Beltane

Beltane is an ancient holiday, celebrated in one form or another by cultures around the world. Modern American calendars usually mark it as May Day on May 1st. It's a celebration that marks the half-way point between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. For ancient Celts, it was the start of summer season, when they drove cattle to the summer pastures and looked forward to warmer, brighter days. They had feasts and bonfires, performing rituals for growth, for the protection of their cattle, and to appease aos sí. The feasts began at sunset the night before Beltane, bonfires were lit, and people drove their cattle between the fires, harnessing the symbolic power of the fires. 

May Day illustration by Walter Crane

Ancient people really cared about their cattle and dairy products. I'm reminded of Iceland. When I researched Icelandic runes, I came across a beautiful stylized star: the Smjörhnútur  or butterknot. The symbol ensured that your butter was procured through non-magical means. Gaelic farmers were also very concerned with the non-magical nature of butter: they thought dairy products were particularly at risk from magic and harmful spirits, so blessing the cattle was very important. I can identify with the ancients: I'm very serious about my cheese. 

Icelandic butterknot

I remember leaving flowers in little paper baskets on neighbors' doorhandles for May Day when I was little. Spring is my favorite season in Seattle- everything is so bright and colorful and the city smells so good. The flowers, good lord the flowers this place can grow. Flowers are traditional Beltane decorations. Irish and Scottish celebrants used to put yellow flowers like gorse, hawthorne, hazel, and marsh marigold on their door steps and windowsills. Earlier in the week, Maggie pointed out some gorse plants, and we found white hawthorn as well, which feels very apropos. 

I'm celebrating Beltane in my own heathen way this weekend. Jason is at MRO Saturday, so I'm alone with the pets for a day. I work on my thesis in the morning, sitting at Starbucs and Zoka with Becca and Michael. Bailey and I take a walk in the evening, and we're both excited to be outside. We stop and look at all of the flowers, or at least I look at the flowers while Bailey eats grass. Everyone smiles at Bailey when he passes, and it makes me wish he wasn't so afraid of strangers. 

Bailey

Lavender and leaves

Sidewalk chalk art in the neighborhood

Irises

We try to visit Paul, but he doesn't get my text until long after Bailey is tired of waiting in one spot and has moved on. We go to the small community garden by our house. Jason and I  have our own tiny porch garden, and I'd love to have a bigger plot here. The path is lined in lily of the valley, my mama's favorite. 

Lily of the valley

At the back of the garden

Forget-me-nots

Bailey liked all the smells

Onion or chive blooms

The community garden

Bailey found a fairy garden

Bailey on the bench

Back at home, I check on our own plants. I think one of my pumpkins has come up, and I'm worried the slugs are going to get it. I need to find a way to keep them out of the garden. Our corn looks pretty good, and the peas are growing so fast. Two of the sunflower seeds we put out for the squirrels have planted themselves and sending up shoots. Our peppers and sweet peas are still sleeping, and I wish they'd show their little green selves. I love how much Jason loves this garden. He fusses over the little peas, tying them up so they grow on their lattice, and makes sure they have water every day. I want a little farmhouse and a plot of land with this man. 

Tiny porch garden. The geranium in the front is 4 years old!

Peas, peppers, garlic, and corn

I light some candles and fuss with my crystals, talking to the Universe about what I want for this summer and the ways I want to grow. I scrub with salts from Bree, symbolically washing off the old to reveal the new. Keeping with the theme, I try a new craft: weaving. I use yarn from both Becca and Kate and think again about the friendships I've made in the museology program. 

Weaving

It's Sunday, and Jason comes home today. We are going to celebrate Beltane with a feast outside. I have grand ideas of making picnic foods, bringing candles and flowers and having a little ceremony. Instead, we get burritos and go to a park and it's perfect. I make sure to get sour cream and extra cheese since diary is important. I would have ordered sour cream and extra cheese anyway, let's be honest, but this time it's for myself and the gods. Mostly me, though. 

Wild rose

Foxglove

Tiny little daisies

We go to Matthew's Beach. I found this place yesterday trying to find a Starbucks. There was an old man at a stone wall on the edge of the parking lot, feeding a dozen squirrels and birds. Jason and I bring a bag of corn, sunflower seeds, and peanuts to try and make new friends. A squirrel is very interested in Jason and the peanuts. He won't eat from Jason's hand, but he comes within 4 feet of us, waiting for Jason to toss nuts to him. 

Squirrel friend

On the way home, we see a little dog in a basket on the back of his mom's bike and it makes us really happy. It's a good start to the summer. 

Little rider