Beltane is a celebration of the coming together of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine to create the spark of new life that flows into abundance. Our Pagan ancestors have always celebrated this day to give appreciation for the coming of the summer, the crops growing in the fields and the animals giving birth. Connect with your ancestors today and think of them when you prepare your meals, perhaps even making a plate for them to enjoy.
Beltane is a time of passion and fire. Connect with your inner flame whether that be through a candle meditation or by building a bonfire. Red is a popular color correspondence for Beltane because it reveals the complex nature of fire, it is a symbol of the constant cycles or life, death and rebirth that we are a part of. Nature is coming to life and we are at the height of Spring. Babies are being born, buds are unfurling. Have you seen the lily of the valley blooming? Soft moss adorns the trees now. Flowers are not only a symbol of fertility but they are abundant this time of year and that is why this Sabbat is associated with as many flowers as you can incorporate into your life and altar. You may choose to work with a Goddess to supercharge your intentions. Goddesses of Spring like Persephone, Freya, Brigid and Flora are associated with this day. The mood is fertility and lushness. Everything around us is bursting with life. This is a time to play, relax and enjoy beautiful things. Fill your day with anything that makes you feel alive.
Beltane is a day for playing outside, hiking in the woods, making bouquets and garlands and focusing of what you wish to manifest through the summer months. You might feel like cleaning your home and burning smoke to cleanse it and welcome in fresh energy. If you have a garden or plants that you care for you can spend time with them, nourish them, finish your planting and lovingly pull weeds to create space for more growth.
This is also a perfect time to tend to your inner garden, the one that grows our intentions and dreams. Check in with yourself and where you have been mentally, emotionally and spiritually this year. Just as we work in the physical garden to pull weeds that are inhibiting growth we must do the same for ourselves. Now is the time to offer yourself the support you need to attain those inner goals. Commit to them even stronger than you have before. Be gentle with yourself but remember where your passions lie and that you are not a machine but a multi-dimensional being full of intuitive knowledge and grace.
Sabbats are generally centered around gathering with our communities and being together with the ones that make us feel aligned with our truth. Since we can’t gather so much now, we have to get creative! You can tie prayer ribbons to a tree in your yard or one near by that you can visit for your friends and family. Or leave little Beltane treats and flowers for them to find on their front porch. It is a time to create new traditions.
How are you celebrating Beltane this year?
B E L T A N E C O R R E S P O N D E N C E S
Colors: red, green, pink, brown
Animals: Cats, bees, cows, doves
Crystals: Carnelian, Aventurine, Rose Quartz
Herbs: Mint, Rose, Mugwort, really anything you feel called to work with
B E L T A N E P A P E R F L O W E R S
One way to participate in this Sabbat even if you don’t have access to fresh flowers is to make your own paper ones. Making paper flowers is a special meditation similar to picking them from the fields and gardens. You can imbue your flowers with intention as you cut and paste them together. There are lots of different ways to make paper flowers but here’s a simple technique. Materials are simple: just paper, glue, scissors and something round to trace that is no smaller than 2 inches in diameter. The great thing about this method is that you can use any paper you have laying around, just make sure it has a little bit of weight to it(like construction paper) so it can hold the moisture of the glue. Here’s a little demo!