Correspondances and symbols for Beltane

Correspondances and symbols for Beltane Date: May 1

Beltane is a very important time of year, marking the beginning of summer in the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Below is a list of correspondences and symbols associated with the festival of Beltane. You may like to incorporate some of these into your daily life around the time of Beltane, you can use the ideas for decorating your home and for ideas on how you might celebrate on May 1st, Beltane.

Alternative names for Beltane: Beltane has many names as it is such an important time on the wheel of the year. Alternative names include: May Day, Bealtaine, Beltane, Beltain, Baltane Bhealtainn, Bealtinne, Festival of Tana (Strega), Giamonios, Rudemass, and Walburga (Teutonic), Cetsamhain (opposite Samhain), Fairy Day ,Sacred Thorn Day, Rood Day, Roodmas (the Christian term for Rood Day), Old Beltane, Walpurgis Night, Floriala (Roman feast of flowers from April 29 to May 1), Walpurgisnacht (Germanic-feast of St. Walpurga), Thrimilce (Anglo-saxon), Bloumaand (Old Dutch) The Scottish tradition of PectiWita  is celebrated on May 15th

More information regarding Beltane and the Wheel of the Year may be found here:http://www.astarte-moon.co.uk

Animals: Swallow, dove, raven, swan, cat, leopard, snake, honey bee, mayflies, stag and deer.

The stag and deer play important roles in Celtic lore and myth. They represent the God and the Goddess. Beautiful, graceful and majestic, deer and stags were often considered the “cattle of the fairies”. Pwyll was hunting a stag when he met Arawn. Fionn MacCumhail married a woman of the Otherworld who shape shifted into a deer.

Swans are also important at Beltane.  The most popular story in Celtic mythology that features swans is the tragedy of the Children of Lir. Turned into swans by their evil stepmother, the children of Lir were cursed to spend hundreds of years living as swans before becoming human and dying on dry land. While cranes are said to carry the soul, swans represent the soul itself.

The mayflies are short lived insects that are said to the seed of Lugh, who would later be born as Cu Chulain in Celtic mythology.

Mythical animals associated with Beltane include faeries and Pegasus

Deities: All fertility Gods and Goddesses are appropriate for this time on the Wheel of the Year. Beltane is a Pagan festival celebrating the union of the god and goddess, often symbolised as the Greenman and the May Queen. The Welsh goddess Creiddylad is connected with Beltane, often called the May Queen, she was a Goddess of summer flowers and love. The Goddess Rhiannon is also a very popular representation of the May Queen at Beltane.

Other Gods and Goddesses include:

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Artemis, Bast, Diana, Faunus, Flora, Maia, Venus

Gods: Pan,
the Horned God, Zeus the Bull and Amen the Ram., the Green Man, Cernunnos.

Angels: Archangel Chamuel the Angel of love and of courage.

Tools: broom, May Pole, cauldron. The maypole is often seen as a symbol of fertility and strength.

Gemstones: Any red or green crystals are useful at this time of Beltain. Other examples incluce: emerald, malachite, amber, orange/red carnelian, sapphire, rose quartz

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A stabilising stone, Carnelian restores vitality and motivation, and stimulates creativity.  It gives courage, promotes positive life choices, dispels apathy and motivates for success.  Carnelian is useful for overcoming abuse of any kind.  It helps in trusting yourself and your perceptions. 

Colours: green, soft pink, blue, yellow, red.

Red is a wonderful colour to wear on the day of Beltane, symbolising new life and romance, the union of the Green Man God and his Goddess.

Herbs and Flowers: almond tree/shrub, ash, broom, cinquefoil, clover, elder (tree and elderflower blossoms), foxglove, frankincense, honeysuckle, rowan, sorrel, hawthorn, ivy, lily of the valley, marigold, meadowsweet, mint, mugwort, thyme, angelica, bluebells, daisy, hawthorn, ivy, lilac, primrose, st. john’s wort, yarrow.

