Beltane, the fertility and fire festival. Beautiful, vibrant, romantic. Beltane is about Life, Fire, Passion, and Rebirth. Here are some ideas on setting up your Beltane Altar, but be creative, decorate throughout your home. Let your Spirit guide you and have fun!~
This is the time of year when the earth is lush and green, brimming with life. Use lots of greens but also bright Spring colors~the yellow of the daffodils, forsythia and dandelions; the purples of the lilac; the blue of a spring sky or a robin’s egg. Decorate your altar with any or all of these colors in your altar cloths, candles, or colored ribbons~
Life has awoken upon the earth after the long Winter’s dormancy, so allow yourself to play and let your creative voice sing!
The Beltane holiday is the time when, in some traditions, the male energy of the god is at its most potent. He is often portrayed with a large and erect phallus, and other symbols of his fertility include antlers, sticks, acorns, and seeds. You can include any of these on your altar. Consider adding a small Maypole Centerpiece – there are few things more phallic than a pole sticking up out of the ground!
In addition to the lusty attributes of the god, the fertile womb of the goddess is honored at Beltane as well. She is the earth, warm and inviting, waiting for seeds to grow within her. Add a goddess symbol, such as a statue, cauldron, cup, or other feminine items. Any circular item, such as a wreath or ring, can be used to represent the goddess as well.
Add a collection of early spring flowers to your altar – daffodils, hyacinths, forsythia, daisies, tulips – or consider making a floral crown/wreath to wear yourself. You may even want to pot some flowers or herbs as part of your Sabbat ritual.
In some cultures, Beltane is sacred to the Fae. If you follow a tradition that honors the Faerie realm, leave offerings on your altar for your household helpers.
Beltane is one of the four fire festivals in modern Pagan traditions, find a way to incorporate fire into your altar setup. Although one popular custom is to hold a bonfire outside, that may not be practical for everyone, so instead it can be in the form of candles (the more the better), or a table-top brazier of some sort. A small cast-iron cauldron placed on a heat-resistant tile makes a great place to build an indoor fire.
Other Beltane Symbols and Decpre include:
May baskets
Chalices
Honey, oats, milk
Antlers or horns
Fruit such as cherries, mangos, pomegranates, peaches
Swords, lances, arrows
Maypole Centerpiece
For this simple craft project, you’ll need the following:
A 1" thick dowel rod, about a foot long
A wooden circle, about 4" in diameter
Pieces of ribbon in various colors, about 2 feet long each
A hot glue gun
Use the hot glue gun to attach the dowel rod to the center of the wooden circle. Once the glue has dried, you can stain or paint the wood if you choose. Attach the center of each ribbon to the top of the dowel rod.
Use the Maypole as a centerpiece on your altar. You can braid the ribbons as a meditation tool, or include it in ritual.
Floral Wreath (To Wear Upon Your Head)
Pipe cleaners (preferably green, but any color works; Also you can use several pipe cleaners to make it thicker by weaving them together)
Spring flowers, such as daisies, irises, petunias (leave the stems on)
Ribbon in whatever colors you love.
Take the pipe cleaners and create a circle that will fit your head. This usually takes two pipe cleaners for adults, and maybe one and a half for kids. Twist the ends together to form a ring.
Next, take two more pipe cleaners and loop them around the ring. This creates a framework for you to add your flowers.
Take your spring flowers and weave the stems through the pipe cleaner frame. Tuck the flowers in snugly so that the frame is covered. If you have trouble getting them to stay in place, or if they seem loose, wrap a bit of green florist’s wire around them for additional stability.
Finally, cut several ribbons in a variety of lengths. Tie them to the back of the flower wreath. Once you put on your floral crown, you’ll be all ready to go dance around the Maypole!
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