Beltane is nigh (I love that word, nigh) with all it’s magickal energy. Celebrated from sunset on April 31 to sunset on May 1, this fire festival is a great time for creation, fertility and love spellwork.
Here are some of my favorite Beltane symbols and a few ways to celebrate.
Flower Crowns
Floral Crowns are such a lovely, evocative symbol of spring’s energy, of growth and beauty. Bringing to mind fertility, love and celebration, a floral crown can be elaborate or simple. While I love the scent, beauty and energy of real flowers and greenery, and those wreathes can be beautiful when dried, I’ve also created long-lasting ones from faux greenery garlands from a craft store, accented with ribbon and silk flowers. Other years, I’ve effortlessly braided ribbons together, for a simple crown. The floral crown adds a gorgeous element of energy to home decor when used as a door or wall hanging, or to encircle a candle (which is great for Spellwork, as well as being pretty)
Maypole
Another symbol is the Maypole. The phallic symbol of the God is symbolic in the pole rising from the base or ground, and is often ringed at the top by a circle or rounded ball representing the Goddess. The pole is often decorated with long, colored ribbons that are held by the participants as they dance and weave the ribbons around the pole to celebrate the union of the Goddess and the God. I’ve celebrated in the Maypole dance and the energy raised is amazing and so celebrational. But a fun alternate to a public celebration is a tabletop Maypole, such as this one I was so happy to get in a monthly subscription box a few years ago.
Beltane BaelFire
And a favorite Beltane custom is the bonfire. A symbol of welcoming the heat of the returning sun, historically people jumped over the bonfire for luck and walked their cattle between fire gates as a blessing. Personally, I never jump over fire and don’t really think I ever will 😳 but I do love some hot flames in my fire pit. I often burn petitions in the fire. Some years I’ve used the fire to burn away energies that I’m working to release, and a few times I’ve burned the corn dolly that’d lived on my altar since the previous Samhain. There are so many ways to bring fire spells into this celebration, especially as they relate to creation, fertility, prosperity, passion and protection.
Beltane Incense
Herbal blends and Incense, especially if created with ingredients and timing specific to Beltane, can add some amazing energy to the season. Some possibilities are to burn incense to celebrate the fire releasing the energies of the herbs. Or it as an herbal blend sprinkled around flaming Beltane candles, surrounding the candles with the herbal energy. Another possibility is to toss the herbs into a fire pit while making Beltane wishes.
Beltane Season
The magick of Beltane isn’t a one-and-done event. Like the rest of the points on the Wheel of the Year, it’s a marker for the peaking of that particular season’s energy. And while we honor that energy on the specific day, it is there with all its blessings for closer to 6 weeks. Whether you choose to begin the season halfway between each Sabbat, or a week, or even a few days, before the calendar date depends on you. But the power and energy of it— and more to the point, the timing to draw it into your life, to use it for spellwork, manifestation and appreciation, lasts longer. So embrace Beltane, not just for the day, but for the season.
If you’re looking for ways to expand embracing Beltane, I’m happy to share a Correspondence List that might spark a few Beltane celebrations ideas…
