Celebrating Beltane: fertility, fire and creative growth
Beltane: honouring fertility, fire and creative growth
When? 30th April - May 1st
Direction/Element: East and the element of air: the mind, vibration, communication and connection into South and the element of Fire: energy, inspiration and imagination
Themes: fertility, fire, creativity, the world coming into bloom, abundance
Late spring feels like the world is alive with desire; blossoms open, the air hums with bees and possibility feels present. The arrival of this celebration, which is known as Bealtaine in Irish, Bealltainn in Scots Gaelic, Boaltinn or Boaldyn in Manx Gaelic, and is similar to the Welsh festival of Calan Mai, always feels like stepping into renewal. Creation is in full bloom and we can celebrate union between body and spirit, earth and sky seen and unseen. It’s a time that invites us to open, to trust in joy and to let life move through us.
If you’re new here, I’m Laura, a counsellor, nature therapist, somatic therapist, meditation teacher,and space holder. My work centres around gently guiding people back into relationship with themselves, their bodies and the wider natural world. I’ve been curating and sharing playlists inspired by the Celtic Pagan Wheel of the Year for some time now. Each turn of the wheel, I revisit and update my post and playlist from the previous year. It’s always a fascinating practice in noticing my own cycles, patterns, and evolving relationship with the seasons. For an overview of the Wheel of the Year, you can explore this post.
Beltane reflections, journal prompts and a playlist: honouring fertility, fire, and creative Growth
Beltane (pronounced Bel-tayn or Be-al-tin-eh) is one of the eight festivals on the Wheel of the Year. It traditionally falls on May 1st and marks the height of spring and the threshold of summer. At this time, the earth is alive with abundance—animals are out to pasture, flowers are in bloom, and the days stretch longer and brighter with each passing sunrise. This celebration is a May Day festival, a time of joy, sensuality and connection, moving us closer to the vitality of summer.
The name Beltaine comes from Old Irish Beltene with Bel meaning “bright,” or possibly referring to the Celtic sun god Belenus, and tene meaning “fire.” Together, the name translates as “bright fire.” Traditionally, bonfires were lit across the land to honour the life-giving power of the sun and to bless the fields, animals and people with fertility and protection for the season ahead. Couples would leap over the flames for luck, and cattle would be driven between twin fires to ensure health and vitality.
The foundations of this season
The Wheel of the Year not only honours the seasonal shifts but also the four sacred directions and their elements. Beltane sits at the meeting point of East and South; a threshold between Air and Fire. The gentle breezes of spring give way to the rising warmth of summer, carrying the spark of new life into full expression.
Air governs Spring’s early energy; fresh ideas, inspiration, and the breath of renewal, while Fire begins to take hold, bringing passion and creative power. At this point on the Wheel of The Year these two elements weave together: Air feeding Fire, Fire transforming Air. It’s a time when the sun’s energy strengthens, the days lengthen and the natural world begins its move into the abundance of summer.
Archetypally, this time embodies the energies of The Lover or, for a non-gendered alternative, The Creator. These archetypes are symbols of connection, passion and the merging of forces to birth new life. These archetypes teach us to move through the world with joy and reverence for beauty, and that passion and purpose are sacred flames that can shape our inner and outer worlds.
This celebration invites you to awaken your own life force, to feel deeply, to express freely and to nurture the seeds that you have planted.
Tending the inner flame
In a world that often feels overwhelming with constant cycles of upheaval, unrest, and uncertainty, it’s easy to lose touch with the quiet sustaining fire within us. We can’t pour endlessly from an empty cup and we can’t tend to the world without tending ourselves.
This need to resource ourselves, to sustain, build and grow is deeply aligned with this season’s energy. As we connect with the way that the sun brings warmth and energy to the land, how can we cultivate our own inner heat, through creativity, pleasure, connection, rest and joy. These are not indulgences; they are sacred acts of self care. I invite you to reflect on what nourishes your energy and what depletes it. Where can you add more warmth, playfulness or inspiration to your daily life?
Creating with the season
This is the season of fertility, not just in the physical sense, but creatively and spiritually. It’s a time for bringing ideas, dreams and projects into form. The seeds planted at the Spring Equinox begin to take root and grow stronger, fed by the heat of your intention. You could write down your desires for the months ahead and safely burn them in a small Beltane ritual fire, letting the smoke carry your intentions into the world. Or weave ribbons and flowers into a wreath or branch, symbolising the union of your inner and outer worlds.
To help you connect with the rhythm of this season, I’ve created a playlist for reflection, journalling, movement or meditation.You can find some guidance about how to practice breathwork here.
Here are some prompts that you might wish to reflect on as part of your practice:
What do you need to bloom?
Where do you need to bring in the energy of fire and the sun?
What old stories can you let go of?
How can you plant seeds to benefit your community or the collective?
What possibility do you see for the months ahead?
How can you nourish yourself as we move into the dynamic energy of summer?
As the fires burn bright, may you feel the warmth of your own creativity and the courage to bring it to life, for yourself, for your community and for the wider world.
