GROWTH, FERTILITY AND LIGHT
The early hours of May 1st, somewhere between dusk and dawn, mark the wildest and most magical Sabbat on the turning wheel of our year: Beltane. In Celtic and Heathen traditions, it begins at the twilight of April 30th, also known as Walpurgis Night. This night hums with energy when witches rise and fly to their sacred mountains. They dance and chant, and they cause mayhem in their celebration of light, fertility, growth, and renewal.
Following the vernal equinox in March, Beltane marks the transition into the light-filled months of the year. Spiritually, it symbolises the divine union of masculine and feminine energies that drive life and nature. This Sabbat is particularly associated with the connection between the Goddess – often represented as the Mother or Maiden – and the God – honoured as the Green Man or the Young God. Their union represents the balance of opposites and the miracle of creation.
Nature is the visible and tangible manifestation of these myths: plants are sprouting, blooming and growing, birds are chirping and insects humming. Many animals have their cubs around this time, and the air can be anything between beautifully crisp and lushly balmy.
We are part of the magic
We, too, are part of this great unfolding: energy stirs in our bones, in our hearts, in our dreams. Winter invited us to draw inwards to rest, reflect and plant seeds in the quiet dark. Spring is now calling us to grow, to rise and to bloom. This is not about big changes. It is about inhaling deeper, exhaling longer, and maybe taking a leap of faith out of our comfort zone. Try something new, take a different road, break the routine. See where your transition has already started to happen naturally, as a logical consequence, without effort.
Beltane is a time of manifestation. The energies are vibrant, and the veil between the worlds is thinner. Anything is possible now. Make wishes and set intentions that will grow and flourish throughout the year. What do you need to fill your heart with joy? What makes you happy? What needs to change?
Fire of transformation
Fire plays a central role in the Beltane celebrations, symbolising transformation and purification. A large fire is often lit to drive away the darkness of winter and welcome the life force of summer. Jumping over the fire or dancing around it symbolises the transition from darkness to light and overcoming obstacles. Maypoles are beautiful symbols of the new energy.
To honour the sacred fire of Beltane in your own space, you can light candles—small fires to awaken the soul—and let their flickering flames guide you inward. Ask yourself: What longs to be born through me? What dream or desire is ready to blossom? What nourishment do I need to truly grow? And what keeps me from rising?
Let the fire illuminate your space and your soul, and find the miracle of creation within you.
But there’s a bird / There are birds / And some are singing / To greet every new day that may come / Like the first of spring
(Tracy Chapman)
Kerstin Wolff
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