Charlie Rainbow Wolf
The heady scent of lilacs is a sure sign for those in the Northern Hemisphere that spring is well and truly here. While there are many kinds of lilacs, it’s the old-fashioned lilac, Syringa vulgaris, that dominates the hedgerows and flower gardens. Sometimes referred to as the common lilac, it’s said to attract the attention of the ancestors.
Lilacs are hardy and easy to grow. They’re usually seen as a shrub, but they can be trimmed into a tree. If you’re going to let it grow as a bush, plan on giving it space, for they can grow up to ten feet tall and seven feet wide. Lilacs also need a moderate to full amount of sunlight—at least six hours a day, and they’re fairly drought resistant. The leaves of these age-old beauties don’t change their colors in the autumn, and they are somewhat prone to powdery mildew.
While lilacs flower every year, the flowers do seem to be more prolific every other year. To encourage flower production, make sure that the dead blooms are removed. Hard pruning of larger shrubs will also encourage better growth, but lilacs will continue to flourish even when neglected—they’re hardy like that.
Lilacs are best propagated by taking suckers from the parent plant in spring. I’ve found it best to separate the roots below soil level and wait a few weeks before moving the cuttings. This gives the new shoot a better chance to establish its independence before being transplanted to its new home. Sowing seeds from the flower heads is not recommended.
Lilacs aren’t just beautiful bringers of the spring sunshine, though. The essential oils are valuable in aromatherapy when it comes to lifting the mood and treating depression. Lilac also strengthens the spirit and increases sensuality. While the flowers may be eaten, they should be done so sparingly, for they are astringent and can have an adverse effect on saliva.
Massage oils made from the flowers are beneficial for rheumatism and neuralgic pains—not to mention very relaxing because of the sweet floral scent. These oils can also be helpful for skin issues, from minor cuts and bruises to rashes and simple burns—in fact, lilac is actually recommended for those with sensitive skin. The bark has also been used to reduce fevers, soothe the digestive system, and lessen pain.
Lilac is just as soothing to the spirits as it is to the body. In magical work, lilac is helpful when persuading unwanted spirits to leave, to protect you and your home, and to add positive energy to your practices and your environment. Lilac is also known to have a strong connection with the ancestors, and this makes it an exceptional addition when doing past life work, in ceremonies that involve birth or death, or procreation, or when exploring your spiritual heritage.
To make a very simple protection spray, put some lilac flowers into a pestle and mortar and gently bruise them. Place these in a heatproof glass or pottery dish (not plastic or metal), and cover them with boiling water. Leave to cool for at least two hours. Strain off the liquid and remove the flowers. Repeat this until you have a couple of cups of the lilac “tea,” and then simmer this down until you have about four ounces. Put it into a spray bottle and keep it somewhere cool. When doing your protection work, simply use this to mist yourself and the area in which your working.
A Beltane Ritual to Call the Ancestors
At first it may seem odd to have an ancestral ritual at a time of fertility—surely this belongs at Samhain, and not Beltane? To those who responded in that manner, I have one question: where did you come from? Wasn’t it the fertility of your ancestors that allowed you to be conceived, and take life? Puts a bit of a different perspective on things very quickly, doesn’t it?
Beltane is traditionally a fire ceremony, so it’s appropriate if you can light a bonfire of some sort. Should you want to dress your table or altar, then a light purple or mauve cloth is the ideal color. Think of the colors in banded amethyst (because amethyst is a very spiritual stone), and go for the more pastel shades. Put lilac flowers in a vase, or lilac oil in a diffuser. Wear lilac colors. Burn lilac scented candles and light lilac incense. Spray the lilac mist. Do any or all of these so that the sweet perfume of the lilac permeates everything, everywhere, and everyone. You’ll also need seven white tealight candles and a heatproof surface on which to place them, a goblet, some red wine or red grape juice, matches or a lighter for the candles, and a candle snuffer if you have one.
At the appointed time, arrange four of your candles in a diamond shape, with a candle at each compass point. Place another candle above the north position, and one below the south. Leave a space in the center for the last candle. You can now cast the sacred circle, if you use one with your magic.
Light your candles beginning with the center one. As you light it, lift it skyward, and say:
I am the blood of my ancestors. Your life force flows through my veins. I am the summary of your existence, and for this, I give thanks and welcome you.
Now, use this candle and light the one in the east, placing the first candle in the center of the candles. As you light the flame, say:
I am the blood of my ancestors. Your life force flows through my veins. As the sun rises in the east and new life begins, so my life began because of you, and for this, I give thanks and welcome you.
Use the candle that was in the east to light the candle in the south. As you do, say:
I am the blood of my ancestors. Your life force flows through my veins. As the Sun shines down through the day, promoting life and growth, so I live and grow because of you, and for this, I give thanks and welcome you.
Replace the east candle in its position and use the south candle to light the one in the west, saying:
I am the blood of my ancestors. Your life force flows through my veins. As the Sun sets in the wast, bringing closure and fulfillment to the day, so my life is fulfilled because of you, and for this, I give thanks and welcome you.
Replace the south candle in its place, and use the west candle to light the north candle, saying:
I am the blood of my ancestors. Your life force flows through my veins. As the night falls bringing dreams and visions, so my life is full of dreams and visions because of you, and for this, I give thanks and welcome you.
Replace the west candle back to its position, and pick up the candle from the center again. Use it to light the candle above the north and below the south, saying:
I am the blood of my ancestors. Your life force flows through my veins. I know not what lies ahead of me, but I trust you to guide me. I trust you to continue to show me what I have brought forward with me through your life, so that above me and below me, all around me and within me, I honor you. For this life I give thanks, and I welcome you.
Now, pause and listen with your heart. If you do automatic writing, crystal gazing, or other scrying, divination, or shamanic journeying, this is an ideal time for those activities. You have summoned the ancestors and they have heard you. All that remains is for you to listen to them with your spirit ears and watch for them with your spirit eyes.
The best way to close the ritual is to let the candles burn themselves out. If that’s not possible, then use a snuffer or pinch out the flame. It’s a good idea to bid the ancestors farewell in some way, though. If you pinch out the flames, you can thank them for attending with the usual “Stay if you will, go if you must” parting. I usually do something more along the lines of:
I am watched by generations, and I thank you; for your life, for my life, and for the gift of your company. I carry you in my heart, even though my ceremony has ended.
Lilac teaches you that there’s a season for everything—even you. You’re connected to your ancestors by your DNA, and you will leave your life’s essence behind you, long after you’ve taken your last breath. Even if you have no children of your own, you’ll live on in your deeds and the recollections of others, so make sure that your footprints on their hearts are worth remembering.