Tuesday 1 May 2012

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!



10 comments:

Gaia said...

And a Happy Beltane to you Blessings from across the water in Ithaca!!xxx

Robin Larkspur said...

I wholeheartedly agree with you. Enjoying the beauty of all Nature is a gift! Your Beltane celebration sounds lovely and delicious! Once the weather warms up we will all be spending a lot of time outdoors. Those brownies are distracting me, though, lol!!

Heddwen said...

Happy Beltane to you too! At least the weather here in Aberystwyth is a lot brighter today.

laoi gaul~williams said...

Blessings xoxoxox

we had a combination of rain...when i really wanted to be out with a fire and sunshine when i was feeling unwell and on the sofa with a book. as soon as we get a nice night and i feel better i will have a belated celebration :)

Anonymous said...

And Blessed Beltane to you as well!
What a yummy post. There's something so earthy and organic about celebrating pagan-style - it's just plain natural - LOVE IT!!!

C said...

Beltane Blessings to you in stunning Wales :) I know your part well as family live near Newcastle Emlyn :)x x x

www.leroywatson4.wordpress.com said...

Belated Happy Beltane from Carmel (somewhere near Snowdon), beautiful pics and love to read your posts. Happy days, Lee (www.thebeachhousekitchen.wordpress.com)

www.leroywatson4.wordpress.com said...

Belated Happy Beltane from Carmel (somewhere near Snowdon), beautiful pics and love to read your posts. Happy days, Lee (www.thebeachhousekitchen.wordpress.com)

Fae said...

Blessed be :)
I am a beginner wiccan, and I'm wondering if there are any pagan supply shops in Carmarthen.

Moonroot said...

Colapachino,
I'm afraid there are none as such. We used to have the wonderful Star of Venus in King Street, but it closed a few years back and the building is now home to the Tangled Parrot record/CD shop and cafe. (Which I can heartily recommend by the way, but that doesn't really answer your question...)
"Nomads" between King Street & Nott Square has good incense at reasonable prices and some nice Pagan/Hippy/Goth jewellery. There is a stall in the market that stocks some Pagan-y stuff like tarot decks and a small selection of books.
Venturing further afield, there is an excellent crystal shop in Newcastle Emlyn (Rainbow Crystals) and a place called "The Magic Cat" in Ammanford about which I've heard good things but haven't yet had the chance to visit. And "Wyrd Ways Crafts" trade at various markets around South & West Wales. Their Facebook page is at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/wyrdwayscrafts if you'd like to check them out.
Good hunting!