Serpentstar Newsletter for members of e Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids in the Southern Hemisphere !!"#$%&&'()%*%+& Beltane 2011 Edition About Serpentstar... About SerpentstarSerpentstar... comes out four times a year at each of the Fire SerpentstarFestivals, Imbolc, comes Beltane, out fourLugnasadh times a andyear Samhuinn. at each of the Fire Festivals, Imbolc, Beltane, Lugnasadh and Samhuinn. Opinions expressed in Serpentstar are contributors’ own and Opinionsnot necessarily expressed opinions in Serpentstar of the editor orare of contributors’ the Order of own Bards, and notOvates necessarily and Druids. opinions of the editor or of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. Deadline for next issue: 20 July, 2011 SubmissionDeadline Deadline for for next Next issue: Issue: 20 January July, 20,2011 2012 Subscriptions: SubscriptionsOnline - Free as: a .pdf from www.serpentstar.wordpress.com Online - Free as a .pdf from www.serpentstar.wordpress.com AU$12.50, AU$15 Rest of world AU$12.50,Via Bank Deposit: AU$15 Rest Westpac of world Bank, Salt Productions, BSB: 032016 ViaAcct: Bank 297976 Deposit: Westpac Bank, Salt Productions, BSB: 032016 Acct:Via Paypal: 297976 to [email protected] ViaPlease Paypal: email: to [email protected] [email protected] to advise if you have Pleasemade a email: payment, [email protected] including your postal address. to advise if you have made a payment, including your postal address. www.serpentstar.wordpress.com www.serpentstar.wordpress.com Have you contributed to Serpentstar yet? HaveWe’d loveyou contributedto hear from to you! Serpentstar yet? We’dContributions love to hear are from eagerly you! sought for future editions. Whether Contributionsyou like to create are masterpieceseagerly sought in forthe futureKitchen, editions. with paper Whether and youpen, like a camera, to create or masterpiecesyou’ve read a inrelevant the Kitchen, news article with paper or some and links pen,of interest. a camera, Maybe or you’ve you’ve read created a relevant your ownnews Sudoku, article or or some you’ve links ofwritten interest. a piece Maybe on Druidry, you’ve created we can youruse it own all. Sudoku, or you’ve writtenPlease emaila piece [email protected] on Druidry, we can use it all. Please email [email protected] In this Issue: Kindness - Whytefox - Page 4 Summer - Lady Cu’ - Page 5 Events and Upcoming - Page 6 Beltane Crossword - Page 6 11th Southern Hemisphere Assembly Triads - Page 7, 8 and 9 Croning - coming of age in the 21st century - Vyvyan Ogma Wyverne - Page 10 and 11 12th Assembly details and invitation - Page 12 The Song of Gundwahlha - Dragonwyst - Page 12 and 14 Celebrating the wheel of the year in the Southern Hemisphere - Page 15 Beltaine - Lady Cu’ - Page 16 A Druid at Beltane - Anita Bailey - Page 17 Alban Hefin - Page 18 Moon Phases - Beltane through to Lughnasadh - Page 19 Lamar Valley - Lady Cu’ - Page 20 Lamar Pups - Lady Cu’ - Page 20 Full moon in Capricorn - Vyvyan Ogma Wyverne - Page 21 Who am I - Page 22 Links of Interest - Page 22 Wyverne’s Crossword (Bonus crossword!) - Page 22 Crossword and Who am I answers - Page 23 From the Editor: Beltane Greetings! I have recently returned from the 11th Southern Hemisphere Druid Assembly, refreshed, revitalised and reflectful. The Assembly gave me some time to look at what I was prioritising in my life, and to realised how good it was to “just be.” I had the pleasure of being publically initiated into the Bardic Grade. Whilst I had done my own private initiation quite some time ago, I felt it was perfect timing for me to reflect on the journey so far, as I move through the grade and publicly declare my intent. After the initiation I have been reflecting on “accept the love and joy you will experience with life on earth.” It brings to mind the quote from Perks of being a Wallflower, “We accept the love we think we deserve.” Do I accept the love that my family, and the earth has for me. I love my family and take care to love and care for the earth, but do I accept its love in return, to its full extent. Beltaine also brings me to reflect on the relationship of fatherhood and motherhood. Whether those you perceive for you in that role is biological or an example you would like to follow in your life. Unfortunately the Imbolc edition of SerpentStar never came to fruition due to a computer breakdown (speaking of, reminder that the next Mercury Retrograde begins November 24, so it would be a good time to back up any electronics, computers, phones etc), and lack of submissions. I hope to produce a special summer edition