| BELTANE Traditionally April 30th or May 1st. Beltane / May Day Other names: Valpurga, Mean Erraigh, Bealteinne, Beltaine, Beltainnne, Roodmas, Calin Mai Beltane means "bright fire" or "lucky fire" The origin of the name is in some doubt. Cormac, archbishop of Cashel , in 900 CE, suggested it was a combination of the name of the God Bel (Baal or Bil) with the Celtic word teine, meaning fire. It is spelled variously Beltane, Beltene, Beltine, Beal-Tene, or Bealltain. Also known as Walpurgisnacht, Rood Day, Rudemas, and May Day, this is one of the eight Greater Sabbats of Witchcraft. In early times, the year was roughly divided into two halves: the summer months, when it was possible to grow crops, and the winter months, when it was necessary to resort to hunting for food. The fertility goddess was predominant in the former and the horned god in the latter. The seasons changed at Beltane (May Eve) and Samhain (November Eve), which remain the two greatest of the Wiccan festivals. Beltane was certainly the beginning of summer for the Celts. It was the second of their four festivals (after Imbolc, on February Eve), and a time to placate the god Belenos. This was done with gifts, rituals, and with offerings of cakes and severed heads, which the Celts believed could plead with the god for the living. Cattle were driven through the purifying smoke of ritual balefires of oak and green yew for health and fecundity. The festival was associated with fertility, for both animals and crops. Bel was "the bright one," with Sun-like qualities, although not actually a Sun god, according to the Farrars (who mention that in Ireland no one could light a Beltane fire until the first one had been lit, on Tara Hill, by the High King). Choral dances were performed by the Druids, honoring the Sun. The fire had to be started with friction, rubbing two sticks together, or by striking flint. The Irish sometimes refer to the Beltane fire as teine eigin, meaning "fire from rubbing sticks." Jumping over the balefire was one of the traditions of Beltane and, indeed, of most of the main festivals. Individuals would leap across the flames to ensure fertility and good health, and as a spiritual cleansing for protection in the coming year. Couples would take hands and leap together, believing that in so doing their marriages would be sealed in health and happiness. Cattle and sheep would be driven between two fires, or through the ashes of one. The central theme of Beltane seems to have been sexuality and fertility. It was, in the early days of Witchcraft, very much a time for ritual coupling. On the festival eve, men and women would go out to search for flowers and green boughs, often staying out overnight. Phillip Stubbes, the Puritan, commented in Anatomie of Abuses (1583): "I have heard it credibly reported by men of great gravitie, credite and reputation that of fourtie, three score or a hundred maides goying to the woode ouer night, there have scarcely the third pare of them returned home againe unde-filed." The people's view is aptly summed up in Rudyard Kipling's words, adopted by modern Wiccans as their "May Eve Chant," and sometimes sung as they danced around the Maypole: Oh, do not tell the priests of our rites For they would call it sin; But we will be in the woods all night A-conjurin' Summer in! On the first day of May the Romans would pay homage to their Lares, or household gods. Homage was also paid to Maia, daughter of Atlas and one of the Pleiades. By Zeus, Maia became mother of Hermes. She gave her name to the month of May. The Druids Calendar urges you to "drink from a well before sunrise. Wash in the morning dew, and adorn yourselves with greenery ... watch the sun come up, dance round the Maypole, and otherwise abandon yourself to the season. A woodland frolic culminating in indiscretion is the order of the day." Washing in the early ^morning dew was a popular Beltane practice, and was believed to make the bather more beautiful. Samuel Pepys, in his famous diary, refers to this practice. Many Witches also gather the dew, to use in potions and spells. The hawthorn was associated with Beltane. Graves comments that "its later orgiastic use .. . corresponds with the cult of the Goddess Flora, and . . . accounts for the English medieval habit of riding out on May morning to pluck hawthorn boughs and dance round the maypole. Hawthorn blossom has, for many men, a strong scent of female sexuality." Excerpt from: THE WITCH BOOK The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca and Neo- Paganism by Raymond Buckland Visible Ink Press From Silver RavenWolf's SOLITARY WITCH: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation