Beltane — sacred union and manifestation
One of the things that drew me to Paganism is that it’s a nature-based spiritual practice.
As such, it recognizes the divinity in everything — from trees and rocks to animals and you and me.
We have become disconnected from nature in this post-modern world.
We wear shoes that separate us from the Earth, live in concrete buildings, cover the ground with tarmac, and look for god in churches, synagogues, and mosques (hint: She’s not there).
A spiritual practice rooted in Paganism is the perfect antidote to our disconnection from nature.
And, since it’s non-dogmatic, you don’t have to identify as a Pagan (I don’t), and you can take what works for you and leave what doesn’t.
One of my favourite aspects of the Pagan traditions is the Sabbats, or festivals.
They invite us to rekindle that connection with nature, reminding us that we are part of it and that her cycles are also ours.
As women, we are cyclical beings. I believe that’s what gives us our special connection with nature and what draws many women into spiritual and magickal practices.
Of course, men are part of nature, too. But as women, we experience nature’s cycles through our bodies in a way that they don’t.
So, the Sabbats.
There are 8 of them spread throughout the year — known as the Wheel of the Year.
They mark the significant moments in the changing of the seasons — solstices, equinoxes, and the halfway points between them.
The Wheel of the Year serves as a guide to help us tune in with the natural energies available.
When we align with the ebb and flow of the seasons, we find it easier to flow with life.
Beltane is the Sabbat that marks the beginning of the transition from Spring to Summer.
On the Wheel of the Year, it is the time when plans and projects are ripe to start bearing fruit.
This Sabbat celebrates the marriage of the Goddess and the God — the divine feminine and divine masculine that exist in all creation.
According to tradition, the Goddess, represented by Flora, the May Queen, enters into sacred union with the God as the Green Man.
The Goddess is fertile and ripe for bringing forth new life, projects, or ideas (it’s no coincidence that I launched The Coven on the full moon just before Beltane).
They consummate the marriage, and Flora becomes pregnant.
Beltane is about sex and fertility since the Earth’s creative and reproductive energies are at their strongest, and new life is bursting forth at this time of year.
It’s no wonder this is a popular time for Pagan weddings and hand-fasting ceremonies.
But Beltane also invites us to enter into sacred union with ourselves. To honour the divine masculine and divine feminine that together make us whole.
The marriage of the Goddess and the God takes place within you.
Therefore, this is the time to embrace and celebrate the union of your divine masculine and divine feminine.
Each Sabbat is associated with one of the 5 elements (earth, air, fire, water, and spirit), and Beltane is the first of the fire festivals.
Fire transmutes that which no longer serves you, creating space for you to bring your manifestations into reality.
Easy ritual suggestions to harness the energy of Beltane
Make a bonfire
Gather your coven or your friends and family and dance around it — being naked is optional.
Decorate your home with greenery
Get creative — you can use branches, leaves, flowers…anything that represents spring and fertility.
If you have kids, you can do this fun activity with them — it’s a great way to involve them in your spiritual practice.
You might even want to create a Beltane altar. The element of fire is associated with the south, so place it facing south or in a southern corner of your home.
Revisit your goals for the year
Check on your progress and course-correct or revise your goals as necessary.
Journal prompts
What would it look like for the garden of your life to burst forth with colour and life and make your dreams come alive? What needs tending to, and what needs to be pulled out to make space for new life to grow?
What can you do to honour the sacred union of divine feminine and masculine within you?
Fire meditation
Light a candle or make a bonfire. Sit for a few minutes watching the flames. Notice the sounds, sights, and smells of the fire. Contemplate how it transmutes the candle or wood (earth) into heat and light (fire, water, and air).
After a few minutes, close your eyes. Visualize the flame transmuting that which no longer serves you into a bright, healing light.
Feel this light circulating through your whole body and all around you, leaving you cleansed and purified.
Yoga poses
Surya Namaskar — or sun salutation — is the perfect yoga practice for revering the sun and connecting with the element of fire.
You might also want to practice some hip-opening poses to honour the Goddess and celebrate fertility and creativity:
Love spell
If you want to call love into your life, light a green or purple candle on 30th April (May Eve) and on the night of Beltane (May 1st).
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to connect with yourself. Visualize the love you desire coming into your life.
See and feel what it would look like. Hold that vision in your mind’s eye and connect with the emotions that arise. Live the moment as though it were already here.
Have a barbecue
Who said rituals can’t be fun?
Cooking with fire is a great way to celebrate both Beltane and the start of the summer.
If you’re not ready to out yourself as a Witch just yet but still want to add a magickal element to your gathering, give thanks for the food you’re about to share with your loved ones and for the fire that allows you to cook it.
Got questions about Beltane, the Sabbats, or anything else Witchy? Drop them in the comments, and I’ll get back to you.
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