Walking Awake to the Rhythm of the Earth | |
|
"As the Wheel Turns"
Beltane/May Day, 2024
| |
|
Greetings Walking Awake Friends:
Welcome to our Beltane/May Day edition of “As the Wheel Turns"(part of our “Walking Awake to the Rhythm of the Earth” series)!
While (in modern times) you may have heard May Day referred to as "International Worker's Day" (click here for more on that), the ancient observance of Beltane is a pivotal spoke on the Celtic Wheel. With the darkness of winter now behind us (here in the northern hemisphere), the arrival of Beltane symbolizes the return of the light half of the year: a time of procreation, creativity, abundance and new life.
The second half of April/early May has certainly brought new life, and light into our lives. On April 15th, my son and his wife welcomed into the world a healthy, beautiful baby girl (my second granddaughter). And, as you might guess, I am very excited to go visit with them (and hold that precious baby) come the end of May. By the time you receive this newsletter, Nick and I will either be preparing to leave Orkney with our group of 10 adventurers or just back from our trip and readying ourselves to head out to meet and greet our next group of 26 Iona pilgrims. We are finding ourselves deeply grateful as we celebrate this full and joyful beginning of the Light half of the year.
In celebration of Beltane/May Day, this edition is also abundantly full! You may wish to dip in and out of it at your leisure. It is my hope that as you scroll through our Beltane edition of "As the Wheel Turns" you will find it both fun and full of seedlings for you to further explore and grow on your own!
Beltane Blessings to All!
Denise and Nick
| |
More about Beltane/May Day... | |
|
As we wend our way around the Celtic Wheel, Beltane (May 1st in the northern hemisphere) falls halfway between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice.
Imbolc represented the first movements of new life and anticipation of early spring. The Vernal Equinox represented the first physical signs of spring. Beltane brings forth the bloom and full promise of the summer months to come with the arrival of flowers, buds, blossoms, and the birth of baby animals.
As we have mentioned in past editions, the 8 spoke Celtic Wheel of the Year is divided evenly between light and dark; with Samhain beginning the year in the dark, and Beltane marking the half way point 'round the wheel' as we spiral into the light half of the year. May 1st is the peak of spring, the return of fertility to the Land - a time to release the darkness and celebrate the return of the light as we move into summer. Beltane is directly opposite of Samhain on the Celtic Wheel of the Year. Both Samhain and Beltane are the key pivot points in the Wheel and are seen as the spokes when the veil between worlds is thinnest. At Samhain, the veil between the living and dead is thinnest. At Beltane the veil between the living and that of the nature world and faerie world are thinnest.
Spelled a variety of ways depending on local (Bealltainn, Beltain, or Bealtuinn in Scotland, Bealtaine or Bhealtaine in Ireland), “Beltane” is the anglicized version. Equally, Gaelic translations of the word Beltane vary and include: “lucky fire”, "good fire", “bright fire”, “brilliant fire” or “fires of Bel” (thought to have derived from “Bel" or “Belinus”, the god of light).
In May Day traditions of old, the May Queen represents the embodiment of the awakening of Earth and the May King, the return of the Sun*. In ancient times on May Eve, the night before Beltane (remember: the Celts believed everything began in the darkness), couples would run off to the forest and spend the night making love in the wilds of Nature. This act of uninhibited sexual union surrounded by Nature was considered a reenactment of the union between the Earth and Sun (or Goddess and God) and the consummation of the Earth's fertile season. It was also believed that any child conceived on May Eve was a child of the Gods.
Pictured: The ribbons of the May Pole seen through "Thor's Gate" and the dance of the May Pole at Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor, PA., U.S.A.
*Scroll down for more information about the May Queen and King.
| |
Spoke of the Wheel Musings: | |
|
Reflections and reminders from Nature and Beltane...
- It's the season of the return of the Light, a time full of new life bursting forth! Is there an old project or dormant idea resting somewhere deep within you (or in your desk drawer)? Perhaps now is the time to stir your creative juices, nurture, plant, and fertilize those seedlings, embrace that Light, and bring forth new life!
- With the arrival of new life and Nature's gorgeous display of spring colors in her blooms and blossoms, we are reminded of the joy and vitality of life. It is a gift to be fully present and awake to the Nature that surrounds us! Are you permitting yourself time 'to stop and smell the roses'? Beltane is the perfect time to be playful, to reconnect with your inner child, and to renew your 'dance' with Mother Nature's bountiful gifts!
| |
Beltane is a time to celebrate being alive!... | |
|
Wash your face in the morning dew!
"The First of May" appears in countless old children's books. Like many faerie tales, riddles and proverbs, this sweet little saying reminds us of an age-old tradition. "Once upon a time" the early morning dew found on the grass, plants, and trees on Beltane was considered a sacred gift from Nature. It was believed to ensure long lasting healthy youth-like skin and overall well-being. Some washed their face with it, others bathed in, and some collected it in jars to let sit in the sunlight for later use. Hmmm...maybe I'll scout out the nearest hawthorne tree and give it a try this Beltane morn! What about you?
| |
|
|
|
|
Plant and Nurture New Life!
You can plant a garden almost anywhere! Have you seen these amazing fabric planter bags? They're all the buzz! They come in a variety of sizes and colors, they're light-weight and easy to move about, reusable and eco-friendly. I bought them a few years ago and I've been reusing them ever since!
| | | |
Click on the photos for Beltane writing prompts and magical ideas. | | |
Handfasting and Jumping the Broom!
Thinking about 'popping the question' or renewing your vows? Beltane is the perfect time for a Celtic Handfasting and 'jumping the broom' from old to new! Click here to learn more!
| |
Go Barefoot!
When I was a kid, as soon as the days were warmer, the shoes were off! Nowadays, some call it "Earthing" or "Grounding". I still call it "good 'ol fashioned barefootin'! Recently, scientists have been exploring how the simple act of placing our bare skin to the ground - connecting to the Earth's electrical field - can restore one's natural immunity by creating an antioxidant effect within the body. All I know for sure is it feels sooo good to get my bare feet on the ground! What about you?
| |
|
It's picnic time!
The grass is green, the trees and flowers are in bloom, and the days are getting longer. Woo Hoo! Beltane is the perfect time to pack up some goodies and enjoy precious time with loved ones and friends surrounded by Nature's renewed energy!
To make your picnic extra special, why not Forage along the way and enjoy making yourself a May Day flower crown? *See below for recipes using commonly found flowers, and instructions on how to make a dandelion crown!
| |
|
Decorate a May Bush or May Tree!
The Celtic May Bush tradition is age old and is thought to have originated as a ritual of protection against the traveling Fae (remember: Beltane is the time of year when the veil between this world, the Natural word and the Faerie World was thought to be thinnest). As well as providing protection, it was also believed the May Bush would ensure fertility and bring abundance to the home. Versions of May bushes/trees vary from the decoration of a near-to-the-home bush or tree - to gathering branches of Hawthorn to display on the front door of the home. Often decorated with ribbons, flowers, colored egg shells, and strips of colored paper, this ritual is still performed in parts of Ireland today.
May Bush's are also displayed in Newfoundland: Click here to read more, and about 'why' they use blue and red ribbons.
| |
|
The May Pole:
In ancient times it is believed the May Pole ritual took place in the forest around a real live tree thought to represent the World Tree (with its branches stretching up to the heavens and roots reaching down into the underworld). Nowadays, people create their own the May Pole dressed with colorful ribbons and flowers. The "Maying" ritual (dancing the May Pole) has often been accompanied by festive music and enjoyed by children of all ages. Dancing the May Pole is certainly fun and a great way to begin the summer!
Note: You may enjoy researching the history and lore behind the May Pole a little more on your own! There are ribbons upon ribbons of layers woven within the symbolism of the May Pole!
| | | |
Throughout England (and even in parts of the US) Morris Dancers often perform at May Day celebrations. "The Morris" is a type of English folk dance and depending on the origin of the group, the colorful costumes and joyful choreography may include bells, swords, sticks, mask, handkerchiefs, and occasionally even a few playful characters!
