Maia

"MAIA", THE "GREEK GODDESS" OF SPRING AND REBIRTH; SHE IS THE SHY AND GENTLE GODDESS WHO BRINGS ABOUT THE SEASONAL WARMING OF THE EARTH, THE PATRON OF MOTHERS AND NURSES, TO WHOM SACRIFICES WERE MADE TO ENSURE THE GROWTH OF CROPS. HER NAME MEANS "T"HE MAKER". EVERY SPRING THIS GODDESS IS BELIEVED TO MAKE THE GRASS AND FLOWERS GROW AGAIN. HER NAME IS THE ORIGIN OF THE MONTH," MAY." HER TRADITIONAL DAY OF CELEBRATION IS MAY 1ST. ON THIS DAY, MEN AND WOMEN DRESS IN GREEN CLOTHING AND DANCE ABOUT THE "MAYPOLE" TO WELCOME THE SPRING.

"MAIA" WAS THE ELDEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THE "PLEIADES", THE SEVEN DAUGHTERS OF "ATLAS "AND THE "OCEANID, PLEIONE."A SHY AND SOLITARY GODDESS, SHE LIVES ALONE IN A CAVE ON "MT. CYLLENE" IN ARCADIA. SOME STORIES SAY SHE SCORNED MARRIAGE, PREFERRING TO BE FREE, WHICH HINTS AT HER ANCIENT, PRE-PATRIARCHAL ORIGINS. "MAIA "WAS THE MOTHER OF "HERMES", ALSO A SKILLED MAGICIAN AND MESSENGER OF THE GODS. THE GREEKS KNEW HER HAS THE "GRANDMOTHER OF MAGIC."

ON THE NEXT CLEAR NIGHT, TAKE SOME TIME TO LOOK INTO THE NIGHT SKY AND YOU WILL SEE HER. SHE IS THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE "PLEIADES." BE SURE TO ADD SOME SPLASHES OF COLOR TO YOUR HOME WITH FRESH CUT FLOWERS, BOWLS OF FRESH FRUIT AND BRIGHTLY COLORED CANDLES.

"BLESSINGS TO YOU AT THIS MOST SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR."

Origin: modern-wiccan.blogspot.com