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Horray,Horray, I t 's the f irst of May

Outdoor screwing begins today!

This month we celebrate yet another turn of the wheel, Beltane, which falls halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice, and means “good fire" as the warm fire of the summer sun get ever closer and we "jump the fire" for fertility and prosperity. Beltianne is a fertility festival, dancing round the maypole, crowning the May Queen, jumping the fire and making love! If we are to celebrate in a more traditional way, it would have been on the full moon that falls closest to the end of April, however there was not one this year so Beltane would fall on May 4th Beltane is a full celebration of fertility, sexuality, fire, passion and getting in touch with our instinctual natures. It is also known as the festival of the ‘Bel-fire’, which is named after the solar deity Bel or Belenus Bel was also known as Beli or Bile in Ireland, with Bile meaning ‘tree’, so Beltane may also means ‘Tree-fire‘ which I love! The tree typically associated with Beltane is the hawthorn tree which traditionally was used for the Maypole dance. Expanding a bit more on the etymology of Beltane, we look

Beltane May 1st

Planting seeds, Growing, Ripening

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to the Gaulish word bel, which means bright and the Gaelic word tine means fire-Bel-Fire, thus the interpretation of Beltane as the festival honouring the “Fire of Bel” or “Bel’s Fire.” Having said that Bel or Belanus was associated with healing springs and spas, places that were considered to have health-giving waters, he was also associated with the symbols of the phallic shaped stone and the bull. As we get deeper into the spring time season, our inner fire also begins to wake up, igniting our creative passions as we begin the gentle movement into the summer season. I love Beltane for the aspect of getting to jump the fire, and have jumped for many years, some fire's being in large gatherings and some years only over a solitary candle, because the best part is the wishes and intentions one gets to make for the up-coming season. Fire transmutes and changes things, it can burn bright or smoulder into a burning passion, and this is the season to take out passions, intentions and things that need clearing to the fire!Beltane is also a holiday of Union, both between the Goddess and the God/ man and woman, and so Handfastings are also traditional at this time of year as it is a time of fertility and harvest. Other Celebrations include braiding of one's hair (to honour the union of man and woman and Goddess and God), circling the Maypole for fertility and jumping the Beltane fire for luck. Lighting fires is a must during Beltane, and traditionally the Beltane fire was composed of the nine sacred woods of the Celts, and traditionally folks would leap through the smoke and flames of Beltane fires and then run off to make love in the fields, as fertility rites. Special woods were brought in at this time for burning and cattle were driven between two fires to purify them from the winter illnesses. Most folks hearth-fires were extinguished and then relit from the Beltane community fire to bring them prosperity for the upcoming season and lovers leaped across bonfires before running off into the fields to spend the night together, as it is said that making love in the fields is good to bring on a fertile year. Naming the May King and Queen is also a fun custom among the young people, and they go singing from door to door throughout the town carrying flowers or the May tree, and singing for donations that will go into the merrymaking in return for the "blessing of May" which is essentially a symbolic marriage. As the kids go from door to door, the May Bride often sings to the effect that those who give will also "get" nature's bounty through the year. Other things associated with Beltane are Labyrinths, making alters dedicated to the sun, honey and fire, flower wreaths, labyrinth walking, and lots of candles. It is said that in the Scottish highlands there is an old tradition of making big oat cakes and offering them to the fire on Beltane night as a mock sacrifice, each little piece being dedicated to aspects that they wish prosperity on, such as their

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livestock, health, crops etc.. Another tradition is to take some smaller bits of that same cake and toss them into a sack marking one only with charcoal from the fire. The person who chooses the blackened piece is given in a mock sacrifice to the fire, so that any spirits that wish unwell on the community think that got their due.

Jumping the Fire!

