Walpurgis - Beltane – Baaltane

'The whole life of the human soul is a

movement in the shadows.
We live in a twilight of consciousness,
never sure of what we are, or what we
believe to be'
- Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet

since time immemorial, man divided the Year

into sections, and identifies the turning
points in the natural rhythm of the Year by celebrating a small or large Festival.
The Feast highlights the appreciation for the past section and directs the view at the same
time to the new portion.
We put with appreciation the past behind, and be(come) ready for change - the past has
been given its significance, as well as the re-orientation.

parsifalrain, May Day

thoughts on the Wheel Of The Year

in many cultures to celebrate Wheel Of The Year Festivals is an ancient
Tradition.
Long before christian thought gripped the world, lived and celebrated
our Ancestors Eight Festivals during the Year.
These Festivals have their origin in the Cycle of Nature, the changing
Seasons and the passage of the Sun and Moon.
If you seek them out, Earth Spirits may share their joy and magic with
you as you celebrate Life's mysteries within the Eight Festivals.

'Baltane' honours Life

it represents the peak of Spring and the beginning of Summer.
Earth energies are at their strongest and most active.
All of Life is bursting with potent fertility -- and at this point in the Wheel of the
Year, the potential becomes conception.
On May Eve the Sexuality of Life and the Earth is at its peak.

On the Night to the first of May the Festival 'Baltane' (from the Celtic God 'Bel' --
similar to the Teutonic God 'Baldur' (Baal), meaning 'the bright one' and the Gaelic
word 'teine' meaning fire) is celebrated.
Baldur, Bel, Baal all have been assigned as God of the Sun, of pure Light, of Spring,
growth and fertility, of good and righteousness.
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It observes the height of Spring and the flowering of Life.
'Baltane' is a festival of flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight.

The 'Baltane' - Fire needed to be kept lit as it symbolized the growing strength of the Sun during this time of
Year.
Under the name Walpurgisnacht Festival, this Wheel Of The Year Festival is better known.
The name derives from Saint Walburga (Wealdburg) whose commemoration
was celebrated to the Middle Ages on the day of her canonization on May 1st.
Walpurgis was the vigil of the feast.

Whereas the Walpurgis Festival itself is a celebration of Love, pleasure and joy
of Life.
The victory of the Sun is also celebrated as the fertility of the Earth and the People.
Earlier it was celebrated and danced throughout May.
< Today, we know the custom of the May Pole
(Maibaum) and the May Day Celebrations.

Nowadays, as 'Dance into May' (Parties) it has found its

way into private and commercial events because of the
opportunity to dance and socializing on the eve of May
Day as urban, modern and fixed event.
May is also called 'Merry Month', in which the covenant
for Life is made.
Also the Love is in this context in the foreground.

This festival probably evolved from ancient fertility rites,

which have been always celebrated at this time of the Year.

'At „Baltane“ young people stay out in the woods all night conjuring summer in by gathering
mayflowers and going what comes naturally to young couples.
As the Sun rises they will return to the village-green, to weave colored ribbons around the May
Pole in the traditional dances which celebrate the return of Summer, bringing with it renewed
warmth, light and life.
Crowned with Bluebells [Hyacinthoide] and Mayflowers [Caltha palustris], the Maiden unites with
the Earth Spirit of the Forest in a kiss.
Watching on in approval, the Green Man symbolizes the mystical relationship of humankind with
the land'

The Nature
in Nature makes itself felt in May an uncanny diversity.
The seed of the Plant has long surfaced and is clearly visible.

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It is a very lively and diverse time, and nothing stands the full unfolding of new Life in the way.
The Plants are now growing very fast, with a tremendous vitality.

They bloom in the most wonderful colors, as they would take us the whole beauty of Nature in mind.
The birds are singing and we hear the bees buzzing, which are already busy looking for food.
The Sun shines particularly warm on our skin and stimulates the mind and senses.
We can gather and eat the first Spring Herbs and Spring Vegetables.
They provide us with vitamins and the collected Life force of this time.

