Goddess Speak

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. (Sonnet XCVIII)” ― William Shakespeare, Shakespeare's Sonnets

April Dates of Interest:

• April 1 - April Fools' Day, International Fun at Work Day
• April 1 @ 7:11 pm - Full Pink Moon
• April 3 - The Living Mosaic Art Exhibit @ UUCLV
• April 4 - PPDLV Tarot Bingo & Major Arcana Sundae Social @ UUCLV
• April 6 - National Tartan Day
• April 7 - National Beer Day, World Health Day, International Beaver Day
• April 11 – National Pet Day
• April 11/12 - PirateFestLV 2026
• April 13 - National Scrabble Day
• April 15 - National ASL Day
• April 17 - New Moon in Aries @ 4:51 am
• April 17-19 - PCR (Pagan Community Retreat)
• April 18/19 - Las Vegas Celtic Festival & Highland Games
• April18 - National Velociraptor Awareness Day (Note : It has been approximately 25,550,000,000 days since the last velociraptor attack)
• April 22 - Earth Day
• April 26 - Alien Day
• April 28 - Great Poetry Reading Day/Kiss Your Mate Day (do not forget this one. Kiss them, then read some poetry!)
• April 30 - National Adopt A Shelter Pet Day

"A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew, A cloud, and a rainbow's warning, Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue—An April day in the morning." Harriet Prescott Spofford

~ The Elemental Magic of Driftwood ~

— A Sacred Gift Born of Tide, Time, and Transformation

Driftwood is a talisman shaped not by human hands but by the elements themselves. Earth, Water, Air, and Fire each leave their imprint upon it, transforming fallen branches into a magical ally for witches and nature‑workers. Its journey becomes its power—one of endurance, surrender, and elemental wisdom. Earth: Roots and Endings Driftwood begins its life rooted deeply in Earth, drawing nourishment and strength from soil and stone. When it breaks free—through storm, decay, or time—it teaches us that endings can become sacred transitions. Use driftwood in grounding work, ancestor altars, or rituals honoring cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Grounding Affirmation: The Driftwood Blessing “I am grounded, even as I change. I am shaped by experience, not broken by it. Like driftwood, I release what no longer serves and rest where I am meant to be. The Earth steadies me, the Waters cleanse me, the Air clears my path, and the Fire within renews me. I am present. I am safe. I am becoming.”

Water: Surrender and Emotional Flow Water claims driftwood and guides it through long journeys. Salt and tide soften it, carving away what no longer serves. Driftwood carries this watery magic—release, intuition, emotional healing. It is especially powerful in spells for letting go, easing grief, or restoring emotional balance.

Air: Breath, Change, and Perspective Wind and open sky finish what the waters begin. Air dries, scours, and refines the wood’s surface. Its presence brings clarity. Use driftwood when seeking guidance, sharpening intuition, or cleansing mental fog after emotional storms.

Fire: Sunlight and Slow Alchemy The Fire that touches driftwood is subtle—sun, heat, and time. Fire strengthens and lightens the wood, sealing its transformation. Driftwood shines in spells of renewal, creativity, and personal empowerment.

Spirit: The Liminal Gift Driftwood exists between worlds: born of forest, shaped by sea, delivered by wind, blessed by sun. It is liminal magic—protective, wise, and deeply connected to elemental energies.Place it on altars, at thresholds, or in workings involving transformation and journeying.

Spell: Driftwood Release & Renewal Ritual A simple witch’s working for letting go and welcoming new beginnings You will need:

• A piece of ethically gathered driftwood
• A black or white candle (your choice)
• Saltwater (or seawater if available)
• A marker, piece of charcoal, or your finger
• Optional: a shell or stone from the shoreline

Timing: Best performed during the waning moon, at dusk, or after an emotional “storm.” 1. Prepare the Space Light your candle. Breathe deeply and hold your driftwood, acknowledging its elemental journey. Say softly: “Earth, Water, Air, and Fire—shape me as you have shaped this wood.” 2. Name What You Are Releasing Using your marker (or simply your finger), trace a word, symbol, or intention onto the driftwood representing what you need to let go—fear, grief, stagnation, anger, etc. Whisper it into the wood: “What you carry, I release.” 3. Cleanse with Water Dip your fingertips in the saltwater and sprinkle the driftwood. Say: “By tide and time, be cleansed and carried away.” Let the water dissolve your marks or the intention you traced. 4. Empower the New Path Turn the driftwood over. Trace a new word or symbol—strength, healing, clarity, renewal. Pass it briefly through candlelight (without burning it), allowing Fire to seal your intention. Say: “By flame and breath, I rise renewed.” 5. Ground and Complete Place the driftwood on your altar, a windowsill, or near a plant. If you gathered a shell or stone, place it beside the wood as thanks. End with: “As the elements transform, so do I. It is done.” A Final Note Working with driftwood is working with elemental alchemy. Its journey mirrors ours—weathered by challenges, reshaped by time, and refined by the forces that move through our lives. When you hold driftwood, you hold a spell the world has been casting for years.

“The April winds are magical, andmes.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Coming up May 1st....

~ Beltane ~

an Editorial by: Priestess Novaembre

Feasts, Fires and Fertility Abound!

Beltane is the last sabbat of the waxing year, the last of the three spring festivals (Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane). The height of fertility, Midsummer, is near. For Pagans and Goddess Women, this is the beginning of summer. This is a feast of fires and flowers and the theme is passion: women’s, Goddess, the Earth. In the Persephone story, Persephone has come of age and reached menarche. She discovers sexuality, physical love, self-love, and learns what passion means. At Beltane, love is new and just beginning. It is emotionally innocent.

Beltane is the old Celtic name for the holiday, derived from the Irish Bealtaine or the Scottish Gaelic Bealtuinn. Sometimes it is called Cetsamhain (opposite Samhain). It is the 2nd of four great Celtic fire festivals - Imbolg (the beginning of spring), Beltane (the beginning of Summer), Lughnassadh or Lammas (the beginning of fall), Samhain (the beginning of winter). This is one of two hinges of the year, the other being Samhain. Like Samhain, this is a time of no time, when the veil between the worlds is thin and the fairies return.

“Summer is only the unfulfilled promise of spring, a charlatan in place of the warm balmy nights I dream of in April. It’s a sad season of life without growth…It has no day.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Traditional Symbols of Beltane:

• Rose colored candles symbolize passion, new love, first blood
• Foods: strawberries, vanilla ice cream, red cherries
• May bowl - sprigs of blossoming wood in a bowl with water.
• Colors - green, white, red
• Bells
• Branches - May Birching
• Hawthorn - the May Bush - blooms at this time. It is sacred to the Goddess. llIts pinkish white flowers were hung about the house for purifying and protection. It is the favorite tree of fairies.
• Flowers are female sexual symbols and the symbol of the season. Flowers show the interconnectedness of all things.
• Dew - it was a tradition to collect dew early on May 1. The dew was sacred to Diana. Maidens would bathe their f aces in the dew to retain their youth and beauty.

When in the springtime of the year When the trees are crowned with leaves When the ash and oak, and the birch and yew Are dressed in ribbons fair ~ "The Mummer's Dance" by Loreena McKennett.

The Sacred Marriage / Sex / Fertility

Sacred Marriage - May was the month the Goddess married. It was unlucky for humans to marry in that month - instead they marry in June, thus our custom of June weddings.

The custom of making love in the fields on May Eve enhanced the fertility of the growing crops and could be a remnant of the days when women shed their menstrual blood in the fields. (OK, now, think about this. In May you are making love in the fields. By June you know you are pregnant - thus, marriage.) These were called Greenwood marriages, young men and women who stayed the entire night in the forest, greeted the May sunrise bringing back flowers to decorate the village. Even after the Christian form of marriage replaced the older Pagan handfasting, the rules of strict monogamy were relaxed on May Eve.

