Witchcraft for Celebrating Beltane
Beltaine/Beltane or May Day is one of the four Celtic fire festivals of the year and marks the full emergence into the upper half of the year. Winter is behind us, and it's time to luxuriate in the wild abundance of the green world.
It is a liminal time when the veil between worlds is thin, and spirits, especially those of the Fae, are more present. In Celtic traditions, it was believed that the Fae would emerge from the fairy mounds and walk among us. As a witch, I feel Beltane is steeped in faery magic, as well as being a time to welcome and celebrate the fertility of the earth.
The Meaning of Beltane in Witchcraft
Beltane is celebrated on May 1 and has been adopted into modern witchcraft and paganism. On the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, it sits opposite Samhain and is seen as the beginning of summer, with the Summer Solstice marking the peak of the season.
While May 1 is commonly used, historically seasonal markers varied. Regional folk magic tells us that witches might have celebrated when the hawthorn blooms, when a certain constellation rises, or at a nearby full moon. Astronomically, Beltane is halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, when the sun reaches 15 degrees Taurus, usually around May 5.
In folk tradition, it was a time to step fully out of the dark half of the year. The hunger gap had passed. The crops were growing. Life could now be celebrated in its sensual, fertile fullness.
May Day is currently celebrated as an expression of the rights of workers and labor for a fair and equitable workplace and the right to work.
Beltane Themes for Ritual and Magic
Witches often center their Beltane workings around these core themes. For your Beltane rituals and spells, notice which ones resonate most deeply with you.
Banishing old blocks
Honoring your sexuality
Coming of age ceremonies
Fertility and creative awakening
Calling in bounty or abundance
Burning away winter’s stagnation
Blessing your garden
Beltane invites us to shake off the stagnant energy of winter and any old and outworn patterns.
A Beltane Ritual for Purification and Celebration
This ritual blends two parts: purification and invocation. I usually separate these in my practice, but Beltane’s energy is great for doing both. Feel free to adapt it to be true to what you need.
Preparing the Space
· Wear clothes that make you feel beautiful and at ease.
· Clear the space in whatever way you usually do that.
· Cast your circle with flowers or with water infused with flower petals.
· Center and ground yourself.
· Place a fire-safe container or cauldron in the middle of your circle. If that’s not possible, a candle will do.
Adding Green Witchery to Your Ritual: Make a Beltane Incense Blend
If you are a green witch or have an affinity for herbs, you can use clearing herbs in the purification part of your ritual.
This is one of my favorite blends.
My Purification & Releasing Incense Blend
Cinnamon
Rosemary
Hyssop
Lavender
Blue Vervain
Use equal parts in powdered form. The scent is earthy and smoky, like burning leaves. If that doesn’t resonate, add a few drops of cinnamon or lavender essential oil and burn it in a diffuser or incense stove.
Always burn herbs in a well-ventilated space and be mindful of pets.
Part One: Purification and Releasing
Ask the fire to burn away anything that you are ready to let go of. This could be a block, an old belief, or a personal story. You can write it down and place it in the fire, speak it aloud, or simply whisper to the flame. Circle the fire or your candle, or jump the fire if you can safely do so.
If you are in a group, take turns sharing what you are releasing. After each person speaks, they can add a pinch of incense or their written note to the fire. If you are lucky enough to have a bonfire, add a dry stick for each release.
When you are done letting the fire transform what you need to shed, you can move on to the celebration part of the ritual.
Part Two: Invoking and Celebrating
As you're setting up for the ritual, create a plate of food. It should be a small finger-sized food plate filled with small things that delight you. And a glass of milk as a blessing for the land and to honor the Beltane spirits. Set them aside while you do part 1.
Including a Bit of Kitchen Witchery for Beltane
One of the reasons I like bringing kitchen witchery into my witchcraft rituals is that when you eat food charged with an intention, you are directly absorbing the magic and letting your body hold it somatically. As I prepare the ritual plate, I list the plant's magical properties that I want them to bring and thank them.
Some of my favorites for the plate of food:
Strawberries for love and vitality
Johnny Jump-Ups or Violets to ease the heart
Sweet Woodruff for prosperity and protection
Petals of clove pinks for strength and health
Borage flowers for courage
Starting Part 2:
Take some quiet time to think about what you want or need to call in for the next 6 months, what you wish to honor or bless. You can also do some divination work using cards or runes to help you gain insight.
When you are ready, speak what you wish to bring in or honor, and have a bite or two of food. Continue until you feel done.
If you are in a group, you can have someone feed you a bite of food after you make your wish, and then you do the same for the next person until you have gone around the entire circle.
Closing the Ritual
When the circle feels complete, offer any remaining food and the milk to the Earth with gratitude.
Let your fire or candle burn all the way out. Take some time to integrate what you have done and end your ritual.
Final Thoughts for Beltane
Beltane is a reminder that we are part of the cycles of earth and sky. That we are connected and that we are magic embodied.
May this Beltane bring you joy, creativity, and a deeper connection to yourself and the land.
Blessed Beltane,
Colette Gardiner
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