Beltane

The Beltane season is imbued with so much meaning and so varied meanings to each of us. We offer you the views of some of our WES family.

Matthew Holbrook

Bath, UK

One of the most popular Sabbats, if event attendance is anything to go by. The real first day of summer, with the sun rising ever earlier and setting ever later. Goddess is the May Queen (the ribbons) and the May King is the God (the May Pole). Bonfires are lit for transition and purification. Animals are out again and there is a flowering of life. Only one more turn of the wheel until the sun peaks and starts its inevitable decline down to Yule.

What Beltane Means to me!

Beltane is one of my most favourite romantic celebrations - far more than valentine's day. Even though I'm a single mum now, it still echoes romance and love and a time of union. I've thought a lot about unconditional love recently and the true nature of Beltane is something that reminds me of this. Love that has no boundaries. Love of another to be who I am. It is possible to find a romantic love like that I'm sure. I know that's the kind of love I have for my children. This is a time I celebrate that love.

I celebrate Beltane itself with my friends and children. If possible to erect a maypole - I've even done a portable one when necessary. To dance and celebrate the oncoming summer, my home is decked with home made summer bunting; the kids have made summery crafts, paper sunflowers on the windows, glass painted sun bursts. A wreath of roses and white ribbons hangs on my front door.

We go for long rambling walks to collect greenery to decorate the altar. Bouquets of flowers are arranged around the room. We weave garlands of flowers and little headdresses of flowers for the girls who will all be May Queens, and the boys have greenery woven in the same way as they will all be Green Men. The Children lead the procession into the circle and we throw rose petal confetti over them singing 'summer is i' coming in'.

It heralds the start of the summer, walks, picnics, visiting summer fayres and festivals. Picking strawberries and cherries for home made jams and jellies. The evenings have long casual evening meals and suppers of salads, home made breads, fruit salads and yoghurt. We have regular pot luck evenings to gather friends together, make music and talk about life, the universe, and everything. May your Beltane be blessed and may your summer bring you the harvests you dream of.

Rachel Mayatt

Beth Washington

Beltane is Spring, it is the time of year,
For cleaning out the staleness of Winter,
For burning away what does not serve,
To rebuild anything that did splinter,

It is for planting the seeds of life,
Sowing plans for home and heart,
For bringing Hope back to the front,
And in all things make it a part.

Most of all Beltane is a time of joy,
To celebrate the Mother Earth,
Fully awakened, her fertility flows,
To a new year she's given birth.

Welcome Spring, the warming Earth,
Welcome hope, and life, and love,
Roll around in the warm green grass,
Feel the sun's blessings from high above.

And celebrate with weaving ribbons,
And with crowns of fresh spring flowers,
Release the cobwebs of Winter passed,
Let your spirit dance for hours.

Copyright 2008 by Beth Washington

Little Crocus, Tiny Crocus

Little crocus, tiny crocus,
You are the harbinger of Spring,
Your brightly colored flowers,
Make my heart just sing.

Little crocus, tiny crocus,
Pushing bravely through the snow,
Such big heart for one so small,
You're not afraid to grow,

Little crocus, tiny crocus,
All purple, yellow, or white,
No one can say that you don't try,
To make Spring cheery and bright.

Little crocus, tiny crocus,
You are the first to show your face,
A leader for all the flowers to follow,
And you do it with such grace.

Little crocus, tiny crocus,
Blessed by the Goddess you are,
You carry her message to us all,
You carry it wide and far.

Little crocus, tiny crocus,
Please carry your blessings to me,
Bringing Spring to my own garden,
And to you a Blessed Be!

Copyright 2008 by Beth Washington

 

The Goddess Is

In this world of wonders,
Wonders never cease,
And of all the wonders,
Life has the most release.

There are so many things,
That demonstrate this wonder,
Springing forth from the Earth,
From the ground down under.

The crocus breaking through,
The crust of the March snow,
Baby birds chirp for food,
As their feather begin to grow.

Salmon swims up the stream,
To the place where life began,
Male and female coming together,
Since before the dawn of man.

The wind whispering in the trees,
Ocean waves upon the sand,
Volcanos bursting from within,
Earthquakes crack the land.

From the pretty painted butterfly,
To the Eagle high in the sky,
The Goddess is in all these things,
There's no need to wonder why.

She's a drop of dew upon a leaf,
She's the ocean far and wide,
She is within all that there is,
She's the breath of life inside.

The Goddess is the air we breathe,
She is the ground beneath our feet,
She's the rain that falls gently down,
She is the fire's light and heat.

She is the mother to us all,
It's not a test or quiz,
She is everything, and more,
Because, the Goddess is.

Copyright ©2006 Beth A Washington

Thanks Beth for the lovely pictures of flowers from your garden.

Beltane
The Festival of Fertility

by Alison Sutton

As I walk in my local forest I can see and feel all of nature bursting forth with fertility. The power of its potential is palpable.

Life is manifesting everywhere and the earth's energy is at its most active. Mother earth is slipping into her cloak of green. The sap is rising!

Beltane for me is the time to tap into the potency of life's force, to celebrate the potential within me and to let the energy of growth pull me along.

When you truly live as a witch you cannot help but embrace the turning of the wheel, all it means to us and how it affects our lives on a personal level.

Beltane is the time to reach out for everything that we want to grow and manifest in our life and to leave behind the dark and anything that is not helping us progress forward.

I shall be up to see the dawn at the top of Ivinghoe Beacon, and maybe to wash my face in the dew! Cheaper than botox!

The fair maid who, on the first of May,
Goes to the fields, at the break of day,
And bathes in the dew from the Hawthorn tree,
Will ever strong and handsome be.

Bright blessings of Beltane to all x

Beltane, Divine Union

by Tina Free

Watch for
Waited for
Believed in
Powerful Magic,
Willpower focused

The May blossom confetti
Joyfully showering the beautiful Divine Union
Celebration of the container and the contained
Give, take, pull and resist
A meeting point for winter and summer
A sensing time for the known and unknown
A focused moment to beginnings and endings

Beltane, long anticipated time
With wonder and joyfulness of life's beginnings
Re-experiencing the excitement of every new flower and budding green leaf
The life force of the divine, kindling a flame in me
Taking me once again towards hot heady days
And longed for sensuous summer nights

And Birthdays
Picnics
Dancing
Long legs
Gin
Caravanning
Music
Flip flops
Green grass
Sun tans
Parties
Goddess Conference
Good friends
Lovers

Sweet and Blessed Beltane,
My heart opens to your approach
I swallow a deep breathe filled with your tender promises.
I join with you
In Devine Union we become Beltane
Blessed be

Tina April 08

WES Beltane

U.K. - Saturday 3rd May at Meare
U.S. - Sunday May 4th at Wyldwoods

Come celebrate Beltane with us and dance the Maypole.

Beltane Music

Join Heidi for a joyful celebration of love and Beltane on her radio program.