• Queen Guinevere’s abduction occurred on May 1.
• Lady Godiva - rode through Coventry sky clad as Queen of the May. Every year for three centuries a sky clad village maiden enacted this rite until the Puritans put an end to it.
• Walking the circuit of one’s property (beating the bounds), repairing fences is normally done at this time.
• There were also processions of chimney sweeps and milk maids, archery tournaments, Morris dances, sword dances and riding the hobby horse.
• The Maypole was a European custom. It is a Goddess and fertility totem, the moontree of the Great Mother. The roots are in the underworld, the branches are in the upper realms. It is also a phallic symbol.

Bel-Fires

• May Fire - Bel Fire: jumped for fertility, health, good luck.
• The Beltane fire traditionally has 3 pieces of each of 9 kinds of wood.
• Beltane means “bright fire.” Fires celebrate the warmth of the sun, the power to return life and fruitfulness to the soil.
• It was a tradition to take home a smoldering piece of Beltane fire, but do not give it away as a gift.
• Fairies can’t start their own fires, so they would come to the celebration disguised as humans to ask for a part of the fire. When freely given, this gave the fairies power.
• Ashes from the Beltane fire were scattered on the fields for fertility.
• Herds of cattle were driven between two fires for purification and protection, safety and fertility.

The Maypole

• The maypole is a female Goddess / fertility totem, a Moon Tree of the Great Mother. It is also the Tree of Life and the world tree with its roots in the underworld and branches in the upper realms.
• The Tree of Life is the prime symbol of spring celebrations in many cultures.
• To celebrate May Day, people in Europe would chop down a tree for a May Pole and crown it with a wreath, and long ribbons would be tied to its apex.
• Women holding the red ribbons and men holding the white ribbons would dance around, interweaving the ribbons.
• The woven ribbons symbolized the generative energy of the female and male, personified by the Snake Goddess and her consort.
• Origins of the May Pole go back to the ancient religions who celebrated the Goddess in Her manifestation as the Tree of Life.
• The Goddess, the Tree of Life, and the Serpent are common motifs dating from early Mesopotamia, and perhaps earlier.
• Cylinder seals from the 2nd millennium BCE show Ishtar with the Tree of Life and the Serpent. Asherah, the Canaanite Goddess, was symbolized as a stylized tree and worshiped in sacred groves. She was called Lady of the Serpent.

"On that bed there was a girl. And on that girl there was a man. From that man there was a seed. And from that seed there was a boy. From that boy there was a man. And for that man there was a grave. From that grave there grew a tree..." Maypole Song from The Wicker Man – 1973

~ April's Lunar Spotlight ~

The Full Pink Moon In Libra

Marking a Major Shift in Relationships...

Excerpt from:

written by: Sarah Regan

As a new astrological year gets underway, we have a full moon in Libra gracing our skies this week, casting a spotlight on our relationships and calling for balance. Also known as the Pink Moon, this full moon marks an important shift as we move into spring—a time of rebirth, fertility, and joy. Here's what to know about this year's Pink Moon, plus how to work with it. The astrology behind April's full moon This month's full moon peaks in the sign of Libra on April 1, 2026, at 7:11 p.m. PST. Along with being known as the Pink Moon (because it arrives during the time of year when pink wildflowers bloom in North America), it has also been called the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Fish Moon, and the Egg Moon. All of these names reflect the season in which this moon arrives, as the Earth begins to awaken after a long winter. It is the first full moon of the astrological new year, after all, and its revitalizing energy is palpable. Not only that, but with this moon landing in Libra, we can expect it to be a relationship-oriented moon as well. Libra is the sign of partnerships, and things like balance, reciprocity, harmony, justice, and diplomacy are all extremely important to the Libras of the world. And under these moonbeams, they'll be important to us all, as the need for peace, harmony, and a little extra TLC will feel palpable. For one thing, we're still caught up in Mercury retrograde's lingering "shadow period," which could be contributing to tension, miscommunications, and general confusion. Plus, the sun, Saturn, and Neptune are all in fiery Aries, so things may have felt a little aggressive lately. The good news? Venus just moved into Taurus (until April 24), where it feels quite at home. Venus rules Taurus and Libra, so here's hoping the Venusian vibes of this moon can temper all that feisty Aries energy, allowing us to tap into romance and partnership in a deeper way. All in all, this full moon is about striking a balance in your life wherever the scales are feeling off. This is a powerful moment to release anything you don't want to bring into the new astrological year, allowing room for new life to spring forth.