All flowers that bloom at the beginning of May are appropriate for Beltane and can be used in the making of a Beltain headdress or for decorating your home.

John's Wort - Gathered at sunrise on May Day this wonderful herb may bring good luck to your friends and family. It is also a useful herb for blessing any new projects you begin at Beltane. You can hang the root up in the house on May Day to keep out unwanted spirits.

White willow is a fabulous tree to make a wand from. Try and find one near you and make your own Beltane wand.

Elder is a particularly appropriate tree for Beltane. It’s wood may be used in the making of a Beltane headdress and it’s flowers have many uses, you can use them to decorate your home, weave them into a headdress or make elderflower champagne.

The Rowan tree -Beltane is one of the three "spirit-nights" of the year when the faeries can be seen. At dusk, twist a rowan sprig into a ring and look through it, and you may see them

Incense: frankincense, lilac, rose. 

Frankinsence is said to help open the higher energy centres and facilitate the user in meditation, prayer and connection. Pure Frankincense Resin is a natural and pure aromatic, it can be used to create a special high energy sacred space and is known to be uplifting and peace-bringing. Frankincense is therefore a wonderful healing incense to use at Beltane.

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Oils - Lavender, Rose, Frankincense, Myrrh, Jasmine

Lavender oil has become famous not just for its relaxing scent, but also for its remarkable healing properties. Lavender is a light, clean and refreshing oil with a herby floral aroma. Ideal in massage or the bath to soothe the skin and calm the mind. Lavender is particularly known for it’s healing properties and is wonderful used in a massage oil.

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Symbols and Decorations: maypole, spring flowers, fires, fertility, ploughs, cauldrons of flowers, baskets of flowers, hearts.

You can wear heart shape jewellery at Beltane to symbolise the union of the God and the Goddess, also hanging heart shaped decorations around your house is a wonderful way to celebrate this summer Sabbat of Beltain.

Food: dairy, eggs, bread, cereals, oatmeal cakes, cherries, strawberries, green salads. Simple dishes such as vanilla ice cream and egg custard are quite traditional fare on this day.

On Beltane it was customary to bake small scones like cakes called “Bannocks”.  These were made from oat or barley flour worked into dough with just a little water and no leavening, then filled with sweetmeat and spices. Offerings of bannocks and drink were traditionally left on doorsteps and roadways for the Fairies as an offering.

All fruit and vegetables that are in season now would be fabulous to use in any Beltane activities. All red fruits such cherries and strawberries are good to use. You could make your own multi coloured meal using a prominence of red and green fruit and vegetables.

Drinks - Mead, Fruit/Wine Punch, Milk & Honey, elderflower champagne

Altar Decorations - Red and white candles, Seasonal Flowers and Garlands, Goddess & God Statues, Faeries, Butterflies, Growing Plants, Plows, Cauldrons of Flowers, You can decorate a lovely altar at this time on the wheel of the year with all the wonderful flowers that are in bloom now.

Activities and Rituals: fertilise, nurture and boost existing goals, leaping bonfires, making garlands, May Pole dance, planting seeds, healing activites. Solitary Practitioners might consider the weaving together of ribbons as an alternative to creating and dancing around the May Pole. A wonderful thing to do during Beltane is to take action on the activities and projects you had planned and started on Ostara.

Sources:

Photography AstarteAlison

A Ceremony for Every Occasion: Siusaidh Ceanadach
Sacred Celebrations: Glennie Kindred

Llewellyn's 2013 Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2012 to Mabon 2013 (Annuals - Sabbats Almanac) (Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac) 

Wheel of the Year: Living the Magickal Life (Llewellyn's Practical Magick) [Paperback]

Pauline Campanelli 

The Sacred Wheel: a guide to the Pagan year for beginners in Witchcraft and Wicca.

MommaWhiteCougar The Pagan

A Ceremony for Every Occasion: The Pagan Wheel of the Year and Rites of Passage [Paperback]

Siusaidh Ceanadac