The Honey Moon

This is a time for Love.

In pagan lore the Summer Prince and the Maiden of the Moon meet, and find delight in each others company, hence, this is known as the Honey Moon. In fact, in many cultures and beliefs this is seen as the time in the Wheel of the Year when the goddess in her mature aspect of Queen of the May is coupled with the god in his mature aspect of Summer King. Together they will reign over this peaceful season of growth and abundance. This tradition of courtship under the sixth moon is so strong that even today you will find references to spring as the time when everyone's attention turns to matters of love.

In the Celtic Tree Calendar the name of this moon is Saille (Willow) which runs from April 5th to May 12th.

The Runic Calendar of Nordic traditions, (which is governed by half months rather than full months), divides this moon of the year by Ing (Expansive Energy) from May 14th through May 28th, and Odal (Home or Heritage) from May 29th through June 13th.

The Goddess Calendar names this moon of the year after Maia and runs from April 18th through May 15th.

The American Backwoods Calendar refers to this moon of the year as the Flower Moon and is determined by whichever full moon falls in May.

However this moon is known to you, as the Hot Moon, the Strawberry Moon, or the Honey Moon, it will surely be known in some ways that call to mind the first honey dripping from wild hives, or the sweet ripeness of fruit orchards because this moon is the moon of ripening fullness.

This moon heralds the customary time for revelry and traditional love sport as represented by the May Pole where the dancers around the pole weave closer to the center of the circle and in that way they are also drawn closer to one another

In this unashamed celebration of the physical pleasures of attaining womanhood and manhood the seed of new life, (planted symbolically or in actuality), is celebrated all through the night of May 1st, known as May Day or Beltane, and the world revels in the sheer joy of being alive.

So, with all that information to guide you, it may be that you see this moon as the doorway of the year which opens to the power of light and the beneficial growth and expansion associated with the longest days of the year.