Fire is a primary feature of this festival lighting candles, burning away old patterns and things that no longer serve us and allowing the element of fire to ignite our passions and goals for the upcoming season! It has been also said that just as the Veil Between the worlds is thin and permeable at Samhain, so too is the veil during Beltane as well and when we jump the fire we have the chance to touch divinity and manifest all we wish for... Adding cedar or juniper branches to the blessing fire creates a scented smoke to cleanse and bless as we jump, but also even jumping over a single candle flame is enough for the magic to do it's workings... Making offerings to the fire of chocolate and sweets is also always a good thing as the fire loves anything that creates passion, so chili peppers and cinnamon are also god offerings to a passion filled beltane fire! Jumping the fire with someone you love is also an old tradition as it is said to increase passion and promote fertility, so you may wish to be careful when you choose a fire-jumping partner. Jumping the Beltane fires with a friend is said to strengthen your bonds so if you are not looking to be too fertile, then perhaps jumping with a dear friend is a better choice. In Celtic times, it is said that the druids kindled the Beltane fires with specific incantations, but later on in history the Christian church took over the Beltane

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observances and held instead a church service, followed by a procession to the fields or hills, where the priest kindled the fire. Like most if not all pagan festivities the church took them over so now is a good time to reclaim and renew our observances of the wheel of the year, celebrating our mother earth, the seasons and the bounty she brings us.

Maypole Dancing:

The symbolism of the maypole has been continuously debated by folklorists for centuries some saying that it same from the ancient practise of sacred tree worship linking to the ancient shamanic "tree of life" or axis mundi which is belief that the tree is the pillar, or centre of the world, thus the term-world tree. In certain beliefs and philosophies, is the world centre, or the connection between Heaven and Earth. Either way the maypole was once a fun way for communities to pick fin at an ancient fertility symbol the penis! It is said that the may pole represented the phalys and each community would try to have theirs be bigger then the next, sometimes reporting to stealing others in jest in an effort to have the "biggest in the region!. The poles were decorated with flowers and greenery representing the spring time and women would dance around the "Big pole" in sacred fertility rites. It was not until the Victories period that ribbons came to be a part of the pole where elaborate dances would be done around the pole creating intricate weavings, which over time came to become part of the culture and folklore of a region with dancers wearing costumes specific to their region and including theatrical elements along to music.

There are many ways that we can incorporate the maypole into our celebrations even if we do not have a community to gather and dance, Making Maypole wands: These are a fun activity for adults and children alike and can take the place of an elaborate large maypole in a pinch! In the image above you can see a lovely array of maypole wands, each have a tiny bell attached to multi coloured ribbons. They can be woven in ceremony or simply played

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with in celebration. Making them is simple, all you need is some dowling bought at any hardware store, small eyelet screws and ribbons. Make a mini Maypole for your garden: If you look to the image above in the collage-{right hand corner} you can see a great example of a mini maypole made for the garden. Making one is simple and similar to the maypole wands, in that you will need a piece of dowling and lots of ribbons. In this case you will also need a small metal hoop which can often be found at Michaels in the leather section where they keep dreamcatcher kits. Cover the dowling and hoop in pretty ribbons and attach the hoop to the top by hot glueing ribbons that you have tied to the hoop to the top of the dowling. If you want to make it like big enough for a few small children to dance around try sticking a larger piece of dowling into a well-weighted flower pot like in the image here...

Baking for the celebrat ions:

Beltane Passion Cookies Ideally these are in the shape of yoni's and penis's for added adult fun! You can either share them to eat, or place on your Beltaine Altar. Alternately a goddess symbol or shape is equally lovely for if children will be around. Recipe: ¾ cup unsalted butter 1 cup brown sugar 1 egg ¼ cup molasses 1¾ cups whole grain flour ½ tsp. salt 3 tsp. ground cinnamon 1½ tsp. ground cloves

5 tsp. powdered ginger ⅛ tsp. granulated 2 tsp. baking soda ½ cup crystallized ginger, coarsely chopped (optional) Preheat the oven to 350°. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using a hand mixer, cream the butter with the sugar then beat in the egg and molasses. Sift all the dry ingredients into a medium bowl, then stir into the wet batter. Add

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crystallized ginger. Roll batter into 1 inch balls and dip one side into granulated sugar, or roll them out and use a cookie cutter, or hand-shape them into fun shapes! Place sugar side up on baking sheet, about 3 inches apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Blessed Lemon Custard From the book Beltane. Rituals, Recipes & Lore for May Day.

