Spring is at her peak now.That good green smell is everywhere. Waterfalls burst over familiar paths, and the Earth is wet and fertile. Flowers of every color fill the meadows, and the promise of new life made to us at Ostara is fulfilled. Just as the passions of the Earth Mother are obvious now, so too are our own. Traditionally, this was time of year when the ancients danced and wove ribbons around the Maypole,made love in the cornfields,and leaped the bonfires. Do homage to the Earth at this time by sipping a cup of wine or spreading out a blanket and enjoying a picnic beneath a special tree with a lover. Fill a bowl with fruits and wine, and float white flowers and green leaves on top.Rejoice in the warmth of spring at her fullest.
"Sweet desire weds wild delight"
Most ancient of the Sabbaths,directly opposite Samhain in the Wheel of the Year
Festival of the God Bel (God of fire and light)
Goddess' honored on this night:MAYA,MAIA,MAI, MAY,FLORIA,KORE
Bel fires/Balefires are lit on hilltops across Europe on this night
tis the custom of people to leap through the flames
Maypole is symbol of the Earth's womb and is called hermes decorated with flowers and ribbons
the Maypole is transported back to the village from the Fire site with the people laughing and singing behind
all Marriage vows suspended for the night.and all who wished made love in the plowed fields or forest glades
only the High Priestress and High Priest could perform the Great Rite which enacted the harmony of the Goddess and God and the fertile energies.
the Rite is dipping of the Athame into the Sacred Chalice
Herb:Alder
Symbols for Beltain:Bale Fire,May Pole,Wand,Flower Garlands,Lake & rainbows
MULLED WINE FOR BELTAIN:
Fruit sections:orange,lemon,apple,strawberries; pomegranate seeds;1 cinnamon stick;orange peel;rose hips;cloves;rose petals.this is a good combination in champagne.
THINGS TO DO ON BELTAIN:
1: Weaving a garland of flowers to wear in your hair. Wearing green all day and nothing all night.
2: Raising before dawn (assuming you ever went to bed) and washing your face in the dew, whereupon you will have beauty all year. Hanging fruits and baked goodies from trees for later feasting.
3: Building a Beltane fire of your 9 different woods. Leap over it to cleanse yourself, leaving unwanted things behind in the purifying flames, or state your desires and let the energy of the fire carry them upwards.
4: Choose a May Queen and May King. Ritually enacting the "Love Chase," a dance where the God pursues the elusive, beckoning Goddess and finally wins Her.
5: Blending a May Bowl of white wine, strawberry wine or liqueur, fresh strawberries, and sprigs of woodruff. Pour a libation and toast to the Gods.
6: Leaping over your garden rows, sharing joyous energy. Holding a contest for the "Most Unusual Aphrodisiac" or "Most Enchanting Endearment."
7: Making "May gads" or Bacchanalian thrysu (wands) to carry in procession. Find slender rods of willow, hopefully without cutting live ones unless the deva grants permission. Decorate each one with bells and ribbons, and flowers. Carry them in your Beltane procession/rituals.
8: Erecting a maypole. Choose a bright color of ribbon to symbolize your desire and dance the weave. Watch Morris dancers sing and dance in the dawn, ribboned and belled, on May 1st.
9: Creating a "Hobby Horse" costume or a Green Man bedecked with leaves, flowers, and ribbons. Lead a serpentine dance to celebrate the death of winter and the return of spring.
10: Make Beltane bowers. Indoors or out, part of your celebration can be beautiful isoleted "bowers" where couples can slip away to celebrate. Outdoors, a tent/pavilion will do, with candles,incense, recorded music, and soft pillows. Indoors, any room can be transformed into a miniature Temple of Aphrodite.
11: Hold a sensuality workshop. After a light snack, each convener dresses up or down in his/her most sensual outfit.
