Fire and Fertility
the midpoint between spring and summer
Hello friend! My name is Amy. I am so happy you have stopped by ✨ If you are new here, a warm welcome to you! This space is where I meander through midlife, connecting to my true self through the seasonal shifts and simpler living, and seeking my inner wise woman. If you are also on this path and looking for someone to walk gently beside you, I see you and am here. Let’s color outside the lines together.
Nature has begun to awaken! Today is Beltane, which is referred to as a cross-quarter day on the wheel of the year. It lies halfway between the spring and summer solstices (Ostara and Litha). It is a fire festival welcoming the earth's warming, leading to fertility and the promise of new life.
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom” Anais Nin
In Celtic traditions, the year was split into two; the darker half beginning at Samhain and the lighter half at Beltane. This lighter half was a time for growth and new life. Tender fresh grasses are emerging in the pastures for herds, and the ground is ready to accept seeds to produce the year’s crops.
Fire was a key element in Beltane for its magical and cleansing properties. Livestock were led through the smoke as a form of protection and blessing. Hearth fires in homes were extinguished and re-lit from the main Beltane bonfire to protect family and homestead. The ashes from the bonfires were spread on crops to enrich the soil.
You can see this ritual like a spring cleaning, a clearing of the pent-up energies from the dark winter months.
With warmer weather and longer days, the light emits a vibrant and fertile energy that wakes us from hibernation. We find ourselves getting outdoors more and longing for evenings on the porch with friends or family and fresh meals from our lovingly tended gardens. New growth can also come from within! Feel your inner fire ignited and let it flow and guide your inspiration.
A couple of quick ideas to honor the day:
🌻Enjoy a bonfire! It is raining here this morning, so I will be lighting a candle, setting an intention for the season.
🌻Open your windows and let the breeze in; we all need a good airing out after the long, darker days indoors.
🌻Use your favorite smudge and cleanse the house! I do this seasonally; it freshens your space, and the smoke signifies the cleansing fire of the season.
🌻Take a few minutes to journal using this prompt. On this Beltane, I am awakening to the fire within. What does this season hold for me?
Until next time,
