Beltane: Keeping It Solitary

While the southern hemisphere is waiting to celebrate at the end of October, those in the northern hemisphere are gearing up to celebrate Beltane.

Also known as May Day, Beltane is a fire festival that is well-known for bonfires, maypoles, dancing, and sexual vitality. We’ve all heard the saying ‘April showers bring May flowers’, and this is because Beltane is the Sabbat of fertility. It’s the time when the union between Mother Earth and the fertility god brings beautiful new life into the world, whether it be blossoming flowers, sprouting crops, or healthy livestock.

For solitary practitioners

Or for times like the present when we are all confined to our homes – there is a planting ritual you can partake in by way of celebrating the Sabbat. This can be done in either a personal garden or a flowerpot; it doesn’t matter as long as the intention is there. You want to be sure that the soil is as loose as possible, so turn it over with gardening tools or your hands. As you are doing this, take the opportunity to connect with the earth. Take in everything you feel, everything you smell, everything you hear. Bridge the gap between you and nature. Once you have prepared the soil, it’s time to plant your seeds! Instead of just scattering them, put the seeds into the ground with intent and offer a small blessing before covering with loose soil. Those with larger gardens, it is okay if this process spans over a couple of days! Watering is the last step of this ritual, and you can even add a little garden blessing as you are watering. Consider using this blessing:

A Short Garden Blessing

By: Thalassa

A blessing to the ground beneath by bare feet,

A blessing to the seeds that scatter,

Where they fall upon the meadow, in the field, or in the woods

Let Earth’s garden grow.

I ask the Soil to nourish the seeds,

I ask the Sun to warm the shoots,

I ask the Rains to quench the roots,

Help this garden grow.

I give thanks to the bees that dance with the flowers,

I give thanks to the words digging deep and true.

I give thanks to the microbial world, transformational.

The Oikos that we all call home.

You can also choose to set up a Beltane altar.

Currently, the earth is waking up from its winter slumber and things are starting to bloom. You will want to use lots of greenery for your altar and mix in the pastels of Spring: the daffodil yellows, the lilac purples, and the baby blues. Use these colors in altar cloths or even candles. To represent the god and his raw male energy, you can choose to include seeds, acorns, or anything phallic in nature, such as sticks, or even a miniature model of a maypole. The fertile womb of the goddess could be represented by things such as chalices, wreaths, or rings. Build yourself a crown of brightly colored flowers and incorporate them into your altar space as well, to symbolize fertility and abundance. Finally, there’s fire, the symbol of passion. Bonfires are a traditional custom for Beltane, but regarding your altar, you may want to just settle for some candles! The more the merrier in this case – though maybe not so many to create a fire hazard. Safety first!

While this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to celebrating Beltane, we hope you enjoy these simple rituals that can help you kickstart your May Day.