"Bless, O threefold true and bountiful,
Myself, my spouse, my children.
Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession,
Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn,
From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From sea to sea, and every river mouth,
From wave to wave, and base of waterfall.
Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone,
Taking possession of all to me belonging.
Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest,
Protecting me in truth and honor.
Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones,
Blessing every thing and every one,
All my land and my surroundings.
Great gods who create and bring life to all, I ask for your blessings on this day of fire."
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Beltane is one of the oldest known holidays, mostly associated with maypole dancing and love magick. It's also known as May Day, Bealteinne, Beltaine, Calin Mai, Roodmas, Valpurga, Mean Earraigh. The word itself means "bright fire" or "lucky fire" which makes it one of the two great fire festivals (another is Samhain). It is believed that on these two days the veil between the worlds is thin.
Beltane's planetary ruler is Venus and it is celebrated on May the 1st or when the sun is at the 15 degrees Taurus. The date marks the midpoint between spring equinox and summer solstice.
It is the time of great fertility for all - earth, animals and people. Through time it was celebrated in a variety of ways but almost all are connected to the principle of fertility and celebration of gods of forest, goddesses of passion and motherhood and agricultural deities. Great Mother is about to reunite with her young Horned God. This Great Rite symbolizes their sexual union and sacred marriage. In old times, villagers would go into the woods and engage in sexual magick between themsleves believing that would have a positive effect on land (for crop-fertility), animals and themselves.
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When they hear Beltane many people think love making. And that's completely true, but Beltane is not just about love magicks. It represents the appearance of the matured Horned God Who is connected to fertility, fire and protection of animals and gardens.
Here are some of the things you can do (most quoted from "Solitary witch: the ultimate book of shadows for the new generation" by Silver Raven Wolf)
* erect your own maypole using a Christmas tree stand and a large pole; decorate with ribbons
* hang prayer ribbons on the trees and bushes on your property
* jump the balefire
* sew ribbons onto a white handkerchief, then empower each ribbon for a different goal or wish; keep the handkerchief safe until all the wishes are granted
* collect the morning dew for magickal use (May morning is a magickal time for wild water, like dew, springs or flowing streams which can be collected and used to bathe in for beauty, or drink for good health)
* gather the first wild herbs of the season, plants and flowers and use them to decorate your home
* make garland of wild spring flowers and cast it into lake, river or stream to bless the water spirits
* hang a branch of rowan tied with red thread above your bedroom door for protection
* add spells for self-esteem and self-love to your Beltane ritual
* bless your garden or the nearest field
* make love in the woods
* walk the woods and hug trees giving them your blessings (some trees are associated with Beltane, like Ash, Oak and Hawthorn)
* commune with the faeries (if you believe in faeries you can leave them food and other treats in your garden or yard)
* Beltane occurs when the sun is in the earthy, fixed sign of Taurus; any magick done now will last (and work hard) for a long time; this is an excellent time of the year for prosperity work, for adding to the stability of your lifestyle, and making those needed repairs around at home.
To find out some more you can read Beltane - Holiday detalis and history at Witchvox.com.
Enjoy the spirit of Beltane and blessed be!
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