Also known as Beltan, Bealtain, Mayday
Associated deities-:Stag Lord, The Green Man, Jack in the Green,
May Queen
Associated herbs-: frankincense, roses, lemonbalm, lemon thyme
Associated stones-: quartze crystal, sunstone, orange calcite, malachite
Beltane which means 'fire in the sky', is a major fire and fertility
festival when we welcome summer and celebrations begin at sunset
on 30th April. It is the second most important Sabbat after Samhain
when the veil between the worlds is once again at its thinest. But
at Beltain it is believed that mischeivous elves and faries make
them selves known and care should be taken in magickal workings.
Fires were burned as beacons across the land to symbolise the suns
return to the sky and fertility to the land. Livestock were driven
between the fires to protect them from disease. To the ancient fertility
was a matter of life and death and so the sick and frail also passed
between the fires to obtain the suns healing blessings.
Beltain is a time when two halves come together to make a whole
and in some traditions a girl is chosen to represent the May Queen
and a boy to represent the Stag Lord and thus the marriage of the
God and Goddess. It is a common time for 'handfastings' or marriages.The
maypole is a symbol of the male phalus and a circle of flowers is
placed on top and ribbons then woven around as the circle, representing
the female slowly makes its way down the pole. The pole is then
kept in the centre of the village untill next years beltain celebrations
when it is burned on the fire. Gardens are also blessed at this
time and baskets made up and delivered to the elderly.
Celebration ideas:
Celebrate outside or use a potted plant or tree. Use a dark green
alter cloth and decorate the alter with flowers of the season. Use
green candles in rings of flowers and a bunch of flowers to cast
circle. Spend time learning about the Gods and Goddesses. Also look
at colour correspondences which is the most common way to enhanse
magick, also observe these in nature around you. Choose a tree to
be your tree, watch it throughout the year and the turning of the
seasons, sit under it and meditate or do your magickal workings
and celebrations here.