The delicious lemon custard is magickaly crafted to express gratitude for your Beltane blessings while manifesting even more blessings. Ingredients: 4 cups milk 2/3 cups sugar 4 whole eggs and 2 yolks {6 eggs total, two separated]

4 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla extract Graham crackers 1 tsp powdered sugar-optional 1 sprig of fresh mint-optional begin by heating milk in a saucepan over med heat until it beings to bubble slightly. Add in sugar and stir until dissolved. Add eggs slowly. Stir slowly with a wooden spoon until completly blended. You may need to reduce heat slightly , as you want it to bubble but not boil over or burn. Onve the mixture starts to thicken and looks visable different approx 15 min's {warning do not take your eyes off of the pot!}reduce the heat further and give it another 5 min's. If your custard does not seemt o want to thicken no matter what not to worry k=just sprinkle a bit of flour a tiny bit at a time until it begins to thicken. Once it has the consistency you like take it off of the heat and add your vanilla, stirring in and then your lemon juice stirring in. While you are doing this think of sunlight and moonlight and the energetic aspects of both of these natures, one being male-sun and one being female-moon. Next place your graham crackers in the bottom of either individual serving dishes or a larger serving dish and as you fdo think of the grounding energies of the earth, Mother natures womb as she bring forth the bounty of May flowers, fruits and greenery. As you fill each dish with with lemon curd contemplate all the

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delights you hope May will bring. Garnish with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar and a sprig of mint. Vegan alternative Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk • 10g (1 tbs) Organic Corn Starch • 6 tbs Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice • 1/2 tsp Natural Yellow Food Coloring (optional) • 1/4 tsp Lemon juice • 72g (6 tbs) Granulated Erythritol (or dry sweetener of choice) • 1/8 tsp Salt • 48g (1/4 cup) Butter Flavor Spectrum Organics Shortening

Instructions

1. In a small pot, whisk together the almond milk and corn starch. Place over medium heat.

2. Whisk in the lemon juice, food coloring, lemon flavor, erythritol and salt. Whisk every minute or so, then whisk constantly once the mixture starts to bubble around the edges of the pot.

3. When mixture starts to thicken and bubble constantly, whisk for a few minutes and then remove pot from the heat.

4. Whisk in the shortening until fully combined and place on the counter to cool.

5. Every five minutes or so, whisk the mixture. When mixture has cooled down a bit, pour into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap touching the surface and refrigerate overnight.

Notes: Recipe adapted from: Healthy Happy Life

Activ i t ies and Crafts:

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~If you are planning an outside fire, ask everyone coming to bring some firewood and an offering to the fire. Once lit everyone in attendance can cook on it, tell stories around it, make offerings, drum, and once the fire has burned down low, you can jump over it yelling your intentions as you fly! ~Of course the creation of an altar or outdoor shrine is a must, filled with spring flowers, candles to represent the fire and anything else you feel moved to create beauty with. ~If you have access to a May pole dance GO! As this is a traditional Beltaine thing to do, dancing and weaving and moving your body in joyful celebration of the arrival of spring! ~Make love! I really need not say anything more on this :] ~Plant a tree and tie clooties or small strips of fabric onto the branches with prayers and intentions written onto them, or wishes into them, the hawthorn, birch and rowen are all sacred Beltaine trees. ~Make a dreamcatcher, or driftwood wind chime, attach long pieces of fabric to it and keep it simple!

