Beltaine With the Toads
text and pix by Valerie Walker
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May 6, 2001: okay, it was a week late for Beltaine, but it was a beautiful sunny day in the Bay Area, and we were all in festive spirits. Ron and I picked up Maura, and we were the first carload to arrive. Artemis had declared herself May Fool, and dressed the part.
 | Here are the Three Graces, Artemis, Maura, and Cynthia |
After a climb up the hill, we came to the ritual place and set up the directional altars and began to make wreaths for everyone.Tracey took us through a rehearsal of "The Lusty Month of May," but it soon became obvious that we were hopeless as a chorus. "Let's just wing it!" someone suggested, and, since we're the Winged Toads, that sounded like a plan. Accordingly, we called the directions and invoked Gaia and Priapus as appropriate deities.
(Directional priestesses have been altered to please the Muse of PhotoShop--vw)
After a turn around the Maypole (which was supported by Robert) it was time for Cakes and Wine: Beltaine Cake and champagne courtesy of Cynthia, garlic eggplant and pasta salad by Ron, Robert's elixir (wow), and other goodies including chocolate eggs, among many other wonderful things.
About this point, words fail me. Here's what it felt like:
