Ann Wilson - Life in the Fast Lane

Happy Beltane - May 1st

 Beltane blessings to all.

Beltane is a major Pagan festival called a Sabbat. It is the union of the God and Goddess. The word Beltane means Bel's Fire or Bright Fire. It is named after the God Bel an ancient Celtic Sun God. It is primarily a fire festival and it is traditional to build a fire on Beltane night to honour the Sun Gods.

Beltane is a fertility festival, This is the time when the God and Goddess come together, The God plants his seed and the Goddess will become pregnant with the harvest to come in the next few months. Beltane is the height of Spring and the beginning of Summer. Earths energy is very strong and potent at the minute with new life is blossoming and blooming everywhere you look. Beltane is the start of the farming calendar.

Fire is believed to have purifying qualities, it cleanses and rejuvenates both the land and the people. The ritual welcoming of the sun and the lighting of fires was also believed to ensure fertility of the land and the people. Animals were transferred from winter pens to summer pastures, and were driven between the Beltane fires to cleanse them of evil spirits and to bring fertility and a good milk yield.

In Celtic times it would be traditional to build a big bonfire in the centre of the village and have a big feast, young men and women would dance around the maypole, the pole represents the God while the ribbons wrapped around the pole represent the Goddess. On Beltane many people would marry in a handfasting (Pagan wedding) People wishing to find love or conceive would jump over a Belfire for luck in love and fertility.

Light a small belfire on Beltane and make wishes into the flames. Let the fire burn itself out. Burn anything that has negative connotations in the fire. You can also write down any messages we want to tell passed loved ones and burn them in the Belfire and the message is said to reach them in the Summerlands.

On our alters we would put things that are of polarity to represent the God and Goddess, Sun and Moon, Male and Female, Masculine and Feminine, light and dark. Black, yellow, orange or gold candles to represent the God and white, blue and silver candles to represent the Goddess. Fill your alters with birds feathers that fall around at this time and any wild plants that have sprouted.

On Beltane we celebrate the abundance of the earth, it is a happy time when we give thanks for all we have in our lives and look forward to the bright sunny days ahead. We celebrate the coming together of the God and the Goddess and the gifts they will bestow upon the earth when the Goddess will become pregnant and give birth to the harvest to come.

May your Beltane be memorable and your hearts and spirits be filled to overflowing. May the God and Goddess watch over you.

From Wicca Teachings~