by Mary Winter One of my favorite holidays next to Samhain, which is my favorite, is Beltane. After the bunnies and eggs of Oestara and the chilly rains giving way to warmth and sunlight, Beltane, or May 1, marks a turning point in the cycle of the wheel. Spring passes into summer, and even though the season doesn't start for another month and a half, we start getting glimpses of the warmth and light to come.

Where Oestara was all about fertility, the making of babies, planting seeds and making sure that there will be enough planted to last through the whole year, it's a time to think about what we're planting, how we're planting it, and the ways in which we can nurture our "seeds" throughout the year. The sexual aspect of Oestara is spiritual, a depth of physical affection that mirrors the sun's penetration of the earth to warm the soil, and the abundant fertility from the animals breeding around us. New foals, fawns, rabbits, and even birds laying eggs, or preparing to lay eggs, abound during this time.

Beltane is different. The seeds are in the ground, or in the process of being planted; the foals, calves, lambs, and piglets birthed and growing. Beltane, pure and simple, is a fertility festival. May Day, when baskets are left on doorsteps, oftentimes filled with candy or small trinkets, reminds us of the stories of "fairy children" found on doorsteps or in secluded, abandoned settings, reminds us of the bounty that comes after fertile sexual activities.

Mention May Day and most people think of May Poles. These penultimate fertility symbols represent erect phalluses. The maidens festooning the poles with ribbons and dancing around them celebrate the rampant sexuality and fertility these large, oversized penises represent. When it comes to sexual holidays, Beltane devotes itself to sensual pleasure. This holiday is one worth waiting for…and celebrating!

Bio

Mary Winter lives in the Midwest with her partner and a menagerie of animals including an opinionated horse, pet birds, and six cats. She's published over twenty stories of erotic romance, and makes her Changeling Press debut with the upcoming Elemental Elves 1: Horse Play. She loves blending the magical and the mundane.

Under another name, Mary has written numerous articles on metaphysical topics such as tarot, Wicca, paganism, and spirituality. She is a second level Reiki practitioner who focuses her work on companion animals and those close to her. She's practiced paganism for nearly fifteen years and believes sex combines the divine feminine and masculine into a beautiful whole.

Visit her website at www.marywinter.com or her myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/mary_winter