Beltane
BeltaneBeltane
1st May - Northern Hemishpere
31st October - Southern Hemisphere
Also known as Beltan, Bealtaine, Walpurgisnacht, May Day
This is the second most important Sabbat in the Wheel of the Year. Like Samhain it is a day when the veil between the worlds is thinner. Unlike Samhain, however, this is a time for spirits to play miccheivious trick and so any divinations should be done cautiously. Be careful of wishes at this time as you may just get what you ask for.
It is also the festival of the God Bel, the fire God. Hence the bonfires that are traditionally lit at this festival. People would 'jump the fire' to ensure fertility . The Goddess becomes the Mother as the young God persuing her has finally caught her. The marriage of the God and Goddess occurs on Beltane and so couples were traditionally handfasted at this time also. Unlike the Christian ceremony the couple come to the ceremony as equals - neither is 'given away' and their vows are spoken directly to one another, not through a priest or priestess, although they may assist them in the ceremony.
The main component of the Beltane ritual is the 'Great Rite' - the joining of the God and Goddess. This may be done symbolically by the joining of the Athame and Chalice. However if you are comfortable you may wish to perform the 'Great Rite' in actuality. The 'Great Rite' can also be performed by a solitary practitioner as the Athame and Chalice represnt the God and Goddess.
The Wheel of the Year
Corespondences
Herbs - Hawthorn, Honey suckle, St. John's Wort
Back to Major and Minor Rituals
