City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells and Shamanism - Christopher Penczak 2001

Beltane
As the World Turns

Beltane celebrations are more commonly found in the guise of May Day celebrations, with people dancing around the May Pole, singing songs, and having a grand old time. What most miss is that the May Pole is actually a phallic symbol of the god, placed in the ground as part of his union with the Earth goddess. The god is seen here as young and joyous, celebrating the life of his mother and their union, before assuming more serious aspects of his appointed tasks. Beltane is a fire festival marked by good times, frivolity, and love on all levels.

The name Beltane comes from the Celtic god Bel. It means “Bel’s fire.” Not much survives of the myths of Bel. Some historians wonder if he was really a god at all, or if this story is simply a modern pagan convenience. Regardless, Bel is now portrayed as a fiery young man. The flames of sacred bonfires were lit from the remaining wood of the winter. Cattle, and often people, passed between two bale fires (fires made from sacred woods and bales of hay, used in traditional Beltane celebrations), letting the heat and the sacred wood purify them from the maladies of winter.

Beltane is flower time, when Earth abundantly blooms. Even in the city, her handywork is found—in the parks, flower boxes, and storefronts. Many of the seeds of Ostara bear their beautiful blossoms by Beltane. For this celebration, we reflect and meditate on Beltane.

Materials Needed: A flower

To do this celebration, you need to find a blooming flower. Something still alive and in the ground is best, although you can use a potted flower or even cut flowers as a last resort. If you think it will be difficult to find a growing flower, think of this celebration as part quest. With a little ingenuity, I’m sure you’ll find one somewhere.

Do not cut the flower. Sit with it. Observe it. How many petals does it have? Does it make a shape? What color is it? How tall is it? How many leaves does it have? What shape are they? How does the plant make you feel? Does it evoke any sensations in your body?

Do Exercise i to enter a more receptive state (see page 17). Then ask to communicate with the flower. That’s right, as crazy as it may sound to some, talk with the flower. If you attempted Exercise 15, Plant-Speak (see page 153), then you will already be familiar with the process. Talk to it as if it were a person. Let the answer come to you. Responses can come in feelings, intuitive flashes, pictures, music, or a little voice in your head. You may think you are talking to yourself. That’s okay. You are doing fine.

Ask the flower the meaning of this time of year. What does Beltane, or May Day, mean to the flower world? Before your conversation is done, ask the flower if it has anything else to tell you.

Thank the flower for its time and depart. Beltane is a day of festivity and fun. Meet your friends and spend a day or evening with them, just to have fun. They do not need to know the occasion if they are not comfortable with your magical practices. If they are, or better yet, if they are practitioners, you can always invite them to join you with the flowers.