Click here to watch a clip featuring Morris Dancers in which (about half-way through) they talk of the The Morris and the May Day tradition.
Click here to learn more about Morris Dancing Tradition
| |
Make a Grass Heart Wand!
They're super easy!
| |
DIY
Mini Maypoles!
Have fun decorating them!
| |
Make Beltane
Baskets!
Click here to learn how to make these simple May Baskets ready to hand deliver!
| |
Created originally for a 'Forest School' this might be a wonderfully fun way to celebrate Beltane with your kids or grandkids! (click on the photo for instructions) | |  |
While the young ones are creating their Tree Sculptures out of clay, why not embrace your own innner-child by creating a 'Spirit of the Forest'!(click on the photo for instructions) | | |
Make your very own Flower Crown!
Be creative and experiment using this method to create a multi-colored crown using other flowers, too!
| | |
Be playful! Create your own Faerie Garden!
"If you believe in Fairies, then clap your hands!" Whether you do this activity with a child or embrace your child within, Beltane is the perfect time to be playful! (Making a Faerie garden is sure to appease the good Faeries and keep the not-so-good Fae at bay!)
| | |
Stirring the Cauldron: Beltane Recipes: | |
|
Forage for Flowers and create beautiful (and yummy!) chocolate bark or discover 10 bright ideas on how to make your very own salad masterpiece!
Click here on the photos for recipes.
|
What's a celebration without a cake?
Click on the photo for a beautiful Beltane Poundcake recipe!
| |
Lilac Syrup and Cookies?!
Lilacs are one of my favorite flowers! I can't believe I never knew you could use lilacs in recipes! Use this syrup to flavor your cocktails, lemonade, iced tea, drizzle over vanilla ice cream, the possibilities are endless!
And lilac cookies? Who would've imagined! Yum!
Click here for the syrup recipe.
Click here for the cookie recipe.
| |
“Dandelions, like all things in Nature, are beautiful when you take time to pay attention to them”
~ June Stoyer
|  | |
Dandelions are not 'just weeds'!
One of my earliest childhood summer memories is of a huge family gathering when my parents, aunts and uncles and grandparents enlisted me, my siblings and cousins to pick dandelion flowers for their dandelion wine weekend project! By the end of the day we had wheelbarrows full! And over a day filled with good food and garden games for the kids, the grownups made a huge batch of wine! There were gallon jugs everywhere! Though I was too young to know for sure, I think it's pretty safe to say they enjoyed it for months to come!
There are so many ways to use dandelions; Clip the greens and add them to your salad, you can even bake them into your favorite recipes, make medicinal salves and did you ever try dandelion bud capers?
Click here for the link to explore: "16 Exciting Things to do with Dandelion Flowers!"
| |
Did you know you can eat "Stinging Nettles"?
If you've ever rubbed up against a bunch of nettles you might be thinking it crazy to ever consider eating them. However, nettles are very nutritious and now is the perfect time to forage for them. Oh, but do be careful! Click here to read more on the safest way to harvest them and for "40 + Recipes for Stinging Nettle"!
| |
|
Music! Poetry! Story!: The perfect Celtic triskele!
Beltane Festivities often include an Eisteddfod. Originally a Welsh tradition, it is a time set aside to gather together in Nature and sit for awhile (often around the fire) to share poetry, music and story. In the spirit of a Beltane Eisteddfod, here are few lovely pieces....
| |
|
"Beltane Fire Dance"
Nick and I love the music of Loreena McKennitt and have been lucky enough to see her in concert here in Glasgow. She's not only an amazing musician, she's a fabulous storyteller, too!
So put on your best Celtic/Beltane attire, your homemade crown of flowers, make a *fire or weave a May Pole and dance like no one is watching to Loreena McKennitt's Beltane Fire Dance"!
