Beltane Magick

Beltane, the last of the fertility festivals and the marriage of the God and Goddess. Their union will give rise to the fruit we will gather in the harvest. This festival falls opposite Samhain. These were the two most important celebrations on the Celtic Calendar, marking the beginning and the end of the two recognized seasons. Even though this is the festival that celebrates life above all else, there are some who think this is a celebration of the Irish death god, Beltene. Alternately, the name could come from the Welsh god Beli who like Lugh is a sun god.

The Celtic fire god, Belanos or Beli could also be the reason for the name Beltane. This last one could link with the Bael fires that are lit on May Eve.

Balefires as mentioned, feature prominently in many customs. The Norse believed that a strong balefire had to be kept going until dawn. Today's Easter fires come from this tradition. In China, the old fires of the winter had to be put out on May Eve so that all communal fires could be relit on May 1st. Cold food was eaten on May Eve to ensure this practice. In Ireland, the new fire had to be relit from the balefire, to not do so was bad luck and could bring back the winter season. The Beltane balefire was also a time to purify your tools, passing them through the smoke, re-energizing them for use. This can be mimicked by using Beltane incense and can also be used to purify yourself before the Sabbat ritual. The Balefire ashes were spread around the fields to protect them from plague and pestilence and to bless the fields with fertility. Infertile women would gather some of these ashes to hang in a bag around there neck. Whether it not worked for these women, the increased nitrogen in the soil ensure a fertile crop! This was time for fertility spells and charms. Women would ride their besoms, hobbyhorse style through the fields to sweep away any negativity and to bring fertility to the land.

In other traditions, this was a time of the Goddess of flowers ,Flora and the God Bacchus, he of wine and partying. In this token, the flowers gathered from the previous May day were made into potent wine and drank amid celebrations on the 1st of May. New flowers and plants gathered on this day were fermented into next years celebratory wine.

All single women were adorned with flowers. The young men who wished to make their intentions known who would scale the Alpine slopes to gather Edelweiss to present to his intended. If she accepted then they were as good as betrothed.

May Eve in Germanic lands was called Walburga's Eve. Walburga was the Teutonic Mother Earth Goddess who was thought to marry the God on this night and become impregnated with her son/lover of Yule

Beltane and bells are well linked. This is the time when protection against the fae comes to the fore with daisy chains made to hang from a child's neck to protect them from being stolen away and for bells to be worn to scare them away with the sound of the bells. Those that study the fae may argue otherwise regarding the bells. However, in this fertility festival bells crop up all over the place but most noticeably with the Morris dancers who have bells attached to their ankles and dancing sticks and also those dancers who dance around the may pole. Bells for protection of the home include wind chimes and door harps which were there to scare away baneful spirits from open doors and windows.

So what about the other celebrations that are connected with this festival? The May Pole is significant in this festival of fertility and forms part of the Morris Dancing. Traditionally, it is topped with a wreath that symbolized the fertile power of nature. There are 8 ribbons, 4 white and 4 red linked to a pole. There a re two different meanings to the colours. The first is that the white represents the virgin

Goddess the red Her consort the God. Alternately, the red ribbons represent the mother aspect and the white still the virgin goddess aspect. The pole represent the phallic symbol entering the birth canal of the earth. The men hold the red ribbons, the women white, weave the birth canal together, representing the union of the lord and lady. The alternate version with the virgin/mother aspect represent the merging of the aspects as the virgin goddess's transition to motherhood. The women stand with their right side to the pole, the men, their left. The dancers now dancing moving under the ribbon and then over alternately. It is traditional for the men to start by going under the girls upheld ribbon. The dance continues until the ribbon is weaved about 18 inches down the pole or the ribbons too short to continue. The dance is almost a skip to ensure that the bells around the ankles ring out. If you ever wondered why the Morris dancers carried poles with ribbons and flowers attached, the answer is simple. These staffs are smaller versions of the May pole.

May garlands and May dolls are also traditional at Beltane. The May Garland is symbolic of summer and is made from bright ribbons, fresh leaves and all the flowers that are found in this season. The May doll is suspended inside the hoop of the garland. The May doll was also used to bring luck. The doll's face was covered with lace or a white handkerchief and carried around the village. Householder were asked if they would like to see the May Lady or May Queen to bring them luck. To see the May Queen's face, the householder was expected to pay with money or a gift to have the lucky face revealed. The flower theme continues with the adorning of ritual tools. Wands and staff were decorated with flowers to be used in the Beltane ceremonies.

Another fertility symbol which is closely linked to Beltane is that of the Green Man (aka Jack-in-the -Green, the Wild Man, Green George) In England, Beltane celebrations often include a man being covered in shrubbery so that only his eyes are showing to represent Green George and he is carried in a wicker cage from which he peers out at the gathered spectators of the Beltane procession.

