"Beltane is the Celtic festival that celebrates outer growth, fertility, new life and the essential energy of manifestation and creation.
It is the final stage of the active Yang cycle of the Sun before it reaches its fullness at the Midsummer Solstice.
All of life is manifesting now as the rampant growth period and the summer fully begin.
Beltane is a celebration of the Life Force, of the abundant fertility of the Earth and of ourselves."
(Glennie Kindred | Earth Alchemy)
Beltane is a Celtic festival celebrated on May 1st, marking the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
It's primarily celebrated by various pagan and Wiccan communities, but it has gained broader recognition and participation in recent years.
During Beltane, people celebrate the fertility of the earth and the vitality of life.
Traditionally, rituals involve lighting bonfires, dancing around maypoles, and performing ceremonies to encourage growth and abundance.
It's a time for honouring the changing seasons and embracing the cyclical nature of life.
May Day, which falls on May 1st, is often intertwined with Beltane celebrations.
It's a day of festivities, including parades, flower crowns, and community gatherings, with roots in both pagan and secular traditions.
In Celtic mythology, Beltane is associated with gods and goddesses such as Belenus, the god of the sun, and Brigid, the goddess of fertility and healing.
These deities represent the life-giving forces of nature and are honoured during Beltane rituals.
Altars play a significant role in Beltane celebrations, adorned with symbols of fertility, such as flowers, greenery, and ribbons.
They serve as focal points for rituals and offerings, connecting participants with the earth and the divine.
Beltane is a time for reconnecting with the rhythms of nature, celebrating the abundance of the earth, and embracing the joy of life's renewal.
It reminds us of our interconnectedness with the natural world and the importance of living in harmony with it.
Words connected to Beltane; blossom, fertility, creativity, expansion, fire, union, abundance.
Journal Prompts for Beltane:
What will you focus on to make the most of this fertile and abundant time?
What needs to be pruned back in your life?
How can you celebrate your creativity?
Who / what do you want to connect with more deeply?
How can you connect more deeply to yourself?
How can you celebrate your beautiful body?
Are there any parts of you that are in need of healing and restoring? (physical / emotional / spiritual).
Wishing you a blessed Beltane, and a month ahead filled with love, light and joy!
If you are in need of some calm and clarity, why not join us for Meditate Through May?
Every day in May there will be a FREE short mindful meditation practice released on Yoga Borne YouTube.
For more information just click here.