May Pole Candles

You will need:
Lots of pretty ribbons
Tall white or green pillar candle
Gold or brass “Craft Bells”
Candle holder (stand)

Cut lengths of ribbon around 18 inches each, in pretty Springtime
colors.(pastels)
Tie a craft bell to each end of ribbon (a tooth pick helps this
process) Tie ribbons starting at 3/4 way down the pillar candle,
knot three times, don’t tie bows, you need lots of length on the
ribbons. Tie as many as you like snaking your way up the candle, but
leave at least 1/4 candle bare. Place in a candle stand that will
raise the candle about 6 – 8 inches, so the ribbons can “drape”
Swirl the bundle of ribbons so they face East, ready to greet the
dawn on Beltane morn. Light candle and cheer the Spring time
blessings to come.
Keep a “safe” eye on candle & ribbons.

Barbara Morris

Beltane Blueberry/Lavendar Crisp

Filling:
3 C Blueberries
1 C Cranberries
1/2 t Lavendar Flowers
3/4 C Sugar

Topping:
1 1/2 C Crushed Oatmeal Graham Crackers
1/2 C Brown Sugar
1/2 C Melted Butter
1/2 C Sliced Almonds

Combine filling ingredients and put in an 8X8 pan. Combine topping
ingredients and sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 deg. F for 20-25
minutes until berries are bubbly.

The May Pole

Of all the features of May Day it is the May pole that has survived
most prominently. The original Maypole was a pine tree which had been
previously decorated for Yule. It was then stripped of all but its
uppermost branches, creating a phallic symbol. The length and girth
of it was adorned with flowers, herbs, garlands, ribbons, and bright
paint. Thrust into the ready earth, its phallic fertility symbolism
was lost, on no one, least of all the church, which repeatedly, tried
and failed to completely obliterate the custom.

What has vanished are the fertility rites that accompanied the
raising of the Beltane May pole and that once continued unabashed and
unashamed throughout the entire month of May. Marriage vows were
considered to be in abeyance and enthusiastic promiscuity was the
duty of every pious worshipper.

Once the May pole had been raised, men and women danced around it in
opposite directions and wove ribbons and garlands; together in order
to symbolise the potent energies of the Lord streaming into the
fertile lap of the Lady. The hawthorn wreath at the top of the May
pole symbolised the labia of the Great Goddess. It was strung with
white ribbons (symbolizing the Goddess) and red ribbons (symbolizing
the God).

The celebration of May Day, complete with May pole and dancing
maidens, stretches back into Pagan antiquity. All of the elements of
a good May Day celebration, from the May Queen on her white horse to
the hawthorn wreath that crowns the May pole, are full of good old-
fashioned Pagan symbolism. The May Queen herself was once a
representative of the Norse goddess Freya. Freya was a golden-haired
goddess of magic, love, fertility, war, and poetry.

Celebrations include weaving a web of life around the Maypole and
leaping the Beltane fire for luck. Wiccan handfastings are common at
this festival. This is a time of self-discovery, love, union and
developing your potential for personal growth. The rituals may be
quite erotic in nature, symbolizing the union of diety and of the
newly impregnated Goddess. It is another fertility Sabbat, and the
Great Rite may also be a part of the ritual. Dancing around the
Maypole may be a part of the festivities.

Beltane Goddess

Roman mythology

The goddess of blossoming flowers of spring. She had a minor temple on the
Quirinalis and was given a sanctuary near the Circus Maximus in 238 BCE. The
festival of the Floralia, celebrated on April 28 -May 1, existed until the
4th century CE. Flora is identified with the Greek Chloris.

Beltane Ritual

Try to do your ritual near a tree or in the woods but if you are not
able try to have a small potted tree with you in your circle.
Create a small token or charm in honor of the wedding of the Goddess
and God to hang upon the tree. You can make several if you wish.
These tokens can be flowers strung together string of beads or a
wreath of small pine cones last year or clay
dragonflys and butterflys. Whatever your talent can conjure.

Arrange the altar, light the candles and incense, cast the circle.
Invoke the Goddess and God, Stand before the altar and say with wand
upraised.

“O Mother Goddess, Queen of the night and of the Earth
O Father God, King of the day and of the forests
I celebrate Your union as nature rejoices in a riotous blaze of color
and life, Accept my gift, Mother Goddess
and Father God, in honor of your union”

Beltane Fertility Spell

As Beltane approaches, spells and enchantments to improve fertility are very
appropriate. A good and subtle talisman is to make a grapevine wreath and
decorate it with fertility symbols and colors—a small cinnamon broom, a bird’s
nest with three polished stones in it, some turkey feathers, a small stuffed
rabbit, or any other items that represent fertility to you. Use florist wire
to attach the items to your wreath. Add silk flowers, or fresh greens for
their beauty. Hang the wreath on your front door, and each time you enter or
leave touch the wreath and say: “Goddess of fertility, bring the spark of life
to me.” Remember, fertility is not just pregnancy, but also concerns new
ideas, a new business, or simple good fortune.

