Green Wedding Dresses for a Beltane Handfasting

She is as young as the fresh grown bud; and as old as the yew. She lives in the transient moment of the dawn light flashing on a falling leaf. She's always there, watching from the grove.

Time passes. In any given instant, she is being born or dying, a billion times over in countless different forms. Time stays still. She is simultaneously here; and in the apple landing on Isaac Newton's head; and in the oxygen frenzied flora of a prehistoric age; and riding the Big Bang's potential; and you.

The Green Lady is a human being. The Green Lady is an ant. She's the primal force raging through the Earth's core; and dancing as a dryad in the woods. The Green Lady is the universe. The Green Lady is a bride. The Green Lady is.

The Great Mother at Beltane brings the feminine divine. The Great Father matches Her in sacred masculinity. They meet and in that instant the circle is complete. They are one, they are united; Mother Earth and Father Sky.

Consciousness flows; yin to yang, animus to anima, the universal chakras are aligned. The world has found its soul. So dance the circle dance of dreaming, lonely by the crystal sea, spin the web of mist and moonlight, come beloved, follow me...

On May Eve a terrible cry sounds across the realm. Lady Sovereignty is without Her mate, a worthy ruler to plough Her pastures and husband Her land.

In history, Beltane was the time when Celtic rulers ritually wedded the land. Sovereignty took the form of a white mare, ridden before witnesses to prove he had Her favor. Then a Maiden would take him to her bed, Sovereignty's representative in human form. In passion and fertility, land and ruler would become one.

In legend, the white hart dashes from the cover of the greenwood. Everyone gives chase, except the hero, who encounters the Lady in White. He claims Her as his own, and her gown changes to white. But He does not yet have Sovereignty. She will challenge him before he's judged to have that right. He enters into Her tests and passes! Now her dress is green. She loves and supports him until his vitality or life is gone. Sovereignty wears black, as She wails her loud lament. Then looks for another Champion.

Beltane belonged to that much maligned Maiden aspect of Sovereignty - the Flower Bride.

Rhiannon was snatched from Annwn; Gwenhwyfar from Arthur's side. Fflur was taken to Rome by Julius Caesar, but Caswallawn grabbed her back.

Blodeuwedd was constructed from flowers, magically brought to life. The pretty flora married to Llew, abducted by Gronw, then turned into an owl, when she tried to exert Her will.

Diarmuid eloped with Grainne, right from under the eyes of her elderly husband Fionn; while Eochaid fought Midir in his rough wooing of Etain. Cú Roí entered into endless battles with Ulster's champion Cú Chulainn, all for the love of the Flower Bride Bláthnat.

And as for poor Creiddylad, she will remain for all eternity unwed, because of the battle between Gwyn ap Nudd and Gwythyr ap Griedawl:

'Creiddylad was left in the house of her father undisturbed by either side, and every May Day the two men would fight, and the one who conquered on the Judgement Day would keep the girl.'

- Culhwch and Olwen, old Welsh legend

Beltane is the time when the God of Winter and God of Summer clash too. Both of them want the land. Both will die for its Lady in Green, the Flower Bride about to rise.

Such is the intoxicating ardor sparked by Sovereignty in Maiden form. So beautiful, so enticing, that She will be tumbled back and forth between armed suitors, each ready to take what won't be given. This is the state when too many men want Her, and it's not yet obvious which is the best, most worthy champion amongst them.

Until She chooses there will be this trouble. It's in Her nature to inspire it.

At Beltane, the Summer Queen presides over a world gone mad. All civil order is turned upside down, with dancing, hunting, singing, coupling, battles to the death, passion and love.

Love at its most primal. If you wanted the Hallmark version, you should have grabbed your chance while you could in February. There's all the madness of spring here at Beltane; the headiness found at the brink of summer, when everyone is here to shake off the cobwebs and learn to live.

That's what the Queen of May is here to judge. She will follow her nature in the carefree, living life, not just surviving. Making choices which might scandalize society. Watching or riding in the Wild Hunt. Racing into the Greenwood for a temporary marriage, breaking it off again the next day.

Yet these frenzied Pagan parties now are nothing to what Cybele surveyed, in her flowery tower inside a mountain. Men would tear themselves to pieces at Her will. Just look up Attis sometime.

The May Queen teaches us all to go a little crazy (or a lot). And if She happens to be missing a Champion just now, then let the Sovereignty Games begin!

Green is the color of fairy, and the veil is wide open at Beltane. Passage between this world and the Otherworld is unfettered on this day. So be careful where you wander; be wary who you kiss. For the Queen of the Otherworld dances in green upon the green, and she might just spirit you away.

Happy Beltane handfasting, if you dare still marry on this day!  (The Irish say you shouldn't and, you know, they might have a point...)