Click here for a Live version. *scroll down for more about Beltane fires.
| |
"Tra La it's May! The Lusty Month of May!"... |
Up for even more dancing around the Maypole (or in your living room)? Here's a classic! "Camelot" was one of the first musicals to catch my attention growing up (the original made for TV version with Richard Harris) and has long been one of my favorites (to be honest, I have always loved all things "Arthurian"!). Below is a YouTube link to "The Lusty Month of May" featuring the original 1960 Broadway cast of "Camelot" staring Julie Andrews, Richard Burton, and Robert Goulet.
| |
|
May Day
A delicate fabric of bird song
Floats in the air,
The smell of wet wild earth
Is everywhere.
Oh I must pass nothing by
Without loving it much,
The raindrop try with my lips,
The grass with my touch;
For how can I be sure
I shall see again
The world on the first of May
Shining after the rain?
~ Sara Teasdale
| |
|
"May Day" is a poem that reminds us how important it is to remain in the present moment and to thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the world that surrounds us.
Here in Scotland it seems like Beltane time should be dubbed 'the month of yellow blooms'! First to arrive are the daffodils, then the canola, gorse and broom, and finally the wild primroses! Yesterday, here near our home, the primroses are everywhere! What a joy!
Click on the photo of yellow primroses to enjoy a short moment in their presence along with the 'delicate fabric of bird song'.
| |
Eisteddfods have a way of bringing forth the best of Bards! Here is a video of one of my favorite storytellers, Dr. Martin Shaw, sharing his rendition of "The Lindworm". As with all good stories, the layers go deep!
| |
|
A few years back, Nick and I, and several friends experienced the Edinburgh Beltane Celebration on Calton Hill (click here to learn more about Calton Hill). These signs (Caution! Pagans Crossing April - May) were everywhere! Described by the organizers (The Beltane Fire Society) as "... a spectacle of death, rebirth and the eternal battle of the seasons", I can certainly add the whole evening was magical and otherworldly! We hope to attend it again in the future (as well as their Samhain Celebration)!
| |
Pictured: The lighting of the Beltane Fires marks the arrival of the beloved May Queen (seen in the center of the columns of National Momument:
a.k.a.: The Acropolis, Calton Hill, Edinburgh, Scotland)
| |
Pictured: People gathering near the Nelson Monument (on Calton Hill) awaiting the start of the Beltane festivities.
| |
Pictured: The procession of the May Queen and Green Man begins. | |
Pictured: Close up of the May Queen. | |
|
Pictured: Close up of the Green Man. | |
|
Click here for a video of the 2015 Edinburgh Beltane Festival.
*Warning!: This video contains some nudity.
| |
|
Cornwall:
Nick and I love Cornwall and visit there as often as we can. Though I have never been there on Beltane, Nick has! Back in his college days he had the opportunity to witness an unusual tradition in the small coastal village of Padstow called the 'Obby 'Oss Festival. Each year on May Day thousands of people flock to this tiny little town to witness the festival of the 'Obby 'Oss (Hobby Horse). Over the course of 2 days (May Eve to May Day), the town bursts alive with celebration. Check out the links below for more about Padstow's 'Obby "Oss Festival.
Click here to read more about the 'Obby 'Oss tradition and for the lyrics to the traditional Padstow "Day Song", and "Night Song".
Click here to view a video of Padstow's 'Obby 'Oss procession.
| |
|
Glastonbury:
It's tradition for people to gather in downtown Glastonbury to kick off the annual Beltane Celebrations! The May Queen and May King lead the way as the procession walks to the White Well then off to dance the May Pole!
Click here to view images from a 2018 article in the "Guardian".
Click here to view Glastonbury's 2019 Beltane Celebration.
