Happy May Day!

Posted on May 3rd, 2008 by

This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for May 01, 2008:

First of May Flower Day…

When I was a little girl, the first of May was a special day for me. I would tend to flowers in my mom's gardening areas in anticipation of making a crown of flowers for Mother Mary, and for the entirety of the month of May I would keep an alter on the TV in our living room devoted to Mother Mary, keeping the flowers in a vase a-fresh.

Beautiful Living Crown for Mother Mary

A fond memory for me rooted in the intensity of how Catholic rituals of the 50's impacted my inner love for the nurturing quality of our Creator. I've found a gem of a link to a PBS special ( a favorite TV station of mine) that parallels my childhood experience!

"The Catholic tradition of venerating the mother of Jesus includes the Coronation of Mary -- the May crowning, it's called. The practice, which is not as prevalent as it used to be, goes back to the 16th century and involves the placing of a wreath of flowers on an image of Mary." -LUCKY SEVERSON

Though I have left the dogmatic leash of Catholicism behind me for the freer territory of SELFGnosis, my devotion to all that is Good and Pure and Loving in life is as sincere now as it was then.

I fondly remember those sweet innocent moments of May, and the joy it brought me to create a vigil for Beloved Mother Mary for myself and my family, especially considering how generally unaccepted my unique expressions were to my parents who struggled to understand their "unusual child."

(They could have taken the attitude of embracing the surprises a bellwether child brings to a family, rather, fear dominated their choice and "trying to change me for the better" dominated and I suffered rejection where there could have been acceptance. Clearly another story to be told at another time, yet, entwined in this magical memory for me.)

It was amazing that my mom gave me permission for this event, which I maintained for years. I don't remember when I stopped this ritual so deeply moving and meaningful to me… much like the day Jackie Paper ceased to visit Puff the Magic Dragon.

Interestingly, I cry every time I hear that song, and I often wonder what within me is being elicited by that melody touching me so deeply and hauntingly.

I think in posting this I've connected to one of those precious moments that my heart beholds with the same mix of sadness Puff felt, "his head...bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain," and "he ceased his fearless roar" - for something lost as something else was entered…

Does not all our hearts wax deeply with the passions of Cosmic sentiment, moving our inner tides to tears of sadness and joy as only our Inward abiding Presence can do, anchoring the uniqueness of our experiences with the "deposit" in the collective consciousness of HUmanity that is made all the richer for our contribution?

All to Love,

Sharon