Beltane - Time to get fired up! (April 30th - May 1st)

Building a bonfire is part of the rituals honouring Beltane

Beltane is a festival of fire, the name breaks down into 'Bel' meaning 'Bright One' - the Celtic sun god, and the Gaelic word 'Teine', meaning fire.

It is at this solstice that the Maiden aspect of the triple goddess (maiden, mother, crone) is at her peak. This goddess of spring, the May queen represents fertility, growth and renewal, and wins the heart of the Green man, the young oak king. He represents virility, the masculine aspect of nature, and is God of plant life.
Their union of sky and earth is consummated, and the maiden becomes pregnant; where the earth itself becomes fertile with life for the oncoming summer.

Beltane rituals...

• Make a bonfire: Traditionally this is done within a town/village for everyone to use. People would jump over the flames in an act to purify and cleanse themselves, couples would do so together so as to pledge themselves to each other, and farmers would drive their cattle through the smoke to prevent disease and protect them from harm for the coming year. At the end of the night, everyone would take part of the fire home to in turn light their own fires - taking part of Beltane with them.
• Going 'A-Maying': Couples would spend the night in the woods, gathering hawthorn blossom to bring back to their homes to decorate, but mostly under the guise to make love outdoors, in the woods! Beltane symbolises youthful energy, for us to reconnect with our inner teenager again, and experience a sexual awakening again. (Hawthorn blossom is otherwise considered unlucky to bring into the home -  except for Beltane).
• Wash your face in the morning dew: Women in particular would do so as it was believed it ensured beauty and a good complexion for the coming year.
• Make a flower crown: Daisy chain ones are more commonly known. But traditionally they were made with spring flowers and greenery to honour the spring maiden.
• Hang a ribbon from a tree, make a wish: Hawthorn, rowan or birch - all associated with Beltane would be honoured and dressed with colourful ribbons, and wishes/prayers would be made. Trees represent life and fertility, and connect land to sky, this is a time they are celebrated, so any tree can be decorated really.
• Maypole dancing: This is part of 'Mayday' celebrations in many towns and villages still today. The pole (often made from birch) is phallic, symbolising the potency of God, and is put into the earth - symbolising mother nature. The ring of flowers at the top represents female fertility, and the ribbons that hang from it weave the energies of male and female together, whilst the energy from the dancing is thought to awaken the earth.
  
• Wear green, red, or white: Or all three if you can rock that look! These are all colours associated with Beltane. Green represents fertility and growth, red is passion, and white is cleansing.
  

Beltane herbs to consider...

As Beltane is all about sexuality, love, new energy, and restoring the fire in the belly - there are a number of herbs that could be used to help commemorate these.

Herbs for the heart: As this is prime time for couples to reconnect, it makes sense to boost and open the heart

• Hawthorn: Strengthens the heart physically and emotionally. It is viewed as restorative and believed to make you feel whole again
  
• Rose: Opens the heart spritually and emotionally. It is thought an aphrodisiac, and connects an uplifted mind to joyful heart.
  

Circulatory stimulants: Herbs that improve blood flow throughout the body, and promote vitality in bodily tissues - These will put some colour in your cheeks! As it is all about the sun and fire, it makes sense that warming herbs are used. 

• Ginger: Great for poor circulation (helpful if wandering in the woods tonight 'A-Maying!' Aids in digestion, helps with nausea, and is useful for stiff joints.
  
• Ginkgo: Improves and enhances cognitive function, useful for fatigue, promotes blood flow to the nervous system and brain.
  
• Rosemary: Also enhances mental alertness, boosts poor circulation, and helps protect the liver (useful if drinking mead during festivities!)
  

​Sexual tonics: I don't think this needs explaining!

• Shatavari: An Ayurvedic herb from the asparagus family. This is one for the reproductive system. An aphrodisiac, this is thought to help with impotence, and improve upon sexual debility in both sexes
  
• Damiana: Primarily for the nervous system, this is a thymoleptic (improved mood), it's knock on effects can help with feelings of sexual inadequacy, and again, impotence
  

The herbs listed are given the briefest overview - purely for how they can be of benefit and applicable to Beltane! 

*Always use caution with herbs, do not presume that all are safe. Seek medical advice if taking medication or have a medical condition - some herbs may interact*

So embrace your inner teenager - Be bold, join in with Beltane celebrations, or create your own private rituals; but whatever you may do, do so safely - as the saying goes    'Get too close to the fire, you may get burned'!