Beltane May Poles and May Day Beltane marks the union of the God and Goddess at a time when both have reached full sexual maturity. In ancient times, Beltane was the time when the people of a community came together to assist each other during the planting season. The feast foods included the last of the winter’s store. Bale fires were lit on hillsides, and women would jump over the flames to ensure fertility. Cattle were driven between two fires to ensure their productivity and to protect them. Later in the evening, young couples would pair off and go into the woods. In the morning, they would emerge with flowers and dance around the May Pole.
Even today, we gather to celebrate the fertility of the world all around us. Flowers are beginning to bud, and the land is becoming green and lush. Animals have fully awaken from their slumber and many are engaged in mating rituals of their own. And we still dance around the May Pole.
The Goddess, while still in her maiden form, is slowly taking on the mother form. She is known by many names; among them are Aphrodite, Freya, Diana, Venus, and Flora. The Goddess is seen as the Virgin Goddess, the Fertility Goddess, and the Goddess of the Hunt. The God is the God of the Hunt, a fertility God in primordial maturity. His names include: Cernunnos, Puck, The Horned God, the Green Man, and Pan.
Beltane is a time for the collection of pure water (dew, flowing streams, and springs) which is used to bathe in for beauty, or to drink for health. As individuals, it is a time of recognition of our own sensuality and sexuality.
It is also a time to remember that this Sabbat is a celebration of union. Many within our community are alone. Use this time to invite single friends over to enjoy an herbal salad and a light wine. Get together and plant herbal window boxes, or even just to catch up on what’s going on in each other’s lives. Another activity is to make a May basket to bring to an elderly friend or relative.
There are a number other of ways to celebrate the sabbat, beginning with the traditional wrapping of the May Pole. Another ritual activity involves the selection of a maiden from the group who will go off with "the green man." After a suitable period of time, a horn is blown and the couple return triumphantly.
Beltane is a time of gathering, as well as a time of new beginnings. In general, it is believed that projects undertaken at this time will be successful. It is also a time when many hand fastings occur because legend has it that the Goddess and God were hand fasted during this time. (For reference, a traditional hand fasting that does not involve legal marriage is usually binding for a year and a day.)
Magick associated with Beltane: abandon, assertion, beauty, conservation, creativity, desire, expansion, expressiveness, excitement, fertility magick, fulfillment, hand fasting, life, passion, phallic magick, prosperity, safety, sensuality, sexuality, union, warmth, and willfulness.
Altar decorations: butter churns, chalice, daisy chains, eggs, flowery crowns, honey, may pole, mirrors, phallic symbols, rabbit symbols, ribbons, rod, spear, staff, strings of beads, and spring flowers.
Colors: blue, brown, dark yellow, green, pink, red, white, and yellow.
Foods: barley cake, chocolate, dairy products, herbal salads, honey, oatmeal and oats, oysters, red fruits, red wine.
Herbs / Incense / Oils : apple, birch, bluebells, broom, calendula, daisy, dittany of Crete, elder, fir, frankincense, foxglove, grape vine, hawthorn, hazel, honeysuckle, lilac, lily of the valley, mint, mugwort, oak, passion flower, primrose, rose, rosemary, rowan, sandalwood, St. John’s wort, thyme, vanilla, willow, yarrow, and yellow cowslip.
Stones : amber, bloodstone, carnelian, emerald, malachite, rose quartz, sapphire.
© 2000 Mother
