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Beltane

May Day, Beltan, Bealtaine, Walpurgisnacht

Beltane is considered the last of the fertility Spring fertility Sabbats and when people, animals, and plants prepare for the warm months ahead. This is the time for love, union, and the Maypole. A great fertility festival and also a common time for Handfasting.

Beltane is also normally considered the second most important Sabbat in the WItches' calender after Samhain. Again, it is an intercalary day when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is thin. But whereas Samhain is a time for greeting and celebrating those who have passed, Beltane is a time when the more mischievous spirits may take advantage.

This is also the festival of the fire God Bel. Bel has been worshipped under many names in all parts of the world for thousands of years: Bel, Beli, Balar, Balor, Belenus, Baal, and Belial. Beltane is the night in which the old hearth fires were extinguished and new ones were kindled from the Bel fire. These fires were placed on the top of hills and produced a chain of beacons which ran across the land. Cattle would be driven between the fires and people would leap over them to ensure fertility for the coming season.

Also for many, this is now the time where the Goddess takes on her robes of Mother, the God descends to reign beside his Queen and the marriage of the Goddess and the God is celebrated.





TIMES

May 1st



DECORATIONS

* Traditional colors of red, white, and bright green
* Trees adorned with ribbons
* Bowl of floating flowers & candles
* Flower Wreaths
* Crows of Flowers


ACTIVITIES

* You may likely be fortunate enough to find a May Day celebration around you. Although watered down, they still contain the seeds of the old ways.
* Distribute flower petals from your decorations around the house for protection
* Study color correspondences
* Maypole dancing
* Throw a May Day party with dancing and games.


FOOD & DRINK

Traditional Wine & Bread



BELTANE RITUALS

A Beltane Ritual

by Kate West

By far the most obvious was of celebrating Beltan in a traditional way is to perform the Great Rite. For this you will need a Chalice of wine and an Athame. Find a time and a place where you will be undisturbed.
Ask for the support of the elements and then visualize the Goddess in her robes of Mother, warm and caring, strong and full of grace, and ask her to be present at your rite. Visualize the God as a young man full of strength and energy and ask him also to be with you.
Take your Chalice and hold it in both hands in front of you at eye level. Focus on the image of the Goddess and say, "Behold the Chalice, symbol of the Goddess, the Great Mother who brings fruitfulness and knowledge to all."
Put down the Chalice and take your Athame. Hold this in both hands in front of you, blade pointing upwards, also at eye level, and, focusing on the image of the God, say, "Behold the Athame, symbol of the God, the All Father who brings energy and strength to all."
Then change the position of your Athame so that you are holding the blade downwards in your right, or strong, hand, take the Chalice in the other hand and, lowering the blade into the wine, say, "Joined in union together, they bring life to all."
Kiss the handle of your Athame, say, "Blessed Be", and then put it down.
Next take a sip of your wine whilst meditating on the roles of the Goddess and the God at this time of year.
After you have finished, remember to thank the elements and the Goddess and the God. Any remaining wine can be drunk as part of your feasting, or, if you prefer, you may take it outside and pour it on the ground as a libation.