Beltane Delights

To me, Beltane is all about celebrating life and enjoying its pleasures. For the Celts, it was the start of summer, the season of long, warm days, abundant food and easy living. So I like my Beltane to be a celebration of beauty and pleasure. 

Though the Beltane weather is cool and rainy this year, there is beauty in abundance in the woods and fields. Tender, translucent birch leaves, the haze of bluebells carpeting the woodland floor, the swooping joy of the returning swallows. This is such a stunningly beautiful time of year.

This evening we feasted on cheese and leek tartlets, mushroom risotto, fresh asparagus and garlic bread. We toasted each other, and the coming summer with glasses of champagne. Later we munched on the most delicious brownies in the world (if you're ever in West Wales, these can be found at the Pachamama restaurant or the Carrot Cruncher organic food shop, both in Newcastle Emlyn).

As the season unfolds I intend to continue joyfully revelling in the delights of early summer. I may not be able to afford to make champagne toasts every evening, but I do intend to consume my body weight in local asparagus while the season lasts. And I will walk barefoot in the lush grass, bask in the sun, laugh with the swallows, walk bareheaded in the rain, and spend as much time as I can with those I love. This is my solemn pledge at Beltane. 

A world this beautiful deserves to be thoroughly appreciated. Anything less would be disrespectful.

Happy Beltane!