In Tiffany Lazic excellent book, The Great Work, Self-Knowledge and Healing Through the Wheel of the Year, she reminds us that in ancient eras, May was the time for reigniting the fires of the community.

            “In Ireland, the bonfire lit by the Ard Ri (High King) at Tara signaled the lighting of bonfires across the land from which the family hearth fires would be lit. This practice, representing the interconnection of all in the community, stopped in 433 CE, when St. Patrick lit a fire at Slane Hill (ten miles from Tara) before the High King […] was able to light his. This action by St. Patrick, symbolically eclipsing the power of the High King, arguably turned the tide in cementing Christianity in Ireland.”

In today’s technological world of instant interconnectedness, it may be difficult to envision how winter isolated our ancestors. Imagine the importance of ancient fire festivals such as Beltane (May 1) that marked the beginning of a cycle of union and partnerships.

Lazic states:

            “…the beginning of May was a celebration of life through the interconnections with others. With an ability to travel once more, tribes and clans came together, forging bonds and negotiating contracts. Important economic and personal relationships were formed with the hope that they too would bear the fruit of success in the future.”

Perhaps St. Patrick targeted Beltane because of the festival’s overtones of passion and sexuality, as represented by the Maypole, a symbolic conjunction of male and female energies. Certainly he would have opposed the Hill of Tara, revered as the dwelling place of the gods and the entrance to the otherworld. Atop the hill stands a granite phallic-like pillar, the Stone of Destiny. Reportedly, the stone was a sacred object brought by the godlike race, the Tuatha Dé Danann. Legend has it that the stone roars when touched by the rightful king of Tara.

As the Wheel of the Year turns again on May 1, light a candle in honor of the ancient fires that reunited tribes and clans. Dance the Maypole. Perhaps reflect upon actions you can take to aid and connect with your community.

Beltane: A Festival of Fire and Fertility

The Wheel of the Year turns once more. Ostara, the Maiden Goddess, at Beltane yields to the May Queen and the celebration of life. Beltane, also known as May Day, begins at sundown on April 30.

Beltane, an ancient Celtic festival of fire and fertility, may have evolved from the six-day Roman festival Floralia, which celebrated the goddess Flora and occurred on April 27 or 28. The Floralia commemorated the flowering of spring and included theatrical performances, and competitive games paid for by fines collected when public lands were encroached upon.

Beltane in contrast, is primarily a fire and fertility festival, and is the last of the three spring fertility festivals, following Imbolc and Ostara. It marks the halfway point between the vernal (spring) equinox and the summer solstice. In ancient times, Beltane celebrated life, the end of the dark time of winter, the beginning of summer, and the virility of the Sun God, known during the festival as the May King or Green Man.

On May Eve, Druids lit the Bel fires (bright fires, balefires) for luck and protection. Witches jumped the flames to fortify the protection spells. Cattle were driven between the balefires to safeguard the herd. Couples spent the night in the woods “A-Maying.” Married couples cavorted as well. They were allowed to remove their wedding rings, and for the night were free of the restrictions of marriage.

Then on May Day, villagers danced the Maypole. The phallic-like pole represented the god; the rainbow ribbons, the goddess. As the dancers circled the Maypole, their entwining ribbons wrapped around the pole, signifying the joining of the god and goddess.

Lady Fenella, Thaness of Thorburn, has no idea her fate is shackled to a powerful sorceress. She believes Merlin and the Lady of the Lake are myths, Gran’s warnings about Fairy are superstition, and Fairy was invented to make children behave. But a spell cast forward to sixteenth century Scotland finds Fenella and leads to her being branded, stolen, and betrothed. Traumatized and separated from her clan, the Highland heiress finds an unexpected ally in her kidnapper’s son. But their fragile romance is tested when the Lady of the Lake lures Fenella’s cousin into Fairy. Fenella has seconds to decide. Should she remain with Edward, or should she dive into Fairy to rescue her beloved cousin, endangering her clan, and abandoning Edward to his ruthless father?

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