— SACRED TIME —

Beltane

May 1 · Celtic tradition · Paganism of antiquity

Fixed date

Esoteric and historical meaning

Fire of Bel: union of polarities and opening of the bright season. The barrier with the Otherworld thins in the opposite direction to Samhain: not the dead, but fertile forces burst through.

Operative mechanics — ritual acts

·Jumping the bonfire or a candle for purification and luck.
·Raising the Maypole with braided ribbons.
·Collecting dawn dew to wash your face.

Traditional foods

·Oat cakes (bannock)
·Milk
·Honey and strawberries

Offerings

·Ribbons tied to a tree
·Milk poured at the base of a plant

Taboos to respect

·Do not give away fire or milk from your house on this day
·Do not extinguish the bonfire with water

Associated symbols

Twin bonfires · Ribbons · Hawthorn · Flower crown

Note for paradigm shifting

Ideal charge for sigils of attraction, vitality, sexuality, and expansive projects.