The Girdle of Ishtar: Astrology for Everywoman by Jessica North-O'Connell

The Girdle of Ishtar

Beltane: The Gates of Dawn[1]

“Many a night I saw the Pleiads, rising thro' the mellow shade

Glitter like a swarm of  fireflies tangled in a silver braid”

- Locksley Hall, by Tennyson

            With the Wheel of the Year turning, we arrive now at Beltane, start of the Summer season by old Celtic reckoning. At this time, the Sun has already entered Taurus, sign of the Bull, and will conjunct the Pleiades Star Cluster, traditionally associated with agricultural activities, around May 20. [2]

Known as 'the time of blossoming flowers' by the Ancients, Beltane witnesses the increasing light which culminates at Midsummer (Summer Solstice, around June 21). Some say Beltane is named for a Celtic solar deity called Belenos (or Bel)[3] ; to others, the name derives from belos, meaning 'bright,' 'shining,' and taine or tan, meaning 'fire.'[4] Either way, this fire festival would have been marked with large bonfires burning in high places, a beacon for those finding their way to the revelries, and the great phallic May Pole planted in Mother Earth, symbol of the Green Man, the indomitable spirit of vegetation. Leaping over the May Fires was said to bring fertility, to the leaper as well as the land, and binding the May Pole with colored ribbons while dancing in a criss-cross fashion around reinforced this by sending a wake-up call to the Earth through the pounding of the dancers' feet. (The custom of pounding the Earth persists today with the Morris Dancers of the British Isle; the May Pole dance is also practiced in Greece, France, Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and by North American Neo-Pagans.)[5]

            Throughout European history (and literature), May is known as the “lusty” month, a time given to falling in love, eroticism and boundless passion -  not generally a time for marriage. In fact, our forbears found that marriages made in May had a great likelihood of coming undone shortly thereafter, and they discouraged making permanent unions at this time. Beltane afforded folks the opportunity to “make much joy” in the greenwood, with temporary partners of their own choosing. Any children born of such unions were considered Faerie gifts and were often given the first name Robin in England, and the prefix Fitz as part of their surnames in Ireland.[6]

            Beltane stands directly opposite to Samhain, the Gateway season which marks the end of the harvests and the beginning of winter. And for all its merriment, lightheartedness and light-headedness, Beltane is also a portal or Gateway season; we are as aware of the depths of the Underworld as we are of the triumphant light of the upper world. The lunar month is associated with the Oak, whose Gaelic name duir means door:

                “The strength of Oak is such that it is safe for you to go within, to the center of Self....Oak stands at the boundary between the “dark” portion of the year and the “light” part of the year. He is called  the “hinge” month, meaning that perspective can swing toward the past, as retrospection, or toward the future.... Fairy tales often feature a huge old Oak tree, with a door in its base. This door invariably  opens onto other worlds and dimensions, and an adventure that takes the form of a Cosmic ascent or Underworld descent to the World Centre (core of Self) where an initiatory trial awaits. Successfully conducted, this trial results in the Hera or Hero (candidate for initiation) inheriting great riches, or an invaluable prize (her or his own Self – Self possesion and empowerment).[7]

Venus presides over the month of Taurus. The steamy planet, second from the Sun in our solar system, takes her name from the Roman Goddess whose original domains included kitchen gardens and vegetation, vineyards, innocent flirtations, and the season of Spring. At some point, this charming Goddess became amalgamated with the passionate East Mediterranean Goddess, Aphrodite, who had been introduced to the Greek city-states during their colonization of Canaan, and brought to Greek shores by sea-traders, possibly the Phoenicians who knew her as the Queen of Heaven.[8]

            The mythic ground which birthed Aphrodite had also given the world Inanna, Ishtar and Cybele, each an expression of the Great Mother Goddess whose love for that which she produces is doomed, for all must die and be consumed by her again. Aphrodite's heritage in this tradition of vegetation myths is evident in the story of  Adonis, the beautiful youth who was her lover, and who was killed by a wild boar, just as Babylonian Ishtar's lover Tammuz, had been.

