I wonder how many people read blogs any more. I still have my RSS reader and each day I draw down the latest posts from the pages and sites I follow, but I’ve noticed quite a drop in the amount of articles being written and posted, and many of the blogs I’ve loved reading over the years have faded away. It’s possible some of you thought this about my blog. For many years I regularly wrote down my thoughts here twice a week, but my writing too began to fall away. No surprise really to many of you that know what has been happening over the past 4 years or so. Sometimes other things in life can just take attention and priority, and that’s ok.
But this morning I felt the need to just sit at my Mac and type some thoughts again. I hope you’re still there – there are still plenty of subscribers to my blog, and I also now have a Patreon site. So here I am once more with you.
It feels like we’ve just sat beside a camp fire in a woodland to enjoy a wild-camping meal, and our attention is just caught in the moment – in the magic of the season of May Day, of Beltane. It seems like only yesterday that the trees were bare, the swifts, swallows and house martins were hundreds of miles away, that we just wouldn’t even consider stepping outside the house without a coat. Yet look. Maybe it’s different where you are, but here in Sussex the land has been suddenly filled with that sweet, fresh green that only happens between Beltane and the Summer Solstice. After the Solstice it darkens down as flowers grow fruit. But now! The flowers of the May tree are running in bright white rivers along the arms of the reaching branches as if shouting “YES!!!! IT’S SPRING!!! YAAAAAHHHOOOO”. I feel like shouting that too.
OK. I just did.
To me Beltane has never been about purely human stuff. I remember hearing a young Pagan once saying that their path had nothing to do with fertility, and I remember thinking ‘then how are you alive, and how do you stay alive?’ I simply cannot look at the burgeoning life around me at this time of year and not understand that it is this life that sustains not just me, but all life on this planet. Beltane, in fact all of the festivals of the Wheel of the Year, are a never-ending wheel of thanksgiving, of gratefulness. They remind me about my reliance on other life, my interdependence. That the dance between the Earth and the Sun, of the seed and the Elements is a miracle. I think about the stretch of time behind me, millions of years that go back to the formation of the Earth. I think about all of the land on the planet, of all of the countless life-forms, from bacteria to the sea giants, and I just take a moment to think of the odds against me being born as a human being, here, right now, in the South of England, to live this short space of time and experience what it is to be alive.
The human world can be hard. It astounds me that after all of this time we still haven’t worked out how to live in peace together. To imagine how existence could be if we just calmed the feck down, engaged some empathy and understanding, and really opened our eyes to the potential of what life would be like if we could work together. Looking at my social media feed that wish is a way off yet… So the human world can continue to do its thing. My Paganism is about my animal connection to the Natural Worlds, both seen and unseen. I celebrate it with other humans who also feel that connection. All of the noise and shouting can fade away, and I’m left with a silence where I watch the bee collecting pollen, the gull seemingly flying for nothing but sheer joy, of the tree in full fresh, green leaf, spreading out to feed upon the light of our star. And I celebrate too, as a human animal, that the dark and cold of Winter is behind me, and the long days of Spring and Summer have arrived.
However you celebrate this season may it bring you wonder, joy, and peace.
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I’ve only signed up to your blog in the last couple of years and it is of valuable reading.
Still here, and still enjoying to simply listen when others want to share. I may not have the bravery to reciprocate but I’m walking with you in the woods.
I think, for me at least, the ADHD struggles are the biggest factor in whether or not I can read blog posts. When the focus is bad trying to read anything over a few lines long is torture, no matter how good the writing and content. I definitely think that blogs have value though. I know many folk who still enjoy them.
After the darkness and cold of the winter I feel that I have stepped through a magical door of spring enchantment.
I am lighter in step easily smiling and ready to tackle many jobs.
So yes the atmosphere seems so much brighter in spirit.
As you mentioned there are dark deeds happening in the world. Yet now I have some hope this will end soon.
Thank you for your thoughts Dave.