In April, Moon name references to Spring abound!

• Breaking Ice Moon (Algonquin) and Moon When the Streams Are Again Navigable (Dakota) reference the melting ice and increased mobility of the early spring season.
• Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit) and Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala) speak to the plant growth that will soon kick into high gear.

Other names refer to the reappearance of certain animals, including:

• Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota)
• Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota)
• Frog Moon (Cree)
• Along the same vein, Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe) notes the time to harvest sucker fish, which return to streams or lake shallows to spawn.

According to legend, now is the time when this fish comes back from the spirit world to purify bodies of water and the creatures living in them. (This name may also be applied to the February Moon, to honor the sacrifice of the sucker fish in order to feed the Anishinaabe peoples, traditionally helping them to survive the winter.)

“They came on one of April’s most brilliant days–a day as sparkling as a newly-washed lemon…a day when even the shadows were a melange of blue and orange and jade, like the shadows that poured from the tipsy brush of Monet.” – Beverley Nichols

April Full Moon Magic:

3 rituals to work with the Pink Moon

1. Take some time to journal & reflect As we head into a new season, take some time to reflect on what you want to let go of. Libra is an air sign, so it's possible your mind might be more active than usual—plus Mercury retrograde's shadow period could be adding to the disorientation. Putting pen to paper is an easy way to get all those thoughts out of your head, and of course, release them. You can journal about whatever you like, but for an extra potent option, consider writing down things you want to let go of (toxic relationships, bad habits or patterns, limiting beliefs, etc.) and either burning or burying it. 2. Connect with nature With this being the first full moon of spring, it's an excellent opportunity to connect with nature and the elements all around us. You could take a walk or hike, meditate under a tree, or simply sit on your front porch and take in the sights. Additionally, if you use any spiritual tools like crystals or moon water, this is a great time to charge those tools outdoors while connecting with nature.

3. Pull a tarot spread Last but not least, tarot readings can be a great way to receive clarity and insight for any questions you have. You can ask the cards anything, but here's a four-card spread if you need some inspiration:

• What area of my life needs more balance?
• What am I being asked to release under these moonbeams?
• What does this Libra moon have in store for my relationships?
• What is my primary focus leading up to the Libra new moon six months from now?

