Beltane Thoughts from 16 years ago…..

“As the wheel turns… Flourishing life, sap rising, maturing, strengthening. Fledglings leave their nest and crops make promise of the harvest to come…”

Now we approach Beltane, also known as Walpurgis Night and May Day to those who follow the Olde Ways, it is the height of spring and the flowering of life. Here the land is full of the gifts of nature.

The night air has a sweet scent and growing warmth about it, the darkness of winter is over and it’s time to be greeted by the rebirth of the earth itself: bulbs come up and bloom, filling the air with their heady, tempting fragrance; birds chirp and sing as their fledglings cry to be fed, as they stretch their wings and take their first brave flights from the safety of their nests. All around us are symbols of fertility, growth, warmth and light. It is the perfect time to celebrate the end of winter hibernation and to reconnect with your friends and loved ones.

Here in Australia, the spring Maiden and the young Lord of the Bush clumsily tumble from the windy and heady heights of the Eastern Hill they roll down the hill in a rush and surprise into the Beltane paddock now littered with spent wattle, callistemon, grevillea and soft rich grass. It is here they finally give into their Beltane desires. With the sap rising strong in the bush, and the birds and the bees, chirping and buzzing, Beltane is a time of rich sexuality. The earth pulses beneath them and their union, the land is transformed, across the top end the rivers, creeks and waterfalls flow, they also are transformed, He is King and She becomes Queen. Now together, transformed and powerful they dance in the footsteps of their ancestors across the rainbow serpent tracks of the dreaming. They are magnificent and terrifying all at once; this union is full of passion and creativity, joy and inspiration, as they sway and swirl over this red earthed sunburnt country.

Together we will dance and weave our way around the rainbow serpent, connected by ribbons, and we will build energy, we will focus on transformation for ourselves, and for our precious land to be free of the current drought. Though a fire festival, we will be using our inner fire due to fire restrictions at this time of year.

Your Personal Declaration

You might begin the celebration of Beltane, by gathering flowers in Nature prior to the circle, these are an offering to both the God and the Goddess to empower our circle. Each flower that you gather is a flower of creativity and inspiration for the transformation. As you select each flower consider how each one reflects your inner changes, and inner desires.

This is a time to consider your new growth too, to delight and celebrate in the changes that you have bought forth, to celebrate your own maturing into further wisdom, your responsibility for all of your actions, and to celebrate the transformations of self as you journey around the wheel, in peace and love. A celebration of Nature in all her beauty.

Work on transforming what is slowing your progress, what is negative and out dated, what brings you pain and discomfort, this is the time for Change.

Could we work on out compassion? Or our respect? Our service to community and humankind? Search through the things that are important and your actions on the social/ political/ecological scale as well. Bring back something with you to place upon your altar or sacred place.

© Astarté Earthwise 2006