At first I wasn't going to write about this but then I said why not? It is part of my life. May with Beltane symbolizing new beginnings I wanted to do something that I would remember, that would be a statement only I would know about as far are being visual.  After my husband died in March I was at a loss, and still am, but with my Beltane ritual came an awareness that unfortunately I had to start my life anew. I would always remember him of course but I needed something visual also. So as a symbol of my reaffirmation to the Lord and Lady I got my belly button pierced. I know, here I am 51 and doing something most kids are getting over. I don't wear short tops etc., so unless I pull up my shirt no one will ever know or see it. But I will know and it will remind me that new beginnings are not painful, just a bit scary.

 

YOU KNOW YOUR COVEN'S GETTING OLDER WHEN ...
The ritual feast is pureed.
Last Beltaine the coven decided it would be nice to go out to dinner to celebrate.
The last time you tried to do a spiral dance your oxygen feeds got tangled
Viagra is kept in the coven supplies
The maiden of the coven is a grandmother
The ritual room is outfitted with defibrillators
The coveners drive their RV's to Scottsdale for Mabon
When you are at a festival you go to bed at sunset
It takes the whole coven to move the cauldron
The high priest still has a vendetta going against Richard Nixon
You find yourself using your pendulum over the stock pages in the newspaper
You tell an initiate that in your day you had to slog through 5' of snow uphill both ways when you did a Yule ritual
You drop your teeth in the ritual cup
At Samhain you see more of your coveners in the Wild Hunt than you do in cir cle.
You put your athame in the chalice during ritual but you can't remember why.
You hold an all night blowout drum frenzy and none of your neighbors noticed.
You use Glenn Miller records for trance music.
All of your ritual robes are tie-dyed
Your coven has a 401(k) retirement plan.
A nitro pill vial replaces the crystal on your pendant.
No one's successfully jumped the Beltaine fire since 1983.
You set comfy chairs around the circle.
When you sit on the floor and can't get up again.
You do anointings with Aspercreme.
The oak tree your coven planted died of old age.
You use Bran Muffins and Prune Juice for Cakes & Ale because you need the fiber.
You don't use salt to consecrate you altar because you need to stay away from extra sodium.
You use a walker during the Wild Hunt
You prefer to rent a Hall for rituals because the bathrooms are closer.
You need a flashlight to find the candles