in its place in December/January, so if you would like to submit anything please feel free to do so. Enjoy this edition, there are some great gems within these covers. Blessings on your life, your family, your home and your community. Bright Blessings under the Southern Stars, Notes on the spelling of Beltane: there are a few acceptableLadyA spellings of Beltane, and so if a contributor has spelt it differently to Beltane, I have left it “as is”. By Whytefox KindnessAh, to the softness of the heart that has found its balance and centre in good- ness, and flows out from there into the world, leaving no moment from overflow- ing. Kindness gentle and vast, and deeply nourished in what is worthy to call a true life. Like a gardened valley fed by sweet mountain springs and scented with the warmth of flower breeze, and the hum of bees, in honeyed dance among the aspens. There is no romance that so soothes the soul, as does the path of kindness, venturing all ways without hesitation. Bold and sure, sweet and so simple that path; ambient it parades nothing, but with the wish of joys and of freedoms it wakes wonders. In that forest-garden, the eyes of the trees affirm the ancients in their common silent sentience, and the singing stars brighten their nightly colloquy, while the Sun, spilling red Her ashes through Her golden hair, draws in an amber mood to complement and cradle the hush-patterned hoot of the white wise owl. Kind- ness in memory is living, and it is our journey home, as it breathes its melodi- ous and maverick tracks amongst our days, and reaps rewards in deep and fer- tile sleep to follow us into the lands of forever; satisfied, one longs only for what is best after all. And the plight of our world, the challenge of a thousand spikey variables in motion, becomes but a simple kiss of Spirit, a single note of hallowed light, sof- tened through kindness and silver fey-song; the eyes are renewed, as tears wash white joys of the heart, healing throat, the face, and fable, and young again we play, as youth we swim the heart of the Earth, in a world now smoothened by the waters of care and love. In absolute radiance the riddle of longing bears the fruits of becoming; sweet tenderness and mirrors of beauty in every sight, as the roses flowering, fly into Spirit to embrace the heavenly whispers of endless choirs. Kindness soft, sand and sand-rock, once rock, now in the salt, which the ocean drinks and delicately dissolves, and brings us to rain its dreaming power of deep love, in the balance of days and the healing of the sorrows of the past, as the weather above will reflect our own ways. So simple! Yet a test of truth or heart-death, is kindness. We gain our power through unbounded love, singing through that gardened valley of the heart so soft. Summer - Lady Cu’ the grass long and lush humidity hangs heavy in the air rain endlessly falling the north wind visiting occasionally a harsh reminder of what may come will that grass become dry ready to burn will we have a gentle summer that eases us into autumn will we be fleeing for our lives praying all will survive at the mercy of the elements in this land of harshness this land of beauty this land we open our hearts and souls to this land we choose to live in this land our home the most beloved place of all PlansEvents/Upcoming... are already afoot for our English Ale gathering in May 2012 next year and we are very keen to bring Damh the Bard and his beautiful partner Cerri Lee back to our fair shores to be part of our gathering again. Spiral Dance are looking for ‘sponsors’ to be involved in bringing Damh and Cerri back to Australia - we already have some very generous sponsors but we are looking for 80 more Sponsors to donate $50 each. Sponsors will be invited to a special ‘Sponsors Only’ night with Damh and Cerri, a night of songs and stories, you will also receive a CD of the concert and special artwork by Cerri Lee. Workshops will be announced once the final planning happens, so if you would like to be a ‘Damh the Bard Sponsor’ and help us bring this amazing couple back to our Great Southern Land then you can email info@ spiraldance.com.au or you can donate directly via PayPal - log in to pay via PayPal is sponsordamh@spi- raldance.com.au and make sure you leave your name and email so we can keep you up to date! Love, magick and bright blessings, Adrienne and the Spiral Crew Wyverne’s Beltane Crossword The 11th Southern Hemisphere Assembly of Bards, Ovates and Druids Thursday 6 - Monday 10 October, 2011 Three favourable fortunes of Cooringal; Good company, good food, and good music.