Make Offering Stones:

These are biodegradable salt and flour dough stones or "cookies" that are covered in herbs and other things that break down in nature and can be used as safe creature and plant friendly offerings. {The first image in the collage above is of the offering stones} Recipe: ½ cup flour ½ cup salt ½ cup water--adding more if necessary ¼ TBSP cream of tartar ½ TBSP oil (any cooking oil should work) 1/4 cup oats

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Herbs: Rose petals, lavender, juniper berries, crushed sage, pollen--anything you want to create an offering into! Mix all of your ingredients together in a pan on the stove over low-Med heat depending on your stove, stir until you have a dough, i.e. when it pulls away from the sides of the sauce pan, and then let cool for a bit. At this point you can roll pieces into a ball in your hands then smash flat or form into any shape you want. Add any other decorations, such as crystals,bee pollen or even use food colouring to give them a pretty affect. Let dry for several days or dry in the oven on the lowest setting.

Plant a Living Play Hut The Runner Bean “Teepee” DenThis one is probably the easiest of all the playhouses/Journey Hut's to create, plus one that will give you some tasty runner beans to enjoy throughout the summer season. What You Need: 1] 8 – 10 long bamboo canes (6 – 7 feet minimum). 2) Gardening string or a cable tie or similar. 3) A packet of runner bean seeds. 4) Large roll of gardening string or a roll of chicken wire (optional). 5} tar paper or a large sheet of gardening plastic, the thick kind they use for lining water fountains. Method1) Choose a spare area of garden, either on a border, or on the lawn. You’ll have to remove a small area of lawn to plant the seeds. 2) Push your bamboo canes into the ground in a circle to form a large pyramid/teepee shape. Leave a large gap between two of the canes for an entrance. Secure the tops of the canes together using either a some garden string, twine, or wire.

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3) For best results cover bamboo teepee in either chicken wire, or a network of gardening string.

Creating an altar and simple Ritual for Beltane:

Creating seasonal altars is easy especially when one takes a walk with a pair is scissors or cutting shears in their bag! Even if you live in the city it is easy to find cherry or apple blossoms and make a cutting form a tree, or gather small wild flowers such as dandelions and sweet flowers considered to be weeds. Gathering leaves, moss and other natural things is the perfect pace to start, not to mention that being outdoors is the perfect starting place for any ritual. In our home we have both indoor and outdoor altars and shrines, each one changed seasonally, but also serving different purposes. In the image above is our outdoor shrine where we make offerings to the spirits of our land and the elvic realms of the plants and flowers. To make a beltane altar red or orange coloured candles or better yet beeswax ones are a must, offerings of sweet cookies-perhaps shaped like a yoni or lingam, along with any seasonal items and things that inspire you all make for a good altar. This is the season to be looking ahead and setting goals and plans, as the summer season ahead is an outward moving one, a time for being outside, camping, gardening and generally taking holidays and being with friends. When we take a moment at each of the quarters to stop and reflect, or plan it allows our soul selves to catch up with what is happening both in our spiritual world and our outside environment. For beltane a simple ritual is to sit with a lit candle on your altar and gazing at the

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flame think of all of the things that you are passionate about, allow your mind to free flow through everything that makes you joyful and happy... Next take a piece of paper and write a list of all these things, write till your hand is sore and your heart happy for the recounting of such joy! Now fold the paper in half and blow all of that joy and passion you feel in your heart into the paper and offer it to the fire. Ideally you have a small bowl beside you so that when you light the fire you can place it there to finish burning.. Watch as your passions become a smoke prayer to the sun and know that this is your intent moving forward and into the season. Lastly once the ashes are cold to the touch you can keep them in your medicine pouch, add them to paint if you are an artist, mark yourself or whatever your spirits calls for you to do with them for these are the ashes of your most sacred and holy passions and joys, made manifest into smoke prayers to the divine!

Beltane Blessings Dear Ones...