Bright Beltane Blessings!

As I’m writing this blog it’s early in the morning on Beltane Eve, and most of the UK is waking up to absolutely dazzling spring sunshine under cloudless blue skies. It’s forecast to reach the upper 20s in some parts of the country today ( and believe me, for us that’s positively tropical!). Perfect weather to celebrate Beltane, which if you follow the Wheel of the Year, falls on the 1st of May (in the Northern Hemisphere), heralds the start of summer and celebrates nature bursting into life. It is one of the Fire Festivals and it marks the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. Its central themes are fertility, love and connection, the abundance that summer will bring, the union of the divine Feminine and Masculine (if they form part of your belief system) and the blessings their union will bring to the earth. It’s a lovely time and a good reason to celebrate!

There are many traditions associated with Beltane, or May Day as most non-witchy folk refer to it. It always makes me smile when people say that they don’t believe that Paganism is a thing but then they will go on to talk about how they danced round a maypole as a child or crowned a May Queen at their local fete or carnival. Anyway, I digress. It’s a prefect time to light a little bonfire - I’m planning to dust off my rusty firepit and have a bit of a burn-up tomorrow evening. It’s also an opportune time for reflection, to think about what you have learned on this trip around the Wheel, and to embrace what lies ahead. I’ve mentioned before though that not every festival speaks to everyone in the same way. You do not need to celebrate any festival that doesn’t resonate with you. Or you might choose to honour it in a low-key, quiet way and that’s absolutely fine. These days I prefer to spend the Sabbats just doing my own thing rather than with a group of people. I feel that my Craft has evolved considerably, especially over the last eighteen months or so and this is all part of my growth and development as a Witch. Of course I have absolutely loved the times I have spent in celebration with other Witches! But for now, I’m just fine on my own -which leads me to the point of this blog.

One of the main themes of Beltane is that of Love. It’s true that sex and union with another person is also a central aspect of this Sabbat too. But I want to focus on the love we have for ourselves. I recently saw a quote somewhere that said something like ‘If I asked you to name all the things you love, how long would it take you to name yourself?’ This really got my cogs turning. We live in strange times. On the one hand, we are told that our true purpose in life is to be of service to others and that our own needs should be way down our list of priorities. But then we are surprised when we end up completely burnt out because we can only be all things to all people for so long. We’re then encouraged to ‘plan some self-care time’ as a one-off activity, like this is going to fix how we’re feeling. I believe that ‘self-care’ should be our primary focus because if we are not caring for and loving ourselves, how can we possibly hope to do the same for other people? You deserve to love yourself. Your relationship with yourself is the most important you will ever have. Beltane is the perfect time to deepen that love and respect for yourself. This is my simple spell to help you do that.

You don’t actually need any tools to perform this spell. But you might find these items helpful - I love to use little bits and bobs in my spell work to help me focus.

A pink candle (white will do if you haven’t got a pink one)

A holder for the candle and a cocktail stick to inscribe the candle (or you can use the point of your Athame if you have one)

Matches or a lighter

An incense stick of your choice

A piece of Rose Quartz or Clear Quartz, or other crystals that you particularly love. These help to amplify your intent.

Some essential oil to anoint the candle with - rose, lavender and vanilla are all good choices

A small mirror

Some Red Salt, or some pink salt - any salt will do

Some flowers or petals from flowers that you love (don’t go mad, you only need one flower or a few petals)

Finally, a photograph of yourself from a time when you felt your most beautiful and special. Spend some time choosing this picture. If you don’t have a picture, pull up a memory of this time. I know that you might find this hard. But this spell is about you and only you and this is an act of love. Hold that thought in your mind as you work this spell.

Find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. I’ll be working this spell at my altar.

Light your incense and use it to clear the space where you’ll be working. Concentrate on what you’re doing. Be present. Visualise any stagnant energy being carried away with the smoke. If your tradition requires you to cast a Circle, do it now.

Using the cocktail stick, inscribe your candle with a loving affirmation. Be positive and clear. I’m going to use the words ‘I Love Myself’ because they are clear and unambiguous.

Anoint your candle with your chosen oil. You only need a couple of drops! Apply them to your fingers and gently stroke the candle from the top to the base. Take care not to get any oil on the wick. With each stroke, think about your amazing qualities. How thoughtful you are, how kind you are. What a good friend you are to people, how well you nurture your children. Be proud of yourself. This is about you. Place the candle in its holder - make sure it is secure.

Place the mirror behind the candle. Add your crystals and your flowers or petals. Sprinkle your salt around your arrangement (you don’t need much - no more than a teaspoon).

Pick up your photograph or bring your memory to mind. Light your candle.

Look at yourself in your mirror (it’s fine to pick it up to do this). Really look at yourself. See your beauty - outside and inside. Think about how resilient you are, how far you have come, what you have been through to get to this point in your life. I know this is hard and it might feel strange to face these things. Know your value, appreciate your true worth. Look at your photo and remember how you felt at that moment in time. It’s OK to feel emotional. We are trying to connect with our own heart, which we do not always listen to.

When you feel ready, say aloud (or choose your own words - but make them firm and in the present tense):

‘This flame ignites the love within, a new love for myself begins. I see my worth and my beauty bright, shining out with all its might. I embrace my flaws and celebrate grace, I love my spirit, my body and face. My heart is open, soft and true, I love the wonderful me in view.’

Sit for a while with your candle and your photo. Feel your love and acceptance for yourself growing. Take deep, slow breaths. You can let your candle burn down completely (don’t leave it unattended) or you can extinguish it with your fingers or a snuffer (don’t blow it out). You can gather up your salt and use it again. Take your petals or flowers outside and leave them on the ground as an offering to the Earth. Leave your photo on your altar for the rest of the day, so that every time you walk past it you are reminded of the spell you have worked and how it made you feel. Go and make yourself a nice cup of tea and sit with it for a while, thinking about how absolutely bloody fantastic you are.

Have a wonderful Beltane x