May, you can really perceive with all senses and enjoy.
The plunge into the sweet world of the senses, creates also sensuality.
Spring fever spreading.

Celebrations and Customs

whatever you do, remember this is the Great Wedding !
Dress in your best, especially in green, and wear a flower crown:
Form a wreath of freshly picked flowers, wear it in your hair, and feel
yourself radiating joy and beauty.
Ask permission from the Plant, the Tree before you take anything.
Gathering and exchange of Flowers and Greens on May Eve, pre-dawn
May Day, 'Baltane'.
Decorating homes, barns, and other buildings with Green budding
branches (Hawthorn - in homes only at this sacred time)
Making and wearing of garland wreaths of Flowers and/or Greens.
May Baskets - given or placed secretly on doorsteps to friends, shut-ins,
lovers, others.
May Bowl - a punch (wine or non-alcoholic) made of Sweet Woodruff
(Galium odoratum) blossoms.
Dress in bright colors.
Dance the Maypole and feel yourself balancing the Divine Female and Male within.
On May Eve, bless your Garden in the old way by making love with your lover in it.
Make a wish (carefully what you wish) as you jump a bonfire or candle flame for good luck.
Welcome the May in at dawn with singing and dancing.

For the elderly or the ill

prepare a May Basket by filling it with flowers and goodwill and then give to someone in need of healing
and/or caring, such as a shut-in or elderly friend.

May Waters
rolling in May Eve dew or washing face in pre-dawn May Day dew for health, luck, beauty.
Getting head and hair wet in Baltane rain to bless the head.
Blessing springs, ponds, other sacred waters with flowers, garlands, ribbons, other offerings.
Collecting sacred waters and scrying in sacred springs, wells, ponds, other waters.
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Gift For A Tree
leave a gift for the Hawthorn Fairies and wait for your
wish to come true:
The Hawthorn Tree [Crataegus] is a deeply magical tree and
is most closely associated with Baltane and Fairies, who
sometimes grant wishes.
The traditional way to ask for a wish is to leave strips of
colored cloth or ribbon on the tree.
If the Hawthorn is not available, you may symbolize the Tree
with any other Tree or pot Plant.
Choose a cloth of an appropriate color:
Green stands for prosperity, growth, abundance and fertility
Blue for protection,
White represents cleansing and clearing and the power to disperse negativity,
Red represents strength, vitality, passion and vibrancy,
Purple for knowledge and
Pink for romance.
Leave a gift for the spirit of the Tree and, when your wish has been granted, return and
leave an other gift to say 'Thank You'
or
write your intentions on ribbons and tie them to a tree - best use the Hawthorn.
Letting them be released by the Wind to the universe.

Maypole
the Maypole is a popular and familiar image of May Day and 'Baltane'.
A phallic pole, often made from Birch, was inserted into the Earth representing the
potency of the God.
The ring of flowers at the top of the Maypole represents the fertile Goddess.
Its many colored ribbons and the ensuing weaving dance symbolize The Spiral of Life and the Union of
the Goddess and God, the Union between Earth and Sky.

Other forms of celebrations

Festive Garlands
garlands of May Blossom are what is meant in the song 'Here we go
gathering knots of May'.
It's not nuts that are gathered.
Get up before the dawn and then, wearing your celebratory clothes
and headdresses, enjoy the 'Baltane' Sunrise and the approaching of
the Summer Season.

The Baltane Head-dress

4 Walpurgis - Beltane - Baaltane

for your Celebrations, the color Green symbolizes 'Baltane''s fertility.
Make a wreath of flowers to wear on your head to symbolize the Queen of the May and a wreath of green
leaves to symbolize the Lord of the Greenwood.

