beltane: spring’s mid-season marker
About a decade ago, I began my deep dive in search of meaningful milestone markers of Time & Season. A list of many of them can be found in my ritual blog, here.
Much of the work associated with my creating the Well-Seasoned Woman’s Studio draws upon the idea that every calendar year (AND, every LIFE!) can be divided into four sections or seasonal quarters. The beginning of each of these quarters is marked by a “sky happening”—i.e. The Spring Equinox, The Summer Solstice, The Autumn Equinox, and the Winter Solstice.
Halfway through each season, a “cross quarter” calendar event evolved over time. Most of these are still featured on ordinary calendars:
Imbolc, aka Groundhog’s Day (February 1)
Beltane, aka May Day (May 1)
Lammas (August 1)
Samhain, aka Halloween (October 31)
In the Well-Seasoned Woman’s world, these mid-season markers, are pretty much set smack dab in the middle/heart of each season when the “seasoning” is at its most concentrated. Taking time to mark these milestones is saying YES to more fully absorbing the energetic wisdom of that season & moment. It’s saying YES to the invitation to celebrate our growth and to course correct— if needed— in the seasonal time remaining.
At Beltane, the natural world is all abuzz with the electric, twitterpated energy of the DNA-embedded, Sexual Instinct—one we literally share with the birds and the bees—and, a variety of other animals, flowering plants, and even fungi.
Flowers are, in fact, the sexual components of plants—and thus, the perfect accompaniment to a Beltane celebration!
a curated beltane history
First mentioned in an ancient account penned by an early king/bishop of Ireland, Beltane was a ceremony in which cattle, housed throughout the winter in their hovels/sheds, were driven between two bonfires in the belief that such a ritual would smoke out any diseases the cattle might be harboring and strengthen them for their time in the summer pastures, as well as increase their fertility in preparation for successful calfing.
This ancient Gaelic celebration, which spread from its Irish & Scottish roots. began to feature references to Maypole dancing & the crafting/wearing of flower crowns, especially those designating the “Queen of the May” began surfacing in connection with village Beltane gatherings, along with some very real, bawdy encouragement to participate in sexual acts as a way of contributing to species survival through procreation.
Today, not many people celebrate Beltane at all, but most of those who do tend to fall into one of two camps. For the more sedate, it’s a matter of assembling May baskets of freshly cut flowers to gift to family, neighbors, and friends. For others, its a chance to gather around a bonfire while listening to loud, primal music, partaking of adult libations, and frankly, practicing some rowdy debauchery.
My approach is different than either of these. I advocate for discovering ever more deeply how each season’s themes are playing out in both the natural world and in our own biorhythms and drives, and then celebrating them through embodied rituals as a way of saying YES to Life itself.
In mid-spring, the biorhythms and drives are all about the Sexual Instincts we share with a number of earth’s inhabitants!
the key themes of beltane worth honoring
Since Beltane serves as the halfway point to the Spring Season as introduced by Ostara/the Spring Equinox, her themes mirror much of what was introduced at that festival. (Read more about that here).
When honoring Beltane, you’ll want to include at least several of these key ideas:
Activation/Healthy competition (what gets us pursuing our desires)
Fertility & sexuality (for pleasure &/or procreation)
Attraction (both what we’re attracted to & noticing what is attracted to us) & Repulsion
Budding, blossoming, blooming
Losing ourselves in what raises our electric, energetic vibration
I’ve found that a brilliant, thematic way to honor the transition from season to season and to deepen my experience of daily living into the current season is to keep a daily, affirmation practice.
To read more about affirmations for the Well-Seasoned Woman, check out this blog post and this one.
I begin saying this affirmation aloud daily on the Spring Equinox and continue until the Summer Solstice in late June.
I NOW AFFIRM THE BLOSSOMING OF MY UNIQUE, CREATIVE POTENTIALS.
some ritual-making ideas for beltane honoring
Spring is the season that’s infused with the energy of our Sexual Instinct—which is ALL the things that keep us juicy, curious, taking risks, and willing to get out of our comfortable humdrum and into the heart and heat of saying Helloooooooooooooo to the New!
Here is one of several Maypoles used over the years for my Beltane gatherings—so much fun!
Here is a list of ideas to spark the content of your Beltane celebration. If you’re following the WSW’s 5-part ritual template, these ideas could be used as the content for #Step 4.
Engage in sexual acts. I mean, Beltane is all about reveling in our natural, instinctual drive to create & feel the twitterpated ALIVENESS fueled by sexual experiences, so, if at all possible, have sex.
Celebrate/Nurture feeling sexy. Play sexy music (Whatever that might mean to you!) & engage in your own private dance hour that celebrates lots of bending & stretching & shaking & shimmying! To enhance your private dance time, tie some ribbons (fire colors like orange, red, yellow are great, but any ribbons are good!) onto a branch or baton & use your beribboned Beltane Wand as a dance prop for dramatic swooping and swirling & getting your sexy back!
Create a Beltane altar on a small table or shelf or windowsill, adorning it with objects and/or symbols in keeping with Spring themes, like flowers, rabbits, bees, sprouting seeds, goats. Add some floral essential oils such as Rose, Geranium, Ylang ylang, Jasmine, etc. to dab on your wrists and ankles as you repeat your Spring/Maiden affirmation [See above.]
Make a flower wreath to wear in your hair &/or craft a May Day flower basket to gift to a neighbor, coworker, family member, or friend.
Prepare & share a fun Beltane feast. Use your imagination to create some dishes/beverages that incorporate the fresh, seasonal gifts of Mama Nature—such as peas, new lettuce, carrots, and/or leeks. Or, prepare foods that evoke laughter over their bawdy, sexual connotations—dishes such as hot dogs, meatballs, deviled eggs, mixed nuts, and/or lollipops/popsicles.
Conduct an updated version of an ancient Fire Ceremony. Start with a fire—bonfire, chiminea, or even a grouping of candles—and then either dance around the fire or allow the smoke to waft over you as you say aloud your hopes for the future, and name the things that LIGHT YOU UP, and affirm that as you say YES to life, Life is saying YES to you! At the same time, you could write on a tiny pieces of paper the old stories, habits, or relationships you realize are holding you back & that you’re ready to leave behind as you step into your next chapter. Feed those slips of paper to the fire & watch them turn to ash.
Spend some intentional, sensory time with Mama Nature. Go on a ramble along a hiking trail, or simply stroll through your neighborhood or garden, allowing yourself to be filled with wonder and joy at the sights, sounds, and smells of our glorious, magnificent, fertile planet!
