Challenge entry 2
New for me is celebrating Beltane, which I have not celebrated before.
Some new things I have learned from the book Llewellynâs Sabbat Essentials
Beltane has been celebrated and honoured in many different ways overtime. And the common themes are growth, protection, abundance, fertility, light, love and sexuality.
Timing:
Beltane is the cross quarter day falling roughly halfway between spring equinox and the summer solstice. Itâs a time of fertility and growth as itâs a time where plants are starting to bloom and grow. It is a time when the horned god has grown up and is ready to meet with the lunar earth, goddess or triple goddess. It is also seen as a time when the Oak King rules, who is the lighter half of the twins, Oak King and Holly King. It is also connected to the worship of the Celtic God, Belenus.
Commonly celebrated beginning sundown April 30 and ending at sundown on May 1.
You can time it to fall exactly between the spring equinox and the summer solstice on the ecliptic longitude of the sun reaches 45°.
You can time it to when the livestock moved to summer pastures.
You can time it to the point where the sun is positioned at 15° relative to Taurus. Taurus is one of the four fixed cardinal signs. The energy of the bull brings energies of renewing life and enhancing growth.
I have read there is a place in the states that celebrates nor the first week of May. Which is good as it gives me more time to get in everything I want to do.
The Llewellyn book is pretty cool because it also goes into different pagans and different practises for belting. Iâm not going into that here or else Iâll be writing a book which theyâve already done.
Ways to celebrate, from the book:
Review your defenses, both mundane and/ or spiritual. The Celts used their Beltane fire rites to purify and protect.
Get creative: Beltane has a very vibrant, fertile energy, so get creative, writing a poem, a book, painting, drawing whatever it is you want to do to be creative.
Enjoy nature: go and enjoy nature, or gather some nature and bring it inside or do both.
Dress it up: after doing a nice spring, clean of your space or a cleansing bath for yourself decorate your home and get dressed up yourself. Itâs a way to feel a spring step.
Go crazy: Beltane is a great time for adventure. After the hibernation of winter, itâs great to just shake off all that winter energy and do something exciting, something that makes us feel alive. It could be something daring or it could be something simple where youâre just trying something new.
Spend time near water: water is the symbol of femininity, life, creativity, and goddess energies. Have a picnic near water or just spend time near the water feeling its energies and leave behind a gift of thanks.
What I have planned:
This book has some great spells and recipes and ideas for decoration for Beltane.
I am going to do the:
-bean planting wish spell.
-The sun and citrine spell. This is releasing old energies and bringing new energies.
-Iâm going to make a blessed lemon custard and make it into a lemon meringue pie
-I am going to review my defences
-And for going crazy I am going to Toronto the weekend of April 30 to go watch a Jayâs game with my kids and my work. The boys and I will also be doing some sight seeing.
-If we donât have a fire ban on, we will be having a bonfire. If we do have a fire ban, then I will be lighting candles inside.
Sorry for the long post, thanks for reading. I used voice to text and corrected the errors I saw, sorry for the ones I missed.