Huron 'Beltane' Fire Dance

Loreena McKennitt - Huron 'Beltane' Fire Dance
Love this music!

It's May Eve!

Princess Edane... heard a voice singing on a May Eve like this, and followed half awake and half asleep, until she came into the Land of Faery, where nobody gets old and godly and grave...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: It's May Eve

Your Fairy Name

Get your free fairy name here!

Here's mine:

Your fairy is called Feather Hailglitter

She is a protector of the lonely.

She lives in high places where the clouds meet the earth.

She is only seen in the light of a shooting star.

She wears pale blue like the sky. She has cheery turquoise wings like a butterfly.

Elderflower Fritters for Beltane

Fritters are a nice variation on pancakes, and the bonus for this particular recipe is that they are sweet without any additions, requiring no syrup, sugar or jam. Many people have had fritters of various types, especially the popular apple variety. But . . . "elder flower" fritters? Yes, these actually contain elder flowers!

Flowers were a common ingredient in cooking during medieval times, which is where this recipe comes from (England, specifically). In this recipe's case, the flowers mixed into the batter help add a kick and a minty taste.

Because of the elder flowers, these sweeties have been associated with faeries in folk myths. Because of that, they have been used at Pagan celebrations of Beltane, Litha, and Lughnasadh to help as a protection against the malevolent and mischievous fair folk,...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Elderflower Fritters

Farls

Oats and oat cakes are still used today in Beltane celebrations, especially in Scotland where the tradition originated. Therefore, oats have been widely accepted as a very appropriate Beltane food, good for fertility and luck. This recipe, Farls, was popular in northern Ireland and Scotland, incorporating the ever-popular potatoes as well (with the oats!).

Ingredients:

• 3 cups real mashed potatoes
• 2 cups dry oats...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Farls - For Beltane

May Day Maple Hearth Bread

This is a very crusty and somewhat dry bread that is incredibly delicious and almost pastry-like in its sweetness. It is ideal for May Day/Beltane celebrations.

Ingredients:

• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 1/3 cup real maple syrup
• ¼ cup warm water (105ºF-115ºF)
• 3 cups flour...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: May Day Maple Hearth Bread

May Serpent Cake

The serpent or snake is a symbol of May because of its ancient association with fertility. This association dates back to the earliest Pagan religions, and though later religions cropped up casting the serpent in a deceitful role, the Earth religions still honor the snake as a blessed creature this time of year. Its way of slithering along the body of the Earth made it an obvious phallic symbol, and May Day is full of such symbols (the maypole being the most well-known one).

The holiday of Beltane comes on the first of May and encourages those who celebrate life to greet spring's bounty with festivities, and that of course always involves food. This snake-shaped cake, incorporating appropriate seasonal ingredients, is a wonderful addition to a party table....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: May Serpent Cake

Beltane Fire Festival

Here's how they celebrate Beltane in Edinburgh!
Enjoy!

First organized in the 1980's, the Beltane Fire Festival has become a popular summer festival in Edinburgh. Here we have photos of the Beltane Fire Society celebrating the coming of summer. This lively procession celebrates the ending of winter and is a revival of the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane which is the Gaelic name for the month of May....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Beltane Fire Festival

May The Circle Be Open

This beautiful little chant can be used when closing a circle....

... and it can be found at Widdershins, my new website, here: May The Circle Be Open

Faery Summoning Spell

Here's a great spell for May Eve, Beltane, or anytime you wish to summon faery folk.

~You will need powdered ginger and a small spoon. Set out candles at the compass directions: yellow in the east, red in the south, blue in the west, green in the north. Place a crystal or other stone beside each candle. Stand in the center of the room and send out thoughts of welcome. Chant the following:

"O spirits of plants and earth and trees, O little ones of every form, show yourselves to me, I ask, if you please. I mean no harm. Gaurdian spirits, watchers fair, our lives...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Faery Summoning Spell

Fairy Houses In The Wild

"Do you believe in fairies?
Say quick that you believe. If you believe, clap your hands!"

- James M. Barrie

There is a book called Fairy Houses, written and illustrated by Tracy Kane about the Fairy Houses of Monhegan Island. I thought it might be fun to go out into the woods and build small houses for wild fairies out of natural materials....

...I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Way Cool Pictures, and can be found in its entirety here: Fairy Houses in the Wild

The Faery Garden

Whatever you do to bring life to your garden will bring faeries as well. First of all, plant plants that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This will also attract the fae. So put up hummingbird feeders, bird feeders, bird baths, bird houses, even bat houses. Small fountains, ponds, faery statues, or waterfalls are all good.

Here's a short list of plants that attract faeries to your garden:

• Common yarrow, Achillea millefolium
• New York aster, Aster novi-belgii
• Shasta daisy, Chrysanthemum maximum
• Western giant hyssop or horsemint...

...I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: For A Magickal Fairy Garden

Faery Herbs and Their Charms

Bluebells:
To attract faeries to dance in your garden. On Beltane eve, make an ankle bracelet of "Bluebells" and "jingle" bells to attract helpful fae folk to you.

Clover:
A sacred faery plant, clovers of all kinds will attract them. Lay seven grains of wheat on a four-leafed clover to see the Faery....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Faery Herbs and Their Charms

The Pagan Easter

The Easter Fire is a custom of pagan origin spread all over Europe. It is a symbol of victory, the victory of beautiful and sunny spring over the cold days of winter. The fire is lit usually on the top of the mountains – Easter mountain, Osterberg – and it is obtained from wood by friction....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Easter Fire