Beltane 2026

Merry Meet and Welcome to you magickal souls!!!!

Beltane is almost upon us!!!! It is typically known as May Day, which is usually acknowledged on 1st May (as shown by a lot of the British folk celebrations). Some festivities will start at sunset on 31st April and continue until sunset on 1st May in the Northern Hemisphere while for the Southern Hemisphere it is closer to 31st October and 1st November.

Some magickal practitioners will dispute the date when it should be celebrated but you should celebrate it when you feel is right. If that means a few days before or after, even a week, that's okay. Families and other areas of life can get in the way and should be accommodated.

Beltane means "bright fire" or the "fire of Bel". Bel is believed to be a Celtic god more commonly known as Belenus, who is associated with light, sun and healing. This could explain why fire rituals are, or were, a major aspect of this celebration. Bonfires were a part of this, with some people jumping over them or dancing around them. Some farmers might even get their cattle or other livestock to walk between two bonfires as a cleansing rite, to remove any kind of illness or bad luck from them that they may have carried from the past year.

Beltane is also seen as a fertility celebration as some practitioners see it as a celebration of the union of the God and Goddess. The Maypole that is a part of most folk traditions is a phallic symbol and therefore is representative of the God, while the ribbons and fflower wreaths are symbolic of the feminine and Goddess. Weaving the two together is seen to be the union of God and Goddess.

Some plants that are associated with Beltane are:

Hawthorn - the white blossoms of this tree are a sign that summer is near, and are used to decorate the Maypole due to an association with fertility

Hyssop - used for purification as a herb or in a smoke stick

Sage (non-specific) - used for purification, and has calming properties

Sweet Woodruff - appears in May with star-shaped flowers, that can be used in fertility and/or love spells and rituals, but it should be used in moderation

Some crystals that are associated with Beltane are:

Rose Quartz - used to attract new love, deepen an existing relationship, or for self-love

Aventurine - used by Sacred Tibetans for the eyes of statues for visionary powers, and to attract luck and/or positive energy

Malachite - used for transformation and protection while growing spiritually, also said to ease insomnia and depression if kept under a pillow; Ancient Egyptians associated it with death and resurrection

Sapphire - used by Hindus as a temple offering; worn by Ancient Greeks to seek answers from the Oracle; within Hebrew lore, it was worn by King Solommon and Abraham as talismans; also known as the Wisdom Stone as it brings peace of mind, serenity of spirit, and activates psychic powers

To help us all collectively, I pulled some cards from the Witch's Familiar Runic Oracle deck for a Beltane spread.

What is igniting a spark within our lives?

Gebo

Gebo is associated with gifts, partnership, honour, and balanced sacrifice. Any of these things could be what is igniting a spark in our lives because we are individual and therefore what sparks one person may not spark another.

When it comes to gifts, they should be equal and balanced, where no one person is giving more than anyone else.

We are in partnership with everyone around us as well as the natural world. Giving as much as receiving is honourable but also is a way to show our gratitude for what we have. This is the same as balanced sacrifice, which may be better called compromise.

What needs nurturing in order to grow in our lives?

Algiz

Algiz is all about protection, as evidenced in this card by the pentagram held by the crescent moon and the antler's of the stag.

But what do we need to protect? Honestly, it could be anything. But this card gives off a boundary feeling, like we need to protect our boundaries and nurture ourselves first.

However, this card could also indicate we should nurture a deeper relationship with whatever higher power or deity we believe in.

The stag stands to teach us how we can show courage in the face of danger as he stands proud and tall, protecting his kingdom.

What can we do to enjoy life and invite merriment in?

Ansuz

To enjoy life, it seems as if we need to connect with the energy of the Raven, or more specifically, Odin's ravens: Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory). These ravens pay attention to everything, both good and bad.

We are being told to open up to signs that we are being sent that we may not have been paying attention to. We are constantly being sent signs but if we aren't willing to notice them, then we miss vital Divine messages.

One thing to remember is that language comes in many forms and isn't just written or verbal - it can be symbolic too.

What is ready to bloom in our lives at this time?

Perthro & Uruz

With Perthro, the message is that the unknown is ready to bloom for us. While this phrase of "the unknown" is a little ambiguous, it could mean that we need to live between what we know and what we don't, seeing all that is fated and what is yet to come much like the two-headed snake within this card. While some people may say that everything is predetermined, this card/rune disagrees and is saying that we each have our own individual choices that interact with fate. This card is all about being willing to take the risk and try new things, just in case the outcome is the one we are looking for. Failure may be likely, but we can always learn from each one.

With Uruz, we are being told that we need to pay attention to how we approach obstacles. Sometimes we need to be unyielding and strong, like the bull pictured within this card, and sometimes it would be better if we compromised. But we need to have the strength to know the differences between the two. It's not always a physical strength so it can be easy to forget about an emotional and/or mental strength. Something else that this card brings up is health, typically the physical type but again, it could be saying that our spiritual, mental, and/or emotional health is about to experience a breakthrough and improve how we are as individuals, as much as a community.

So, it seems as if we have plenty to work on and we should be focusing on ourselves as individuals rather than our wider (even local) communities. Sometimes the change we desire comes from ourselves and that then influences those around us, bringing about the wave of change we so desire.

I hope this has inspired you and given you some ideas to consider at this time. If you'd like a more personal look at the energies of this time, my diary and inbox are open.

Peace and love to all!!!!