Ode to Habondia (1 May 2021)

Hail Habondia,*
Lady of Flowers;
Goddess of Abundance
and good weal;
Here we come to you_
    Dancing_ Dancing_Dancing_
in Your Garden of Delight,
seeking Wisdom and respite
      from the mundane world
in which we strive.                                          1

Lady of Mystic Wealth;
Habondia_
       En-lighten our minds
and Illumine our souls
with all the colours of life;
     _all the flowers in Your Bosom!                2

In Your Garden; Nature,
You nurture and embrace
    all diverse kinds
         in a Wondrous Love;
Teach us Your Wisdom,
in Earthen Joy—
Lead us in your verdant paths!
Refresh us in your Bowered Wealth
and keep us craefty
as your willing prodigies!                                3

Hail Habondia,
Mentor of Nature Mystics;
friend of benevolent sojourners
in your Garden_
We delight in Your Presence;
Upholder of Roses,
Healer of the injured and damaged,
Beckoner of New Growth,
Harvester of Abundance,
We break all spells
that harm your Garden—
Inspire us to fecund living!                             4

Here we come,
Lady Habondia;
Brewer of happiness and longevity_
Dancing into your presence
       in the month of flowers!
Germinate in us
and let us bloom and blossom
      as Gardeners of Nature.
We raise our glass of ale to you
Habondia, Abunde, Habonde!
Blessed may you be_
     now and forever;
ever-always as this planet persists
in the Spirals
       of the expanding Universe.                     5
 

So mote it be!

*Habondia, as I was taught, was a Goddess of Flowers and associated with the month of May.  While considered 'The Queen of the Witches' in many sources, Habondia has an ancient connection with the resurgence of life in the vernaltides, and to sing an ode to her is to participate in that resurgence.  She is one aspect of the Great Goddess.   This ode comes from long ago in my own spiritual pilgrimage.  Yet it always seems to me appropriate to sing it on the 1st of May.