The Wheel has turned!!
Beltane is observed on May 1st (in the Northern Hemisphere) each year and sits opposite of Samhain on the Wheel of the Year. Also known to some as 'May Day', it is a cross-quarter day, meaning it falls between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.
During Beltane we celebrate life and growth of all things, from the plants around us to the animals being born, and Sun which greatly contributes to it all.
In Celtic tradition Beltane is the fire festival but as someone averse to bonfires etc the closest we get to lighting a fire is burning candles. We also like to try and make a point of spending as much time outside as possible, so this morning we took Baker in his buggy for a walk to Marsden bay where the birds were celebrating too! I got to stand in the sea and listen to the Kittiwakes, but was sad to see so much waste. Almost tripping on some discarded fishing wire tangled tightly in the seaweed, I spent a while following the line and wrapping it tightly in my pocket. Then while in the sea I found a large clump of net and rope and a white plastic bag that had been filled with sand and tied at the top. It was disheartening to find but I was happy to be there to be able to remove it.
It was a joy to see the Sand Martins swooping, the Meadow Pipits sitting watching us and the Skylarks hovvering above, and all the colourful flowers returning to the cliffsides.
Beltane is observed on May 1st (in the Northern Hemisphere) each year and sits opposite of Samhain on the Wheel of the Year. Also known to some as 'May Day', it is a cross-quarter day, meaning it falls between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice.
During Beltane we celebrate life and growth of all things, from the plants around us to the animals being born, and Sun which greatly contributes to it all.
In Celtic tradition Beltane is the fire festival but as someone averse to bonfires etc the closest we get to lighting a fire is burning candles. We also like to try and make a point of spending as much time outside as possible, so this morning we took Baker in his buggy for a walk to Marsden bay where the birds were celebrating too! I got to stand in the sea and listen to the Kittiwakes, but was sad to see so much waste. Almost tripping on some discarded fishing wire tangled tightly in the seaweed, I spent a while following the line and wrapping it tightly in my pocket. Then while in the sea I found a large clump of net and rope and a white plastic bag that had been filled with sand and tied at the top. It was disheartening to find but I was happy to be there to be able to remove it.
It was a joy to see the Sand Martins swooping, the Meadow Pipits sitting watching us and the Skylarks hovvering above, and all the colourful flowers returning to the cliffsides.
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Unfortunately, unlike the masses who get to celebrate their religious festivals marked by days off work, bank holidays and such, that is no such reality for us and so Mr H had to go to work after our lovely morning out.
He did however return and make us a wonderful feast that we ate outside in the warm evening sun, before writing our wishes on ribbons and tieing them to our magical Hawthorn!
Later we lit our candles, burned some spell herbs in the cauldron and enjoyed the glow of our alter for the evening. Overall, a lovely day.
I hope you had an enchanted day whether you follow the Wheel or not!
He did however return and make us a wonderful feast that we ate outside in the warm evening sun, before writing our wishes on ribbons and tieing them to our magical Hawthorn!
Later we lit our candles, burned some spell herbs in the cauldron and enjoyed the glow of our alter for the evening. Overall, a lovely day.
I hope you had an enchanted day whether you follow the Wheel or not!
