Beltane Ritual
Beeltane (Beltane)
The most common spelling of this festival is Beltane, which is closest to its pronunciation. The word can be translated as “The Bright Fire”, though it makes connection to certain Ancestor’s or deities who are associated with fire.
Beltane is the first festival of summer. It is celebrated on May 1 or on the full moon of Taurus as it passes through Scorpio. Many celebrate with the first pinky white blossoms of the hawthorn tree, also known as the May.
In Irish literature, it is said that the Tuatha de Danaan, arrived in Ireland at Beltane.
In modern Celticism, Beltane focuses on fertility: for the land, for those wanting children, for animals of the wild and for our souls and dreams. The Twin Fires represent the duality of male and female … craving union.
The earth is alive now with the scent of flowers and the color of green. The sun has grown to maturity, as has the Spring Maiden. The dance is the celebration of their coming together. Those who have gathered are encouraged to leap the flames, an acceptance of the groups blessing of fertility, creativity and good fortune.
Beltane pertains to the beginning of summer. It does not begin officially, until the May tree or Hawthorn tree has flowered. It is a festival that marks the beginning of summer and celebrates union.
The May pole is heavy with flowers, red roses and May blossom but, the thorns are not removed as the risk of being pierced is an important part of love. The festival is filled with dancing and rivalry.
Deep transformations and healing are the focus of a Beltane rite, then only being seen as sketchy ideas here. The importance of this rite is to honor the powers of duality, attraction and rejection, push and pull, give and take.
As Celticism is a spirituality that works with relationships, spirit to spirit(s), gender is not an issue. Duality is understood as both, an internal and external relationship, regardless of gender or identity.
For Beltane, the circle is consecrated with musky incense or, some appropriate herb e.g. Damien. The water, which is used, might have come from a sacred spring, or from dew collected before dawn. The spirits are honored, with a focus on how they have changed, as the environment has become warmer and warmer, moving into summer. The intention of the ritual is then, declared.
Clan Mai with its hawthorn flowers begins summer and the fertility of the land; the sap rises, the leaves open and the flowers offer nectar to the waling bees. It is the time to honor creativity and sexuality.
Whenever dealing with sexuality, death is also close --- for in the potential of birth (conceiving) there is also potential for death; life is shadowed by death, just as pleasure is shadowed by pain ---- every climax is an arching wave, crashing its flood of release, the of potential birth and death.
The gifts of winter are within oneself, in the darkness of one’s blood, in the blackness of one’s inner world. Everyone shares the gifts of winter --- mud a naked honesty. It bows to the maidens of spring.
One must feel who one is. One must find the inner true source, power, and strength. The paradoxes of life must be addressed.
Beltane is a time of laughter, honesty, camaraderie, and closeness, a time of drums and dapping, of fiddles, and flutes, of dancing and romancing. It is a time when men and women weave their dreams and desires of love and creativity.
It is common that the Rite of Union is performed during Beltane. The Rise of Union honors the two people coming together. A rite of union is an acknowledgement by those gathered that the two Loves’ have joined. They may be offered gifts honoring the sacred joining, blessings of fertility and creativity. Any dedications or vows are made and all who are gathered are given the opportunity to provide the inspiration for others to follow.
The vow of deanship is spoken.
Calan Mai is a time for tying prayer ribbons and strips of cloth onto the branches of sacred trees (tree dressing). It is a time for expressing of love and friendship. The festival is celebration of creativity and sexuality. Often it affects people positively in that it helps to break up fears and self-negotiations of inner personal ability and worth.
Folk Customs
Folk customs centered on Beltane conclude: washing one’s face with dew before dawn, picking heroes that inspire attraction, dancing around the May Pole, and couples disappearing into the fields and forest to make love under the moon. It is a rite of energy and dance, of youth and freedom.