May's Full Flower Moon

Once April's rains and winds have subsided, the sun begins to warm up the earth and we're able to get the gardens planted. Typically, May is the month in which we begin to sow our crops. Get out in the garden under a Flower Moon and put your hands into the soil. Spring is a time of fertility, and May is a fiery month indeed–full of lust and passion! It's sometimes called the month of the Hare Moon, and we all know what hares are busy doing in the spring. Celebrate once the sun goes down with a big bonfire ceremony.

As always, your May might not see the same weather as other people's, because your environment depends on a number of factors. If you need to adapt May's magical correspondences to those of a different month, then feel free to do so.

Correspondences

Just like with all of the other full moon phases, there are a number of magical correspondences associated with May's Flower Moon. Try to incorporate some of these into your ritual and spellwork this month.

• Colors, like red, orange, and yellow can represent the sun as it draws nearer to the earth, warming the gardens and the soil.
• Gemstones such as ruby, garnet, amber, and Apache tear are associated with fertility and women's mysteries. Since May is often a time of great fertility, it can be used in workings for fertility magic, especially if a woman is trying to become pregnant, or for rituals related to reproductive health. 
• Trees such as the hawthorn and rowan are tied deeply to magic and witchcraft in many folkloric traditions.
• Gods and goddesses like Kali, Priapus, Cernunnos, and Flora are all represented at this time of year. They are associated with the blooming gardens, the greening forest, and the crops that begin to grow in the fields. 
• Herbs, such as members of the mint family, and spices that are considered "fiery," like cinnamon, are great to use during the Beltane season–it is, after all, a fire festival!
• The element of fire is deeply connected to Beltane. The Bale fire, or Bel fire, is a tradition that goes back a long time, and a bonfire lit at Beltane is said to bring about both protection and prosperity.

Flower Moon Magic

This is a good time to work on magic related to careers and jobs. Thinking about switching to a new position, or perhaps trying a new field altogether? Want to take a class or get your degree? Take the seeds you've planted last month, and allow them to bloom and grow in your favor. Do some fire divination this month to help guide you on your way. Here are some things you can do this month - because this is a time in which we need to plant the seeds for later success:

• Begin tending your garden–or planting seeds in containers–and take some time to cultivate each of your herbs, flowers, and plants. Consider doing a simple planting ritual to kick things off for the spring.
• Remember that May is also the season of Beltane. If you want to bring fertility into your life, this is a great time to do magical workings related to conception and fruitfulness. Think about planting tubers, such as yams, which are believed to increase lust and fertility. In some West African nations, the white yam has been linked to high birth rates, particularly that of twins and other multiples.
• Plant beans, squash and corn in the arrangement that Native Americans call Three Sisters. In addition to being a self-sustaining ecosystem, in which each plant helps the others, the planting of this trio is associated with the concept of happy families, abundance, and community.
• Hold a family abundance ritual. Remember that in addition to sexual fertility, the Beltane season is also about abundance, in a variety of forms. Don't just focus on material gains, because this is about the growth of the earth and its bounty, and it's about increasing your own spiritual and emotional wealth.

Additional Resources

If you don't have a copy of the Farmer's Almanac, it really is worthwhile to invest in one. They're less than $10. You can also visit them online to see what the weather and agricultural markers are for your zip code on any given date.