Hello, I’m Charly, a botanist and lunar lover based in Sheffield. I’m on a mission to adopt a slower pace of life which is more in sync with the energies of the seasons here in the Northern hemisphere. Subscribers enjoy full access to my bi-monthly newsletters. I also offer online courses centred around the Wheel of the Year which you can find out more about here.
Welcome to the third of this year’s eight free editions of Moontime Musings in line with the Pagan Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year.
Well here we are! May 1st and Beltane - my favourite festival in the Wheel of the Year (probably because it falls just a few days before my birthday!) and what a belter of a Beltane we’re having this year (apologies!). I’m torn between immense gratitude and intense fear about the unseasonal heatwave we find ourselves living through here in the U.K. My weather app tells me that where I am in the North of England we’ll reach the dizzying heights of 26 degrees today which feels far too warm for Spring. If, like me, you’re also a sun worshipper (or lizard lady as my friend
likes to call me!), you too will be enjoying the heat and hoping it sticks around. Yet, this article from the Guardian warns that reaching the hottest day of the year so far (and so early in the year), is a certain sign of human-induced climate warming which, as many of us know, will have devasting effects on wildlife and habitats. This is especially consequential if this hot Spring is followed by a wet Summer; which has been the case in 2007, 2009 and 2011 according to this article by Butterfly Conservation.How is the heatwave landing with you?
In my last newsletter I shared musings on how uncertainty manifests in the body and the importance of maintaining practices to help regulate our nervous systems, even in times when all we want to do is drop everything and lie in a darkened room. Eco-anxiety related to climate change is a very real and present way that uncertainty about the health of the Earth - our home - affects folks from all backgrounds. When I was leading a therapeutic horticulture session for NHS mental health nurses on Tuesday, I was reminded of the 5 ways to wellbeing:
Connect
Learn
Take notice
Be active
Give
In the context of Eco-anxiety, the Wildlife Trusts have created this great resource which translates the 5 areas into 5 ways to wellbeing through nature.
Continuing with the theme of 5 ways, the University of Derby Nature Connectedness research group1 have also created 5 pathways to Nature Connection which are:
Senses - tuning in to nature through the senses
Emotion - feeling alive through the emotions and feelings nature brings
Beauty - noticing nature’s beauty
Meaning - nature bringing meaning to our lives
Compassion - caring and taking action for nature
and they also offer a free Nature Connectedness course - helping us to tap into the ‘learn’ element of the 5 ways to wellbeing.
However you’re feeling about the climate crisis at the moment - I hope this helps.
Now it’s time to take a look at what’s coming up in May:
1-2 May Beltane (more details below)
5 May: May Day Bank Holiday (U.K)
12 May: Full Hare Moon in Scorpio 17:56 BST
13 May: Hawthorn Moon (Celtic Tree Calendar)
Sun remains in Taurus (until 21 May)
1-31 May: No Mow May
🐰Hare Moon
May’s moon goes by many names including Milk Moon, Flower Moon, Mothers’ Moon The Corn Planting Moon, Bright Moon and Hare Moon. This Moon became new on 27 April in the earthy sign of Taurus - ruled by Venus - the planet of love and self-care.
♏Scorpio Full Moon
At 17:56 BST on 12 May the Hare Moon becomes full in the watery sign of Scorpio. Scorpio is a fixed water sign representing ambition, determination and independence. This is a time to explore complicated emotions and focus on transformation in order to step forward in a more authentic version of yourself. Under this Full Moon you’re invited to dive deep into shadow work and look out for secrets that need to be revealed. In such an intense emotional time it’s helpful to channel energy through mindful movement such as yoga or getting out into nature for a walk or run to help you ground back into your body.
🔥Beltane
Beltane is the second cross-quarter day (also known as a Lunar Fire Festival) in the Wheel of the Year as we follow the calendar from January to December. The last cross-quarter day was way back in the depths of Winter on 1 February, also known as Imbolc. In between the cross-quarter days are the quarter days or Solar Fire Festivals which divide up the 12-month calendar year into quarters with festivals on each of the two equinoxes and solstices (so far this year we’ve had Ostara - the Spring Equinox).
You may also know Beltane as ‘May Day’ or if you’re in Wales, ‘Calan Mai’.
Looking into the etymology of Beltane (or Bealtaine, Beltine), many sources define the name of this festival to mean ‘Bright fire’, ‘Bright one’ or ‘The Fires of Bel’ - referring to the Celtic sun god, Belenus. Gaelic folklore tells of the the Cailleach transforming into Bridgid during Beltane, the deity also associated with the coming of Spring at Imbolc. Bridgid remains in her Spring and Summer incarnation until Samhain at the end of October. Beltane is ruled by Venus - the planet that represents sensuality and fertility as well as the sacred feminine (apt as we’ve just had a New Moon in Tuaurs - also ruled by Venus). In Roman myth, a parallel festival called ‘Floralia’ dating back to 240 or 238 B.C.E celebrates the Goddess of Spring and flowers: Flora.
🌙An invitation
As we melt into the warmer months, I continue to offer space for introspection and intention setting at the darkest point of each month - the New moon - through my monthly online women’s circles.
If this is a practice that you feel called to to keep you grounded through the busy Summer months, I’d love you to join my Moontime Magick Membership. In between circles, you’ll have access to digital resources in the form of 29 plant guides and 8 goddess guides linked to the seasons (such as the one mentioned above for Goddess Flora - who is synonymous with Beltane).
Our next online circle honours the New Rose Moon in Gemini on Thursday 29 May. If you can’t make the live circle, a recording is available the following day. You can join month by month with no commitment via the button below.
That’s all from me for this third free edition of 2025. Please consider sharing this newsletter with anyone who you think would like it. Your reciprocity is greatly appreciated 🙏
The next edition comes out in the week of the the next Full Hare Moon on 12 May 2025 and full access will be for paid subscribers only. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber for less than the price of a good coffee each month (£3.50) or £35 a year.
Thank you for reading and Beltane blessings.
Love,
Charly x
Nature Connectedness Research Group - Zero Carbon Nature-Based Solutions Research Centre - University of Derby
Also feeling such mixed emotions! The warmth has been really helping me feel less anxious and more joyful, but then guilt has come in as I feel the eco-anxiety. I am loving your new moon circles Charly 💜