Beltane Diary - Day 3. How to actually represent masculine and feminine?

Right, I’m on the way to completing my Beltane spell plans! As mentioned previously, the central them for me this year is balance between masculine and feminine. To me this means to allow my emotions to flow freely but to only let them drive me forwards, not to lock me in place. To see beauty in the world around me but also recognise what needs to be fixed. To actively build momentum in my life but also to allow myself to sit back and enjoy it once in a while! 

Therefore, I have brought symbols of masculine and feminine into my plans but I want them to be more than just representations. I want to incorporate them on a much deeper level. This was easier with the wand that will be making for masculinity because of the need to braid the ribbon myself - there’s a personal touch because of the creativity involved. 

But with the femininity I’ve had to think harder. Simply placing a chalice on the altar didn’t seem to feel balanced at all. I am therefore placing inside a little gift of a moonstone (a very feminine and intuitive gemstone). I will have water in my chalice on the day and then on top of this I will cover with rose petals. 

More later!

Beltane Rituals Article Link

In case you want to read my Beltane Rituals article, which has now been published, on its original site, here is the link!

Blessings

Fran xx

My Beltane Rituals Article

I've written an article on some simple Beltane rituals and traditions and thought I may as well post it here too! Hope you enjoy it :)

For witches, Wiccans and Pagans alike, the important festive time of Beltane is approaching! Here are some traditional Beltane rituals you might like to try for this special day. 

• Maypole dancing - more associated with May Day for most people but a Beltane ritual all the same! The maypole is a large staff of about 20 feet placed in the ground with long ribbons attached. The merry-makers would then dance with a ribbon in their hand, men going in one direction and women in the other. As they wove in and out of one another the ribbons would cover the pole in an intricate pattern. It’s a ritual related to fertility (which originates from the Germanic tradition) and in the UK it is also associated with Morris dancers, who’s dancing is also associated with fertility rites. 
  

• You can also use your own representation of the may pole such as a branch (fallen not cut) from an Oak or Hazel tree. 
  

• Washing your face in morning dew - tradition has it that it keeps you beautiful all year. So get up early!
  

• Bonfire or fire of some kind - Beltane is to many a fire festival and one version of the origin of the name is ‘bale fires’ which is due to some of the agricultural work at that time of year. It is also connected to the Celtic God Bel, who was honoured on this day. It is part of many Wiccan practices to jump over a small bonfire or a candle flame. Don’t catch on fire though!
  

• Flowers, particularly hawthorn - baskets of flowers were made to make the most of the colourful array of nature’s gifts. So as part of your Beltane ritual, make a basket of flowers to give away as a gift. 
  

• Incense and herbs - angelica, frankincense, hawthorn, lilac and rose are associated to Beltane rituals.
  

• A chalice for fertility - this symbolises the womb. You can also include a dagger for male symbolism. Dip the dagger into the chalice as part of your Beltane ritual or altar work. 
  

• Colours  - white, dark green, red are used to symbolise both the fertility rites and also, because of the return of the sun to the earth, both spring and summer seasons are associated. 
  

• Red and white ribbons to braided around a wand to place on your altar. 
  

• Lastly, binding is also symbolically very important as this is a time for marriage. You can also use your Beltane ritual to bind your desires to you but bear in mind you will be stuck with them so choose wisely! 
  

5 Facts About Beltane - The Fire Festival

I'm doing some Beltane facts on Twitter at the moment and today I put on it that it was a Celtic fire festival. This prompted a comment from someone who was curious about this. I thought I'd add a few little extra points just to clarify! So here are 5 facts about Beltane - the Fire Festival! 

1) The Beltane fire festival is held on August 30th in Edinburgh every year. It's an absolutely huge event! Admittedly though, the organisers state that the celebrations are not entirely traditional. 

2) There are differences in the way the Celts celebrated Beltane and the ways the Germanic people did. For the latter it was more about the fertility rites (something we've adopted more in today's rituals) and for the Celts it was around livestock. I have read about tales of cattle being brought out to pasture for the first time and they were, en route, passed briefly through bonfires to cleanse them and their energies. 

3) For some households, Beltane was a time to burn bedding and unwanted items from winter. A sort of spring clean!

4) The meaning of Beltane can vary depending on your source of information but 'brightest fires' is one and fires of Bel is another I have encountered. Bel was a Celtic deity. 

5) The fire is also symbolic at this time as we are welcoming the return of the sun to the earth and, hopefully, being blessed with a glorious summer! 

We have a Beltane sale going on at Destiny Charms right now and you'd be very welcome to come and see us there :)

Blessings

Fran xx