HAPPY BELTANE!!!!!

[R.M.GREENMAN2]

The first day of May; flowers in bloom,budding trees, luxuriant green fields, the blue rush of streams: all images of the growing, fertile,life filled Beltane season. Beltane begins the rule of the life-giving Goddess; personified by Mother Nature, Gaia, the powerful forces of regeneration and renewal. Her powers of growth, fertility and plenty bless us throughout the summer season as we tend our gardens, eating just picked, sun warmed tomatoes as we work. Her energies are abundantly present until her consort begins His rule at Samhain (Halloween) when we become more introspective again, quieting down into winter.

[R.M.GREENMAN2]

The first day of May; flowers in bloom,budding trees, luxuriant green fields, the blue rush of streams: all images of the growing, fertile,life filled Beltane season. Beltane begins the rule of the life-giving Goddess; personified by Mother Nature, Gaia, the powerful forces of regeneration and renewal. Her powers of growth, fertility and plenty bless us throughout the summer season as we tend our gardens, eating just picked, sun warmed tomatoes as we work. Her energies are abundantly present until her consort begins His rule at Samhain (Halloween) when we become more introspective again, quieting down into winter.

[NudeAl]

Wow! You said a mouthful! I have attended May pole ceremony in the nude on private property out in the woods and it was great. If all goes well I will be in the wilderness on a backpacking trip to a nude hotsprings this May 1st. If I am really lucky the group I am hiking with will hike nude! Happy Beltane Greenman.

[Vin]

Happy Beltane! Hope it's a great season for everyone. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

BB,
Vin

[LadyRaven]

Happy , glorious Beltane!!!! I love it!!!

[Leo]

Beltane, great..... I was wondering what the first of May was........... I share a space with Beltane. May 1st is my birthday! 42 years on God's beautiful earth. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Dolby]

Happy Beltane everyone!

[EricNY]

Greenman, what a WONDERFUL picture you painted in your post.

I have absolutely no knowlege of Beltane, and I have never heard of it until now. Can someone tell me more of what it means and maybe where the word originated from?

Best wishes
erc

[Vin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ercNY:
Greenman, what a WONDERFUL picture you painted in your post.

I have absolutely no knowlege of Beltane, and I have never heard of it until now. Can someone tell me more of what it means and maybe where the word originated from? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Beltane is essentially the third fertility festival celebrated by many modern Pagan religions. It may be a survivor from the indigenous religion of the British Isles, when it would have marked the beginning of summer. It's when the growing season starts in earnest.

Here's a link (http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/xbeltaine.html) to some articles if you have a few minutes and want some more information.

Happy Beltane!
Vin

[EricNY]

Thanks for the info and the link, Vin.

I found it very interesting, and will continue to look it over as time permits.....Thanks again.

[Vin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ercNY:
Thanks for the info and the link, Vin.

I found it very interesting, and will continue to look it over as time permits.....Thanks again. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>You're welcome. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

A Google search on Beltane (or Beltain, Beltaine) will turn up other sites with more information. Paganism is a _big_ umbrella, and you'll likely get a lot of different perspectives on it.

BB,
Vin

[R.M.GREENMAN2]

Vin, I always thought that Beltane was the 2nd fertility festival. Do you consider Imbolc to be the first?
Imbolc to me is mid-winter, a celebration to pass the midway point of winter but you cannot plant anything.
Imbolc has always been observed with a feast of carnivorous items.
I might be wrong, I am not a priest or shaman so I do not study it that closely.

[Vin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by R.M.GREENMAN2:
Vin, I always thought that Beltane was the 2nd fertility festival. Do you consider Imbolc to be the first?
Imbolc to me is mid-winter, a celebration to pass the midway point of winter but you cannot plant anything.
Imbolc has always been observed with a feast of carnivorous items.
I might be wrong, I am not a priest or shaman so I do not study it that closely. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I suppose it depends on your particular tradition. I view Imbolc as the first fertility festival, when you're getting the land ready for planting. Ostara and Beltane round out that cycle. I see Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain as harvest festivals. Litha and Yule mark the midpoints of their respective seasons, the high and low points of the Wheel.

There are, of course, other valid ways to view the Sabbats. I think it just depends on how you approach things. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

So, why have Beltane as the second fertility festival? Where do the others fit?

BB,
Vin

[R.M.GREENMAN2]

O.K. This is gonna be cold!
We already committed to a sky clad ritual, and it is snowing! It will probly be a quick one, then straight to the Hot Tub.
No may pole for me! I already have children!

Nude hike in the Rockies on the solistice anyone?

[Vin]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by R.M.GREENMAN2:
O.K. This is gonna be cold!
We already committed to a sky clad ritual, and it is snowing! It will probly be a quick one, then straight to the Hot Tub.
No may pole for me! I already have children!

Nude hike in the Rockies on the solistice anyone? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Let it not be said that the gods don't have a sense of humor. A really warped, twisted sense of humor. /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

If you guys are going ahead with a skyclad ritual in a snowstorm, that's more dedication than I can muster. Hope it's a great one!

BB,
Vin