When I talk to men and women working (or considering working) in the Sacred Arts field there is one fear that I almost always hear about early on…damaging or losing one’s reputation. It takes a lot of cojones y ovarios to come out and advertise yourself as a tarot reader, Reiki healer, energy worker, crystal reader, or spell caster.

For so many people this is a huge pain point-not to mention a huge block in building a business based around services and offerings that they feel called and inspired to provide. The conundrum is easy to understand: how do I do the work I feel called to do and talk about myself when it involves me telling people that I’m into this or I’m practicing that?

• My mother will disown me.
• My father will be embarrassed.
• My friends will wonder what the hell happened-they thought I was NORMAL.

Oh boy have I been there.

When the doors were opening and the universe was rushing me down a particularly strange and overgrown path I realized that at some point I had traded in my ideal work costume of a three piece suit and good heels for a velvet shawl, crystal ball and glitter-lots of glitter. I was not at all sure how I felt about this change in direction-but I was sure that I was doing work that was actually making a positive difference in people’s lives and allowed me to be of service-and afterall, wasn’t that what I had always wanted?

Longtime readers might expect me to simply say that when it comes to reputation you have to get over it and proceed full steam ahead-but I actually think that this area is so heavy that that kind of advice actually falls flat. Instead I present you with three insights to help you gain clarity on and around your fears followed by three questions designed to assist you in determining if now is the right time to come out of the broom closet:

When fears around your reputation loom large and you see the words WOO WOO tattooed across your forehead (in blue woad of course) remember these salient points:

1.) Its not a stupid thing to be worried about. Because you know, for a long, long time those of us working in the Sacred Arts were considered con men (and women) at best and were burned at the stake as witches at worst. We have a lineage and some heavy stuff has gone down in that lineage.

2.) You are NOT your reputation. Reputation is something that other people assume about you-its built on what other people say about you-at the end of the day babe you cannot make everyone like you and you certainly cannot control what other people think about you. This works both ways-people can LOVE you and you can have a great reputation-but if your work is lacking your work is still lacking.

3.) Your work matters; what you call yourself doesn’t (much). Yeah, its important to be able to describe what you do for people in a way that is coherent and makes sense. However, what really matters is the actual work you are doing and not what you call yourself. If calling yourself a tarot reader feels to charged for whatever reason try on something else that can fit more nicely-like “intuitive counselor” or “spiritual reader”. (See question #3 below for more on this…)

Not sure even after mulling over those little jewels if its the right time to come out of the (broom, tarot, energy healing, crystal, magical) closet? Ask yourself these three questions:

1.) Am I ready to be seen? (Compliments of my compadre Fabeku Fatunmise) This is a pretty self-explanatory question but if say, you still work a rather buttoned up corporate job and you do your angel readings on the side you may not want to change your facebook profile to “angel reader” just yet…ask yourself seriously, are you ready to be seen? Is it time?

2.) Do I have a supportive community in place? So your mom may not know you love divination-but what about your BFF, your tarot teacher, or your fellow seekers? Do they know? You most likely have a handful of people around you that are already supporting you-call on them in times of doubt. If you do not have anyone who knows about your work then I advise that you start small-tell a few people you really trust who will get it and then build from there. Baby steps y’all.

3.) Am I using the right words? For Shakespeare a rose by any other name was still a rose-but he was SHAKESPEARE. You are not. Me either. Sometimes fear around reputation has much more to do with what we are calling ourselves rather than what we are putting out there. If the words are not matching the work then play with them until they do (or hire a kick ass copywriter) so that you describe yourself in a way that makes you feel proud+potent.

And…remember what Mr. Lincoln had to say about reputation:

Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

At the end of the day its about you, the REAL you. That’s what people want to see anyway-so let your light shine! The ones who love you, who are really there for you, are ALREADY cheering you on.

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

________________________________________________________________________________

Image: Young stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), one of the closest galaxies to our Milky Way.  provided by NASA

By now everyone knows about the three women who had been abducted and found in Ohio-and many of my friends and colleagues also know about the Sylvia Browne scandal that was brought up in the wake of discovering that one of the women, whom Browne had quite publicly announced was dead, was actually quite alive. For those who don’t know about the story, Jason Pitzl-Walters of the Wild Hunt wrote about it here.

