Thursday, 1st May

Beltane is one of the four cross quarter festivals that traditionally celebrates the beginning of the summer season on 1st May – Mayday. It was recognised as a time to honour our human potency and fertility within ourselves and Mother Earth. When we were connected to the land, men and women would come together representing the Horned God and the Fertile Goddess. All over the countryside couples would make love by the Beltane fires, as a ritual to ensure the fertility of the land and the newly-planted crops. The sexual union between couples also symbolized shared knowledge and power, and released an outpouring of fertile energy into the universe.

Sacred fires were traditionally lit throughout the country side – this is the time to be celebrating in nature. Traditionally, Hawthorne trees were decorated with ribbons tied on their branches and doors, and people danced around the maypole wrapping two ribbons around it signifying the unification of female and male energies.

Remember to thank nature – especially the trees – for their wonderful gifts to us. As this Beltane falls on the new moon of Taurus it is a good time to go to a peaceful place and share an important question with Mother Earth and the nature spirits. Seek the inspiration that is needed to help you on your way. Be open to the answer coming in any form – the universe is very creative. This is the time to let go of that which is holding you back so write down all those things that are not allowing you to move forward and burn it in the Beltane fire.

People would dress in green, and even today in Hastings and other towns the Green Man is celebrated at this time with music, merry-making and Morris Dancing. Beltane is the best time of year to connect with the faery kingdom, elementals and nature spirits, as the veil that separates our world from theirs becomes very thin.

Enjoy the promise of Summer……

Love and Blessings

Rebekah Shaman