variations on fertility

Beltane greetings, y'all -

Beltane is the midpoint between spring equinox and summer solstice. It's a time of fertility and ripening. I thought I'd only have 1 thing to share, but fertility and ripening have proven that more has emerged. That feels appropriate, given the season.

So, this love letter has my thoughts on Beltane, fertility, ripening. Followed by what really ripened for me in the last few weeks. Finally, I shared some lyrics in process, copied from scribbles in my notebook, in celebration of spring.

But first: Beltane. Its reputation often gets very sexual, which is well-deserved and fun. Spring is a prime time to witness reproduction in the natural world. 

For me, though, fertility is more than reproduction, bigger than sexual union, more transcendent than gender. Fertility and ripening are about your equivalent of opening the way flowers do, releasing pollen the way trees do, growing rapidly in the rush of life following winter—the way we all do.

For me, fertility is about nourishing each other. Now, more than any other time in my life, it's easy to recognize the global community in which we all live. I've been thinking a lot about fertility as the well-being of all of us—that ripening is about connecting to that energy.

So many ways to do this. One thing that keeps coming up for me: people who are out of paid work but still creating, especially musicians and other performers. And yet they are still working and sharing, often for free.

How fortunate we are, that we can access this magic medicine, despite the physical distance.

Fertility, y'all—let's pay these people. I know a virtual house concert isn't nearly as exhilarating as a live show, or a live DJ stream isn't quite as deep via computer screen. But are you not grateful? I've listened to plenty of amazing livestreams in this cocoon time. 

So if you have the means, pay them. I'm not saying pay them the same amount as a concert ticket. But like many things, if we all do a little individually, we do a lot collectively.

In the past month, I've helped organize some (virtual) discussion events, with a live musician at the end. If everyone on the call had tipped $2-$5 each, the musicians would have ended up with a couple meals' worth of money for their work from home.

Some people are too polite/nervous/humble/afraid/etc to ask for tips. So if they don't provide Venmo/Cash app/etc, ASK them. I promise, you'll make their day.

I can promise because it's happened to me. Many of you know I've been giving free tarot readings with my deck. When people have offered to pay me, I feel like I'm brilliant and successful. One person, who I know doesn't make much money, gave me $15. It felt like the times I've gotten a hundred.

And if that's not an option, there are other ways to connect with fertility, by way of SHARING the creators you like. Social media posts, emails, conversations, whatever you do—a genuine, enthusiastic recommendation is worth 1000 targeted ads. Rave reviews matter. Take the time. May we all ripen.

I'll demonstrate. If this email included a sponsored ad for a DJ you didn't know about, you'd likely skim over it, to my next paragraph.
(No hating. I would too.)

(Imagine this is the targeted ad for the DJ.)

But I want to share my rave review. I generally avoid phone apps, but I downloaded Soundcloud specifically because my favorite DJ—the only DJ I was willing to hire for my wedding—posts mixes on it. EXCELLENT CHOICE, FRIENDS. I have never regretted that app. (His FB page also has livestreams and links to other channels.)

Are you curious now?

Go listen. He's amazing. You can listen and read, though I highly recommend listening and dancing after you finish reading.

This is another DJ on Soundcloud whom I like.

On IG, I've gotten really particular about a feed that inspires and educates.

How many times have you stopped reading to open any apps or browser windows?

See what I mean? Fertility. Ripening. We're all in this. Let's weave more magic.

Finally, the ripening I didn't expect -

I went into this cocoon space with the intention of focusing on music and Numinous Spiral.

And so I have. I have shared some digital renderings; next week I'll post some hand-drawn renderings.

But I've also witnessed so much struggle, while feeling my own resilience. I always rely on practices and rituals I've had for many years, all the more so now. Deep in my nesting, I got a nudge from spirit to share. I listened, discussed further, which led me to create some new offerings. Readings are still happening, but I added ways to work with me for more than an hour, if that's what serves you. My site has a a new page with all the details + links to schedule.

Also in alignment with fertility, my offerings include free readings for people adversely impacted right now: loss of household income or work in essential services (healthcare, grocery, utilities, transport, logistics, safety, transit). Feel free to connect with me in this way; feel free to share this with others. 

For those paying to work with me—know that your reciprocity supports those free readings. Fertility.

If you don't think your tips, donations, purchases, shares, referrals make a difference to independent operators — I promise they do. I can promise because I'm in the same circumstances. For example: 1 paid reading a day changes my entire work reality. Numinous Spiral can move at a clip, rather than the a clod. Giving energy towards music doesn't make me feel as torn about dividing my time.

Last thing, I swear — some lines that came to me in the last few weeks. They're still quite rough, but I think the heart of it is clear enough:

invincible spring
light piercing the distancing
audacious blooming
rain pouring on empty streets

invincible spring
flows from the infinite well
the spiral of seasons
the stories they tell

invincible spring
from that well
drink deep
all this you keep

the space where something
emerges from nothing
begotten from endings

this invincible spring
it sings to me
day and night and day
may I might
find my way
communion bring

Thanks for reading and joining me here. Your thoughts, questions, reflections are always welcome.

Springing forth,
S.


—
she / they
Siderealchemy