*Warning!: This video contains some nudity.
| |
|
The Hill of Usineach:
In 2012, a friend I met on Iona (a few years previous) invited me to come visit him in Ireland. I had never been to Ireland and as you might guess, I was very excited. I had no idea where I was going nor that he lived at a very special place: at the foot of the Hill of Uisneach. Uisneach (pronounced "ish-knock") is considered the navel (sacred center) of Ireland and is home to the Cat Stone/Stone of Divisions (a glacial erratic stone and often referred to as an omphalos). The history and stories of Uisneach mark it as a very sacred site: the place where the Celtic gods Lugh, and The Dagda, and goddess Éire (pronounced “air-uh", Éire is the namesake of Ireland) were laid to rest (Éire beneath the Cat Stone). Also known as the 5th province where ancient Kings would meet, the site of ancient fire festivals, and where St. Patrick is said to have given St. Brighid her veil. It's a magical place indeed!. Click the links below for more on Bealtaine at the Hill of Uisneach!
Click here to read more about the Hill of Uisneach and May Day featured in this 2020 article in the Irish Times.
Click here to watch a video on YouTube of the Hill of Uisneach's 2018 Beltainne Celebration.
| |
|
|
As Beltane is one of the four Celtic fire festivals (as well as Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh), bonfires have long been tradition. Archeological evidences shows that some of the largest ancient fires were lit on top hill forts and sacred sites across the U.K. and Ireland. As in all Celtic celebrations, Beltane rituals began in the darkness the evening before. It is speculated that the Beltane fires were lit to signal and celebrate the gathering of clans and providences in honor of of the longer days ahead and the return of the Light. Beltane marked the time of year to move the livestock back to pasture and festivities are thought to have involved both humans and livestock walking between two fires as a form of protection against disease, to ensure fertility and health and to invoke luck and blessings for bountiful crops and harvests.
| |
The May Queen and May King: | |
|
A brief synopsis combining various traditions: Both the winter (dark half of the year) and the summer (light half of the year) have their own Queen and King. Again, both sets are known by many names depending on the local, tradition, and myth. I nudge you to dig deeper and discover the story(ies) that resonates most with you.
The Queens and Kings represent the cycles of Nature and the seasons. Essentially, the Winter King and Summer King battle one another either killing the other off or sending them off into a hibernation-type slumber until the return of their respective half of year when the battle resumes and the opposite wins. For the Winter Queen and Summer Queen there are fewer stories of killing each other off, rather more in which they battle, one loses and returns to slumber and one wins and reigns for her half of the year. The battles of the Kings and Queens and the turn of the Wheel represents the circle of life, death and rebirth through the cycle of the seasons.
A few names for each:
For the May Queen: Queen of the May, Queen of Summer, Flora/ Floralia, Brighid, the young maiden, Maeve, Epona, the white deer (and more).
For the May King: The Green Man, King of Summer, God of the Forest, King of the Forest, the Oak King, Herne the Hunter, the white stag (and more).
Their May Eve Wedding:
To sum it all up: the union or marriage of the May Queen and May King (sometimes called the greenwood marriage) at Beltane represents the consummation and manifestation of Nature's fertile season. All of Nature is beginning to grow into its full potential with the return of the Light.
| |
A few of my favorite Beltane Memories at Columcille Megalith Park in Pennsylvania, U.S.A... | |
My 'dance around the May Pole' with Beltane began at Columcille Megalith Park in Bangor, PA, USA. Columcille's 2024 May Day Celebration is scheduled for Saturday, May 4th beginning at 1pm in the Circle of Stones. Trust me, it's not to be missed! Scroll down to view a few of my favorite Columcille May Day memories. | |
Pictured: My favorite May Queen of all time! My daughter, Samantha as the 2008 Columcille May Queen pictured with both her grandmothers, Paulette Crawn (L) and (R) Flora Luke (that's my Momma; who just happens to share her name with the Roman Goddess associated with Beltane! OH! and did I mention my Dad was born on May 1st! A union destined to be!).
Pictured: The May Queen (Samantha) pauses for a May Day moment with the Stones.
| |
|
Pictured: Photos of when I was the Columcille Megalith Park May Queen in 2006 accompanied by my dear friend, the late (yet forever in our hearts) founder of Columcille, William (Bill) H. Cohea, Jr.
| |
|
We hope you enjoyed our Beltane edition of "As the Wheel Turns".
All our best from Scotland!
Denise and Nick
| | | | |
