also called May Day, May Eve, Lady's Day, Walpurgisnacht, etc. a Greater Sabbat, one of the four Fire Festivals or Cross-Quarter Days some choose to mark this Sabbat on May 1st; others astrologically, when the sun reaches 15 degrees Taurus. a celebration of the start of Summer and the traditional start of the 'Light' half of the year. first Sabbat in the season of Fire the time between Beltaine and Ostara is a time of increasing warmth and greenery this is the time of the heiros gamos, or sacred marriage, between the God and Goddess - this Sabbat celebrates their sexual union in ritualized form themes include celebrating the full arrival of Summer, sensuality, pleasure, joy, love, and fertility Symbols
maypoles flower crowns may baskets chalice and blade red and white flowers bonfires rabbits bees goats colours include green, red, white, gold, and silver Activities
make love outdoors! collecting flowers for May baskets give friends and family small gifts for the May; flower bouquets, small bundles of sweets, ribbons, etc. making and dancing the Maypole beating the bounds collecting nine sacred woods for the Belfire (may include Apple, Birch, Oak, Rowan, Ash, Hawthorn, Vine, Fir, and Hazel) leaping the Belfire for luck or healing love magic make flower crowns for ritual wear bathe your face in Beltaine dew for beauty year-round have a picnic outdoors find a hawthorn tree and make it your wish tree; tying clootie rags or other charms in branches are a traditional way of asking the spirit of trees and clootie wells for blessings Food
Food at Beltaine often has a focus on being sensual, or aphrodisiacal. Finger foods are especially appropriate!
mead May Wine - a light punch of white wine, sliced strawberries, and fresh sweet woodruff leaves. The woodruff gives the punch a distinct flavour. elderflower cordials honey fresh berries or fruits, esp. strawberries fresh asparagus or fiddleheads eggs rabbit goat poultry oatcakes Gemstones and Minerals
Amethyst Bloodstone Garnet Emerald Green aventurine Jade Moonstones Rhodochrosite Rose quartz Herbs, Oils, and Resins
Damiana - aphrodisiac, love, lust, sensuality, Jasmine - aphrodisiac, joy, dreams, passion, pleasure, sensuality. (*Warning* - handle with care; may cause allergies. Highly toxic; do not take internally.) Meadowsweet - domestic peace, gentleness, harmony, love, money, tranquility, weddings. Musk - aphrodisiac, commanding, confidence, courage, energy, love, luck, lust, power, passion, sensuality, strength, success, virility. (Please do not use musk derived from animal sources - musk root or ambrette seed achieve the same effect without harming animal life.) Myrtle - aphrodisiac, compassion, fertility, happiness, love, prosperity, wealth, weddings. Orris Root - commanding, love, protection, spell-breaking, stops gossip. (*Warning* - pure orris root can cause severe allergic reactions.) Patchouli - boosts spells, calming, commanding, love, relaxation, peace, sensuality, spell-breaking. Rose - clairvoyance, consecration, divination, good luck, harmony, transformation Savory - aphrodisiac, to attract males, love, passion, sensuality, virility. Vetiver - boosts spells, commanding, good luck, love, protection, success, virility. Violet - beauty, fidelity, gentleness, harmony, love, modesty, tranquility. (*Warning* - this oil can cause photosensitive reactions on skin.) White Briony Root - aphrodisiac, fertility, love, magic, prosperity, protection, sensuality, virility, wealth. Incense Recipe
This is my own recipe for a Beltane incense; it is loose, and meant to be burnt on charcoal. A part is simply whatever you choose to use as a measure. A 'few drops' is to your taste, but typically less than ten drops per ounce of incense.
2 pts. benzoin resin 1 pt. orris root 1 pt. rose 1 pt. patchouli leaf 1 pt. damiana 1 pt. vetiver root A few drops of musk oil
