Beltane, one or the four greater festivals of the year occurs on May 1st. Deriving its name from the Celtic fire god Bel, it was when “bael” or bonfires were lit to purify and insure the fertility of the land. People jumped the flames for luck and prosperity and cattle were driven between two fires so they too were blessed. While there is strong sexual energy related to this festival, it is a time to celebrate all forms of love, fertility and purification. Even the simple act of spreading compost through the garden is a powerful Beltane ritual for you are fertilizing the land in hopes of a bountiful harvest.

The Great Marriage of the god and goddess was also celebrated at this time of year. Handfastings, and later marriages, were common during this season and still today, May is one of the most popular months for weddings. The union of the god and goddess is represented in the most common of May Day symbols, the maypole. While the pole represents the male energy, the colorful ribbons that adorn it represent the female. The elaborate interweaving dance to wind the ribbons around the pole is a symbolic act of the union of the two deities and a celebration of their fertile blessings upon the land in times to come.

The festival is also related to the ancient Roman festival of Floralia, a celebration in honor of Flora, goddess of flowers. As this festival marks the beginning of the summer season in the Celtic year it is an especially joyous occasions to be celebrated with carefree abandon and frivolity. Spring garden parities with dancing and games, making tussie-mussies using vibrant spring flowers or celebrating the passion between you and your partner are what the festival is all about.

ASSOCIATIONS
· Animals: cows, goats, honeybees
· Colors: all bright and pastel colors
· Element: air
· Food: strawberries, May wine, strawberry shortcake, spring vegetables, salad greens
· Plants: honeysuckle, primrose, hawthorn, spring flowers, sweet woodruff, strawberry
· Power: purification, love, fertility, creativity, sexual energy
· Symbols: gods and goddesses, maypole, baskets of flowers

DECORATIONS
· Garlands and wreaths of spring flowers
· Tussie-mussies
· Maypole
· Ribbon streamers tied to tree branches

ACTIVITIES
· Spread compost and add soil amendments to the garden
· Have a spring garden party with lawn games and dancing
· Make strawberry shortcake and serve with champagne spiced with sweet woodruff
· Create small bouquets of violets and rosemary and offer hang them from tree branches

BELTANE INCENSE (burn on incense charcoal or cast into the fire)
2 part sandalwood – protection, healing, spirituality
2 part lavender – purification, happiness, love, peace, harmony, healing
2 part meadowsweet – romance, marriage, love divination, happiness
1 granule frankincense – protection, spirituality
1 part benzoin – purification, prosperity,
1 part copal – love, purification.
1 part rose petals – love
7 drops patchouli – money, prosperity, fertility, lust
5 drops appleblossom – to promote happiness
3 drop sweet orange – prosperity, love, divination, luck, money

The energy of the green world that has been stirring deep within since the last moon is now becoming outwardly visible. As it does, we are overcome with a flush of energy and desire to be outside. As this fever of spring grabs hold we’re fired up to rejoice in the passing of winter and the return of spring once more.

Now it’s time to go outside and rouse your garden beds from their sleep by cleaning up debris, applying fresh compost and mulch. Just as you physically tend the waking garden, so too should you tend to your waking self by cultivating those things you discovered within at the last moon to foster and bring to manifestation.

ACTIVITIES
· Throw open the windows and let the spring breeze freshen your home
· Do an annual full-house spring cleaning
· Prune and plant roses
· Prepare seed beds; top dress gardens with compost and mulch
· Have an omelet and a salad with fresh herbs and early, cool-season vegetables

FULL MOON INCENSE (burn on incense charcoal or cast into the fire)
1 scoop sandalwood powder – protection, healing, spirituality
1 large granule amber – renewal, alertness, cleansing, protection, purification
2 drops vanilla – love, lust, mental powers
3 parts bergamot – creativity, luck
1 part pine – purifying and cleansing, protection, healing, money
1 part bay – protection, psychic power, healing, purification, strength
1 scoop dragon’s blood – love, protection, exorcism, potency
3 drops patchouli – money, prosperity, fertility, lust

The egg is the eternal and quintessential symbol of springtime. Here are some of our favorite egg crafts using blown eggs. Blowing an egg is very easy. Using a corsage pin, make holes in each end of the egg, with a large hole on one end. Swish the pin around to break up the yoke and then using an ear syringe, blow the contents out. Wash them with warm lightly soapy water and rinse well. Let them dry on a rack for a day or so and they are ready to use.