Love to read your blog! Blessings of Beltane xx
I love reading your blog, Damh. I do follow you on other channels as well, but have been back through the pages here and gleaned so much information from youor writing. I blog as well, although more in the educational field rather than Druidry, although I am taking tentative steps towards blogging on this as well. Please keep going. Blessings /|\
I’m glad you share your Blog. The views and feelings you communicate need a loud as voice as possible in these days of endless rolling news and dramas based on killing and suffering. Yes there is suffering, but yet there is beauty and delight too. Thank you for helping us remember to fill our hearts with both. Thank you. /|\
Yes!
Just love this time of year.. especially here in the south east. It’s my favourite time of the year woodlands and downs so lush green and beautiful! Fecundity all around!
And you have inspired me to start my blog again
I always enjoy your blogs. Hope you’ll keep it up at whatever pace works for you.
Spring is finally fully here after a long, harsh winter. The seeds I planted and worried over in February are finally in the ground and racing for the sun. In this moment life is very good!
Damh the Bard, thank you for sharing. I was bummed that my work changed its location. I’ve been working in the same spot for over 30 years on a major waterway river in our area. I’ve been so connected to the spirit of that place and of the river. The new location, I’m open to connecting to the spirit here, it’s surrounded by nature, trees, crows, mallards, geese and all kinds of nature. I’m looking forward to seeing the miracle of the seasons happen in this new place. We are at the tail end of our bursting spring action. I’m happy that yours has just started. Enjoy 🙂
Spring is fully here we hope to start planting this week . Been busy with construction in the garage for a month now and Temps are slowly climbing here in the upper Midwest of Minnesota we have a very late start to spring usually but this Beltane it’s fully grown and born again . I love your blogs
In terms of blogging, I’m finding more of interesting in my blog-feed than I am in most social media – from which I’m largely retreating. I’m posting more of my photography to my blog and getting engagement from others doing the same.
As for Beltane, wow… it was a productive, inspiring and community driven TDN Spring Gathering up in the Peak District; a very different landscape to my English West Country. And from there a deep dive down to Dorset for a couple of days camping. Now, back home, I’m finding the whole landscape calling out hello, we are green again (and please can we have a little rain)!
I’m dreadful at getting up for the dawn (although I did today), but it’s good to know the ritual world still; dances and sings out as the Beltane Sun rises. Blessings of the ever changing landscape, with fun and fecundity (but not too much too personally eh). 😉
I still read and love your blog and your Beltane musings were a joy to read. Thank you.
I love your blogs of your thoughts and connections with the world around us, Beltane Blessings to you and yours
Amen I saw Beltane sunrise with a small group of like minded pagans, including some great Morris Dancers at the Rollright Stones. As we joined circle in silence within the stones. The hawthorn was in full bloom above the Axial stone and the birds were in full dawn chorus. I was so filled with gratitude for this beautiful planet and the souls of every creature on it. tears ran to my eyes as my soul was filled with love
Thank you for the reminder, although all I really need is to go outside onto the patio and listen to the wind through the trees, watch the crows and squirrels, and breath deep. She is awake. Ever growing. Ever becoming. Yes, thank you for the reminder to join Gaia.
Thank you Dave and I am always listening to you both word and song. It is a gorgeous time of year, although for me there is much sadness too. On Day Counts the sunset on Sunday evening is the closest to the ways of the old ones So I will be in my sacred place. Just being and there may be a tune or two.
i always read and appreciate your blogs. they wake me up to the reason for the season, if you will….it has warmed up here in new york state finally, the trees are leafing out, the water fowl is back, the spring flowers are now starting to fade…i am happy, too, because i have never made my peace with the cold, dark, long winters we have here. we get about 3-4 months a year that are suitable for being outside and enjoying mother earth and all her beauty. the rest…i just cant take it anymore. i am aiming to move some place where the weather is milder!! i never liked the cold even when it meant snow mounds to play on! now that i am older it seems so much colder…but i DO so appreciate your blog and the things you speak of here. Blessed Beltain to all!!! keep up the good work, Dave!!
