Beltane and the Lovely Month of May

Beltane and the Lovely Month of May

This ceremony includes the crowning of our May Queen, May 5, 2016 Seed Moon Ceremony

For most of our ceremonies and daily blessings, we embrace the good of modern-day Christianity and reject the corruption.  In remembrance of the victimization of our ancestral peoples by that religion, and because Beltane pre-dates that religion, there is no sign of Christianity at tonight’s celebration. 

Beltane is a celebration of the senses.  It is celebrated on the first day of May and tradition holds that it opened a full month of revelry and merriment.

Beltane is a time to honor our earthly desires.  Our ancient mothers believed that through lovingly preparing the food and setting the table, by lovingly bringing our families and relations together around the bonfire, and even by the exercising of their thigh freedom in the intimacy of the arms of their individual lovers, she is honoring Mother Earth.

Mother Earth’s people honor her in many ways.  Standing outside looking at the stars all night in wonder can be a mystical experience; we believe that there is honor in the wonder of her magnificence.  But if we spent our whole life doing that, we would miss so much. 

The month of May is for laying down our wonder.  The month of May is for resting from the world of spirituality and the mysteries, and embracing the gifts given us.  It is a time to seed the gardens.  It is a time to plough and work, but it is also a time to appreciate. A time to touch.  A time to drink. A time to smile and enjoy the gifts she has given us, the love of our brethren, and the fruits of our labors.

Tonight, we will make three rings, three circles, while we sing. Here, at the Beltane fire, our circle is to call on the blessings of our ancestors.  When we move to the gazebo, we are acknowledging and honoring the circle of life and our connectedness to one another.  And when we toss our seeds and make a circle around the gardens, we honor Mother Earth and her abundance.