Jason ended his excellent article with the following question:

“I have no doubt that most Pagans engaging in psychic work are sincere, which calls me to ask how responsible they feel they are regarding life-or-death predictions, and what recourse do they engage in should a prediction turn tragic? Rather than become defensive, and work to distance ourselves from the hucksterisms of Browne, I think this is a call to introspection. How do we prevent ourselves from becoming the things that Browne now embodies to an outraged public?”

I think this is a really good question and after perusing the comments tied to the article I felt that it deserved a full response from someone who works as both a professional intuitive and ritualist, and who advocates for the building of sustainable and profitable businesses in the field of Sacred Arts.

WARNING: This is a long article y’all. If you are familiar with the Wild Hunt piece and the comments that accompanied it then the first two sections will be of interest, otherwise scroll down to the final section titled, The Sylvia Situation. (I won’t judge, I read the end of novels first all the time).

Why should Pagans be concerned about Sylvia?

The first issue that needs to be addressed is relevancy. Why should Pagans be concerned about Sylvia Browne’s “mistake”? The fact of the matter is that in the general public’s opinion working as a tarot reader, practicing any divinatory art, or billing oneself as a “psychic” often equates to being Pagan. This stems from a lack of understanding of both the intuitive arts as well as Paganism but the association is present and its strong.

In addition, while its true that not all professional intuitives are Pagan and not all Pagans practice an intuitive art (like cartomancy, tasseomany, palmistry, scrying, etc) it is true that many Pagans do have an interest in developing these skills for both personal and religious reasons.

The third reason I believe Pagans should be concerned about this issue is that both professional intuitives and modern day Pagans share a similar position in society-we are often misrepresented, misunderstood, mocked, marginalized and have to be especially assiduous in asserting and protecting our civil rights. Because the two groups are closely related in popular imagination, because there are many people who do belong to both groups, and because we experience many of the same social and political challenges, its vital that we take an interest in each other’s welfare-especially if we do not want characters like Sylvia Browne to write our stories for us and the general public.

The Business of Intuitive Professionals and Sacred Artists:

Another thread of comments attached to the article that I found very disturbing were those voicing the opinion that anyone who asks for money in return for using their intuitive gifts is de facto a charlatan. This is something that I know some of my Pagan brothers and sisters have had to deal with as well, when wanting to be paid for ritual services for instance-I label it the “Spiritual Gifts Should be Free Syndrome.”

The idea that all tarot readers are con artists out to make a quick buck belies a lineage of predictive readings and oracle casting that goes back to the beginnings of human culture. Traditionally those who possessed the art of seeing were paid-perhaps not in money, but food, gifts, and even offerings were made in return for their predictive powers.

It is true that in the world of “magic for hire” there are many scams and unethical people taking advantage of ill formed superstitions and clients who are often desperate, afraid, and have nowhere else to turn. But its equally true that there are many top of the line professional intuitives who have assisted people in getting out of abusive relationships, finding gainful employment, asking for (and receiving) raises, starting new romantic relationships, having happy and peaceful marriages, and fostering better relationships with children and step children (just to name a few of the situations that I often read for).

These people do their work because they feel Spirit-called, because they have actual talent, and because they want to be of service. They often work in places that are hostile to intuitive arts of all kinds and take on potential danger to themselves and their families (not to say anything of the day to day shame many feel when asked “what they do for a living?”) Nevertheless they do the work because they are committed, they care, and as Jason said, they are sincere.

Deciding that someone is a scam artist because they ask to be paid for a skill they are employing to your benefit is both foolish and unkind and its reveals a massive double standard that we have in the general population when it comes to those working in the Sacred Arts. Doctors are not right 100% of the time and often the medications they prescribe can cause terrible side effects that patients were not sufficiently warned about-and in many situations patients are misdiagnosed completely-yet a doctor still must be paid. The positive effect that a therapist exerts over a situation may or may not be obvious-yet we pay for the time we spend with them regardless of results. A lawyer cannot ever guarantee to win your legal case-yet they too have fees that must be paid, win or lose. An investment banker requires you to entrust them with a large sum of money on the promise that they may be able to make that money increase for you-they are paid-with both the initial investment and often with concurrent fees. In all four cases the general public does not question the professional’s right to earn a living by their skill.

