Greetings and Well Wishes to You All!
When I was asked to write an article of the Mirror of Isis, many moons ago, I said sure, I would love to do so! But then
times came and went, and came and went again. And here I am finally - taking advantage of the opportunity to give something
back to a person (Olivia) and an organization (Fellowship of Isis) that is giving us all so much! So, what
to write about? Being of the Druidic path myself and this being the Beltaine issue – I thought what better a subject
to write about, Beltaine, but from a Druidic styled perception. So allow me to share my views of this gateway into summer from
my experiences and understanding. May you each be blessed in mind, body and spirit by this sharing between us here.
Beltaine
Perhaps you remember the Beltaine of your youth before you know it had a name like Beltaine. Remember back in school, I
know I looked so forward to the festivals and fun we had on May Day! Good old May Day, with the symbolic May Pole for us all
to weave around and wrap the “pole” with ribbons. Whoever’s ribbon was the last one to touch the top –
was the May Queen! Oh the days of fun, frolicking and innocence – now turned into something many today see as 'not so
nice' due to their own lack of understanding and tolerance.
So what, you may be asking, do I think Beltaine is about? Well I could give you a few examples of possible ideas, depending
on which view you want to hear about. But since I am speaking of my personal experience here, I will adhere to my Irish
Avalonian trainings as a Ban Draoi or Druidess. I consider myself a perpetual student and a perpetual learner. There are no
endings, just new beginnings – so true of Druidic style.
Some folks view Beltaine as the Feast of Flowering, a time of Emergence. Why flowering you ask? In many places throughout
the world it is already summer - full of heat and humidity, yet in some areas it is just past planting, plants are beginning
to open their flowers to receive the pollen to be fertilized. This alone should be a way to see the connection of Beltaine
with fertility and as a fertility festival. Here, at this seasonal gateway, we are also coming out of the depths
of winter or the dark time of the year and while we had begun that trek back to the light at Imbolc, we are now coming out
fully into the light half of the year. Here we pull the sword of truth from the stone of illusion. Here we view the flames
of the Beltaine fires as the cleansing fire, washing away the old stale and negative and bringing in the lively full and luscious
waves of light and life. Life began the change from surviving the harsh winter to plowing the fields, placing the seeds and
getting life to grow again and prepare to feed everyone, begin preparations for the next dark season and restore our lives
here and now. The potential in the land and the people was what is celebrated here. The same goes for us as well. This is
the time to reaffirm bonds with our community and ourselves as well as ensure our economic state, both within and without.
Taking stock of our lives is a key factor to this time and place. Now is the time we are challenged to realize and glean
where the lessons we have learned from our past and look forward where we are headed. It isn’t enough just
to see it by way of lip service; we must embrace the changes that have come as a result of our growth and reflect on
what we did learn in those dark depths, then bring it to the world outside.
Beltaine is one of the four High festivals or Fire festivals. These are the festivals that the Celts would have traditionally
celebrated following the calendar of 13 months (lunar) made up of 28 days each. The “extra” day that shows up
if you add it, will become the day of Samhain which is now known is November 1st. That being said, Beltaine is also the entry
into the light half of the year when we celebrate all life in its many forms.
Some practitioners who follow a Celtic path, view Beltaine as a festival that celebrates the Gaulish God Belinos,
thought to be awakened by the flowering scent of the earth - her scent carried on the breeze as she moved, a scent borne
on her every breath. We can see a connection between the Gaulish Belinos and the young Irish God Aonghus Og, as his playful
courtship changes into the sacred and passionate sexual fires of Bile, the Irish counterpart of Belinos. For some, these Deities
may have different meanings and some will argue their existence. I won’t here go into that here because there is
not a cut and dry scholarly position on this issue, and I wish to focus instead on the element of growth and broadening our
minds and spirits at the season of Beltaine.
Fertility is the key and that connects us to sex. Sex was a common factor of this particular celebration and many celebrated
this festival out of doors, under the stars and about or near the bond fires, all to bring fertility to the land. The Maypole
I mentioned before was a symbol of the phallus and sexual potency and was decked with greenery. It was not uncommon for this
pole to be a whole tree, still alive in the earth and tying the male to the female, the earth. This made some of these poles
over sixty feet in height. The use of ribbons to decorate was actually a later addition from other parts of Europe. A May
Queen was selected from the virgin women of the village – virgin meaning unmarried and unto themselves, not “unknown”
as today’s standards would define it. The young men preformed mock battles, glorious feats and fought for the right
to be the May King. If this chosen couple prospered, as representatives of the village - so too would the village prosper.
The particular Goddess you feel drawn to venerate at this festival can effect you choose to celebrate.
There is no absolute right or wrong. In truth the same can be said for the God as well. In one of the groups I do work with,
they recognize Bile at this time and his connection with Boann. He represents the God of the Underworld emerging from the
caves of darkness and becomes Bile – the God of the green pastures and fields. Perhaps you feel drawn to Grainne
or perhaps Creiddylad, or the ladies who ride as Epona, Rhiannon or Macha. How about Danu’s presence? Perhaps you also
see Lugh as a god of this time period? How and who you choose to honor this time and even if you choose to work with these
Gods and Goddesses, is up to you. These are a few of the Deities I choose to work with in my own spiritual experiences.
As I wrote earlier, Beltaine is the entry into summer - our time of fire and air. Why not look further and use those skills
of inner seeking to help you come to connect with Beltaine this season. There is no ending and no limit to what you can know
and learn. As the old saying goes: “Seek and you shall find” pertains to each and every one of us here and now.
I still learn more about Beltaine every day, every season, every cycle of the wheel of the year. That great worldly tree has
so many nooks and crannies that have yet to be explored and deciphered so that we can each understand it and become on with it
and it with us. How will you look at Beltaine this year? Will you look at Beltaine in a new light? Perhaps renew your own
commitment to this glorious festival. May gives us a chance to lighten and strengthen our hearts and grow in our flexibility
and fortitude. While the plants of Beltaine may carry blossoms and berries, they also carry thorns that sting – the
sweet with the sour. So too, can our lives find balance.
Blessings of the Return of the Light Half of the Year to You and Yours!
Aauriane Veleda - ArchDruidess
About the Author: Aauriane Veleda is Priestess Hierophant and founder of Garden of Sacred Wells Lyceum and Seekers
of Sacred Wisdom Iseum. She is Grand Dame Commander of the Green Ways of the World Tree Priory and ArchDruidess of the Hearth
of the Sacred Ways Grove. She currently lives in Central Florida with her husband and one fur child, a kitty called Kerridwen.
In addition to the FOI, she is an active member of the Henge of Keltria, a Druid Companion of the OBOD, trained Celtic Shaman,
Gythia and Seidhmather. Her personal work is focused on Irish and Scottish Druidry with its Avalonian connections through
Kildare and the connections to Northern Ways (Norse). She is a full time Nursing Instructor, Master Herbalist, Naturopath
and Reiki Master/Teacher.
