Spring has reached its peak, and summer is already lurking with bare feet in the grass – and right in between, Beltane burns, also spelled Beltaine.

The Celtic fire festival is celebrated on the night of May 1st and not only marks the transition into the warm season but also an ecstatic blossoming of all that lives, loves, and reveals itself.

Beltane – derived from the Celtic *Bel-teine*, meaning “bright fire of Bel” – is an invitation to celebrate your creative power, your fertility, your desire for life and connection. It is the festival of vitality. It is the moment when the Earth dances – and you are invited.

Fertility, Fire, and Freedom

Beltane is not tame. It is not a gentle stroll through the park. It is wild. Untamed. Nature is electrified. Everything grows. Everything blooms. Everything wants to unfold.

This festival is deeply physical. Our ancestors knew this. It was customary for young couples to retreat into the birch groves on Beltane night – to devote themselves to love and fertility. Not infrequently, this happened with someone other than their own partner. No wonder the church eventually preferred to relocate the spectacle to the marketplace. But the magic remains.

You can feel it – in the air that smells of summer rain. In the sun that no longer asks whether it may stay. In your pelvis, which begins to vibrate when you walk barefoot over damp meadows.

The Wheel of the Year is Aflame

Beltane lies opposite Samhain. While at Samhain we dive into the dark depths of our ancestors, at Beltane we dance on the fire of life’s force.

Yet the veils are thin – even now. Well, they are always thin if you want them to be, but now it’s even easier. Those who listen can sense that more flickers between the worlds than just heat. It is a good time to interpret signs, speak with ancestors, and encounter nature spirits.

Observe the world. It speaks to you. Perhaps in the form of a dandelion that bursts open right in front of you. Or in the mischief of fairies when things suddenly aren’t where you left them.

Plant Magic for Beltane

Nature is exploding. If you look closely, you can watch the plants grow.

Here are some magical plants of this time:

• Ground ivy – connection, ancestral knowledge, clarity
• Lilac – sensuality, seduction, letting go
• Hawthorn – heart opening, protection, threshold guardian
• Birch – new beginnings, purity, light
• Lily of the valley – delicate assertiveness
• Wild garlic – cleansing, wildness, protection
• Dandelion

And the swallows return. The swifts circle over the rooftops. The birds are nesting – as are your ideas, your plans, your longing. Everything is there, ready to hatch.

How to Decorate Your Altar for Beltane

Make it sensual. Make it lively.

• Hawthorn branches
• Lilac blossoms
• Cherry or apple blossoms
• Tulips, daffodils, whatever is blooming
• Red, orange, or yellow candles to represent the fire

If you like, craft a mini maypole from a small birch branch with colorful ribbons. Or wear a crown of dandelions – the pure power of the sun on your head.

Beltane is also the perfect time for a picnic with homemade scones, a sweet braided loaf, or a cake. In a meadow, you’re sure to find plenty of dandelions – the perfect time to weave a wreath for your hair.

Scents for Beltane

• Frankincense – for connection to Spirit
• Ylang Ylang & Jasmine – for sensuality
• Magnolia – for creative explosion
• Mint & Citrus – for clarity and freshness
• Pine – for grounding and vitality

Ritual: Wish Ribbon on a Tree

You need:

• a piece of cloth or ribbon (no plastic!)
• a tree, ideally birch or hawthorn
• your intention

Here’s how:

Find a tree that calls to you. Tune into yourself before attaching the ribbon. Ask it if you may make a request. If you feel a no – move on. There are many trees. If you feel a yes, then you’re in the right place.

Hold the ribbon in your hand, close your eyes, and feel what you wish for. Not from lack. But from your deep, wild creative power.

Formulate it within yourself. Then whisper it into the ribbon. Breathe your wish into it. Carefully tie it to a branch – and entrust your request to nature. Let go. The magic continues to work.

This ritual is an act of connection – between you, the tree, and what wants to become.

Ritual: Plant Your Future

You need:

• a small candle
• a flowerpot with soil
• a seed of your choice (e.g., marigold)
• your clear heart’s desire
• something for smudging (e.g., rosemary or mugwort)

Here’s how:

Light your candle.

Smudge your pot to dispel old, stagnant energies. Then sprinkle it with a bit of water.

Sit down calmly. Become still. Feel your heartbeat. Feel the earth beneath you.

Take the seed in your hand. Hold it firmly.

Think of your goal, your heart’s desire. Not trivial matters. Something greater than your ego. Something that serves life.

Whisper your wish to the seed. Breathe your breath into it. Give it your energy, your intention, your belief.

Plant the seed in the soil.

While doing so, say: “As you grow, so do I. As you bloom, so does my path. I will nourish you – as I nourish my goal. So that by Samhain, I may harvest what I sow today.”

Let it grow. And take care of it. Both.

Journaling Questions for Beltane

You can ask yourself these questions during the Beltane circle – or answer them after your ritual. Be honest, be wild, be radically open:

• Where is my creativity bubbling, but I’m still holding it back?
• In which areas of life do I desire more passion – and what prevents me from allowing it?
• What wants to come into life through me?
• What have I already “planted” and is now ready to grow?
• With whom (or what) do I truly want to connect?