Beltaine

Hello my fellow travellers of the old ways, it has been a while since my last blog, I have had quite a few things happen in my life these past few months so not been able to post my blogs as much as I was hoping to.  Well, things have eased a little and as such I can now start to move forward again.

I want to now move on to the next part of working with the Wheel of the Year, Beltaine. 

 

Beltaine

This festival usually falls around the 1^st of May, a time when the sun has started to rule the days and nights are getting shorter.  A time when we can stay out in nature amongst the trees and wildlife and enjoy their presence for longer before it gets dark.  A time when leaves starts returning to the cold, dark branches of the trees, bringing the countryside alive with all the different shades of green.  This time of year when I start sitting outside in the early mornings happily relaxing in the sunlight meditating and listening to all the natural sounds around me.  Beltaine is associated with the start of summer.  It was around this festival that the Beltaine fires were lit, this festival is directly opposite Samhain, and just as was done then the villagers would take an ember from the communal fire to bring summer blessings to the home.  The first cookfires of the summer were lit using the Beltaine Fire.  It was a basic belief in most European areas that the faeries were unable to start their own fires and as such would come to the celebrations disguised as humans and ask for a part of the fire which was given freely to them, but this then gave them a measure of power over the giver.  Beltaine is also the time of fertility when young couples would go outside and make love under the first sun of the season (lucky for some).

 

Herbs

As we know working with herbs was part of the Druid way. Herbs were used for medicinal purposes, in food and as offerings. For this spoke of the wheel I will give a short list of herbs associated with Beltaine and a brief idea of their uses. A list of herbs are as follows, and as always care should always be taken when working with any herbs.

Nettle: Linked to the planet Mars and the Fire element, Nettle helps by dispelling darkness and fear, strengthening the will, and aiding in the ability to handle emergencies. Sprinkle in the home to drive off evil and negativity.  It is associated with healing/health, strength, and protection.  Herbs linked to Mars give energy. They promote independence and assertiveness and stimulate the passions. Mars herbs can be used for protection and to develop or maintain motivation. When mixed with herbs of other planets, they lend their energy to make the whole stronger. They include all herbs that have sharp pointed leaves.

Mugwort: Another of the herbs linked with the planet Venus as with Chickweed.  Venus herbs activate love. They include all scented herbs and plants that smell pleasant and sweet.  These herbs bring joy, beauty, artistry, sensitivity, and compassion.  It is also linked with the Moon, Moon plants affect the subconscious mind and aid in the development of intuition. They include all herbs that turn towards the moon.  Mugwort is associated with strength; psychic powers; protection; prophetic dreams; increase lust; healing; astral projection. Protects children. Use a wash or oil for consecrating magical tools. Carried to bring loved ones safely home from journeys.   Burn with sandalwood or wormwood to aid scrying. Make an infusion, sweetened with honey to enhance divination. Use in a sleep pillow or place it under your pillowcase to invoke prophetic dreams.   Mugwort can be harmful to pregnant women.

Rose: A herb of the Venus, Rose is associated with divine love; close friendships; domestic peace; lasting relationships. Rose is the accepted love scent. Burn as incense for healing; health; love; luck; creativity; balance; divination; protection. Rose oil is used to attract love, confer peace, stimulate sexual appetite, and enhance beauty. Rose buds are added to bath water to conjure a lover. Place some in a red cloth bag and pin it under your clothes. Rosehips worn as beads attract love. A tea of rosebuds drunk before sleep induces prophetic dreams. Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal stress and household upheavals. Roses planted in the garden attract fairies and are said to grow best when stolen.

