Celebrating the Season of Beltane
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Beltane is a time of celebration and renewal, when the earth is lush and vibrant, and the energy of life is palpable. This ancient pagan holiday is traditionally celebrated on May 1st, halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. It's a time to honor the fertility of the earth, the renewal of the land, and the abundance of the coming summer.
Creating a Beltane Altar
One of the most important aspects of Beltane is the celebration of the union between the Goddess and the God. This represents the union of the masculine and feminine energies in nature, which brings about the fertility and abundance of the earth. Many people choose to create a sacred space to honor this union, either by creating a Beltane altar or by performing a ritual*.
To create a Beltane altar, you'll need to gather items that represent the themes of the holiday. This might include flowers, herbs, ribbons, candles, and symbols of fertility such as eggs or seeds. You can also incorporate images of the Goddess and the God, or other deities associated with Beltane. As you arrange your items on the altar, you might want to say a prayer or offer a blessing for the renewal and abundance of the earth.
A Beltane ritual might involve the lighting of a bonfire, which represents the energy of the sun and the warmth of the coming summer. You might also choose to dance around the fire, or to perform a ritual that honors the union of the Goddess and the God. This might involve the use of sacred symbols, such as the Maypole, which represents the phallic energy of the God and the fertility of the earth.
In addition to the creation of a sacred space or ritual, there are many other ways to celebrate Beltane. You might choose to spend time in nature, perhaps by taking a hike or a picnic in a park. You might also decorate your home with flowers, ribbons, and other symbols of spring and renewal.
Setting Intentions at Beltane
Another way to celebrate Beltane is to focus on your own personal renewal and growth. This might involve setting intentions for the coming summer, or creating a vision board that represents your goals and dreams. You might also choose to take part in a Beltane meditation, which can help you connect with the energy of the earth and the cycles of nature.
At the heart of Beltane is the celebration of the abundance and fertility of the earth. Whether you choose to create a sacred space, perform a ritual, or simply spend time in nature, the key is to honor the energy of renewal and growth that surrounds us during this special time of year. By tapping into this energy, you can invite more abundance and joy into your life, and cultivate a deeper connection to the natural world around you.
How will you be celebrating Beltane this spring?
Recommended Reading
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year: From Samhain to Yule, Your Guide to the Wiccan Holidays by Judy Ann Nock
The Modern Guide to Witchcraft: Your Complete Guide to Witches, Covens, and Spells by Skye Alexander
The Modern Witchcraft Spell Book: Your Complete Guide to Crafting and Casting Spells by Sky Alexander
Cross-Quarter Days and The Wheel of the Year
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The Wheel of the Year is divided into eight seasonal celebrations. Four of these seasons (Yule, Ostara, Litha and Mabon) align with either a solstice or equinox. The other four seasonal celebrations (Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh) are midpoints within a season, also known as a cross-quarter day. These four days are rooted in ancient Irish Celtic culture as seasonal fire festivals. Today, the cross-quarter days offer an opportunity to pause reflect, set intentions, and give thanks.
Early Origins of the Cross-Quarter Days
Seasonal observances are largely universal in ancient cultures. Astrology, lunar phases and seasonal changes all served as a guide for ancient communities. Planting, harvesting and hunting were all done in cadence with these monthly and seasonal changes happening throughout the year.
In Irish lore, cross-quarter days are also known as the ancient Celtic fire festivals, as bonfires figure prominently in the celebration of each one. It’s important to note that according to Irish mythology, the ancient Irish Celts marked the start of each season with these fire festivals, rather than viewing them as a midpoint for each season. As Christianity spread throughout Europe in the early Middle Ages the traditional fire festivals/ cross-quarter days were incorporated into the Church calendar as various saints days. As late as the 19th Century, cross-quarter days were when British and Irish tradition servants hired, rents due and school terms started.
Cross Quarter Days and The wheel of the year
Within the Wheel of the Year, cross-quarter days each fall exactly at the midpoint (cross) of each season (quarter). Samhain is the midpoint between Autumn and Winter; Imbolc is the midpoint between Winter and Spring; Beltane is the midpoint between spring and summer; Lughnasadh is the midpoint between summer and autumn. Today, modern pagans and those following a nature based spiritual path observe these seasonal midpoints in a variety of ways, including festivals, parties and feasting.
One of the reasons I follow the Wheel of the Year is because I am drawn to the natural cadence of the seasons. My energy ebbs and flows with natural sunlight and I draw strength from the long periods of rest in the darker months. The cross-quarter days are always a time of transition for me - it is when I balance being present and enjoying the current season, while also looking ahead and thinking about what I need to get done.
Do you follow the Wheel of the Year? Share in the comments below or over on Instagram
References & Recommended Reading
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year (affliate link)
https://www.almanac.com/quarter-days-and-cross-quarter-days
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/halloween-derived-from-ancient-celtic-cross-quarter-day/ https://www.learnreligions.com/quarter-days-and-cross-quarter-days-2562061
More about the wheel of the year
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Creativity By The Sea
Hello Friends,
I hope this finds you well and safe. I have left the mountains and headed to the sea this week for a much needed break. One of the best kept secrets of Maine is going Downeast for a visit, especially in the off season. Right now all the coastal towns are sleepy and quiet and it’s a great time to go exploring.
I always love being near the ocean. It’s an entirely different energy than the towering pines and sloping mountains that surround my home. But at the same time, being near the ocean is as familiar as visiting with an old friend.
I’m taking advantage of my vacation to do some purely fun creative activities. Along with writing, I’ve been sketching out several new printables and begun work on the theme for the 2023 Wheel of the Year / Pagan Planner (I can’t commit to a name for it yet). I’ve also been working on my book outline and just thoroughly enjoying this opportunity to immerse myself in the thing that light up my soul. My creative adventure is off and running!
A New Wheel of the Year Printable
This week’s printable is probably my favorite one to date. I wanted a cheat sheet for the seasons, Wheel of the Year and the various moon names. I hope you like it!
A New Favorite
In the spirit of Beltane, I wanted to share a lovely Youtube channel that I recently discovered: Bealtaine Cottage. The host of the channel is a woman named Colette O'Neill who is also an author and just all around lovely to listen to. She has transformed an old Irish cottage into an amazing permaculture garden. Her content is a mix of gardening, paganism, and sustainability along with tidbits of her own life.
I hope you have a lovely rest of your day and I’ll see you next week!