Why is it then that in the case of a professional intuitive asking to be paid for our services we are seen as suspect at best and charlatans at worst? Is it because the work we engage in is too “fringe”, resistant to measurement, or subjective? What then of the artist who paints or  the writer who tells stories? Their work is much harder to measure, some indeed might think it strange, and art of course is quite subjective-but most of us would agree that the artist or the author also have a right to earn a living from their work.

I believe that we should be supporting those working in the Sacred Arts field with everything we’ve got. I champion the rights of my friends and colleagues to charge for their work and to earn a damn good living from it-I believe that their services are of value and make my community, my town, my state and my country better. I also champion an increased level of professionalism within the Sacred Arts communities-and that includes a critique of why Sylvia Browne’s approach to this work is problematic.

The Sylvia Situation:

I don’t know Sylvia Browne, although I have my personal opinions, I cannot say what motivates her publicly or privately. Unlike others, I don’t necessarily take issue with her (or any professional intuitive) desiring favorable publicity for their work. One of the reasons why our field has been rife with scams and cons is because it has remained in the shadows and when it is mentioned in a broader context it is usually couched in sensationalism or criticism. A lack of transparency can breed corruption and part of being transparent is being publicly seen and available. I think that professional intuitives who seek to make their work better known and understood by the general public have the potential to do the field as a whole much good.

With that said, I do find that the biggest mistake Browne (or her handlers) made was in the approach they took in this particular case. To use the above examples, when a doctor is interviewed on a daytime talk show they are not asked to make diagnoses. A therapist is not expected to deliver a radical insight infront of a large studio audience. When a trial lawyer is interviewed they are not asked to demonstrate their courtroom acumen. An investment banker would never be expected to make money appear during the hour between 10am and 11. Why an intuitive professional is asked to “prove” their skill set and/or why they would agree to such ridiculous terms (given the setting) is beyond me, and this, is where Ms. Browne made her mistake. In his article Jason asked two questions of his readers:

–How responsible do Pagans who also practice a predictive art feel when making a life or death prediction?

–what recourse do they engage in if the prediction turns tragic?

The Pagans that I know who practice an intuitive art and the professional intuitives I know (who may or may not identify as Pagan) feel an incredible weight of responsibility anytime we sit with a querant. If you want to cut through the small talk and get to the issues that are really weighing on someone’s heart and mind then become a tarot reader. People trust us with information that they have not told to anyone else-it’s a privilege and a deep responsibility and not something to be taken lightly-ever.

In Ms. Browne’s case she was asked whether a specific individual who was missing was still living.

Who was asking the question?

The missing woman’s mother.

And what was the setting?

A nationally televised talk show.

Many of the professional intuitives I know would not read on this question at all—too much rides on the answer and seeing clearly and with objectivity is difficult to begin with-our work is about nothing if not clarity. To answer the question though for the missing woman’s mother is a different thing entirely-in that case the woman’s own hopes and fears would weigh so heavily on the reading that no matter its outcome I would question its veracity.

Finally, the setting is wrong. Publicity for one’s work is well and good, but attempting to deliver an intuitive reading-an occasion that should be a personal and private exploration of a meaningful question between two people on daytime T.V. sets one up for failure-if Sylvia Browne truly thought that given these parameters she could deliver an authentic intuitive reading then I have to question her skills as well as her motives.

Generally speaking as I wrote earlier, most of my colleagues would not read on this type of a question at all-and those that would usually come out of spiritual traditions that have a very specific approach and ritual parameters for what can be asked, who might ask it, and what type of information might be conveyed back to the querant.

