It's May!

May 1st is celebrated all over the world in many different ways. I'd like to share some of my own traditions for celebrating May Day ~ Beltane.

We are at the half way point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. I personally love Beltane, which we celebrate on May 1st...because while the weather is certainly heating up here in Arizona, it hasn't reached the peak temperatures yet and everything is in bloom! Flowers and fertility are abundant this time of year, and nature is truly in full bloom!

I typically celebrate the turning of the wheel of the year privately these days...but even so, there are little traditions I practice and look forward to. As this is a fire festival, I will usually light a small 'bonfire' in my back yard cauldron or even a smaller candle if I don't have enough time for the big fire. I like to write down thoughts on pieces of paper, focusing on habits or behaviors I'd like to rid myself of, and really any negativiesor obstacles I'd like to have removed from my life ...and then throw them into the fire and watch them burn away.

Flowers are a huge part of this time of year...so I like to decorate my house with bouquets of flowers and I also like to make Garden Mandalas, with with flower patterns and a little water offering to all of the spirits and fairies (and the bees and the butterflies too. I'll also be sure my humming bird feeders are filled with fresh nectar & my bird baths have plenty of water for the winged visitors.

When my kids were young, we participated in Beltane celebrations each year and created beautiful maypoles with ribbons for the kids to run around and weave. We would make flower crowns and dance in the garden. While I miss those days, I look forward to my simple ways of celebrating and focus on some of the sensuality this time of year brings.

Here's a link to a wonderful website that shares more historical information on Beltane as well as some great ways to celebrate:

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