Sage: A herb of Jupiter.  Jupiter is the bringer of abundance, so Jupiter plants and usually big, and bold, and often edible. These herbs expand consciousness and opportunity. They bring growth on all levels and are helpful in health matters as they expand the body’s ability to heal itself. They expand the mind allowing for a greater understanding.   The Latin name for sage, salvia, means ‘to save’ and in the Middle Ages, it was the herbal equivalent of modern-day aspirin. In ancient times people used to take sage baths to keep away evil spirits. An infusion of sage was said to be good to sharpen the brain, memory, and senses. Eating sage daily during May was said to give immortality.  Longevity; wisdom; protection; money; absorbs negativity and misfortune; drives away disturbances and tensions.   Burn it to consecrate a ritual space. Carry it as a herb of protection and to promote wisdom.  Used for self-purification and dealing with grief and loss. Place near a personal object of someone who is ill when performing healing spells or rituals. Write a wish on a sage leaf and place it under your pillow for three nights. If you then dream about your wish, it will come true. Otherwise, bury the leaf in the ground so no harm will come to you.

Mint:  Another herb of Jupiter as with Sage above.   Mint is associated with money; love; lust; healing; travel; protection; sharpens the mind; psychic awareness; promotes energy, communication, and vitality. Draws customers to a business.  Use dried leaves to stuff a green poppet for healing. Place in wallet or purse or rub on money to bring wealth and prosperity. For protection while asleep, stuff a pillow or mattress with spearmint.  Burn for healing magic. Write a wish on paper, wrap in spearmint leaves; place in a red cloth and sew with red thread, then keep in a safe secret place. By the time the scent is gone your wish should have come true.  Rub against walls, furniture, and floorboards to cleanse them of evil and negativity.  Place in a pillow to ensure a peaceful sleep and bring about prophetic dreams.  Burn in a new home to clear out sickness and negative energy. Carry with other herbs to boost love and abundance wishes.

Thyme:  Another herb associated with Venus.  Thyme can be used in healing rituals or to bring about restful sleep. Relieves giddiness and nightmares; attracts loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of others. Wear a sprig to ward off grief or provide strength and courage.  Burn or hang for banishing, purification, and to attract good health for all occupants of a home. Add an infusion of thyme to your bath to ensure a constant flow of money. Often burned before magical rituals to cleanse the space.  Venus plants overwhelm the senses with sweet scents and lovely flowers, red fruits, or soft, furry leaves. These herbs bring joy, beauty, artistry, sensitivity, and compassion.  Venus herbs activate love. They include all scented herbs and plants that smell pleasant and sweet.

 

Crystals

Crystals are another thing that some people choose to use/work with, as with everything on my Druid journey I look at things and see if it is something I would like to work with or not everyone’s journey is their own there is no right or wrong way, Since I have started with this blog back in July I have undertaken my diploma in Healing your life with Crystals course, which has opened my eyes a little more about this subject. I have once again picked six crystals that link closely to the Spring Equinox and these are

Malachite -  This is a good choice of stone for promoting emotional stability and protecting children.  Malachite is thought to promote inner peace, increase abundance and bring a sense of hope to those who use it.  When placed on the heart chakra, malachite helps to bring balance and harmony while opening the heart to unconditional love.  It can help to release inhibitions and encourages the expression of our true feelings. It aids in the development of empathy, alleviates shyness and supports friendships. This is a useful crystal in healing issues that stem from traumatic sexual experiences in this or past lives.

Moss Agate -  Moss agate is known as a beneficial stone for agricultural or botany and anyone that works within these areas. It is regarded by many as a good choice for women in labour and to help lessen pain and ensure a good delivery. This is a stone of new beginning and is thought to also help in releasing blockages.  Moss agate is also a good choice of crystal for encouraging trust and an optimistic outlook.

Green Garnet - Most people know garnet as a red stone, but it is found in other colours including pink, orange, green and brown. Garnet is a stone that may help in reaching or regaining balance in your life. It helps in releasing bad habits and negative thinking so that these do not hold you back from achieving your full potential.  Garnet is believed to heighten sexual awareness, uplift your mood and stimulate desire. It is a lucky stone, especially when used in connection with love and matters of the heart.  The energy of garnet is thought to boost vitality, passion and sexual potency while increasing happiness and patience. It is also said that a promise spoken over garnet will never be broken.

