Beltane/Beltaine/May Day
The celebration of Beltane starts at dusk on the 30th of April and continues until dawn on the 1st of May, or according to the old custom, on the full moon after May 1st, or when the Hawthorn tree begins to flower. The astrological date for this day is when the sun sets at 15 degrees Taurus. Taurus is an Earth sign ruled by Venus, symbolic of security, stamina, strength, and warm-heartedness. This is the beginning of the Celtic summer.
The month of May is named in honor of the Goddess, Maia (Maj, May, Maya, the Maiden), originally a Greek mountain nymph. One of the Seven Sisters. Daughter of Atlas and Pleione (a sea nymph). Also the mother of the God Hermes. This was the time to celebrate the virgin or "flower" aspect of the Goddess, the signification of the fruits to come. In ancient Rome, it was the Festival of Floralia, Flora, Goddess of flowers, Walpurgisnacht to the Teutons (early Germanic tribes), the night of Walpurgis or Walpurga.
The word "Beltane" is derived from the Irish Gaelic 'Bealtaine' or the Scottish Gaelic 'Bealtuinn', meaning 'Bel-fire'(bright/sacred fire), the fire of the God of light (Bel, Beli, Belinus, Belenus, Balor, Baal).
This is the day of the ride of Lady Godiva through Coventry, England, which was eventually outlawed by the Puritans. A day of heightened sexuality, frolic, and fertility, a time to dance around the May Pole, ride the hobby horse, and whisk off into the woods for an entire night of sexual freedom, bringing back branches and flowers to parade through town the next morning. The name "Lady's Day" is confused with this day. There is no historical evidence of this. Lady's Day is actually reserved for the Spring Equinox (Ostara).
HERBS:
Honeysuckle, St. John's wort, Hawthorn, Woodruff, All flowers & greens.
INCENSE:
Frankincense, Lilac, Rose, Passion Flower, Patchouli, Vanilla.
COLORS:
Red & White, All colors of the Rainbow.
DECORATIONS:
Maypoles, Braids of flowers, Baskets, Ribbons, Spring flowers & Greenery
FOODS:
Dairy, oatmeal or barley cakes (known as Beltane cakes), Sweets, foods from red fruits such as Cherries, Strawberries, Wine, Fresh greens, Green salads.
GODS & GODDESSES:
Aphrodite, Artemis, Anu, Anann, Dana, Danu, Venus, Flora, Rhiannon, Freya, Ariel, Diana. Bel, Belenus, Cernunnos, Robin Goodfellow, Puck, the Great Horned God, The Green Man, Cupid, Eros, Pan, Herne the Hunter, & the like.
GEMSTONES:
Emerald, Orange carnelian, sapphire, Rose quartz.
ANIMALS:
Goats, Rabbits, Cattle, Honey bees, Faeries, Trolls, Elves.
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Weaving/plaiting/braiding...the joining together of two substances to form athird...as in may poles, baskets, flower garlands & crowns, Making & giving baskets of May flowers; Lighting a fire of nine different woods ('Need fire'/ 'Bel-fire') and jumping through the flames, or in the past they walked the animals of the community between the fires, to ensure protection & fertility; walking the perimeter of your property ('beating the bounds'); repairing fences and/or boundary markers; archery tournaments, music, dancing, feasting, drinking, celebrating, frivolity, bathing your face in the dew of May morning to retain your youthful beauty.
TAROT CARDS:
Wands, specifically 4 of Wands
by Gypsy Jaguar 2003
~revised 2006~
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BELTANE MARIGOLD CUSTARD
from Scott Cunningham's BOS
2 cups milk
1 cup unsprayed marigold petals
1/4 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. sugar
1 to 2-inch piece vanilla bean
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/8 tsp. allspice
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. rose water
whipped cream
Using a clean mortar and pestle reserved for cooking
purposes, pound marigold petals. Or, crush with a spoon.
Mix the salt, sugar and spices together. Scald milk with
the marigolds and the vanilla bean. Remove the vanilla
bean and add the slightly beaten yolks and dry ingredients.
Cook on low heat.
When the mixture coats a spoon, add rose water and cool.
Top with whipped cream, garnish with fresh marigold petals.
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Sacagawea lead Louis & Clark through her pregnancy & after she had her baby too! I hope the doc can figure out why you are still having pain....have you had tests on your lymph glands? Let me know how things work out, plz. & may I repeat your sentence because I love it...To a continuing friendship throughout our lives no matter when, where or who Blessed Be.
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