Moon Whispers for May
The Greek Goddess Maia, was the eldest of the Pleiadean sisters, the seven daughters of Atlas and Hyades and half sisters of the Hesperides, who were the daughters of Atlas and Hesperis (evening). She and her sisters, born on Mount Cyllene in Arcadia, are sometimes called mountain goddesses, oreads. Maia, the eldest, and most beautiful of the sisters, a mountain nymph in Arcadia was seduced by Zeus and gave birth to Hermes, who would eventually become a god himself, as well as messenger of the Greek gods & goddesses.
She and her sisters were pursued by Orion, and turned into doves to preserve their safety. According to the Homeric Hymn to Hermes, Zeus in the dead of night secretly begot Hermes upon Maia, who avoided the company of the gods, in a cave of Cyllene. After giving birth to the baby, Maia wrapped him in blankets and went to sleep. The rapidly-maturing infant Hermes crawled away to Thessaly, where by nightfall of his first day he stole some of Apollo’s cattle and invented a lyre. Maia refused to believe Apollo when he claimed Hermes was the thief and Zeus then sided with Apollo. Finally, Apollo exchanged the cattle for the lyre.
Maia is also known as the "grandmother of magic," as Hermes was said to have invented magic. Later on in life, Zeus placed into Maia's care Callisto's baby, Arcas, to protect him from Hera. So she is additionally known as a mothering goddess -- more specifically, the goddess of midwifery.
This is the time of year when we are typically in our full seasonal changes from winter to summer clothing and bedclothes, blankets and coats, decorations and knicknacks from warm to cool. Maia is all about the idea and merit of that change. For years we have been practicing the Chi method of flow known as Feng Shui. Then came how to Feng Shui your Clutter. Remember the book? That is the Goddess Maia pure and simple. Declutter your life. Negativity breeds and grows in the stuff we hide away in closets and under beds. Repressed memories, sad dreams, forgotten losses, fears, depressions, and yes even entities and spirits. When we become packrats we cannot clear our space for the light that needs to enter our lives.
It is time to throw open those closet doors and make a mess. You are never going to wear that again. Give it or sell it to someone who will. What are you waiting for? Why are you waiting? Life is now, isn't it? Recycle it. These things are no longer serving you and someone else needs them much more than you do. It is a liberating feeling. You don’t have to do much. Start small. But Maia’s promise is and has always been this: in order to receive you must give. Sounds familiar doesn’t it….
Maia is a goddess identified with spring, birth and magic. The month of May was named for her; the first and fifteenth of May were sacred to her. She is the bringer of hope and healing and life – so as spring has arrived in full bloom, life takes root and shows us it is all right to raise our heads out of the winter snow and look toward the sun once more. Reborn again like the first day of May.
Creating an altar for Maia:
24 hours before the full moon drape a white cloth on your altar
You will need one red candle facing west
You will need black facing east
You will need one white candle in the center
You will be to the on the north side of the altar
Do not light the candles at this time
At 6 pm on the night of the full moon take a bath with sea salt and Frankincense
Dress in white
Go to the altar and light the candles
Light the candle on the west first then the east then the center white candle
Remember that you will sit to the north of the altar
Light the incense
Visualize white light inside and around your body
White light cleansing you puts protection around you and seals you –
Ask the goddess to keep you safe and for you to have no fear and to release any negative fear patterns in your life –
Be sure to print the picture of the Goddess Maia for your Altar~