Beltane is a Fire Festival. Traditionally, bonfires were lit to honour the Sun and promote the support of Bel. Beltane (pronounced: Bel-tayne) is celebrated between October 31st and November 1st in the Southern Hemisphere and April 30th and May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2023, Beltane takes place on November 8 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Beltane is celebrated after Ostara and before Litha. It is also known as May Day, and is celebrated as a time of revelry and renewal,, where the veil between our world and the supernatural is at its thinnest.
Fire takes centre stage in Beltane celebrations. A blazing bonfire and leaping over the flames is more than just a daring act—it's a symbolic purification and fertility ritual. Some even pass through the smoke or embers for added protection and blessings.
Beltane celebrates the union of the Goddess and the God, fertility, abundance, and of course love. Traditionally it is often seen as a holiday that is raucous and sensual—and certainly it can be. But love takes many forms, and Beltane is the perfect time to focus on whichever kind or kinds of love you wish to invite into your life. This can include romantic or sexual love, but also the love of family, friends, pets, community, or anything else that will fill your heart with joy.
Beltane Fire Ritual for Love
The Altar
- Bonfire or red candle in a cauldron or firesafe bowl
- Candle Snuffer
The Ritual
For a simple love ritual, If you can, light a bonfire and dance around it. (If you can’t have a bonfire, light a red candle in a cauldron or firesafe bowl instead. Snuff it out when you are done.) As you dance, say or chant:
Beltane fires,
Sacred and wild,
Bring me love,
Both sweet and mild;
The kind of love
I need and desire.
Come to me
With Beltane’s fire.
Source: Deborah Blake for Llewellyn
Beltane Crystal Ritual for Love
This ritual is structured to open you up to all forms of love; though if you want to focus on one in particular, you can do that as well.
The Altar
- Malachite
- Rose Quartz
- Offering bowls
- Candles
- Hibiscus, rose or jasmine
The Ritual
You’ll need only two crystals for this ritual: malachite and rose quartz. Malachite will open up your heart chakra, allowing love to flow in and out, and rose quartz will focus that love – so harness its power to place your intentions and desires for the kind of love you want to give and receive!
As with all rituals, set yourself up beforehand, cleanse your space and meditate or just clear your mind of all the day’s energies. Allow yourself time to prepare a quiet, calm environment. Light some candles, have offering bowls of herbs which have strong associations with love, passion, or relationships such as hibiscus, rose, jasmine, and you could burn sandalwood resin (or use our witch created Beltane herb and resin blends). Set a timer for 10 minutes.
Lie flat with shoulder blades together so that your chest is open. Place the malachite at the centre of your breastbone, your heart centre. Hold your rose quartz in your nondominant hand. Close your eyes.
Take conscious breaths in through your nose, inhaling deeply so that you feel the malachite rise and fall, but smoothly so that it doesn’t shift. As you inhale, gently squeeze the rose quartz, and open your palm up to the sky as you exhale. Allow any fears, frustrations, resentments, or sorrow to empty into your crystals – you don’t have to think about those feelings and dwell on them. Just breathe and allow them to go.
When your timer goes off, allow your breath to return to its normal state. Remove your stones and sit up slowly. Take one last deep breath.
Be sure to cleanse your stones before you use them again.
Source: Wellness Witch: Healing Potions, Soothing Spells, and Empowering Rituals for Magical Self-Care by Nikki Van De Car.
Beltane Bath Ritual
In ancient Europe May Day was a festival of ritual bathing. A time to clean and clear away what is not needed so that a symbolic rebirth into a fresh new season could occur. Aromatic herbs and flowers were collected and infused into baths. Bathing in the dew gathered from the fields and flowers was believed to imbue beauty, fertility, and health.
This is a perfect time to perform a ritual cleansing bath. We do have ritual bath spells available, or you can use your own selection of crystals, herbs, incense, and resin to create the intention you are working towards.
The Altar
- Candle, you can select a colour based on your intentions.
- Herbs such as hibiscus, rose or jasmine
- Resin or incense
The Ritual
Prepare your sauce - Set up your candles, resins, and any herbs you will be adding to the bath. (Remember when burning incense or resin, you will be in an enclosed space so only use a tiny sprinkle.)
Undress, breathe deeply and calmly, clearing your mind. Run the taps and use water as a ritual tool for cleansing - before plugging the drain, let the water run over your hands while you focus on letting negative thoughts, emotions and energy be washed away.
Plug the drain and let the bath fill, while adding your chosen herbs. Burn a little resin incense and let the energy permeate the room. Light the candle. Stand gazing at the water as you take deep breaths, relax, and hold your open palms over the water. Visualize a very bright white light filling the water.
Focus on what you wish to achieve, you might wish to say your intentions out loud or intone a spell.
Soak in the tub for at least 30 minutes as you feel the magic working. You might visualize doors opening, or abundant streams of golden light. Also imagine your personal energy becoming deeply aligned with your intention.
Other Ritual Ideas for Beltane
- Wake up early in the morning, go for a walk & reconnect with nature
- Tidy your altar & decorate it with crystals, plants, colours, candles & symbols associated with Beltane
- Light a candle & meditate on the flame
- Give offerings to your ancestors & spirits you work with
- Give thanks to your ancestors & nature, walk around your home & ask for protection
- Do some divination
- Dress in corresponding colours
- Decorate your home with flower wreaths, bouquets & garlands
- Tend your garden & plant seeds
- Have a picnic outside
- Conduct an abundance, prosperity, self-love, relationships, fertility or lust spell
- Begin or take further action on a project you’ve been working on
- Set aside time for some self care - cook up a feast with corresponding herbs & aromas, listen to music, indulge in beauty rituals
- Adorn a tree with colourful ribbons representing your wishes for the rest of the year
- Create flower crowns
- Host a feast & bonfire for friends & family
- Go camping
- Have an intimate night with yourself or your lover
- Stay up all night if possible & watch the sunrise
