There are many Goddesses associated with this time of year, and in this issue we will focus on two of them, namely Persephone and Maia. Maia is the Greek Goddess of spring, and it is from Her that we get our name for the month of May. She was the oldest daughter of Atlas, and was one of the seven sisters of the Pleiades constellation. It was said She was the most beautiful of Atlas' daughters. She gave birth to Hermes, the son of Zeus, who became well known for his workings in medicine and astrology. Hermes was also the guardian of the underworld. Maia, his mother, was spring time personified and responsible for the blooming of the flowers and the greening of the Earth.

We all know the story of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter who was taken as a wife by Hades after he had kidnapped Her. Persephone is another Goddess of springtime, for as long as She is underground with Hades, nothing blooms. But as soon as She returns, the Earth bursts forth in the full array of spring. Her myth exemplifies the cycles of nature.

Other Goddesses celebrated over the next few months include:

May 2 & 3: Fire Festival of Bona Dea (Roman)

May 4: Festival of Sheila Na Gig (Irish)

May 14: Isis Tithing Day (African)

May 24 �?28: The Mothers of Arles (French)

May 30: Feast of the Queen of Heaven (European)

June 13: Feast of Epona (Celtic)

June 14: Birthday of the Muses (Greek)

June 24: Day of the Fates (Roman)

July 3: Festival of Cerridwen (Celtic)

July 13: Celebration of Our Lady of Fatima (Portuguese)

July 17: Festival of Amaterasu (Japanese)

July 19: The marriage of Isis and Osiris

Happy Celebrating!<WBR>!