New Moon in Aries

A New Moon in Aries on April 17 helps you start fresh. This is the first new moon since the Spring Equinox and the Astrological New Year, making it perfect for funneling your heart and energy toward a personal goal. Let go of old versions of yourself and focus on embodying a more brave, authentic you. When you are chasing after what you truly desire, it has ripple effects—not only for your personal life, but it can benefit the collective, too. You’re navigating a challenge on April 19 when Mars and Saturn, both in Aries, and both the two most difficult planets in the sky, team up. You might feel stuck, disappointed, or deal with self-criticism. You could also pour a gigantic amount of energy into a specific goal or project. Setting firm boundaries and having difficult conversations can also pop up. Be gentle with yourself and others—this energy is activating and frustrating. On the same day, the Sun enters Taurus, helping you focus more on being embodied. This energy helps you connect with the present moment and your physical senses to bring you back down to Earth. As a fixed sign, Taurus also lends you the dedication and consistency to start taking steps toward whatever pioneering visions and goals you set during Aries season. There’s some surprises popping up in your key relationships when Venus and Uranus, both in Taurus, link up on April 23. Everything is on the table. This energy helps you take a risk that aligns with your heart and desires! Later on in the same day, Venus moves into Gemini, putting you in a more cerebral mood. This is a very social energy and can help you nurture your close friendships and build new meaningful connections. A great time to learn something new, too—so sign up for that class or workshop that interests you! One of the biggest astrological shifts of 2026 arrives on April 25 when Uranus enters Gemini. We had a brief preview of this energy last year from July 7-November 7; before that, Uranus hadn’t traveled through Gemini since 1942, so it’s been quite some time! This energy helps you breakthrough limiting beliefs, reimagine social structures, and encourages you to meet your neighbors and build connections in your local, everyday environment and neighborhood. There might be something new you want to study, a new friendship could form, or perhaps you’re starting to see the world, and your role in it, in a new, exciting way.

New Moon excerpts from:

“There is no glory in star or blossom till looked upon by a loving eye; There is no fragrance in April breezes till breathed with joy as they wander by.” – William Cullen Bryant

~ Crafty Corner ~

~ Driftwood Witch’s Ladder ~

Invite the quiet magic of land and sea into your sacred space with this Driftwood Witch’s Ladder craft. Shaped by wind, salt, and time, each piece of driftwood carries its own story—becoming the spine of a sacred ladder built with intention, symbolism, and intuition. Witch’s ladders are traditional folk charms, created knot by knot as a way to focus desires, offer protection, or mark personal transformation. In this version, natural materials are layered together to form a hanging talisman that feels both ancient and deeply personal. As you bind, knot, and adorn your ladder, each movement becomes a small act of spellcraft—an echo of wishes tied gently into the world. When complete, your ladder may be hung in a doorway, layered upon an altar, or displayed in a creative space, where it serves as a reminder that intention, like driftwood, is shaped not by force but by presence and patience.

Materials Needed • Driftwood pieces (as many as you like), similar in length or intuitively chosen • Natural cord, twine (cotton, hemp or jute recommended) • Beads, stones, or crystals (glass or natural materials work beautifully) • Feathers, shells, small bones, seed pods, or charms • Scissors

Optional items:

• Bells, keys, or metal findings
• Herbs tied in small bundles
• Wooden beads or carved symbols
• Wax or sigils for blessing the finished piece

This is not a craft meant to be rushed. Let your hands wander, your thoughts soften, and your materials guide you. No two witch’s ladders are ever the same—each one becomes a quiet spell, woven from found beauty and conscious making. 1. Gather and Prepare Materials Select your driftwood pieces and decorative elements. Lay everything out so you can see what you’re working with. If needed, gently clean the driftwood and allow it to dry fully before beginning. 2. Set an Intention (Optional) Before assembling, take a quiet moment to reflect on the purpose of your ladder. This might be protection, creativity, remembrance, balance, or simply appreciation of natural beauty. This intention can guide your choices as you work. 3. Cut and Arrange Cord Cut several lengths of cord or twine, long enough to connect your driftwood pieces and leave space for knots and decorations. Arrange the cords parallel to each other on a flat surface. 4. Attach the Top Driftwood Tie the cord lengths securely around the top piece of driftwood, spacing them evenly. Use firm knots and trim excess cord if needed. This piece will serve as the anchor of your ladder. 5. Begin Adding Knots and Decorations Working downward, begin tying knots in the cords at intervals. Between knots, thread on beads, feathers, shells, charms, or other found objects. Each knot or item can represent a thought, wish, or moment of focus. 6. Add Additional Driftwood Pieces As you work downward, tie in additional pieces of driftwood across the cords if desired. Secure them firmly so they sit horizontally like rungs on a ladder. 7. Continue Until Complete Repeat knotting and decorating until the ladder feels finished to you. There is no required number of knots or objects—let balance and intuition guide you. 8. Finish the Bottom Tie final knots at the bottom of each cord to secure everything in place. Trim any excess material. 9. Bless or Dedicate the Ladder (Optional) If desired, gently bless the ladder by holding it, focusing on your intention, or passing it through candlelight, smoke, or fresh air. This step can be simple and personal.

