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
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, is all about looking towards summer’s arrival. Spring flowers are fully in bloom, the sun is gaining strength and, traditionally, celebrations around this time were focussed on fire as a source of purification, dancing around the May Pole and gathering wildflowers.
If you’re new here I’m Laura, a counsellor, a nature therapist, a somatic therapist and meditation teacher. My work is all about supporting people to explore connection and their relationships with themselves, their bodies and the wider natural world. I’ve been sharing updates inspired by the Celtic Pagan Wheel of the Year for some time now. Each turn of the wheel, I revisit and update my post from the previous year. For an overview of the Wheel of the Year, you can explore this post.
Maying, the hawthorn tree, and the May Queen
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. The earth is covered in blossoms, animals are out to pasture and the days are longer and brighter.
This is a May Day festival, and many of the May Day customs still practiced across the UK, like dancing around the maypole, crowning a May Queen, lighting bonfires, and decorating with flowers, share themes with Beltane celebrations. These traditions mark the arrival of spring, honour fertility and renewal, and celebrate the the arrival of the light and heat of summer.
In folk tradition, branches of hawthorn were gathered and brought inside, a custom known as Maying. May Day was thought to be the only day when it was safe to bring Hawthorn inside. In folklore the Hawthorn Tree is said to stand between this world and the otherworld and it falls under the protection of the Fae (or fairies). The mythology around the hawthorn could be a whole post in itself, so go check out this beautiful gathering of hawthorn related lore by Icy Sedgewick.
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.” Put together it translates as “bright fire.” Bonfires were lit across the land to honour the power of the sun, and to bless and protect the fields, animals and community. Couples would leap over the flames for luck, and cattle would be driven between twin fires in a smoke cleansing ritual to ensure health and vitality.
The foundations of this season
As well as seasonal shifts, The Wheel of the Year honours the four sacred directions and their elements. Beltane sits at the meeting point of East and South; a threshold between Air and Fire. The breezes of spring give way to the rising warmth of summer and we might start to feel our own energy rising too.
Air governs Spring’s early energy; fresh ideas, inspiration and renewal, while Fire takes hold, bringing passion and creative power, as we move towards summer. At this point on the Wheel of The Year these two elements weave together: Air feeding Fire, Fire transforming Air. The sun strengthens, the days get longer and the natural world starts to share the abundance of summer.
Archetypes that connect with this season include 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.
Embodiment, Somatic Meditation and Nature Connection Practices
If you’re looking for an embodied and grounded way to explore the energies of the Equinox, and Spring in general, you could check out my somatic meditation journey, The Lover’s Alchemy. This practiceinvites you to explore The Lover archetype, through the story of The Lady of Shalott. Themes of boundaries, longing and self-abandonment are balanced with joy and creativity, and it also explores bell hooks’ teachings around love as an active, intentional practice.
The Lover's Alchemy is a 45-minute audio-guided somatic meditation and embodiment practice, created as an invitation to explore the archetypal energies of The Lover, through the mythology of The Lady of Shalott.
This Somatic Archetype Journey is an opportunity to explore how love shows up for you and how you show up for love. We'll explore the story of the shadow lover, including themes of boundaries, longing and self-abandonment. We'll balance that by connecting to the light aspects, including joy and creativity, and we'll also draw on bell hooks’ teachings around love as an active practice.
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 being. The seeds planted at the Spring Equinox begin to take root and grow stronger, fed by our intentions. You could write down your desires for the months ahead and then safely burn them in a 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.
Here are some Beltane journal 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, I hope you feel the warmth of your creativity, and find the courage to bring your desires to life, for yourself, for your community and for the wider world.