Thank you for this morning’s blog. It will help me take my focus elsewhere for at least today!
Always a pleasure to read your blogs, we are still here, reading away. Love & Blessings as always x
Beltane Blessings Damh. I for one am still very much “here” after years of reading and enjoying every single Blog post.
Hi Dave you are right spring is here and with it New hope and I look forward to reading your blogs
Lovely sentiment, Damh. We all too often seem to want to forget we are animals and live in an interconnected webof give and take, of life and death, of seedtime and harvest. I do wildlife art as part of my spiritual practice and it helps keep me grounded in the here and the now and all this is around me that it precious and fragile and resilient. Thank you for these words in celebration of Beltane.
Thank you for this. Your house concerts, your albums on Spotify and now this blog, have been such a balm to me. I discovered your music sometime during November and December. That old adage, help comes when you need it most is certainly true here. With my country in chaos I can escape to the happy peaceful place you provide to regenerate my spirit. I spent Beltane listening to music, writing and just being. I let the chaos swirl around me, but kept it from touching me. I feel refreshed. Thank you.
A lot of bloggers are on Substack and sadly a lot of readers would rather doom-scroll social media than cultivate their personal blog-sphere.
We’ve got the same green here in Northern California. I’m loving it! Although we have already had some temperatures into the 35 degree range, which i could do without if I’m honest. We’re still in spring, let’s not rush summer just yet! Many blessings mate! /|\
Always reading on all platforms though I rarely reply.
I get so much out from your ‘Thinking About’ posts and it always chimes with what I feel and believe but can’t put into words as eloquently.
I agree with the person who said they are more likely to read a blog than hunt for anything of quality on social media. I only use Facebook and only to keep in touch with friends who are dotted around the world.
Thank you for those lovely words. It’s great to take the time to slow down and watch a bee or a spider spin a web, in a world that wants to speed up. It’s good to stop and be still and take notice.
Beautifully said! Blessed Beltane!
Hey Damh!
Constant reader, but only reply on occasion. I absolutely love your thoughts on all things natural, and your music that makes my soul soar.
Thank you for all you do, and many, many blessings!
Taren
Some of us still enjoy reading blogs and are still here. I prefer reading to all the video.
And totally agree that humans seem to be regressing rather than improving humankind – with the emphasis on KIND. It’s not that hard to be nice to people and RAK actually make you feel great and cost so little – like sharing an umbrella to get someone to their car in a downpour.
Lovely thoughts. Thank you
I love your writings and your music. You bring joy into my life and the lives of many. Blessings of the Turning of the Wheel. Love to you Damh.
Glory from Oregon
Thanks Dave we’re all still here with ever open ears. /|\
Well, blogs, your and/or others’ may not be as prolific as they once were, but I still read them and have my favourites, yours being one of them. What’s more, I have a special folder I move them into as well, so they don’t get lost. My digital equivalent of a filing cabinet…
Beautiful piece, Damh. The green of the plants, trees etc at this time of year is a very special green, and they will darken later on. The beauty of the seasons is miraculous. Having travelled and lived abroad for some years, I simply cannot accept that other cultures and people are so different. We should embrace them , and we should also embrace our non human relatives who are also such an important part of our lives. I hope one day humans will stop being so arrogant and destructive. In the meantime, I will continue to listen to your songs and hope for better times. Xx
Oh how I wish the human animal could come together in peace. If all animal life on this wonderful planet could live as one, what a wonderful would this would be.
Hi Damh,
I think for me that Beltaine is about renewal, not necessarily fertility. For me, it is the start of a time of year that opens me up and sets my soul alive again. As for fertility, I think we can be fertile in many ways. Having new ideas, setting plans in motion, or taking a retreat are all forms of fertility as these areas spark life, not in the human fetus way, but in the spiritual way.
I don’t read many blogs. I try to stick with ones that have a personal attachment for me in some way. Thank you for this blog today. And I hope your May Day was great! Mine was!