com

I fell in love with astrology when I was 13 and read Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs. Suddenly the world made sense! I’ve been a passionate student of the cosmic science ever since. The more I learn, the more I’m humbled by its elegance, power and profound mystery. I started giving readings professionally in 1999.

I also have a background in creative arts – writing, painting and movement – and founded Portland Women Writers. I love working with other artists and writers to offer support for breaking through blocks and increasing access to the creative flow.