I got curious about Mayday Mayday Mayday! And discovered that, no, it doesn't have anything to do with May 1st, and May Day, the welcoming of summer, and in Europe, International Worker's Day. Mayday said three times, is the maritime distress signal, that "derives from the French venez m'aider, meaning "come help me."
There's a close-to-the-land and seasons feel to May Day, as a fertility festival when the Sun is in Venus' sign Taurus. It makes me wistful for days of leaving flowers on a neighbor's doorknob or front steps. About's Holistic Healing guide Phylameana ila Desy writes, that the Maypole "represents the Goddess in ascendancy as the Mother." In our time, we see the rise of dignified feminine consciousness, a wisdom that's in synch with nature, rather than trying to control or exploit it.
The Goddess and the rise of the sacred feminine, for me, is the remembrance of the cycle of life. It's remembering our true value, and acting on instincts of relating, empathy and how all life is connected. The Earth itself is our top ally and also sending out Mayday signals of her own. By deeply tuning in, we can ask Gaia the ancient entity with her own energy field, to come help me. It's a critical time for mutual aid, because as we help her, she helps us.
In honor of Earth and to welcome May, I'll be focusing on the home planet. So watch for articles on earth signs and more on grounding to adapt to the swift tempo. I'll also be focusing on the Taurean themes of self-reliance, ways to shift on the Taurus-Scorpio axis -- away from debt and survival trauma, and into simplicity, natural wealth and thriving. Happy May Day to you!
The deputy mayoress of Southgate, Mrs Land, crowns the May Queen at the annual ceremony at Oakwood School, Southgate (Hulton Archive/Getty Images