He is considered to be the bringer of summer in many traditions. Alternately, there is Jack-in-the-Green. He is the hidden one that guards the greenwood. He is associated with chimney sweeps who attend the May Day celebrations dressed in tinsel and ribbons with blackened faces. Much like Morris dancers, they dance around Jack-in-the-Green to the sound of drums, sticks and whistles. The Jack-in-the-Green figure is made from a wicker cage covered in shrubbery. Traditionally, this should be made by the sweeps themselves.

There are numerous other myths attached to this nature spirit all connected to the fertility of the land and the harvest to come.

So, now you know some of the myths and lore behind Beltane. What now follows are some rituals that are appropriate for this festival. I have directed these towards the solitary practitioner but you can adapt these to fit yourself or a group celebration. Also there are recipes and ideas for making things for yourself and your altar to help you to connect with this special festival.

Prepare you ritual space as you normally would but this time dedicate it to the May Season. You can call upon the May Queen and King rather than specific Deities. It is suggested that that for this you need two Altar cloths, one black to represent the darkness of procreation from whence all things manifest. Over this place a cloth of the colour that to you represents May and Spring. Upper left and right place green candles to represent the Goddess and God respectively. You may want to place statues of your chosen deities next to their respective candle but that is up to you. When casting your circle, you may want to mark it with flowers. Set the third green candle in the centre of your altar. When you are ready to start, light the centre candle and take your wand or athame and trace a triangle in the air over the altar and say:

I acknowledge and align with the forces of this May season. I am in Nature and Nature is within me. As the season grows to fullness from this day forward, so do to all my endeavors grow into a rich harvest to come.

Beautiful Goddess of this May season, majestic God of this May season, I ask your blessings upon this sacred space that I establish in your honour.

Call upon the elements or open the elemental gates as you would normally and either adapt your usual call to suit or you can ring a bell three times at each quarter and then say:

I call out into the mist of the Hidden Realms, and conjure you spirits of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Gather now at this sacred circle, and grant me union with your powers

If you use quarter candles in your circle then light them now from the altar candle, asking each element to watch and protect you. Now return to your altar. You may want to tap your altar three times with your wand and then declare that your circle is cast but that is up to you.

At this joyous time, I welcome the return of the Goddess, the Queen of May. With her coming, flowers bloom and life is renewed upon the earth.

Season unto season, year unto year, all cycles pass one into the other. The Goddess has returned to Her Hidden Children of Time. The Queen of May ever bestows love and peace, fullness and promise of renewal.

My Lady, all power is given to You, for this is so ordained. And with love there is submission to Your ways, and reign is given over into Your hands.

Whenever there is need of anything, once in the month when the moon is full, then shall due worship be given to She who is Queen of all.

Here inside a circle, secrets that are as yet untold shall be revealed. And the mind must be free and also the spirit. For this is the essence of spirit and the knowledge of joy.

Truth to one's beliefs is the keeper of the Ways, holding true despite all obstacles. For the Ways are the Keys to the Mysteries and to the cycle of rebirth, which opens the way to the Womb of Enlightenment.

In life does the Queen reveal the knowledge of spirit. And from death does the Queen deliver one to peace.

It is right to give offerings to She who is our mother. For She is the beauty of the Green Wood, and the light of the moon among the stars, and the mystery which gives life, and draws one to Her name

Her worship is within the heart, and all acts of love and pleasures are rituals to the Goddess. But to seek her, desire is not enough until the secret is realized. Because if what one seeks is not found within, one will never find it from without. For She has been within the path you first entered, and She is that which awaits at the journey's end.

Then take a chalice of wine, whisper the name (or title) of the Goddess upon the surface of the wine, and then drink. By this act, She passes into your inner self.

Continue your ritual celebrations as you desire finishing with a small meal of cakes and wine (this can be after you dissolve the circle).

Thank the elements for their help and protection as you would normally before releasing them or if you have used the one suggested above, ring the bell three times starting in the North, salute with your athame and say:

You may well want to perform the Great Rite (see after Things to Make) since Beltane is about the marriage and union of the God and Goddess

This is just one suggestion and you may want to alter it to suit your own needs and path!

May Wine

Obtain a bottle of white wine (not Chardonay)

Pour into a a large glass container with a lid.

Slice 12 bruised strawberries.

Add the strawberries and a few sweet woodruff leaves to the wine and chill for several hours to allow the flavour to develop.

Making a May Cup

This takes about 2 hours for the mix to settle.

4 glasses white wine.

8 glasses of cider

1 glass of brandy

1 orange, sliced

½oz Ladies Bedstraw (Galium vernum)

Mix the alcohol together. Then add the orange slices and ladies bedstraw. Leave for 2 hours in a cool place to settle and then filter into a jug.