Llewllyn Worldwide $21.95 Beltane Invocation: Light a fire in the cauldron. Turn to the east and say: Out of the east the sun wells and whitens, the darkness trembles into light, and the stars are extinguished like the lamps of a human city. The whitness brightens into silver, the silver warms into gold, the gold kindles into pure and living fire, and the face of the east is covered with elemental scarlet. The day draws its first breath, steady and chill, and for leagues around, the woods and valleys will sigh and shiver. From every side the shadows will leap from their ambush and fall prone. The day of prosperity has come! This I give to thee, O sacred fire, so that I and my family shall be spared from all evil. Walk around the cauldron three times, then repeat the following invocation: Maypole rises to the heavens, lengths of colored ribbon flutter in the morning sunlight tokens kept and given. Costumed Lords and Ladies step quickly deosil round weaving love and harmony as the sun goes down. Circle in to touch the sky, and out to manifest spiral dance around the ring grant me my request! Venus rules, her passions deep in love and games of war Taurus vows that he will keep great riches at the door. Cupid's bow is pointed to shoot right through the heart Aphordite's sceneted lips breathe "Romance is an art" Circle in to touch the sky, and out to manifest spiral dance around the ring grant me my request! The maypole is the World Tree, Poteau Mitan of lore that draws from ebony oceans starts to earthen shore and carries power to the dance through streamers of each hue the spark of life that is required to make a Witch's brew. Circle in to touch the sky, and out to manifest spiral dance around the ring grant me my request! Circle in to touch the sky, and out to manifest spiral dance around the ring, grant me my request! The first dew of the morning and towan on the ledge are secrets of the season renewing each year's pledge of joy and peace within my hom prosperity and more magick thunders from my palms and penetrates the core. Circle in to touch the sky, and out to manifest spiral dance around the ring grant me my request! Deosil thrice around the bonfire leap the roaring flame cast off the old and birth the new in God and Goddess' name. Protection for the animals good fortune, healing too Bonnach Bealltain, an offering to make my dreams come true. Circle in to touch the sky, and out to manifest spiral dance around the ring grant me my request! Other Beltane Ideas:
Beltane occurs when the sun is in the earthly, fixed sign of Taurus. Any magick done now will last and work hard for a long time. This is an excellent time of the year for prosperity work, for adding to the stability of your lifestyle, and making those needed repairs around the house. HOW TO MAKE A MAYPOLE Try to "find" a downed heavy branch at least 9 - 13 feet tall. Make sure it is sturdy and dry (not rotted) and remove any side branches. This should be one straight pole. It is preferably to "find one" and not cut one from a living tree. If you must cut one, first ask permission from the tree and leave an offering of silver to the tree and the tree spirits for this gift. Typically, the High Priest (or male covener) will sit, holding the Maypole straight up from between his legs. Before the Maypole is raised, everyone in the coven or group ties their individual color ribbon to the very top of the pole. Ribbon colors are chosen based on what you would like to manifest for the coming year. For example red or pink for love, green or gold for prosperity, white for healing and protection, blue for peace, etc. You can even write your intention onto the ribbon. Ribbons should be 13 ft - 15 ft in length. When everyone has tied their ribbons, the pole is raised. Coveners stand in a circle with their ribbons extended as far as they can go. People stand alternated directions with each person. Then, you start the dance. Person facing east will go over, person facing west will go under, and it will alternate with each person you pass. Always going over and under. As you are doing this, you will notice that you are all "weaving" your ribbons onto the Maypole! You should sing or chant as you are dancing and weaving your ribbons and spells around the Maypole. When you are finished, tie your ribbon off to the bottom. (remember to leave enough ribbon to make a good knot!) After the last person has finished, the Maypole is complete! Keep the entire Maypole with the ribbons for the following year and add to it! Your May Pole then becomes a beautiful and magickal work of art! |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