Carnelian - This orange-red crystal has a stabilising energy and is excellent for restoring vitality, motivation and creativity. When used in meditation, carnelian can help to keep your mind focused and stop daydreaming. It protects against feelings of rage, envy and resentment. This crystal is believed to have a positive influence on the female reproductive system and to be beneficial in promoting fertility. The energy of carnelian stones encourages compassion and kindness in all situations. Carnelian is a beneficial crystal for anyone looking to make improvements to their lifestyle.

Tiger's Eye - Tiger's eye is a crystal that aids courage, strength and independence. It is a good crystal for helping you recognise the needs of yourself and others and in differentiating between wishful thinking and what you really want and need in life. This is an excellent choice of crystal for anyone who feels uncommitted or as if they are just drifting through life - it has a strong, grounded energy that will help you distinguish between actual needs and false desires. It is a great crystal for support when working towards your goals in life. Tiger’s eye is a protective stone that has traditionally been carried as a talisman against curses and ill wishes.

 

Ogham

The celtic tree alphabet, because of where Beltaine falls on the calender there are two trees/plants associated with it within the Ogham.

The first is Willow, the Celtic Ogham name for this is Saille (roughly pronounced Sahl-yeh) Willow grows best when there's lots of rain.  This is a tree associated with healing and growth, for obvious reasons. A Willow planted near your home will help ward away danger, particularly the type that stems from natural disaster such as flooding or storms. They offer protection, and are often found planted near cemeteries.

The second is Hawthorn, the Celtic Ogham name for this is Huath (roughly pronounced Hoh-uh), this is the Hawthorn month and is a time of fertility, masculine energy, and fire.  Use it for magic related to masculine power, business decisions, making professional connections. The Hawthorn is also associated with the realm of Faerie, and when the Hawthorn grows in tandem with an Ash and Oak, it is said to attract the Fae.

 

Working with this part of the Wheel

When we look at working with this, as with all other parts of the wheel we have to think about what it means and its relation as a whole to the rest of the wheel.  Beltaine is full of abundance, creativity, lust, and fertility.  This is the time when you continue to cultivate your dreams, work on the things you started to think about at the beginning of spring and make them grow into bigger things.  It is a time to go to the woods and bang your drum and listen to the music that nature is gifting you.  This is the time to get up early (for those of you that don’t already) and enjoy being out soaking up the energy that Mother Nature is providing

 

Well, there we are for now the next part of working with the wheel.  I really hope you are enjoying these and they are giving you something to think about.

 

As always I will end on one of my poems, as I said previously I have been getting lots of inspiration lately and have been writing more and more poems.  I am spending more time Shamanic journeying and as such opening my mind to much more than I have done before.  I decided to write this because I tend to journey mostly in the morning just after I have awoken at around 5am, it’s a time between being fully awake and still in a sort of dream state, it’s called "Liminal Space" I hope you enjoy it.

 

Liminal Space

 

O Goddess with your touch so light

I feel you here with me this night

Your fingers softly stroke my hair

To let me know that you are there

 

My eyelids flicker, my heartbeat slows

Your breath upon my cheek now blows

A gentle whisper in my ear

To let me know the morning’s near

 

But here within this liminal space

Of trees and woods, my special place

A place where all my thoughts are free

Where trees and animals talk to me

 

Where bear and wolf are free to roam

A place that feels to me like home

A place to open up my mind

And free me from all things that bind

 

A place between the dark and light

A place of calm, of second sight

A place of peace where all is seen

Of what is now and what has been

 

A place of peace before I wake

A place my mind a rest can take

Before the goddess takes my hand

To lead me from this sacred land

 

Then her soft breath upon my face

Brings me from this liminal space

My opened eyes now see the sun

To show me that the night is done

 

I walk my path all through the day

My sacred space seems far away

But I know that I’ll be back there soon

Between the rising sun and setting moon

 

As always my friends thank you for bearing with me, I hope you find this interesting, let me know if you want to.

Take care my friends, stay safe

Blessed be /|\