Traditional Main Dishes for May Celebration

Vegetarian: Mushrooms with pasta, seasoned with onion, celery, pepperocini and basil

Meat dishes: fish, lamb or pork

Bacchus Pudding

4 eggs

1¼ cups confectioner's sugar

2½ cups sweet white wine

½ cinnamon stick

3 whole cloves

300°F Pre-heat

Beat eggs well and leave to rest until the foam subsides. Boil the sugar and wine together with the cloves and cinnamon stick for 5 minutes. Set aside until cool. Remove the cinnamon and cloves. Press the eggs through a sieve to remove any remaining foam and impurities. Blend the mixture well. Pour into custard cups and set them in a baking pan. Fill the pan to 1" up the side of the cups with water. Bake for 35 minutes until the puddings have set and the skewer comes out nearly clean

Oat Cakes (Bannocks)

4oz medium oatmeal

Pinch of salt

2 pinches of baking soda

2 tsp melted fat (bacon fat is traditional but choose as appropriate)

¾ tbsp hot water

Additional Oatmeal for kneading

Mix the Oatmeal, salt and soda. Pour the melted fat into the middle of the mixture. Stir well and add enough water to make a stiff paste. Turn the mixture out onto an oatmeal dusted work surface. work quickly as the paste becomes difficult to work when cool. Divide into 2 parts. Knead one half into a ball, covering hands in oatmeal to prevent sticking. Roll out to ¼" thick. Put a plate that is slightly smaller than the frying pan you will be using over the rolled out mixture and cut around the edge. Cut the circular oatcake into quarters and place into a heated, lightly grease pan and cook for 3 minutes, until the edges curl slightly and turn to cook the other side. Prepare another oak cake whilst this is cooking. Alternately, oven bake for 30 minutes or brown at the edges @ 375°F/190°C. Store in tin and reheat before serving

You need two 3 foot lengths of white or red ribbon and several small bells. Lace the bells through the ribbon until they are at the centre. Wrap each ribbon around your ankle and tie in a bow.

1x 1¼" flathead screw (you will need to adjust length in accordance to thickness of plaque to enable dowel to be fixed securely to plaque)

Attach the dowel to the plaque by screwing through the bottom of the plaque and into the dowel.

Braid the ribbon, one colour going left and the other right. Braid about 2" down and glue into place.

The Greenery goes on first. Weave, wrap, or tuck into the grapevine. Glue it in strategic places if necessary. Use fresh or dried. Moss will tuck into the grapevine easily.

Place a variety of flowers loosely around the greenery to arrange them before gluing them into place.

After all the flowers are in place, you can add your ribbons, and raffia, beads or crystals.... what ever you would like. Place your figurine in if desired. And there you have your May Wreath complete with May Doll

Depending on the weight of your garland will decide the gauge of wire required i.e. evergreens will need a thinker wire to support its weight. Myrtle for May is very appropriate as it is sacred to the fae and it is lightweight. Fresh flowers can be kept alive with regular spritzing or floral water tubes.

Assemble clumps of flowers, wrapping the stems tightly together with floral wire. Make as many as you desire to be scattered through out the garland.

Wire flower clumps to sprigs of greenery either on the main stem or to other stem parts.

Now use a continuous wire, unwinding the spool as you work. Start overlapping one sprig onto another and wire together on the thickest stem parts. Try to cover the wire wrap with greenery. Continue to wire together until the desired length is accomplished.

Now add ribbons, ribbons with bells and beads attached, beads, baubles, crystals as you so desire.

Now string the garland over the doorway or where ever you feel is best and enjoy!

Whilst I am going to describe this for the solitary practitioner, this rite can be performed by couples and is used in covens where the High Priest and Priestess perform the symbolic rite.

Since this is one of the fertility festivals it is appropriate to perform this ritual on this wonderful day. The version here is the symbolic rather than the sexual enactment of the joining of the God and Goddess. For this is required uniting the athame (masculine phallic symbol) with the chalice (Goddess/womb symbolism). This is usually filled with red wine to represent the blood of life though you can use juice or water.

Prepare yourself and your sacred space as you would for ritual work. Cast your circles and call the quarters. Now you are ready to perform the Great Rite.

Offer up the chalice with both hands towards the left side of the altar. Ask the Maiden Goddess of Ostara to bless this symbol of her womb. Visualize the energy of the Goddess infusing the chalice and its contents. When you feel this is done, replace the chalice on the altar.

Now pick up your athame with both hands and offer it towards the right side of the altar. Ask the young God of Ostara to bless the athame as a symbol of his creative energies and visualize his energy filling the blade.

Transfer the athame to your right hand and pick up your chalice. Holding them in front of you, offer your blessing for the sacred union and marriage. This is my version but make your own to suit as you wish.

Lower the blade into the chalice, knowing that this represents the union of the God and Goddess, the divine halves in union once more to create life anew. Feel the life flowing through the united symbols in your hands. Know that you are connected to the divine and you are part of them as they are you and all life.

Place the united chalice and athame on your alter and do not break their connection until the end of your rituals.

Some people leave them united until the autumnal equinox but personally, I have other uses during the year and the wine/juice tends to mark and sometimes corrode the metal.

When you have finished your Beltane rituals that you want to do, thank the guardians/elements you called letting them know that your rite is done, close the circle and go and eat.