Beltane 2009
Beltane is the time to engorge and break open the buds that you have developed over the dark season. It is time to burst forth and spread your seed widely. It is time to start the hard work you have planned. Here for your consideration are observations from some of our WES family.
Beltane History
Beltane, in the Celtic Pagan past was referred to as the night of the "Greenwood marriage". The night when it was customary for men and women to re-enact the union of the horned god and the goddess, practicing sympathetic magic, to ensure a good harvest in the coming months. There are many tales of Celtic folklore relating to this time but when doing some reading about Beltane I came across some very interesting Swedish customs, that are rather surprising, relating to this festival.
This is an excerpt from The Golden Bough, written by James Frazer.
On the eve of the festival huge bonfires, which should be lit by striking two flints together, blaze on all the hills and knolls. Every large hamlet has its own fire, round which the young people dance in a ring. The old folk notice whether the flames incline to the north or the south. In the former case, the spring will be cold and backward, in the latter case it will be mild and genial. In Bohemia, on the eve of May Day, young people kindle fires on hills and eminences, at crossways, and in pastures, and dance round them. They leap over the glowing embers or even through the flames. The ceremony is called "burning the witches". In some places an effigy representing a witch used to be burnt in the bonfire. We have to remember that the eve of May Day is the notorious Walpurgis Night, when the witches are everywhere speeding unseen through the air on their hellish errands. On this witching night children in Voigtland also light bonfires on the heights and leap over them. Moreover, they wave burning brooms or toss them into the air. So far as the light of the bonfire reaches, so far will a blessings rest on the fields. The kindling of the fires on Walpurgis night is called "driving away the witches" The custom of kindling fires on the eve of May Day for the purpose of burning the witches is, or used to be, widespread in the Tyrol, Moravia, Saxony and the Silesia.
The reason for "burning the witches" it transpires, is that in the Middle Ages it was believed that on the eve of May Day witches flew on their brooms, up to mountain crests, to feast, dance with and entertain demons and the devil, during a night of celebration. The fires were thought to keep away evil spirits, witches and demons.
In Sweden the cows and goats used to be let out to start their summer grazing on the first of May, so on the eve, Walpurgis Night, precautions were taken against witches who may abound and seek to harm the livestock. The stable doors were locked and sealed with three crosses. Horseshoes were nailed, prongs up, on the threshold or over the door, and holy bells were hung on the cows to scare away the witches.
Today, thankfully, Walpurgis Night is celebrated differently and the bonfires are symbolic of the beauty of the fertility of nature, in much the same way as we celebrate it.
The Nature of Beltane
Beltane, otherwise known as May Day, is one of my favorite Sabbats. The cauldron and the may pole are probably the two most common symbols associated with this holiday. The cauldron of rebirth, joined with the process of creation and life, makes this holiday seem like a culmination of everything that has been building up throughout the year. It's the celebration of life and all that is.
For me, this holiday also marks the culmination of everything that I have been working towards throughout both the real year and the school year. Coming as it does at the end of the school term, I can slip into place with new responsibilities and see projects that I have been working on in full bloom. This semester has been especially rewarding with new leadership responsibilities I have taken on and the diverse areas I have spent my time in terms of education and service.
Beltane, as union of the masculine and feminine devine, also brings to mind not only the concept of completeness but also the related concept of wholeness in the union of god and goddess, masculine and feminine. It reminds us that we need both the light and dark in our lives, for without the dark we can't fully appreciate the light. Part of many Beltane rituals include dancing with ribbons and a may pole. As one dances, one weaves into one's life whatever is represented by the color of the ribbon one chooses. This is the time of year when I think about what I want to add to my life to make myself more whole as a person. It's also a chance to leave bad habits or undesirable qualities in the flames of the cauldron.
May everyone have a blissful Beltane this year.
Bright Blessings!
Kitty
~The re-union~
Step outside and breathe in the fresh May air.
Daylight and the sun have taken over from the winter and the darkness.
Tis Beltane, the beginning of Summer and empowered sexuality.
The maiden shall wash her delicate face in the early morning dew,
and all the pulsing energy of the natural world is yearning towards its fulfilment of summer.
Bonfires are lit on silent hill tops.
Thy pagan sisters wear lovely head dresses today,
and bright summer colours flow, as we dance around the Mapole singing merrily our pagan songs.
We have a reason to be happy today......
Us Witches celebrate the marriage of the God and Goddess,
the perfect re-union, they are together in perfect harmony, and perfect balance.
This leads us to the subsequent role of the Goddess as "Mother".
The great rite is the key to our celebrations.
Literal coupling is apt, but the symbolic form of ritual- the joining of athame with wine filled chalice is equally effective.
Our altars are adorned with blossom and leaves.
Honour this special Sabbat......
Be happy, be merry,
Celebrate the perfect re-union.
The Time to Hesitate is Through
Beltane? A time to frolic in the dark woods? A time to dally with all and sundry? Perhaps. Perhaps but not only.
What have you been doing since Samhain? Have there been many plans, large and small, substantial and speculative? Have you made plans in your own mind? Have you made plans with others? Is your head filled with possibilities?
Beltane is upon us and it is time to begin to put your plans into action. Figure which will go by the wayside (again?) and which will consume you over the next few months. What dreams have you prepared well for and which have you not been dedicated enough to?
Photo courtesy of Heather Parsons.
What will this year be for? Will you continue with what you have been doing? Will you consolidate and regroup? Will you accomplish a great thing that you have been working toward for years? Will you use the time to explore the possibilities?
For me it is a time to travel and consider and engage more fully than I have for a while. Since I will be away from Massachusetts, at least, for the summer I am relinquishing my possition as Massachusetts co-ordinator for WES. I will continue to do the website and in the role of Co-Con-Spirit-or. As I travel I will be an ambassador for WES.
Beltane Love Songs
Enjoy Heidi's special Beltane Radio Show. (Recorded 29 April 2008.)
Join Heidi for this fun Beltane show where she plays an eclectic mix of music from the Beatles to Guns and Roses, from The Doors to Frank Sinatra, From Carly Simon to Sting. Who hasn't sung about that all too complex theme, Love?
Heidi also describes the Holiday of Beltane as well as a few sacred experiences while living in Glastonbury, otherwise known as The Ancient Isle of Avalon!
What's new about WES
Photo courtesy of Heather Parsons.
- WES Massachusetts co-ordinator Willy is off on a summer journey across America - a real WES ambassador!
- Due to the recession WES is waving our membership fees!
- WES is now on Facebook
- UK Co-ordinator Alison introduces new website.
Beltane in Glastonbury
There will be many activities around Glastonbury over the Beltane weekend. If you can't be there you might be able to catch a bit of the excitement on the webcams on the Check Glastonbury Live website.
Previous Newsletter
See our previous newsletter.Thanks
Thank you everyone for contributing to this fine tribute to Beltane. We have the pleasure of using photos from the following WES members: Joanne Nobile (background image), John Chambers, and Heather Parsons.