If there is one thing that is common to nearly all pagans, it is a reverence for the cycles of nature. And sex is a big part of those cycles. Sex and death are the two biggest spinners of the wheel of life, and Beltaine is the time for us pagans to celebrate the sex part. Statues and art show that our ancestors celebrated sex for thousands of years; we just follow in their footsteps.
Technically this is the third issue in Widdershins element series, which makes it the Earth issue. Earth, however, is the sexiest of the elements. The plant and animal kingdoms of the Earth are all having sex, and so do we. I could see the argument for fire as sexiest element, but that is more of the "Burn Bright and Die Young" mentality. For those who want Earth without the sex, we have a nice article on ants.... Really, we do. Ants are just as much a part of Earth as sex.
Seriously though, an oft-quoted section of the Wiccan rede goes: "All acts of pleasure are sacred to Me!" and now is the time pagans act on that. Lots of people misunderstand that section and think "Wow, pagan orgies! I'm there!" They fail to see the difference between random sex and sacred sex. Most pagans strive to revere the divinity in every human. Sacred sex is making love to God. It is magic and reverence. It sees the divinity in others and worships that divinity. As such, it is done in total respect and complete consensual freedom without any form of coercion. To do otherwise would be to pervert the sacred.
So, this Beltaine, we should all go out and commit a sacred act of pleasure, sexual or not. Make someone happy, and the Goddess will smile on you.
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