Beltane 1999 Newsletter Beltane By Adrianne

Beltane in the southern hemisphere is celebrated around the 31st October/1st November, though some traditions do vary this date according to their geographical location, and others celebrate it on the northern hemisphere date of the 1st May (in which case some people will be celebrating Samhain around the end of October.)

The most famous symbol of Beltane is the Maypole. The pole itself is a phallic representation, with white ribbons for death, red for the blood of life, or red for the sun god, white for the virgin goddess, or white for the maiden and red for the mother (as you can see there are many variations depending on your tradition). The ribbons are woven together, traditionally by an equal number of men and women. The Maypole represents the rebirth of fertility for the land and it's inhabitants.

The Celts celebrate Beltane as the day the Tuatha De Dannan (the children of the Goddess Danu) landed on Irish shores. It is said that they brought the sun to the land, and are celebrated as the "light" aspect of Celtic Mythology. The Tuatha De Dannan live in the otherworld, in mounds under the earth called Sidhes. The veil between this world and the otherworld is thin at this time of year (like at Samhain), and the two worlds intermingle easily on this day.

It is a time for the Celts to collect the nine sacred woods for the kindling of the "bale fire". Animals and people are driven between the sacred flames to purify them and ensure fertility for the coming year. Wiccans jump the cauldron for the same symbology. In particular, cattle were purified for the Celts, because of the importance of cattle for food, clothing, milk and therefore survival. We can see the importance of cattle in many Celtic stories, in particular The Tain Bo Culaigne. (If you are interested in reading this story I would recommend Thomas Kinsella's translation of The Tain, as a good place to start. Early Irish Myths and Sagas by Gantz is a good introduction to Celtic literary traditions and mythological stories).

Beltane's 'opposite' on the wheel of life is Samhain. As the people in the North prepare to celebrate the veil between the worlds being thin, some people in the south like to acknowledge this festival as well as Beltane. As Samhain celebrates the souls of the departed, it seems that we are blessed in the Southern hemisphere: while we look towards fertility and health, we are reminded of that which is passed and that which is yet to come.

Because of the significance of fertility at this time of year, it has increasingly become known as a time for Handfastings. This is because Beltane is seen as the time when the Maiden marries the young God, they consummate the marriage on Beltane, and she conceives.

You might like to place fresh flowers on your altar and in your cauldron. If you are not able to make a large Maypole, you may like to make a small version for your altar to remind you of the season. Now is the time to take action on the dedications you made or planned at Ostara. The seed has now germinated and needs your help to grow to its full potential.

It is at this time of year in NSW where daylight savings has started and the days become longer and hotter. This will continue until the sun reaches his zenith at Midsummer. While we bask in his returning warmth, we are reminded of the destructive power he is learning to become. There will come a time when we will be glad to see him recede (for a short time) before crying out for him to return. These simple pointers remind us that nothing stands still, and the wheel is constantly turning.

Trees

I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree