While rituals, divination, and spellwork are indeed awesome ways to celebrate the sabbats, we sometimes overlook the simpler ways that can be just as fulfilling and meaningful. When we incorporate the practice of the sabbats into our nonritual lives as well, we gain greater satisfaction and a deeper understanding of the energetic changes that come with each of the eight sacred days. In this chapter, you’ll find ideas for recipes, crafts, and decor to help you celebrate Beltane in practical, anyone-can-do-it ways that will have you feeling like you are living your craft and walking the walk of a true witch, not just in ritual but in everyday mundane life, too.
Beltane Recipes
Beltane is a great time for get-togethers, and nothing gets people together more quickly than some delicious culinary fare. As summer begins to stir and temperatures continue to rise, many modern Pagans find it’s the perfect time to enjoy a meal outdoors in the sunshine. Consider hosting a picnic or a barbecue, and keep foods on the light side to harmonize with Beltane’s bright, quick-moving energies. Fruits, vegetables, and light pastries can be swiftly converted by the body into energy you can put into your Beltane magick, whereas heavy foods, such as fatty meats and thick gravies, have a slower vibration that can make you sluggish.
Here’s a breakfast picnic featuring light, tasty fare just right for Beltane. Each recipe is designed with ingredients chosen for their magickal attributes, and instructions are included for adding magickal intention to the cooking process. Feel free to adapt these recipes to suit your own personal taste and style.
Blessed Lemon Custard
This delicious lemon custard is magickally crafted to express gratitude for your Beltane blessings while manifesting even more blessings.
Ingredients:
4 cups milk
⅔ cup sugar
4 whole eggs and 2 egg yolks (6 eggs total, two separated)
4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Graham crackers
1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional)
1 sprig fresh mint (optional)
Begin by heating milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to steam and bubble slightly (and before it begins to scald or boil). Add in sugar and stir till dissolved. Add eggs. (To separate an egg, just crack the shell and pour the contents of the egg back and forth between the two shell halves, letting the egg white drip into a bowl until you have only the yolk remaining.) Stir slowly with a wooden spoon until the mixture is thoroughly blended. You may need to reduce the heat slightly; you want it to bubble gently, but never quite come to a rolling boil. If it starts to boil over, lift the pot off the burner and allow it to cool for a few seconds. Continue to stir frequently, using slow, gentle motions. As the mixture continues to heat, it will begin to noticeably thicken. This might take as long as 15 minutes, so be patient and don’t take your eyes off it.
Once the custard looks visibly different, and much more puddinglike, reduce the heat slightly and let the custard continue to cook for about another 5 minutes.
Custard can be tricky, and sometimes it doesn’t seem to want to thicken no matter how long you cook it. If you experience this problem, never fear. Just slowly sprinkle in a few tablespoons of flour, adding in a little at a time and whisking the custard very briskly to help remove any lumps. The end result is technically a pastry cream and not a custard, and the texture will be a bit different, but it will still taste delicious.
Once the custard has thickened to your satisfaction, remove it from heat, then stir in the lemon juice and vanilla extract. As you put in the lemon juice, think of the sunlight and moonlight. As you put in the vanilla extract, which has an energetic vibration in tune with love and romance, think of the love between the Goddess and the God, nature, and humankind and individual. Pour the custard into a bowl, let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold.
Next, place graham cracker pieces on the bottom and sides of individual serving dishes as you think about the solid earth, Mother Nature’s womb from which springs the bounty of May flowers, fruits, and greenery. Fill each dish with the lemon custard as you think about the beautiful, blossoming earth and contemplate all the delights you hope Beltane will bring. Garnish with a light sprinkle of powdered sugar and a sprig of fresh mint if desired.
Abundance Berries with Cream
This creation will help manifest an abundance of romance or whatever else you’d like this Beltane.
Ingredients:
1 pound mixed fresh berries
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons honey
Start with a batch of mixed fresh berries. Strawberries and raspberries have a loving, passionate energy that’s especially good for conjuring up romantic fun, but any type of berry can be attuned to your specific aim and used effectively in this recipe. Wash the berries, drain thoroughly, then place them in an attractive bowl, thinking of your magickal goal. For the cream, pour cold heavy whipping cream into a chilled bowl. For best results, use a metal bowl and metal whisk, placing them in the refrigerator or freezer beforehand to get them very cold. Make sure the bowl and whisk are dry and free of any moisture or condensation before you begin. Whip the cream with the whisk until it starts to thicken, then slowly drizzle in honey.
As you work the mixture, think of the fertility of the earth and the animals, the archetypal mother and the “milk” she provides to her children. Continue to whip the cream until it reaches the desired consistency. Turn your thoughts to abundance and manifestation as the cream begins to solidify. You’ll know it’s ready when you see soft peaks forming in the cream, or when it no longer drips easily off a spoon. To save time, you can mix the cream with an electric mixer, but it can be a much more rewarding and magickal experience when accomplished the old-fashioned way. Serve the berries in small bowls, garnishing each dish with a dollop of the whipped cream. For a fancier-looking treat, serve the berries and cream in a clear crystal goblet or wine glass, making repeating layers of berries, cream, berries, cream, and so on.
Honey Wishing Yogurt
This simple yogurt dish is especially blended to help Beltane wishes come true.
Ingredients:
4 cups vanilla yogurt
¼ cup honey
Graham crackers, bran cereal, or fresh apple slices (optional)
Start with vanilla yogurt, add in honey, and stir as you focus on happy wishes. Think of something that makes you feel extremely good, then project this feeling of joy into the yogurt mixture. Serve with graham crackers or garnish with bran cereal if desired. If you like, have your guests dip their apple slices in the yogurt, make a wish, then take a bite.
Vanilla Cinnamon Thrill Iced Coffee
This cold coffee drink is designed to increase feelings of excitement, pleasure, love, and passion in all who drink it.
Ingredients:
1 pot of brewed coffee
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 to 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
Milk, half-and-half, or sugar to taste (optional)
Make a pot of coffee (medium or light roast works best) the night before your picnic. As the coffee heats, envision the coffee beans growing in the strong sunlight, and think of the tremendous amount of warmth and energy the sun provides. Once the coffee is brewed, stir in cinnamon, thinking as you do so of cinnamon’s hot, passionate energy. Daydream of something that excites you as you let the coffee cool to room temperature, then leave it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, add vanilla extract and project a feeling of love and pleasure into the coffee as you stir. Serve over ice, mixing in sugar and milk or half-and-half to taste. If you know all your guests will want sweet coffee, add the sugar before cooling the coffee, as it will dissolve much better that way. Otherwise, just stir it very briskly until its blended to your satisfaction.
Beltane Barbecue
Here’s a menu for a Beltane barbecue. As with the breakfast picnic, each recipe is designed with ingredients chosen for their magickal attributes. The instructions include tips for adding magickal intention to the cooking process. Feel free to adapt these recipes to suit your own personal taste and style.
Grilled Portobelo Mushroom Beltane Tune-Up Burgers
These vegetarian “burgers” will help you attune with Beltane’s magickal energies.
Ingredients:
Portobelo mushrooms, one per serving
Olive oil
Sea salt
Buns
Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup,
and other condiments as desired
Wash the mushrooms, removing the stems but leaving the caps intact. Notice the mushroom’s natural shape, which many cultures consider to be a sacred symbol of the gods and also a phallic symbol, resembling the male genitalia. Think of the masculine, solar energies gaining strength at Beltane as you gently pat the mushrooms dry. Next, brush the mushrooms with a light coating of olive oil, a symbol of love. As you do so, think of the love and romance you hope Beltane will bring to you. Sprinkle the mushrooms with a pinch of sea salt, associated with purification and divine feminine power. Contemplate the mingling of feminine and masculine energies as you sprinkle the salt, and envision any negativity or rigid obstacles in your life dissolving. Place the mushrooms on the hot grill, turning once every few minutes until both sides are tender. This can take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the hotness of the grill and the thickness of the mushrooms. You’ll know when they’re ready because you’ll notice an obvious change in color and smell. Serve it on a toasted bun like a hamburger, and top with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, and any other desired condiments.
Sexy Rosemary and Garlic-Roasted Asparagus
This simple recipe will help you feel empowered and sensual, confident and sexy and ready for some Beltane romance.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh, whole asparagus
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
1 sprig fresh rosemary
Start with whole, fresh asparagus, thoroughly washed and patted dry. Place the asparagus in the center of a medium-sized piece of aluminum foil, lining the stems up side by side so that all the tips are facing the same way. Notice how the asparagus mimics the shape of the priapic, or pinecone-tipped wand, a magickal implement associated with Dionysus, god of forests, pleasure, lust, and wine, and a manifestation of the divine masculine in one of its more lusty forms. Place a small pat of butter on top of the asparagus; sprinkle the garlic evenly over the asparagus. Season with the salt. Place a sprig of fresh rosemary on top of the asparagus as you envision laying a kiss on someone you admire. Fold the sides of the foil so that the asparagus is completely covered, then place the bundle on the grill for about 10 minutes. Think of the symbolic rising of the god force both within the blossoming earth and within yourself as the asparagus heats.
Friendly Rainbow Pasta Salad
This easy Beltane side dish is designed to increase feelings of friendship and community. Make this ahead of time so that when your grilling is done, you can just pull it out of the refrigerator ready to serve.
Ingredients:
1 pound rainbow rotini
1 teaspoon olive oil
⅔ cup ranch salad dressing
½ cup chopped black olives
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add one pound of dried rainbow rotini and a pinch of salt. Notice the different colors of pasta, and think about how people of all ages and colors and dispositions come together to enjoy the May sunshine. Think of your friends and send your good feelings into the rotini as it cooks. Boil until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water. Drizzle olive oil over the pasta, envisioning a loving, compassionate energy raining down upon the people of your community. Gently toss the pasta until the oil is evenly distributed. Allow the rotini to cool to room temperature, then place it in the refrigerator until it’s thoroughly cold. Add the ranch salad dressing, chopped black olives, salt, and Parmesan cheese. When you add the olives, think again of love, friendship, and compassion. Mix thoroughly, then store cold until you’re ready to eat.
Supercharged Sun Cakes
These light and yummy cookies will increase your energy and help you attune with Beltane’s strong solar vibrations.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
2 sticks butter, softened
1 egg
¼ cup orange juice
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix together flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Blend in softened butter, then add egg. Citrus is associated with solar energies, so your sun cakes will need a touch of orange flavoring to be complete. Stir in orange juice and grated orange zest, inviting the powers of the sun to enter into the mix. Let the dough chill, then roll tablespoon-sized pieces into small balls, place on a greased cookie sheet about an inch apart, and flatten slightly. Bake for about 10 minutes.
Come Together Lemonade
This magickal lemonade can help facilitate cooperation and feelings of togetherness and camaraderie. As a citrus fruit, lemons are associated with the sun, but their more subtle vibrations associate the fruit with lunar goddess energies as well, making them an especially suitable choice for a Beltane beverage base symbolic of the union between the Goddess and the God.
Ingredients:
9 lemons
1 gallon cold water
2 cups sugar
Cut lemons in half horizontally, then score the cut sides and squeeze out the juice. As you squeeze the juice from the lemons, contemplate the gifts that nature gives to us, the tremendous amount of energy poured into the earth by the Goddess and the God in order to make it bloom. Add the lemon juice to a gallon of cold water, then stir in sugar. Project your own feelings of love and gratitude into the lemonade as you stir in the sugar. Add a bit more sugar if it’s not as sweet as you like. Serve over ice and enjoy.
Magickal May Wine
Drink this May wine to welcome in the spring and renew your sense of youth and vigor. Substitute sparkling white grape juice or apple cider for the white wine to make a nonalcoholic version.
Ingredients:
7 to 10 sprigs fresh woodruff, flowers removed
One piece of string, about 8 inches long
1 bottle white wine (preferably a young wine, from the
previous year’s vintage)
2 tablespoons honey (optional)
1 16-ounce bottle club soda (optional)
Extra woodruff sprigs or leaves (for optional garnish)
Several fresh strawberries (for optional garnish)
One small orange, thinly sliced (for optional garnish)
Begin by tying the stems of the woodruff together with the length of string, creating a bundle. As you prepare the woodruff, think about the plant’s energy, associated with sexuality, protection, and magickal power. Open the white wine and tuck the bundle of woodruff into the bottle so that the herbs are submerged in the liquid, and the length of string hangs out the top of the bottleneck. Let this sit for a couple of hours, then pull the woodruff out of the bottle. Chill the wine in the refrigerator. If you want to make a sweet wine, drizzle honey into the wine bottle, put the cork back in, and shake it around a bit until the honey blends with the wine. Your May wine is ready to drink at this point, but if you prefer to jazz it up a bit, pour the wine into a large punch bowl, add the club soda, and toss in a few orange slices and woodruff leaf clusters to float on the surface of the liquid. If you like, garnish each individual serving with a fresh strawberry cut with a slit at the bottom so that it can be placed along the rim of the wine glass.
Beltane Crafts
While rituals, spells, and meditations help us connect with the deeper meaning of each sabbat, there’s nothing like some hands-on practical crafting to help us get in sync with the energetic flow of the season. Here are some easy-to-make crafts to create this Beltane.
A Priapic Wand
A priapic (pinecone-tipped) wand is an ideal tool for Beltane magick and a perfect symbol of the season. With a young pinecone at its tip, the wand is symbolic of fertility and sexuality. The pinecone’s shape is reminiscent of a phallus, and is thus considered a sacred emblem of deity in its masculine, young, and lusty form. Why not make your own priapic wand this Beltane? A priapic wand is great for use in love spells and lust magick, and it will also bring a boost of extra confidence, energy, and strength to all your magickal workings.
You will need:
One stick: straight, between 9 and 13 inches, forked or cleaved
end if possible and desired
One young pinecone: preferably of the young, green variety,
and with a narrow base or stem on the end
Gloves
String or yarn: preferably green, pink, or yellow
Pocketknife (optional)
Sand paper, nail file, or rough rock (optional)
Other trimmings such as flowers, leaves, or feathers (optional)
To get started, you’ll need to first find a stick to use for the wand. Please do choose from fallen sticks rather than breaking limbs off of a living tree. Try to find a stick that is fairly straight and wand-length—which is a matter of opinion, but generally falls in the nine to thirteen inch range, varying according to individual beliefs, traditions, and preferences. Willow, oak, pine, or hawthorn are especially good choices, but let your intuition take precedence over specific wood type. If you’re not comfortable working with a pocketknife, try to find a stick with a natural split or fork at one of the ends.
You’ll also need to find a pinecone to use for the wand tip. The green, freshly budded stage is what you want, preferably with a narrow base and/or a small stem piece on the bottom so that it’s easier to attach to the wand.
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, begin by preparing the stick, removing loose dirt and bark if desired, and breaking off any extraneous twigs. Use sandpaper, a rough rock, or a nail file to smooth down any sharp places. If you’ve chosen a stick that has neither a forked end nor a natural cleave in the end, you’ll have to make some adjustments. Put on your protective gloves and use a pocketknife to cut a small slit vertically down through the middle of the wand tip, about a half inch to one inch deep. Wedge the base of the pinecone into the slit or between the forks at the wand tip.
Use string or yarn to secure the pinecone in place. Just cut off a piece of string around twelve inches long, then tie the end of the string around the wand near the base of the pinecone, making a secure knot. Then wrap the string around the wand and continue wrapping until you’ve covered about a third of the pinecone. Tuck in the end of the string and tie to secure.
Your priapic wand is essentially now ready, but if you like, you can jazz it up a bit. Consider adding ornamentation such as flowers, leaves, beads, or feathers, securing them with string. More perishable additions, including the leaves and flowers, can be added at the last minute right before ritual so that they’ll still be fresh when it’s time for magick.
Once you’re happy with the general design, take a moment to empower your wand, charging it up and expressing your intention for the wand to be a tool of magick. You can do so by simply holding the wand skyward toward the sun, and inviting any elemental forces or deities you like to work with to enter the wand. For example, you might say something like:
Into this wand, I welcome the power of the sun,
the strength of the earth,
the magick of the gods.
Serve me well and I will serve the world
with love and light and magick.
Use your priapic wand for love magick; passion or lust-inducing spellwork; magick to increase strength, courage, or energy; and any other Beltane rites you feel called to do.
Beltane Floral Crown
As symbols of fertility, life, and beauty, flowers are a prominent element in many springtime traditions. In ancient Rome, the goddess Flora was often depicted wearing a ring of flowers around her head, while the May Queen of European May Day celebrations donned similar attire. If you’d like to add some festive flair to your Beltane fashions this year, consider crafting a floral crown of your own to wear. This design doubles as a decorative wreath.
You will need:
6 vines, thin and pliable sticks, or long and thick grasses or
flower stems: each about 2 to 2.5 feet long
Flowers
String
Scissors and/or garden shears
Begin by gathering all your supplies. You’ll need to first find enough vines or other materials to make the basic wreath. Ideally, you want vines that are brown on the outside, but still green on the inside. If you can’t find that, though, you can use thin, pliable sticks, long and thick grasses, or extra long and sturdy flower stems instead. If you’re planning to wear the wreath as a crown, measure the materials as you gather them to make sure it will be large enough to fit around your head. You’ll need about six strands of vines or whatever else you’re using, cut to a length of around two to two and a half feet.
You’ll also need to find some flowers to decorate your Beltane wreath. Use whatever you can find growing near your home, or visit a florist and ask for local, seasonal blossoms. Keep the flowers in water so they’ll stay fresh until you’re ready to begin.
Start by laying out the long strands for the wreath, placing the vines, sticks, stems, or grasses side by side. If your materials don’t seem flexible enough, soak them in water for a couple of hours to make them more pliable. Cut a piece of string about four inches long, and use this to tie the strands together at one end. Leave the excess string in place.
Separate the strands into three sets of pairs, then loosely braid or twist them together, working down until you get to the end of the strands. Use another piece of string to secure the strands together at the bottom of the “rope” you’ve now made. Next, overlap the two ends of the “rope” to form the circular shape of a wreath. If you’ll be wearing the wreath, test the size at this stage to make sure it’s a good fit before you make it permanent. If the wreath is a bit misshapen, just work it with your hands and bend it carefully into place until you’re satisfied. Once you are happy with the size and shape of your wreath, use the excess string on each end to tie it all together into a circle. Add more string as necessary to securely bind everything in place, then tuck in or trim off any extra bits.
Next, attach the flowers. Simply tuck the stems through the openings in the braided wreath, and secure with string if needed. If you like, invite goddess energies of femininity, beauty, and compassion to enter the wreath. Your Beltane flower wreath is now ready to hang on the door or wear on your head as a material representation of springtime energies.
Beltane Maypole
Maypoles have their roots in the early Germanic Paganism practiced throughout parts of Europe during the Iron Age and medieval periods. Their symbolism has been linked to the World Tree and the world axis, but most commonly, the Maypole with its phallic shape is considered a symbol of fertility. While the Maypole tradition may have evolved from older practices of simply decorating the living trees at Beltane, at the time the tradition really took root in Europe, it was common for Maypoles to be made from a tree that had been cut down especially for the purpose. Men would head into the woods to seek the tallest tree for the Maypole well ahead of the actual celebration. Sometimes, the Yule tree was saved and recycled as the next year’s Maypole.
The Maypoles were erected in public areas where the whole community could see them. The pole was originally decorated with garlands and wreaths of flowers and leaves, and later, colorful ribbons were added. Villagers, especially young maidens, would dance around the Maypole in hopes of bringing fertility and good fortune to the community.
Full-size Maypole
If you’d like to make your own Maypole this Beltane, go for it! It’s not nearly as daunting as it might sound, and you won’t even have to cut down any trees in the process. Here’s how to do it.
You will need:
Long, straight tree branch or dowel rod: at least 6 or 7 feet
long, preferably
Ribbons, flowers, leaves, or other decorations as desired
Shovel, and/or 5 gallon flower pot or other container and enough rocks or dirt to fill it
Thumbtacks (optional)
Paint (optional)
Maypoles can be as tall as twenty-five feet or more, but that type of stature is a bit unfeasible for most modern Pagans living in urban areas. Fortunately, your Maypole doesn’t need to be nearly that large. As long as the Maypole is taller than you are, it will be sufficient for Maypole dancing, and if you’re not planning to dance but rather just use the Maypole for a decoration, it can be smaller still. You could make a cute little three-foot-tall Maypole, or a nice and sturdy ten-foot-tall Maypole—let your own preferences and possibly the nosiness of your neighbors dictate! Just keep in mind that the taller and heavier the pole, the more difficult it will be to keep it safely upright. If it’s your first time making a Maypole and you don’t have much help, I would definitely lean toward a shorter, lightweight pole.
Instead of cutting down a living tree, try to find a branch that has already fallen. You’ll want one that’s as straight as possible. Choosing a branch that’s around seven feet tall and about an inch and a half in diameter is a good zone to shoot for. Remove any extra twigs, and you’re good to go. If you can’t find such a branch, you can use dowel rods or even a shower curtain rod to serve as the pole. Not quite as natural, but hey, a witch has to make do sometimes!
You’ll probably want to at least partially decorate your Maypole before you erect it, especially if it’s very tall. If you’re using ribbons, cut the ribbons so that they’re about twice as long as the Maypole itself. Tie these around the top of the pole so that they’ll trail down on all sides. If you like, you can use thumbtacks to further secure the ribbons in place. If you don’t want to use thumbtacks, just take another length of ribbon and wrap it around the pole right underneath the ribbons. Wrap the ribbon around the pole several times and tie it with large, bulky knots so that it creates a thicker base that will prevent the upper ribbons from sliding down.
Next, use ribbon to attach any flowers, leaves, garlands, or other ornamentation to the pole’s upper portion. You might want to spiral a length of ribbon all the way down the pole from top to bottom to give the barber’s pole or candy cane effect. If you like, use paint to add symbols that are personal to you or that you feel are especially fitting for the holiday. There’s no “right way” to decorate a Maypole. Let your personal creativity and sense of aesthetics guide you. You can go ahead and completely decorate your Maypole now, or save some of the fun for when your Maypole has been set upright.
How you erect and secure your Maypole will depend on its height and weight. Obviously, the heavier and taller it is, the tougher your job will be. With a medium to large-sized pole, you’ll need to dig a hole about twelve inches deep, submerge the bottom end of the Maypole, and fill the hole back in with dirt, taking care to firmly pack the soil around the base of the pole. Take care that it doesn’t wobble. If your Maypole is over ten feet in height or over two inches in diameter, you will most likely need to secure it with other means, such as poured concrete or a sturdy wooden base, both beyond the scope of this simple arts and crafts tutorial. If you have a smaller, decorative Maypole that’s six feet tall or shorter and not too heavy, you’ll probably be able to skip the hole digging. Just fill a five-gallon flowerpot or other large container with a mixture of dirt and rocks, then bury the end of the Maypole in it. Place a thick layer of rock on top to keep the pole from shifting.
Once your Maypole is vertical, add any finishing touches to the decorations. Dedicate the Maypole with a dance, inviting friends to join you, if possible. Maypole dancing can get extremely complex, but it’s actually not hard to do a simplified version. Make a circle around the pole, and have every other person stand a little closer in toward the center. Those people standing closer in toward the pole spin and twirl in the opposite direction from the people standing farther back. Each holding the end of a length of ribbon, the dancers in the “inner loop” cross under the ribbon next to them, moving to the outer rim of the circle as the neighboring dancer moves forward to the center. If that’s still a little complicated, try a simple, free-flowing dance, just letting your heart guide your body and allowing your soul to enjoy the moment. If you don’t have anyone to dance with, notice the birds, insects, and animals around you as you celebrate around the Maypole.
Beltane Decor
Beltane is essentially a celebration of love, light, and the joy of warmer weather, and decorating for the holiday should be every bit as easy and breezy. By following a few simple guidelines and adding some special touches here and there, your home will be ready for Beltane in no time. Let’s first cover the basics, then we’ll go over some specific ideas for festive decor you can make on a budget.
Let In the Light!
The most essential “rule” of Beltane decorating is to keep it light and airy. Open the curtains, pull up the shades, throw open the windows! Let the sun shine in. It’s hard to get into the Beltane spirit if your home is dark and dismal. If you’re lacking in the window department, consider buying extra floor lamps to help illuminate your home. At night, burn candles for a natural touch that will help you attune with the element of fire, considered an especially prominent force at Beltane.
To make the most of your home’s lighting, keep fabrics and colors light, as well. Choose lightweight cottons and linens or gauzy fabrics over heavier materials, and use darker colors like deep browns, dark grays, navy blues, and black only sparingly.
Bring In the Green!