The second question is one that all intuitives should ask themselves: what recourse do we engage in if a prediction turns tragic? I believe we should all ask ourselves this question because as we meet and encounter people throughout the years we will brush up against terrible events. Predictions, once uttered, can turn tragic as many a Greek Tragedy warns us, and intuitives need to consider what options are available to us professionally to deal with these events. Here are a few I have found helpful:

• Be honest and admit it if you have made a mistake.

• Do not make guarantees. I train my clients and prospective clients to be wary of anyone who works in the intuitive or magical fields and makes 100% satisfaction or your money back guarantees. Serious practitioners know that when it comes to intuition and magic mystery is part of the process and no one can say exactly how a situation will turn out. Even if a client does not want to work with me I steer them clear of people offering such guarantees-its part of my educational outreach.

• Associate with ethical professionals in your field-this is vital for so many reasons. When you are associated with ethical people who work in the same or similar field you can refer clients to them (when you are unable or unwilling to work with them) and you can also discuss issues (like this one) with them and get other points of view that are trustworthy.

• Be clear in your terms-how do you work? What do you do? What are your rates? What happens if a client is not satisfied? What can you be held accountable for? What can you not be held accountable for? Being clear about these terms in your literature and on your website cuts through a lot of potential confusion.

• Call in reinforcements. Are you working with someone who needs to see a medical doctor, who requires legal advice or who needs to undergo psychological evaluation? If so, as an intuitive professional it is your duty to tell the client this and to work with them on the understanding (and in some cases with actual proof) that they are receiving the help they need from other experts.

• Know when to stop—there are people who will seek out reading after reading because they aren’t getting the answers they want or there are those who seek intuitive services for life altering decisions that require more input than your neighborhood tarot reader can possibly provide. Know when a client needs to stop seeking out readings and do not be afraid to tell them-with kindness and firmness.

• Know who you can help and who you can’t. My experience of the intuitive field is that its full of people who genuinely want to help. But we cannot help everyone. Develop an understanding of what you do well and what you are not as gifted at-serve the people you are meant to serve and if someone comes to you wanting something that you cannot provide-be honest about that.

As in any other field, tragedies can and do happen. Ms. Browne made a series of decisions that has now led to a loss of face and to the knowledge that she has caused a family who has already gone through hell, even more deep pain. It is my sincere hope that those of us working in the intuitive field can learn from this and allow the event to shine light on our practices and our professionalism.

As king fishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.

I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is –
Christ. For Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men’s faces.

Gerard Manley Hopkins

(one of my favorite poems & poets ever)

Did you guys know its teacher appreciation week? It is, it is! (The things you become aware of when your little one starts “school”…) I know that all of my readers have teachers that they love, adore, and cherish and it’s a very good idea to give them some extra love this week. In that spirit, today I am going to focus on one teacher that came into my life a couple of years ago and has completely helped me revamp my approach to business, making money, and being of service-Ms. Erika Lyremark, fondly known to her students as “The Whip” or in some cases “The Whipstress”.

I could go on for pages about Erika’s awesomeness but I thought that the best way to (re)introduce my readers to her work is by talking about the book that she just published: Think Like a Stripper…. You can buy it right here. In her full life Erika has had many adventures and some of her best took place in the years she worked as a stripper-in fact, it was at the pole and on the dance floor that Erika discovered her intuitive knack for business and along the way uncovered a treasure trove of tricks that speak to ALL types of business-from the buttoned up to the bare-assed.

Think Like a Stripper reads FAST-its hilarious and full of actionable tips that really will get you thinking more clearly about your business-whatever that may be. I read the book in an hour and I have a two year old! One of the things about the book that I loved the best is that it cuts through a bunch of touchy-feely crap and gets right down to the brass tacks of making money-because…no money=no business. I love this about Erika. She is a thoughtful, smart, savvy woman and she is not afraid to talk about the cold, hard cash.