Sacrificial Cakes
at the Baltane Fires, Cakes were prepared that related to sacrificial burning.
One part of the cake was broken up according to how many people were present.
The cakes were ceremonially shared out.
The person who received the blackened piece was the 'Baltane Carline’- They would be 'devoted' or 'offered
up'.
The company would then make a show of pretending to toss this person onto the fire and others would
rescue them.
The role represents a symbolic scapegoat, so, after the ceremony be extra nice to your Carline to thank them
for taking on this role for you !

Purifying Fires
you can make a small bonfire.
Build it with special twigs or have each of your friends bring a contribution.
If indoors, you can make a 'fire' by putting a candle in a central place.
The best would be a green candle as it represents 'Baltane''s Cleansing Flame.
By (carefully) jumping over the fire or candle you will have performed your own purification ritual.
Jump over the 'Baltane' Fire, move through it, or dance clockwise (= aggrandizing) around it.

The Baltane Fires

were fundamental to the ancient celebrations.
Cattle were driven through them to clean off their ticks and mites and to gain immunity from dis-ease.
People also jumped over the fires to symbolize burning off their past.
Baltane Fires were built with wood from Nine Sacred Trees and had to be kindled in special ways.
Rowan (Sorbus auc.) twigs were carried around the fire three times, then hung over hearths to bless homes.
You may burn sacred wood and dried herbs as offerings in 'Baltane' Fires.
Use the ashes of the 'Baltane' Fire to smudge on everyone's face and scatter over the field or garden.

Beltane Fire Dance by Loreena McKennitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh3rsLYCtsw

Above all, have fun !

...

Typical ...
colors are ... the Rainbow spectrum.
Fav. colors: Red, White, Green, Pink, Yellow and White, sometimes Silver
Herbs: Bluebells, Daisy, Almonds, Frankincense, Rose, Marigold, Ivy, Lilac, Strawberry
Stones: Amber, Emerald, Rose Quartz, Sapphire, Malachite
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Trees: Hawthorn, Birch, Rowan

The Green Man

The 'Green Man' is a symbol which has been used throughout history, in religion, folklore and mythology.
This symbol has evolved from older nature deities: such as the Celtic Cernunnos and the Greek Pan and
Dionysus.
Due to the fact that the most common examples of the Green Man are stone and woodcarvings in European
churches, some interpret this as evidence of Pagan traditions lived alongside the Christian mainstream.
It is primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, representing the cycle of growth each Spring.
image right by Lady Raglan in her article the green man in church architecture >

Why Walpurgis Night and Beltane Are Not Satanistic Celebrations

read the blog entry of my Slavic friend from Croatia
International Workers' Day, Walpurgis Night and Beltane Have Nothing to Do with Satanism!
http://vjesticji-ormar.blogspot.co.at/2014/05/international-workers-day-walpurgis.html

Goddesses of the feast

Lore
at 'Baltane' is changing the virginal, childlike Spring Goddess for lustful lover who is willing to engage in the
risk of association.
She fascinated by her erotic attraction and gives the fullness of life.
She is sensual, erotic, red goddess.
The goddess of love and passion.
She is bubbling with joy and singing and dancing and celebrating her life.
The Roman goddess Venus, for example, is a representative.
She is the goddess of love, sensuality, beauty, pleasure and joy.
She is the creator of all things and also known as the garden - and the goddess of spring.
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Venus can help us to perceive our own femininity and beauty and to rediscover.
She also helps us to accept and love so as we are.
Myths of the Feast
the origin of the May Festivities is probably in ancient fertility
rituals that served to lustful union of man and woman.

< Slavic Rodnovers in Russia raising of idol for George's Day

During the 'Baltane' Feast, earlier the villagers went out (before the
Church prohibited this custom more and more), to the fields and
lit bonfires.
The people danced around the fire and then made love in the fields.

It was the custom that the masked participants chose a partner in

free choice, sharing the joys of Love with him.
All matrimonial alliances were canceled for that Night.
One called this Night also 'Free Night'

Loving in the fields should foster the fertility of the Plants ..

