Issue #5 Date: 16/10/2001 In this issue: Editor's Note Animal Magick: Swan Cat Crystals by Apasi and Sharae Pagan Band Review: Libana Written in the Stars: Monthly Horoscopes Reiki: How To Channel Reiki Energy When It Seems Like Nothing Has Happened During A Reiki Treatment ... Gods and Goddesses of Witchcraft: Huitzilopochtli Divination: Tarot Witchy Craft Ideas: Purification Soap Sleep Pillow The Talented Wiccans' Corner: About Goodbye's Tale Undone by Aphrodite Raven Child of the Divine by Taliana WolfSpirit Submit Your Own Works Book of Shadows Submit Your Own Work Previous Issues  |
Beltane Written and submitted by Taliana WolfSpirit. Other Names: This is one of the most important Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year (the other being Samhain). Beltane gets its name from a word meaning "bale-fire", as it is a tradition to light bale-fires on the eve of Beltane and let them burn throughout the night. Beltane is a Sabbat focusing strongly on fertility and life - the God performs the Great Rite with the Goddess. Beltane is also the traditional time to use the maypole, and to have marriages and handfastings. During Beltane, the final phase of planting begins, and ashes from the bale-fires were often scattered across the fields to bless and protect the potential crops. Beltane is the time for love, union, and birth, and a time for preparing for the warmer months to come. Ritual Suggestions Bowls of floating flowers and candles are good Beltane decorations, as well as baskets of fresh slowers. Things to focus on in Beltane rituals are fertility, love and union, birth, life, rebirth, the oneness of the God and Goddess. Beltane is a good time to do rituals focusing on wholeness within yourself, and to add a new spark to your relationship. Beltane is also the perfect time to try for a pregnancy and to perform the Great Rite. |
