Looking for a Sign Part 2: Year of Fire

I was introduced to the tradition of Beltane in Spring of 2009 by good friend Emily Dietzman of Welcome Table Farm.  Beltane is a celebration of the crosswise or halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, celebrated on May 1.  It usually involves big celebrations involving fire.  Traditionally you jump over the fire from one direction to another depending on what you want your year to have.  north symbolizes earth and stability (like Taurus), south for fire and passion, west for water and compassion, east for air and inspiration.

Beltane 2011 was during a tumultuous time in my life.  It has been about 6 months since a major relationship of mine had ended, a little less than a year since I had decided I would leave West End Farm, still 3 months before I would figure out where I would leave for, 4 months before I would actually move to Detroit.  I don't remember what direction I was trying to jump from but, I know I was jumping towards the east and some inspiration.  When I landed though I slipped backwards on the flowers encircling the fire and ended up in it for a second before my friends lifted me out.  At the time it was embarrassing, but fire became my theme for the year.

Besides being associated with the south and passion, fire is also cleansing and I think that it is a good sign for a year of new beginnings.  Besides my Beltane close encounter I rung in the new year 2012 with a bonfire down by the river.  It has been a year of new starts in myriad ways, but as Beltane 2012 approaches I am ready for a sign that is less wild and destructive.  It is probably my Taurus nature.

Looking for a Sign Part 1: Looking to the Heavens

I never read my horoscope.  Let's look at today's just for giggles: This may not be the best time for career or vocational decisions and practical advice to others. You could be experiencing a cycle of nostalgia. Family, home, relatives and real estate play a big part in your life. The time is right to invest in some more substantial type of investment like real-estate. You may find yourself looking for that special home or new place to live. You want to belong on a private, intimate, personal level . . . to be needed and to feel it's okay to have needs. You may realize that it takes money as well as love to make the world go around and you work to stay with the realistic way of thinking. Imagination helps dreams come true. You discuss ways to pump up the family income and are pleased with the suggestions.

Okay, well that was spookily relevant in an unplanned way.  So maybe I should rethink my position.

So while I don't usually read my horoscope or place any stock in astrology, I have always felt a strong connection to my given sign: Taurus.  Anyone who knows me will recognize the stubbornness and certainly the aptness of my being an earth sign.  As a bestial sign coarseness and caring more about making a point than elegance of argument are also common traits.  Here are some other things that wikipedia says about this sign: "Taurus is considered by astrologers to be a highly practical sign which is happiest when involved in some kind of creative process. Although generally considered easy-going and placid, as a fixed sign Taureans are likened to the bull in being slow to show anger, but capable of raging if pushed too far. And they take time to eventually act on their anger and basically when they (Taureans) do, be rattled, because there's no telling what they'll unleash upon you...."


While I don't consider myself an Astrologist, my Great Aunt Louise was.  When all of us kids were born she did our star charts for us and sent our parents little descriptions.  This was mine: "It looks to me like she'll have a strong will , a smart mind with plenty of fight and drive to go after what she wants, plus some nice upbeat aspects to give her a sunny cheerful nature.  She might be a bit of a flirt with Venus in Gemini."  I don't know how accurate all of that is, but I like to think it is at least a bit accurate.