Today is May Day, an important reminder of the power of ceremony in life’s transitions. Around the world, many cultures mark the transition to warmer weather with ceremonies and rituals. What these events have in common, is a celebration of change, hope and optimism.
Cowslips and dandelions
I marked May Day with a walk to view cowslips. The Latin name is Primula veris – first of spring. These little nodding flowers have traditionally been gathered to create garlands in May Day festivals in the UK, events with a 2000 year history from Beltane to Flora. Some villages still mark May Day with dancing ’round the may pole, a celebration of fertility and love-making that was banned by the Puritans but restored by Charles II.
Not wanting to pick the cowslips, I contented myself with a garland of dandelion flowers from a nearby track.
A garland of hope
The dandelion garland was a gift to mark the day, and to herald the coming summer. Sitting on a hill with a view, I noticed the warmth of the ground, and the lime green colours of the leaves of oak and ash unfurling in the sun. I felt full of hope and possibility for changes in my work, and time with family. I felt grateful for the peace and joy that the natural world brings me.
Too often we push on through changes in life without reflection. We rush across the liminal space between where we’ve come from, and where we’re going, always eager to ‘get there’.
Pause and reflect
Instead, we can use ceremonies or little rituals to pause and reflect. To be here, now. Ceremony connects us more deeply to ourselves, and to others. They can give us a sense of direction, as well as a rootedness in place that helps us feel like we belong.
Whether it’s a change of job, the achievement of a professional milestone, or the start of a new season, ceremonies are a great way to take stock of where you’re at right now, and generate hope and optimism for the future.
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