Another primary theme of Beltane decorating is to highlight the beauty of nature wherever possible, and what better way to do that than to bring some of that nature into the home? Use fresh flowers generously, placing bouquets of wild flowers in unlikely places around your house, or hanging floral garlands from banisters and mantles. Yellow flowers are especially well suited, being the color most often associated with the sun. Ferns and other green houseplants are good additions, too, supplying a palpable energy of vitality and growth. If you have pets or small children, however, just make sure that any flowers or other plants you use are nontoxic.
Make It Romantic!
Love is in the air at Beltane, so let it be in your home’s decor as well. Keep everything neat and clean and uncluttered, and add romantic touches where possible. Soft fabrics, extra pillows, a bit of lace here or there, a smattering of fresh rose petals, a couple of old photographs, a picture of the sea or the sunrise … a small addition here or there can go a long way in reminding your guests of life’s finer things. Just don’t overdo it—no one wants to feel like they’ve walked right into an ultra cheesy Valentine’s Day card! Use potpourri and essential oils to give your home a lovely fragrance and a romantic feel—jasmine and rose are both highly effective in promoting feelings of closeness and passion.
DIY Beltane Decor
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get down to discussing some cool ways you can make your home look extra festive for the holiday using just a few special touches requiring very little, if any, money.
Mini Tabletop Maypole
Mini Maypole Centerpiece
This easy-to-make decoration will add a festive touch to a dining table or side table. All you’ll need is a dish, some potpourri, a stick, some ribbon, and a small hunk of modeling clay. To get started, find a smooth stick about seven to eight inches long. Wrap the stick with ribbon, spiraling it around from top to bottom down the length of the stick and tying it at both ends to keep it in place. Next, tie several ribbons to the top of the stick so that you’ll have a piece of ribbon trailing down each side. Put the base of the stick into a small hunk of modeling clay, then place this in the middle of the dish. Fill the dish with potpourri, arrange the ribbons around the sides, and your Beltane centerpiece is complete.
Fire and Water Altar
Beltane marks the time of symbolic union between the Goddess and the God, a time when opposites attract and polarities fall in sync. A fire and water altar is a perfect way to honor nature’s tides while giving your home a heavy dose of magickal pizzazz.
You can use any small platform for your altar. A coffee table, end table, or even a cardboard box weighted down with books or the like will do. Cover the altar in a cloth colored in tune with the holiday: green or brown would work nicely, as they’re associated equally with both the Goddess and the God, but yellow, white, pink, silver, or gold would be appropriate, as well.
For the centerpiece of the altar, fill a large, clear bowl with water, inviting the Goddess energies and the element of water to enter into it. Place floating candles in the water and light them, invoking the God and the element of fire as you do so.
Decorate the rest of the altar with objects in silver and gold, representing the Goddess and the God, the moon and the sun, water and fire, respectively. Add flowers and other fresh vegetation for a boost of color, and your altar is ready for Beltane magick.
Ribbons on the Ceiling, Flowers in the Sky
If you’re having a Beltane party, consider this design for your main party room or dancing area. All you’ll need is some colorful ribbon, thumbtacks, paperclips, or tape, and a large handful of fresh or artificial flowers. Cut the ribbon in lengths long enough to stretch from the center of the room to each corner, allowing for some slack so that the ribbon can drape down rather than be held taut. Attach the ribbons to the center of the ceiling with a thumbtack. Use more thumbtacks to attach the loose ends of the ribbons to points in the corners and the middle of the walls of the room, using at least six strands of ribbon. Hang them like party streamers, so that they drape down, but not so far down that your guests will hit their heads on them.
Next, add flowers, either real or artificial. The artificial ones won’t look quite as cool, but they’ll look nice for a lot longer than perishable fresh flowers. Use paperclips or tape to attach the real or faux blossoms at random points along the length of the ribbons. Place a big bouquet right at the center point where the ribbons meet, and your Beltane party hall is complete.
Don’t Forget the Yard!
If you want your home to look super festive this Beltane, don’t keep all your awesome decorations indoors. Spice up the outside of your home, too, using ribbons, flowers, and additional greenery. Hang a floral wreath on your door, attach some greenery to your mailbox, hang ribbons and flowers from trees and shrubs. You might even make a traditional May Bush, decorating a small tree or bush with ribbons, flowers, garlands, and painted seashell ornaments. Don’t forget to remove dead branches or other yard waste that might be cluttering up your yard so that Nature’s living beauty is allowed to shine.