Beltane - The Summer Sabbat

1st May - or May Day - is traditionally the start of the sabbat of Beltane.

Pronounced as “Bee-ol-tin-ae”, this is the Gaelic celebration of the start of summer in the Northern hemisphere, marking the coming together of the feminine and masculine energies in a union of limitless abundance.

Beltane is a festival of warmth, fire, fertility and love. It marks a return of life and is often symbolised by the coming together of Mother Earth and the green man.

Beltane is one of 4 fire sabbats that are marked each year, the other three being Imbolc, Lammas, and Samhain.

Beltane is a time when we give thanks for the sun's warmth, for growth, new life and for the abundance of nature.

This time is all about the fertility of the land, of animals and of us as humans. As such, there are often many sex rituals practices during this time of heightened energy.

During Beltane, tradition states that this is the time when the fairies and the Fae reawaken from their hibernation over the winter months and dance. Traditionally Beltane is celebrated with fire, with feasting, and with song and dance.

It’s a celebration of passion, abundance and life, and so as such, is usually filled with all of that!

It’s often also a time when we remember our ancestors. In both Samhain and Beltane, the veil between the physical and spirit world is at its thinnest, so this is a time when working with spirit is enhanced.

A bonfire is traditionally lit and it’s smoke carries protective energies across the land to protect it and bless it, ensuring an abundant crop and good harvest. These bonfire celebrations are known as the Beltane fire festival. Think of them as a sort of giant smudge stick, carrying all that cleansing and purifying energy across the land.

When these fires are lit, all other flames nearby are extinguished, even candles, to ensure the optimum power.

Other traditions stem from these fires too. Some traditions would lead cattle between two fires, others would leap across the flames, or carry a torch from the Beltane fires back to their homes to light their hearth with, carrying with it its magickal blessings.

Even couples trying for a baby would leap across the smoke or flames as a blessing of the womb and of fertility.

The maypole was also a powerful and potent feature of this fertility rite too. It’s long phallic shape was pushed deep into the earth, an act of penetration, symbolising the act of sex between the earth gods and goddesses. This ensured, once again, the Beltane blessings of fertility and abundance.

However you decide to spend Beltane, may the warming of the earth bless you with abundance, love and joy.

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