In the 'sacred marriage' to unite the male creativeness with the

receiving feminine.
In the God’s wedding happened the marriage of Heaven and Earth.

And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je8WTD1YZUw

Nature is our only true resource, also on a spiritual level.

As we learn to use it, we find again the contact we need.

~~~~~~~~~~
epilogue
according the Folk Wisdom, there are two options of committing
i.e. Wheel Of The Year Festivals: either by date, or, rather by the
Moon.

This essay, I have consciously written in the (form of ) Here and

Now.
And made for the present age.
To gather and get together the information from my friends,
countless elders, my mentor, mostly lovers of Nature and
independent sources as to write this, was such a pleasure and I
have been often been moved back-and-forth; mind ! it was in some parts even full of erotic aspects and,
indeed a real challenge as I had to re-consider my entire world of thought and world-outlook.
7 Walpurgis - Beltane - Baaltane
To over-think things is always a good process where a plenty of new, sometimes different perspectives that
bear embedded within plenty facets of change and healing appear and suddenly new keys are presented.
Thank You providing this chance my Divine Guidance and Ancestors !
Because the subject 'Traditions' and especially everything related to Beltane, which is in sooth 'Baaltane' or
'Baltane' is way too complex:
I have found these themes around fertility in virtually the realm of ALL known Cultures since time
immemorial like a golden thread, so got myself not into any attempt to create kind of historic overview -
others may do better.
Only as much as this:
the origins of the 'Baltane' Festival can be traced back to the celebration of
a Sumerian God - who WAS known to us as Baal - again to not confuse this
God of productivity with the mainstream yclept tripple-stoned Shaitan of the
Desert which is constantly described under the name of 'Baal' whereas his real
name is Beel(zebub).
The name 'Baltane' is said to originate from the word Baal ( Jamin) who
later 'was vanished' and finally replaced by Beel (Sebub, or Beelzebub)

Celebrations of the 'Baltane' festival are VERY SIMILAR to ancient rituals

celebrating the Baal fertility-god.
Of the mysterious similarities between these seemingly distant cultures I
am well aware.
This work can therefore not be regarded as complete, however, I have clues
how the faith in Baldur/Beltaine was brought and inherited to/in
Assyria/Mesopotamia.

My aim was to provide instruments and suggestions as a stimulus how easy it is to pick up again both: the
symbolism and the spiritual heritage of our Ancestors and thus allow the
true Bal-tane within, a rebirth.

The perception of what is considered evil and good is an age-old concept

of duality.
We see it in our views, politics, religions, right down to our sexes of the
male or female.
Rituals do not have to be of any 'negative' purpose.
What we view in the world is what it is.
Wisdom and knowledge are simply such.
But, it is how you view them, which determine the dimensional
characteristics of either aspect of duality.
Energy, in a simplistic form, awareness or consciousness, is not 'bad'; it is
how you use certain information.

As with every festival, ceremony, ritual or even word or action - the

result to be achieved depends solely on the intention, the approach (target) and the expectation contained
therein.
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Do what you feel is right.
Alone with your thoughts you are able to generate both: Heaven or Hell; thus gauge more attentive what you
really want to create.
Listen to your heart, your intuition, do your best or learn how to blank out your mind as it is often
controlled by the eagerly possessive ego.

Logic or hearsay tend to screw things up in this regard.

Be true to yourself though.
It is what is meaningful to you that is important.

'Cultivating tradition does not mean to keep ashes but keep embers glowing'
- Jean Jaurès (1859-1914)

In this sense a Happy 'Baltane', Blessed Be !

inspiration
a Beltane celebration at the Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve in the hills of southwestern Wisconsin,
USA.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4PQFD1lylA

previous:

Plants in the Wheel of the Year – April

Spring Equinox - The Wheel Of The Year Festival Ostara
next:
Plants in the Wheel of the Year - May
Summer Solstice - Litha - June 21

9 Walpurgis - Beltane - Baaltane