As a veteran of many different “improve your biz” type programs and having held conversations with my fairshare of business coaches I can say that Erika’s upfront deal-making and cash craving is SO refreshing. I honestly do not know any solo-preneur and very few entrepreneurs that are greedy and only out for them selves, but I know a TON of people who get so caught up in a tangled mess of feelings about money that they do everything in the power to avoid the issue altogether. Erika cuts (or lashes her whip) straight through that. Her goal is to have more women happy dancing in their stilletoes (or in my case bare feet) and she knows that the best way to make that happen is to build a solid foundation under your business.

So how do you build a solid foundation under your business? You realize that making money is not about what bikini you wear (say what? Read the book.) and it may involve a Texas Tease or two (again, read the book.) Creating the business of your dreams that gives to you and allows you to give back is all predicated on you finding crystal clarity on your Red Carpet Dream-this is the WHY behind your WHAT-and its one of the most important business revelations you can have.

I know that my business is as successful as it is today (2013 was our highest grossing year yet-BOOM!) in part because of Erika’s support and smart teachings. While Think Like a Stripper is ideal for anyone who is running their own business its also a really good book for everyone-whether you are working for a big company or scraping by at the filling station this gem will get you thinking about your work and earning power in a whole new light.

My favorite part of the book though deals with the overall theme of getting naked for money.

Because if you own/run/live and breathe a business then you are getting naked for money. You are baring your heart and soul each and everyday and that takes incredible ovarios and bravery. I see this in Erika-she is 1000% devoted to her craft, her students, and her message-THAT is inspiring.

One of my dearest long-time mentors is a beautiful belly dancer (do you see a theme here)? One time we were talking about artistry and business and she said it was like the above painting of Athena by Klimt-on the one hand you wear your full body of armor (and if its shiny and fabulous looking that can only help), but then, you also hold yourself forward perfectly and completely naked (like the little Athena standing in the palm of the Goddess’ hand. This is the central message in Think Like a Stripper-and its one that will benefit you each and every time.

There are some things that are just mean to go together: peas and carrots, peanut butter and jelly, ketchup and fries and…divination and ritual.

Most people know what divination is-and a growing number of individuals are using tools like tarot cards on a regular basis to gain insight and clarity and where they are now and where they are likely to head in the future.

This makes me so happy. I believe that divination tools like tarot cards assist us in tapping into the well of our own inner knowing-a well that goes back to ancient times when divinatory arts were considered sacred and powerful because intuition was recognized as a force that could improve our lives, lead us to better decisions, and ultimately increase our chances for happiness.

And yet…if you do play with a divination tool like tarot cards, have you ever found yourself in this situation: you pull some cards for yourself or a friend and the cards you receive indicate that the situation may be blocked or delayed or that the dreams and goals in question may be unlikely to manifest at this point in time?

At this point in a reading the question is always the same: what can I do? A skilled reader may be able to point out a few practical tweaks or modifications for you but the cards are what they are. Perhaps its time to throw up your hands-let go and let God OR perhaps its time to get familiar with divination’s twin sister-ritual.

Ritual, especially magical rituals have a dubious reputation at best. On one end of the spectrum are our ancient memories which recognize on some level the vitality of performing a ritual act-as a way to change one’s immediate circumstances, as a way to empower oneself, as a way to connect to the Divine, and to honor specific seasons, events, and beings local to where we live, love, and work. On the other hand, magic ritual is all too easily dismissed as a fringe element or even a Satanic practice.

We should pay heed to our ancient memories-ritual acts can be simple, straightforward and incredibly powerful reminder of the cosmos and our place in it as well as the divine purpose that Spirit has laid out for us. I like thinking of ritual as a specific act, performed with a set intention, that seeks to attract the attention of Spirit and say “hello, I’m here and trying to nail it-please help!” And ritual and divination have always gone hand in hand.

It only makes sense when you think about it-there are many, many ritual forms in every specific cultural and linguistic tradition. There are different forms because rituals address different areas of life-there are ritual acts to bring back a lover, to bless a child, to increase one’s personal wealth, to make a person magnetic, to honor the land, to devote oneself to a spiritual path and on and on. Divination is an art form that for ages was used primarily as a diagnostic tool and part of what a good diviner was able to diagnose was what specific ritual would be appropriate for a given situation.