Paniteowl

Beltane Wishing Powder

Each of the herbs, essential oils and colors listed in these recipes were
chosen because they correspond to the Sabbat of Beltane. Use these powders
to aid in your celebration!

Herbs:
* Bluebell
* Marigold
* Rose
* Snapdragon

Essential Oils:
* Frankincense

Colors:
* Blue
* Rose
* Silver

All wishing powders consist of three main ingredients – Dried Herbs,
Essential Oils, and colored Glitter or Confetti.

The glitter and confetti you choose to work with can be anything from tiny
silver stars to large purple hearts, large bottles of standard crafting
glitter to small pots of ultra-fine iridescent glittering powder, and even
colored wood shavings. I have found that when looking for ways to
incorporate color into your powders, there are literally hundreds of options
Try them all and find out what works best for you!

To create this powder, you will need to gather the following items:

* The herbs, Essential Oils, colors listed above
* A bowl for mixing (I recommend a plastic bowl with a lid since it is much
easier to shake a powder together than to stir)
* Any measuring cups or spoons you prefer to use
* A mortar and pestle to help break up large chunks of herbs

Once you have all your equipment ready, measure each ingredient into the
bowl. For your first few powders, I recommend using 1 Tablespoon of each
herb, 1 teaspoon of each glitter and / or confetti, and 1 drop of each
Essential Oil. You can easily customize your powders once you get the hang
of making them!

Next, cover your bowl tightly with its lid and shake vigorously until the
ingredients are well blended. To empower your magickal powder, visualize
what you would like the powder to accomplish – money in your bank account,
your perfect soul mate, or the excited face of your best friend when you
present her with a special birthday wishing powder. Hold this image in your
mind at least until you have finished shaking. Ideally, you will be thinking
about this purpose throughout the whole creation process – from gather
ingredients to packaging the finished powder – to give your magick as much
energy as possible.

To package your finished powder, you may measure it into small plastic
zipper bags, pour them into small glass vials or plastic tubes, or even
store them in the bowl you used to create them. The possibilities are nearly
endless! Just remember to label the powder once you’ve packaged it and
include a list of ingredients and instructions for use.

From: “Make A Wish – The Art of Creating Magic Wishing Powder” by Lady Wolfdreams

Plants and Animals of Beltane

Plants and herbs associated with Beltane are primrose, yellow
cowslip, hawthorn, roses, birch trees, rosemary, and lilac. Also
included are almond, angelica, ash trees, bluebells, cinquefoil,
daisies, frankincense, ivy, marigolds, satyrion root, and woodruff.

Animals associated with Beltane are goats, rabbits, and honey bees.
Mythical beasts associated with Beltane include faeries, pegesus,
satyrs, and giants.

Incense
Use lilac, passion flower, rose or vanilla. These can be used alone
or blended as you like.

Foods
Dairy foods and eggs are in tune with this season. Sweets of all
kinds, honey, and oats are all fine foods for Beltane. Simple dishes
such as vanilla ice cream and egg custard are quite traditional fare
on this day.

Beltane Incense

• 3 Parts Frankincense
• 2 Parts Sandalwood
• 1 Part Woodruff
• 1 Part Rose petals
• a few drops Jasmine oil
• a few drops neroli Oil

Burn during Wiccan rituals on Beltane or May Day for fortuen & favors & to
attune with the changing of the seasons.

Beltane

Related Deities: May Queen, Stag Lord, Jack-in-the-Green, the Green Man

Related Herbs: Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, St. John’s Wort, Woodruff,
Frankincense, Roses, Lemon Balm, Lemon Thyme, all flowers.

Related Stones: Quartz Crystal, Sunstone, Orange Calcite, Malachite

May Day

First celebrated by the Celts, Beltaine traditionaly begins at sunset on
April 30th through May 1st at sunset as they figured their days from sundown
to sundown. A fire and fertility festival, the word Beltaine comes from the
Welsh words: Bel (name of the Welsh Sky God) and Tan (meaning fire).
Combined, the words mean “fire in the sky,” an appropriate word for
welcoming the Summer. Also, the powers of the fairies and elves are growing
and will reach their peak at Midsummer.