In less than a month the Beltane celebrations begin. The focus of this article will be using the correspondences for one of our major Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year.
Celebrating Beltane Your Way
I started researching this article with the intent of using correspondence tables. A simple web search for “Beltane sabbat correspondences” brings up over 250,000 results. Most of the sites that actually fit the search parameters will be in some sort of table format. I decided not to replicate the “crowd,” but instead help give you, the reader, ideas to use all the pre-existing information and do it your way.
Using Color for Beltane
Traditionally, the colors for Beltane include blue, brown, green, pink, white, red, and yellow. Of course, this is about celebrating YOUR way. Feel free to add any color and mix up the hues to create a rainbow of celebration through color.
A fun activity using color and flowers (see below) is to make paper baskets and fill with flowers. I can personally remember doing this and leaving the baskets on my grandmother’s porch. Although there were no known pagans in our family, it was a tradition that possibly derived from our English, Scottish, and Irish ancestors who came to the new world generations ago. Handmade baskets filled with flowers would be a wonderful way to decorate around the house using the colors and flowers associated with Beltane. While researching, I found this website particularly informative regarding colors: Eclectic Witchcraft.
Image by Gerhard G. from Pixabay
Flowers, Herbs, and Incense
Here in the Pagan Wasteland, tulips are just starting to break ground and we have a few daffodils actually blooming. Both are flowers of Beltane. If you live in a more temperate climate, other flowers to watch for are dandelions (yes!! I personally love dandelions), crocus, violets, lilacs, roses, and daisies. All should be pretty easy to find and to use in your baskets.
I am a firm believer in making your own incense for ritual. Grinding some herbs, either by mortar and pestle or spice (coffee) grinder, helps put your own personal touch to the incense. All you need is a heat safe container (cauldron), a piece of incense charcoal, and your ground herbs.
We are not only about the unusual here at Pagans of the Wild Wasteland. We also believe in making do without spending a lot of money. Generally speaking, a lot of herbs you need to celebrate a sabbat or perform a ritual can be found at your local grocery/dollar store. For Beltane, look for thyme, mint, rosemary, and dill. If you are lucky enough to live near an herbal shop or have the money to order online, mugwort and patchouli are wonderful herbs to base your incense on.
Image by Анатолий Стафичук from Pixabay
Holy Trees
Trees most mentioned as celebrated during Beltane include oak, birch, rowan, and hawthorne. Remember, if you are pulling from a live plant or tree for use during ritual, ask permission first. That includes the landowner, not just the plant or tree <wink>.
Build your maypole from a branch that has fallen from the winter and spring storms to create a mini maypole. Simple ribbons found at the thrift store, the back of the closet, or even crepe paper will work. Use a glue gun to attach the ribbon to the top of the pole.
Easter was just a few days ago. Many of the Easter items are on sale at the local craft shop and/or meglamart. Glue a bouquet of flowers to the bottom of the “pole.” Decorate the top with more flowers, possibly hot gluing more down the pole. Ta Da!! A simple and cheap maypole for decoration and altar. If you wish to make a more traditional maypole, I found these instructions to be very useful: The House Lars Built.
Fire Sabbat
The bonfire is an important symbol of the Sabbat. Living in an apartment may put a damper on having a huge bonfire to celebrate. Fear not little witchingly, there are alternatives.
Candles are always a great go-to instead of a bon fire. Create a display with different sized candles to use for your ritual. If candles are not an option, or any type of actual flame, flameless candles come in an abundance of sizes. Even a fan with crepe paper taped to the grate in flame colors can replicate fire.
Deities
The list of deities related to Beltane is long. We have an ongoing Spotlight series here on the blog on deities of Beltane. One is Kokopelli, a native American deity, and Sheela-Na-Gig from the British Isles.
Any deity in your particular pantheon associated with fertility, prosperity, protection, fire, and of course, sexuality can be used.
I hope you find this article useful in celebrating Beltane your way. Please let us know below in the comments.
So Mote it Be.