Happy Beltane!

Happy Beltane! Happy May Day!

The ancient festival of fire and fertility has arrived once more, bringing with it the promise of summer's warmth. All around, people gather to dance around maypoles adorned with colourful ribbons, their movements weaving patterns that echo the intertwining of all living things.

Phoebe Wahl

In this sacred moment, the holly king humbly yields to the oak king, as the oak assumes his seat of power. His crown of verdant leaves shimmers in the early light. Through their age-old ritual combat, the seasons' shift is celebrated—a dance as ancient as the hills, now concluded with the oak's triumph, a reign lasting until the winter solstice returns.

Elin Manon

The hawthorn tree, often called the May tree or the fairy tree, presents itself in various states of bud or blossom, dependent on its locale. This tree, a vibrant emblem of fertility, exudes a fragrance that simultaneously evokes the sweetness of pollen and the decay of rotting meat.

This beguiling paradox speaks to the essence of both life and death, much like Beltane itself, poised at the cusp of spring's renewal and summer's abundance. The hawthorn draws the bees, lured by the sweet promise of pollen, while also enticing flies, captivated by the allure of decaying flesh, thus enhancing the tree's prospects for thriving. This makes the hawthorn an exquisite and fitting symbol of fertility, a reminder that growth invariably accompanies a form of dying. It teaches us that life and death are intertwined companions, allies in the dance of existence.

The ancient ones knew this truth in their bones, felt it in the rhythm of their days, for their stories are drenched with this truth, a continuous reminder of balance, of light and dark, death and renewal.

Beltane fires would be lit in the evening, lovers would jump the flames, purifying all who pass between them.

In villages and cities alike, the May Queen is chosen, her crown of fresh blossoms a living diadem that connects her to the earth's awakening. She leads the procession with grace, her bare feet barely touching the dew-kissed grass. Behind her, the Green Man follows, his face obscured by leaves and moss, his presence a reminder of the wild that dwells within us all, even in our most civilised moments.

Its traditional for children to gather wildflowers from meadows where the boundaries between worlds grow thin on this day. To weave daisy chains and buttercup necklaces, innocent participants in rituals whose meanings they will only understand when they come of age. For now, they delight in the colors, the sweetness of honey cakes, and the permission to stay awake past sunset to witness the lighting of the fires.

Children and women would wake early, wash their faces in the dew and gather boughs of hawthorn blossom to gift to families as a symbol of their coming fertility. The hawthorns smell on the air was said to thin the veil between worlds, creating gateways for fairies to pass through, bringing magic and mischief into the celebrations.

And the men would gather Nettles and make a traditional nettle beer for the year ahead, bringing strength and grounding into their growing year.

I enjoy swimming in the river, lighting fires, and wearing flowers on this special day. My son enjoys baking traditional honey cakes, and together we collect hawthorn leaves and blossoms to create a tincture that supports our hearts throughout the year. This helps us make decisions from that heartfelt place, ensuring we stay connected to it as much as possible.

The fire, or wild energy that is contained in seed, earth and creature has fully risen, passion, creativity and energy are lifting up towards the light.

Can you feel it? Dare you celebrate it? Dance with it?

The lighting of fires, the flowers, the dancing are not only to remind us of natures gifts, of the beauty of how the land moves, but it is also filled with the things and moments that call to our fire, our energy, our wild spirit, calling it forth so we can grow and merge with the wild.

Much love and wild energy to you

Brigit xx

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Beltane Honey cakes

Here is a basic recipe for honey cakes.

When I make these, I sometimes make them in little muffin tins so there is lots of little ones. I also remove or limit the sugar and increase the honey a little.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of flour

• 2 teaspoons of baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup of sugar

• 3 eggs

• 1/2 cup of honey

• 1/2 cup of milk

• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

• teaspoons (about 8 grams) ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9-inch cake pan.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

4. Add the honey, milk, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and stir until combined.

5. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until the batter is smooth and well mixed.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

7. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Once the cake has cooled, you can dust it with powdered sugar or drizzle it with honey for an extra sweet touch.