            At the time of her arrival, Aphrodite's blatant sexuality and Earthy power was at odds with the emerging intellectualism and masculinist culture of the Greeks, but they incorporated her into their pantheon as the personification of beauty, splitting her amorous nature into two aspects: Aphrodite Urania, representing spiritual love, recalling her Phoenician status as Queen of Heaven, and Aphrodite Pandemos, representing sexual love. She had brought with her a connection to prophesy and battle. While her association with battle endured (and she became the lover of Ares, despite being “married” to Hephaestus, the smith god), her ties to prophesy largely disappeared,  perhaps overshadowed by the Pythia, the Delphic Oracle and later, by Apollo, himself an import from Anatolia, with his twin sister Artemis.[9]

            How the Romans superimposed the lusty, promiscuous, battle-blessing Aphrodite's persona on to their gracious, order-loving, vegetation-sponsoring Venus is a curiosity, but her importance and popularity grew thanks to the influence of their political leaders. Both Julius Caesar and his heir Caesar Augustus considered themselves to be her descendants, and Julius himself promoted the cult of Venus Genetrix, matron of marriage and motherhood,[10] despite these being the realms of the Goddess Juno.

            Astrologically, Venus' original ties to the Earth echo down through the ages in  her association with Taurus, an Earth sign (though she is also affiliated with the Air sign Libra, giving her an artistic and social expression). Taurus is associated with the blossoming Spring season in the northern hemisphere, a time for planting the crops which will be harvested from Lammas (August 1) to Samhain (Oct. 31). Taurus emphasizes quality and endurance, the ability to assess value and to appreciate that which is pleasing to the senses. (With this in mind, it's easy to imagine Venus frolicking in immaculately-kept gardens, casually plucking fresh basil and roses for the evening meal, while sipping wine and chatting with her neighbors about the vagaries of  the stock market, isn't it?)

Outlook for the season of Beltane

            Many followers of Earth religions in North America observe Beltane on April 30. This custom is due to the fact that the Celtic day started at sundown rather than at midnight, as our does. Hence, we see discrepancies for  some of the Sabat dates.[11]

            The charts for Beltane are calculated for sundown, April 30, 2010, for locations on the east and west coasts of North America.

            Mercury retrograde (April 17 – May 12) continues to advise us against taking things too seriously right now. Be prepared for continuing setbacks, miscommunications and other 'interesting occurrences,' and especially watch out for misunderstands between co-workers. This is a good time for personal reflection, taking stock of our physical health, and finishing those projects we started previous to April 17.th.

            The demands of significant others in our lives may present challenges to our ability to get things done or to satisfy our own wanderlust. Some of us find this challenge energizing, while others  may resent the distraction or intrusion and the resulting feelings of restriction. While we may yearn for emotional freedom, our previous commitments remind us to keep our attention on what is both pertinent and valuable to us.

            Home is where the heart is, as the saying goes, and we may find ourselves dreaming of what could be. This season offers us an excellent opportunity to pay attention to the spiritual side of life and how we observe it, both at home and within our deep selves. Meditation, yoga, art, music, fantasy life, are some of the avenues available - even a good movie night in front of the TV from time to time can remind us of the bigger picture. Watch out for those snacks, though, as there is a tendency to over-indulge in food and drink right now.

            On a pragmatic note, double check all work and repairs being done on the home, and beware of those who can be less than scrupulous when offering estimates on exactly what needs doing and the costs involved. It doesn't hurt to get a second, or even third opinion right now to help counteract our own distractedness.

            Social life may be somewhat restricted, and organizations such as charities may find fundraising more difficult, as people are cautiously watching how and where they spend their money. Areas most likely to engender interest are children's rights, women's issues and the environment.

            Don't miss the opportunity for fun and self-expression when it presents itself, as this will counteract some of the other restrictions we may currently be facing. Having fun alone can teach us something new about ourselves and be extremely satisfying as well, helping us gain new appreciation for “the human experience.”

            Remember to spend some time basking in that Taurus sun, especially with loved ones. Go outside and let yourself frolic with Venus in some fine gardens; see how enlivened your sensual self becomes, especially as you dance around the Maypole!

Happy Beltane.

See you at Summer Solstice.

BIO: Jessica North-O’Connell is a found Priestess of Thirteenth House Mystery School, Victoria, B.C., and founder of Faerie Mound Covenstead, Lake Cowichan, B.C. She began teaching astrology in 1978, and currently maintains a counselling practice which also includes Tarot, Numerology and Rune-reading in Duncan, B.C. As well, she teaches and performs Belly dance, one of her great passions. Contact her at: therapeia@shaw.