This entire system is predicated on the belief that every one of us has a unique and coherent being-ness and that our beings, while they do have much in common, also greatly partake of nuance and particularity. For instance, two women who come to me suffering from heartbreak are quite unlikely to walk away with the same ritual recommendations because they are two different people, dealing with two very different situations that in turn involve equally different individuals-see what I mean about nuance?

This is where the worker who is familiar with both divination and ritual can come in handy-a reader who is also a proficient magical worker can use her tools (whatever they may be) to “diagnose” your specific situation and, if she knows how to work her system correctly, it will give her the information she needs to recommend specific ritual acts to bless, honor, and move things along.

Within the world of Sacred Arts divination is one entire branch of study and ritual magic is another-but perhaps because I have seen the benefits personally of bringing these two powerful modes together I advocate for their integration. Its my passion to teach ritualists more about divination and readers more about magical ritual. There are courses you can take (hint, hint, I’m offering one this summer!) But you can also start the practice of integrating ritual with divination at any time.

Try this:

Pick an area of your life where you are feeling stuck and pull a tarot card on it. Before you pull a card ask yourself or Spirit “what can I do about this situation?”then pull the card.

Now, study the card, pay attention to the colors, images, and symbols of the card. What do they immediately bring to mind? Are the colors cool and calming or warm and active? Do they bring to mind a specific element like earth, air, fire, or water?

If you are having a hard time write about the card for 10 minutes (set a timer and do not go over this amount of time). Study what you have written. Do you see a pattern emerging? Words, ideas, or an image that you keep circling back to?

Now, create a ritual based off of this card…it could be as simple as lighting a candle or more complicated like taking a spiritual bath. Maybe you walk away feeling that you need a charged talisman or charm bag-build up a ritual for yourself based on the card.

Once you have the ritual in mind procure the items you will need and pick a special day-here is a calendar of notable days this year-and then perform your ritual act.

Note how you feel before, during, and after the ritual. Pay special attention to what you are hoping the ritual will help augment or change and note if and when those changes occur.

From these few simple steps you are well on your way to creating a life full of magic and possibility!

“A ritual, the Oxford English Dictionary tells me, is ‘a prescribed order of performing religious or other devotional service.’ All that applies to my morning ritual. Thinking of it as a ritual has a transforming affect on the activity.

“It’s vital to establish some rituals — automatic but decisive patterns of behavior — at the beginning of the creative process, when you are most at peril of turning back, chickening out, giving up, or going the wrong way.

“Turning something into a ritual eliminates the question, Why am I doing this? By the time I give the taxi driver directions, it’s too late to wonder why I’m going to the gym and not snoozing under the warm covers of my bed. The cab is moving. I’m committed.” –From Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit

In her own words:  Heidi Rose Robbins has been a professional astrologer for over 15 years. In fact, she grew up learning the zodiac with her alphabet. She has a practical, sensitive (and inspiring) approach to astrology and has a thriving world-wide practice. She also offers powerful, transformative Radiant Life Retreats for women twice a year in Ojai, California. She is also the founder and driving force behind the Hello Love Experiment, a world-wide effort to encourage people to meet the world and one another, first and foremost, with love. It is her passion and commitment to speak of the depth of who we are and to grow  into the next outrageous blossoming of our true selves. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their two children.

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O, the month of May, the merry month of May,

So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green!

O, and then did I unto my true love say,

Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my Summer’s Queen.

Now the nightingale, the pretty nightingale,

The sweetest singer in all the forest quire,

Entreats thee, sweet Peggy, to hear thy true love’s tale:

Lo, yonder she sitteth, her breast against a brier.

But O, I spy the cuckoo, the cuckoo, the cuckoo;

See where she sitteth; come away, my joy:

Come away, I prithee, I do not like the cuckoo

Should sing where my Peggy and I kiss and toy.

O, the month of May, the merry month of May,

So frolic, so gay, and so green, so green, so green;

And then did I unto my true love say,

Sweet Peg, thou shalt be my Summer’s Queen.

Psst! Make sure you are signed up for my newsletter because I will be sending out a fun article on May Day traditions and a coupon!