RP E-Zine - RealPagan- Paganism for the Real World

Beltane EZine 2015 pt 3

2015-05-01T01:27:03.592Z

A very simple way to mark Beltane.

From the Wiccan perspective one of the overwhelming themes of Beltane is the union of the Goddess and the God. This is often expressed by Traditional Wiccans as the Great Rite. However as a principle it can be adapted as a very simple symbolc gesture or mini-ritual capable of being used by anybody in virtually any circumstances to at least acknowledge the season.

To do this you will require your chalice (you can substitute with virtually any kind of drinking vessel) filled with either wine or grape juice or even water and your Athame (or primary magical tool).

Find a space and time where you can be undisturbed for 10 minutes. Take a few moments to just breathe and centre yourself. Ask for the support of the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water and then visualise the Goddess in her guise as mother, strong and caring, warm and full of grace. Ask her to be present with you to mark Beltane. Then visualise the God a man of strength, energy, vitality and compassion and ask him to likewise join you.

Take your Chalice in both hands and raise it to eye level then visualising the Goddess say

‘Behold the chalice, symbol of the Goddess, the Great Mother, bringer of life and of wisdom.’

Place the Chalice down and take up the Athame and hold it blade upwards at eye level and say

‘Behold the Athame, symbol of the God, the All Father who brings strength and energy to all’

Then keeping the Athame in your strong hand and turning the blade point downwards take the Chalice in your other hand and bring the blade of the Athame into the cup of the Chalice saying;

‘As the Chalice is to the female, so the Athame is the male and conjoined together they bring forth life eternal.’

Then raise the blade of the Athame from the Chalice and kiss the side of the blade and say;

‘Blessed Be’

Next drink from the Chalice and while doing so reflecting upon the roles of the Goddess and the God at Beltane. As well as considering what Beltane means to you in your life and surroundings with each sip. It is customary to save a drop as a libation which can poured upon the ground or at a shrine if you have one, to give thanks for the blessings of the Lady and the Lord.

When you have finished thank the Goddess and the God and the elements and take a few moments to ground yourself.

Other ways to mark Beltane

If you are lucky enough to live in a part of the world that has May Fairs with the attendant customs then these will most likely show many echoes of the Beltane traditions such as Maypole Dancing for example.

Foraging for altar decorations, gather the local flora and using that to decorate your altar or sacred space as well as foraging for the early harvest foods that May brings.

Read tales of the Goddesses and Gods of the season, research Bel and Sheila Na Gig and also the trickster Gods too.

This is but a tiny of example of what you can do to mark the fire festival of Beltane. We hope it has given you some insights or ideas. Please feel free to add your own thoughts and ideas, especially if they are local or cultural things from your area or path.

Beltane EZine 2015 pt 2

2015-05-01T00:48:56.609Z

And from our resident Kitchen Witch we have a fascinating insight to a very common place but surprisingly magical plant which in its own way embodies the season.

Fairy clocks: The hidden magic under your feet – by Sutra

Dandelions were brought from Europe to the US as a food source, but today we pay them little mind unless to complain of their nuisance to our lawns. Their story goes back much further however. In Ancient china, dandelions were praised and cherished for purification of the blood and immune boosting properties. In the 11^th and 12th centuries, Arabic Scholars preserved, expanded, and shared this knowledge. We begin to see them being used for a wide variety of liver and kidney troubles. The Arabs brought this news to Europe where they were given another name. Fairy clocks. Dandelions were referred to as Fairy clocks in the Middle Ages because they open and close predictably.

They open their arms to the morning sun and wrap themselves in their own warmth at night. They close when rain is near and open when sunshine is due.

They prefer to flower in early spring and late fall and have one of the longest growing seasons in all the planet's pharmacy. They correspond to the element Air as you will understand in a bit.

Before I talk a little about the uses of dandelion, I want to touch on foraging care and ethics. As you might know, bees are suffering mass deaths and while there are many hypotheses as to why this is happening, I think its important to do all we can to protect them.

Dandelions are one of the first spring foods for bees so if you choose to forage for them, please insure you are not clearing an area. Forage responsibly. Gather from areas that are not sprayed and avoid roadside herbs and plants. Learn about and understand your watershed. You will find more foraging hints on on RP 2.0

In Victorian Flower Language dandelions symbolize love, wishes, welcome, faithfulness, divination, and the sun. Their color is of fire, making them a perfect topic for Beltane. Other symbols and correspondences include:

Luck: Specifically luck in marriage when flowers are interwoven into the bouquet or in crowns for the united.

Success of a Union: When seen in dreams

Youthfulness

Hope

Wealth

Tenacity

Scott Cunningham writes that they increase psychic powers when taken in a tea and leaving a tea steeping by your bed will invite welcoming spirits though I haven't had much success myself.

Dandelions can be used in a form of herbimancy for the purpose of predicting fertility. Specifically, predicting the number of children you will have.

Pay attention to the little guys and when you spot the first dandelion gone to seed, sit beside it and meditate for a moment about the question you are going to ask.

Fairy Clocks I ask of thee..

the number of children that will come from me.

Pick the stalk near the base of the leaves and blow into the wind. The number of seeds remaining on the head may give you a heads up as to how many bedrooms you should prepare for in the future.

In another similar use, blowing all the seeds free of the head can predict if love is true. Some myths suggest that in old age, blowing the seed head and can predict how many summers you have left.

Anyone who has tried to grow a lawn, knows how tenacious these sun-kissed messengers can be. They range a large spectrum of hardiness zones and grow in many type of soils and elevations from from ground level to 10,500 feet. You find them in your yard, and all along the sides of roads. They peek from cracks in the sidewalk and brighten meadows, grasslands and in those tiny spaces in forests where sun touches the earth.

They are more than just tenacious, so too are they restorers. Though they love loose, rich soils, you will often find them doing a greater duty. Their strong root systems dig down and loosen compacted earth. They enrich their micro-climate and encourage earthworms who in turn improve your soil. When they flower, they serve as buffets for bees and for birds. They are persuasive in their message, whispering to be heard over the din. They are practical and intentional in their sway on the environment. Acting as a gentle guiding force instead of forcing their point of view.

They germinate in 3 to 6 weeks and can survive mild frosts. They rewrite the quality of soil and other plants take notice and make their homes nearby.

Dandelions are high in Vitamin C and besides being used for kidney disorders, they are effective at curing warts. If you would like to learn more about the medicinal application of Dandelions, I invite you to join my Applied Herbalism Class coming this summer to RP 2.0

While many people find dandelions to be too bitter to be eaten raw, I find them a useful and tasty addition to salads or as substitute for arugula.

Wilting them with some garlic, butter, salt, and oil can make them more palatable. One dish I like to serve them with is caramelized tomatoes.

Wilt your greens as listed above and place them in the center of a dish. Turn your frying pan on high and spray pan with almond oil.

Cut your favorite heirloom tomato in half and add a little salt, raw sugar, coriander, and cardamom to the open face. Place them face down in the hot oil until they are warmed through and caramelized. Push on the center and when it gives gently, it is done. Carefully remove the tomato and place face up on the wilted greens. Add an ounce of raw feta, TBSP of toasted pine nuts, and some pineapple mint leaves to garnish.

Linguine with Mussels and Dandelion Greens

2 pounds of foraged mussels

1 large handful of Dandelion leaves, rinsed and left whole
1 pound of homemade linguine
1 large red onion chopped
2 Tablespoon grapeseed oil
3 cloves garlic, pressed
¼ cup of sun-dried tomatoes cut into strips
1 Dry hot pepper crumbled by hand.
1 cup of dry wine wine or whey from raw milk
½ lemon juiced and the rind shaved and set aside.
Salt and Pepper to taste

Clean all the mussels and debeard the mussels.

Blanch the greens in hot water for a minute or two. Drain in a strainer. Press away the excess water and give it to your houseplants when cool.

Heat oil over medium heat until it is hot, but before it smokes and add garlic, crushed pepper, and lemon rind. Keep it moving for half a minute and add salt and pepper to taste. Add the onions and greens and saute for 5 minutes. Just before taking them from the pan, add the sun-dried tomatoes,

If you are using dry pasta, Break all the rules. Heat the dry pasta in enough water to cover the strands. Add a TBSP of salt and let it boil. The water left in the pan with thicken to a saucy consistency. Remove the pasta, leaving the sauce.

Add the mussels to the pan and pour in the whey or wine. Cover immediately with the lid. Cook for about five minutes, shaking once or twice, until all the shells have opened. Discard any unopened shells.

Plate the pasta, with dandelions on top, then add the mussels and drizzle remaining juices over the dish.

Can be reserved with fresh grated cheese.

They work well with my spinach artichoke bake found in the Recipe exchange.

Beltane is one of the greater Sabbats and is a time for celebration of the uniting of God and Goddess, and of all life. It is celebrated by many cultures and traditions. I chose Dandelion for its fertility and because of its color. The element fire corresponds to this celebration as do flowers in full bloom. None are more widespread than dandelions in my location. They are one of the clues that the time for celebration is near.

Beltane Ezine 2015 pt 1

2015-05-01T00:43:59.388Z

Greeting Folks

As part of the process of trying new things we are starting our series of Sabbat E-zines. Beltane being a festival of fire and life it seemed a most appropriate time to try this venture. As is best with all new ventures we are starting small and humble but are hoping that as time goes on, folks will become motivated to be involved and will come and add their own thoughts and ideas to what we are creating and therefore provide a unique resources for both present and future members of the site. Anyways enough of the Editorial time for the real content.

Beltane Thoughts by MJ

Joy and merriment abound, as the festivities begin... Beltane is one of the largest celebrations found on the Wheel of the Year. This celebration is observed on April 31^st / May 1^st (or October 31^st / November 1^st if you are in the Southern Hemisphere). Typically, the eve before the first, begins the traditional celebrations. The how's, are varied from tradition to tradition, as well as, personal preferences. The focal however, is usually consistent, revolving around fire and fertility. It is time to rejoice in the Earth opening and new life beginning. As this happens, we celebrate the future of healthy and strong crops, livestock, and life.

Throughout history, legends and lore have shown this holiday to be tied to a multitude of various cultures and each have brought their own twist to the celebration. As one of the fire holidays, you would expect to find that bonfires are a must, and for many paths, the eve before the 1^st is celebrated in the lighting of such. In addition, the holiday Beltane is when the veil between the worlds is said to thin, thus, many traditions believe one of the ideal times to contact the spirits. Although each culture has derived its own specific meaning, many seem to pay tribute to specific Gods and Goddesses. Below is a brief description, of some of those that are most commonly known to be associated with Beltane.

Bes (Egyptian) was the God of the Home Protection. He was said to watch over young children and their mothers. Paired with Beset, his wife, they are often celebrated in order to bring about an end to infertility issues.

• Bacchus (Roman) was the God of Celebration. Often thought to be the party animal of the Gods, he was best recognized for his association with sexual freedom and fertility.

• Cernunnos (Celtic) is the horned God, aligned with male animals, often depicted as the stag in rut, or thought to be the Lord of the Forest / Wild God of the Forest. Thus, his association is fertility and vegetation.

• Flora (Roman) is known as the Goddess of Flowers and Springtime. Bright colors of the season, floral wreaths, along with offers of milk and honey are associated with this Goddess.

• Hera (Greek)/ Juno (Roman) are the Goddesses of Marriage. They are said to bring blessings and wishes to the new brides, instilling within each, a marriage that was fertile.

• Pan (Greek) is the God of Agriculture. He was known to watch over the shepherds and their flocks. Due to this connection to the fields, Pan is often honored as a Spring Fertility God.

• Priapus (Greek) is celebrated for his connection to the fertility of all and protection of all. He is often re-known for his erect and large phallus and frequently only honored within the privacy of a home.

• Bel/Belenus/Balor (Celtic) is the God of Fire, Light, and the Sun. His association with Beltane is relative in that people would leap over the fires to ensure their fertility and drive their livestock through the smoke or ashes to ensure a good yeild.

In addition to specific Gods and Goddesses,specific paths celebrate the entities of the Green Man and Jack-in-the-Green,during Beltane, for their ties to the life forces of the trees and forests. While other paths, view Beltane, as the day when the May Queen and the Queen of Winter, battle on another to see who will rule that time of the year.

As with many festivals, various cultures all have their unique forms of celebrating. One of the most common celebrations associated with May Day, is the May Pole Dance. This traditionally is seen, as the union of Male and Female. The pole is considered the phallus, which in turn, is buried deep within the Earth Mother. The celebrations that ensued, would be thought of, as representative, of their joyous union bringing about new life. Another common tradition, is the giving of May Baskets. Small (often hand made) baskets, filled with treasures of the heart, be they homemade sweets, small notes with wishes or wild flowers. The baskets were anonymously left hanging upon the doorknobs, of those that held sentimental value to the giver (be they: Lover, Parent, Grandparent, Friend or Child). An additional tradition, was the Burning of the Wicker Man. Originally, this was part of the human sacrifices made to the Gods and Goddesses, in order to honor them and ask for a season of fertility for the year. As time has passed, the Wicker Man, that once was filled with humans(often those who had been found guilty of crimes), is now filled with straw. Along with these traditional festivities, Handfasting was also traditional for this time. This form of marriage ceremony and promising of vows, was said to be blessed, as the couple would jump the besom(broom) or the Bel-Fire to enrich their opportunities, of having a family.

Colors traditionally associated with the festivities are those of the spring blooms and their rich melody of colors are found upon Altars in various ways. Tools through petals are used to bring the Altars to life and display the colors of the celebration.

Well, I hope this has been able to offer you a little insight into the Beltane festival and festivities. As you can see, there is no one specific way to celebrate such a wonderful holiday. As the Wheel of the Year turns, so does the wealth of celebrations available. Remember, celebrate in Love, Mirth and Reverence. Blessed Be to one and all.