Blessing

You may speak aloud or silently. Words need not be elaborate. For example: “By hand and heart, this ladder is made. By knot and token, intention laid. May it hold what is woven here, A quiet charm, strong and clear.” Or simply say: “I bless this work with purpose and care.” 10. Display Your Ladder Hang your driftwood witch’s ladder on a wall, doorway, altar, or outdoor space where it can be seen and appreciated.

Happy Crafting and Blessed Be!

“Our spring has come at last with the soft laughter of April suns and shadow of April showers.” – Byron Caldwell Smith

The Kitchen Witch's Cauldron

~ Blueberry Lavender Peach Cobbler ~

A Sweet dish for Beltane Eve!

Perfect for Beltane feasts, firelight gatherings, and flower‑crowned tables, this cobbler honors the season when sweetness turns bold and delight is meant to be tasted.

This cobbler feels like it was slipped from the fairy ovens just as the maypole ribbons begin to fly. Velvety peaches and bursting blueberries dance together in glossy sweetness, their juices humming with promise and play. A teasing breath of lavender floats through the dish like perfume on warm skin—soft, floral, and a little enchanting. The golden crust rises like sunlit fields in May, crisp at the edges and melting beneath the spoon. Every bite carries Beltane’s magic: laughter under the stars, barefoot spinning, sparks leaping from fire to heart. This is a dessert meant for sharing, for smiling too much, and for celebrating life’s ripeness as it begins to blaze. Correspondences:

• Blueberries: Protection, fairy favor, gentle abundance
• Peaches: Love, attraction, vitality
• Lavender: Charm, peace, sweetening intentions

“The most beautiful springs are those that come after the most horrible winters!” – Mehmet Murat ildan

~ April Book Review ~

Finding the Mother Tree:

Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest

By: Suzanne Simard

“Finding the Mother Tree reminds us that the world is a web of stories, connecting us to one another. [The book] carries the stories of trees, fungi, soil and bears--and of a human being listening in on the conversation. The interplay of personal narrative, scientific insights and the amazing revelations about the life of the forest make a compelling story.”—Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass In this, her first book, now available in paperback, Simard brings us into her world, the intimate world of the trees, in which she brilliantly illuminates the fascinating and vital truths--that trees are not simply the source of timber or pulp, but are a complicated, interdependent circle of life; that forests are social, cooperative creatures connected through underground networks by which trees communicate their vitality and vulnerabilities with communal lives not that different from our own. Simard writes--in inspiring, illuminating, and accessible ways—how trees, living side by side for hundreds of years, have evolved, how they learn and adapt their behaviors, recognize neighbors, compete and cooperate with one another with sophistication, characteristics ascribed to human intelligence, traits that are the essence of civil societies--and at the center of it all, the Mother Trees: the mysterious, powerful forces that connect and sustain the others that surround them. About the author: Suzanne Simard is a Professor of Forest Ecology at the University of British Columbia and the author of the upcoming book, Finding the Mother Tree (May 4th 2021). She is a pioneer on the frontier of plant communication and intelligence; and has been hailed as a scientist who conveys complex, technical ideas in a way that is dazzling and profound. Her work has influenced filmmakers (the Tree of Souls in James Cameron’s Avatar) and her TED talks have been viewed by more than 10 million people worldwide. Suzanne has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and presented at conferences around the world. She has communicated her work to a wide audience through interviews, documentary films and her TEDTalk “How trees talk to one another”.

~ April Laughs ~

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