Good Morning My Confidants
LÃ Buidhe Bealltainn!
Or bright May Day to you all and a blessed!
For those who don't know, Beltane is the Gaelic festival marking the beginning of summer. It is traditionally held on 1 May, or about midway between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. Beltane is one of the four main Celtic seasonal festivals—along with Samhain, Imbolc, and Lughnasadh.
Beltane is mentioned in the earliest Irish literature and is associated with important events in Irish mythology. Rituals were performed to protect cattle, people and crops, and to encourage growth. Special bonfires were kindled, whose flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. All household fires would be doused and then re-lit from the Beltane bonfire. These gatherings would be accompanied by a feast, and some of the food and drink would be offered to the "aos sÃ," a supernatural race in Celtic mythology comparable to fairies or elves.* & **
And since I'm an equal opportunity celebrator, I'll be celebrating. I doubt I'll be jumping over the Beltane fire, but hey, that's okay! Holidays help us to remember to celebrate life. We often can't change the world, but we can send out a ripple of joy. We can help a couple people. We can hold a door open for someone.
And smiles are magick.
A thing I tried to do today is put away some old and embrace some new.
Sadly, I began this by cutting someone from my life. This person is extremely negative. They don't see it that way, which is the reason I held on so long, but they're negativity is toxic. What is so ironic is that they see my positivity as toxic. They tell me I see the world who rose colored glasses, despite the fact that I've told them many times that I absolutely know there's darkness in the world, I just recently clawed myself out of a pretty dark valley. I just choose not to focus on that darkness. Choosing not to focus on darkness doesn't mean I don't pretend it's not there. I simply do what I can, and then don't wallow in the fact that I can do more. It helps no one.
Today I will embrace the bird song that is outside. The beautiful weather. My puppies who are on either side of me. Love.
Beltane is symbolic of the natural cycle of life and death and the changing seasons. It respects nature and its cyclical essence. The Green Man, the representation of nature, reaches the height of his power during Beltane and welcomes the summer. It is a day to welcome the sun and the summer season. Harness the energy of the sun and dance this day if you dare. No one has to see! Fires symbolize purity! So, you can light fires to purify yourself. Candles will do! Reconnect with nature.*** I'm sitting on my front porch and my big tree is looking gorgeous.
Tonight, Noah is making us a Beltane meal. Since Beltane is a fire festival he's going to use the grill. Some delicious really high dollar hamburgers and then he's got this collection of beautiful red and yellow and orange peppers, perfect in there symbolism, and is doing something over the fire with them too. I look forward to it.
Happy Beltane! I wish you growth, prosperity, love, and finding your way to your best and happiest self.
Blessed be!
BG "Gentle Ben" Thomas
PS: Below is part of our Beltane meal, food made over a fire!
* Beltane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane
** Aos SÃ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aos_S%C3%AD
*** National Today: Beltane: https://nationaltoday.com/beltane/