German Love

A black cat was spotted atop the stones at Stonehenge during the Winter Solstice celebrations. This is considered be a good omen for the coming year.

Imbolc "In the belly" (Feb 1-2) 🐑 Midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, Winter is slowly but surely coming to an end and spring is just around the corner. The days are getting longer and snowdrops, crocus and daffodils are starting to bloom. Farmers sow the first seeds, sheep are lactating and the first lambs are born. Imbolc is all about purification, fertility and rebirth.

Imbolc dutch pancake recipe

With Imbolc coming up February 1st, I have a recipe that I want to share with you all! During Imbolc milk plays a big role, people bake and cook dishes with milk to celebrate. What better way, than to make delicious warm pancakes!

Ingredients:

2 eggs

250g flour

500ml (almond/oat)milk

Heat a (non stick pan) with a bit of olive oil or butter.

Mix all the ingredients, sift the flour to prevent getting lumps in the batter.

Pour with a ladle spoon (half filled) the batter into the pan and rotate it a bit to get a nice round pancake.

Let it cook 👩‍🍳, you know the pancake is ready to flip when you see no wet batter/bubbles/sides are getting brown.

Flip the pancake, and let the other side cook.

I recommend stacking the pancakes on a plate with a pan lid, the warmth from the pancakes paired with their steam will make the stack of pancakes nice and soft.

Ostara (March 19-21)

Ostara is this week, with this sabbat we celebrate the beginning of spring and perfect balance between night and day. The winter months are officially over, and from now on everything will bloom and get warmer 🌞

Beltane

Beltane (May 1st) we celebrate spring being at its peak and everything around us being in bloom. The sun is shining bright again, and the days are now longer.

yule 🎄

yule is the celebration of the winter solstice, the longest night where the sun returns and days begin to lengthen again. it celebrates the return of the light and warmth coming back soon. it focuses on themes of introspection, renewal, and setting intentions for the new year, along with light and rebirth. it’s a time to gather with loved ones and celebrate the cycles of nature and return of the light.

rituals & ways to celebrate 🎄

13 wishes

make a yule log or yule tree

watch the sunrise and/or sunset

give gifts to your loved ones

candle magick

practice divination

host a feast with your family and/or friends

meditate, reflect, and journal on the past year and how you want next year to be

honor ancestors

nature walks

rituals for protection, prosperity, peace, and new beginnings

set intentions and goals for the new year

release what no longer serves you

correspondences 🎄

ELEMENT: fire

COLORS: red, green, gold, silver, white

FOODS: meat, root vegetables, squash, berries, nuts, spiced drinks, gingerbread, cookies, yule log cake, wassail, apples, oranges, soup, bread

HERBS: rosemary, bay, cinnamon, pine, cedar, frankincense, myrrh, juniper, mistletoe, holly, cloves

CRYSTALS: clear quartz, ruby, garnet, snowflake obsidian, labradorite, citrine

DEITIES: The Cailleach, Odin, Freyja, Demeter, Persephone, Apollo, Ra, Surya, Dionysus

SYMBOLS & IMAGERY: pinecones, the sun, yule log, evergreens, holly, ivy, mistletoe, candles, snowflakes, sun wheel

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What is Lughnasadh?

Lughnasadh, or Lammas, is the first of the three harvest festivals of the Wheel of the Year. In the Northern Hemisphere, Lammas is celebrated on August 1st, and in the Southern Hemisphere, on February 1st, representing a time to honour the first harvest, whether that means crops from your garden or the first results of your intentions finally coming to life. Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the season where the earth starts to give back. The days are still warm, the fields turn golden, and the air carries the scent of ripening grain. Even though the sun still shines brightly and summer feels strong, this sabbat reminds us that autumn is slowly approaching. That’s why it’s important to enjoy the warmth, the gifts of nature, and to begin preparing our homes and spirits for the colder months ahead. Also, Lammas celebrates the first fruits of the land, which is a moment of joy, gratitude, and celebration. More harvests will come later, but now is the time to notice that what you’ve planted, literally or metaphorically, is beginning to grow. Lughnasadh is about trusting that what’s to come will be abundant, and taking a moment to appreciate how far you've come.

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Origins of Lammas

Lughnasadh gets its name from the Celtic god Lugh, a solar deity associated with skill, harvest, and craftsmanship. The alternative name, Lammas, comes from the Old English hlaf-mæss, meaning “loaf-mass” or “feast of bread.” Traditionally, this was a time when communities gave thanks for the first grain harvest by baking loaves of bread and offering them in gratitude, both to deities and as part of the communal celebration. Harvesting grain, gathering fruit and vegetables, and honoring solar gods were all important parts of this sabbat.

August 1st was only the peak of a much longer celebration. The three days leading up to Lughnasadh were considered especially sacred and focused on purification rituals. These days were dedicated to Ana, an ancient Irish solar goddess, older and more primordial than Lugh himself. Some believe that the entire festival may have originally belonged to her, before being associated with Lugh later on.

The ancient Romans associated this time with the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius, calling it the dies caniculares, which is where the modern phrase “Dog Days” comes from. These days were seen as the most intense and unbearable of the summer.

In early Ireland, it was considered unlucky to harvest grain before Lughnasadh. Doing so meant that last year’s supplies had run out too early, before the next harvest was ready. Waiting until Lughnasadh symbolized proper abundance and care.

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God Lugh x Lammas

Lughnasadh takes its name from the Celtic deity Lugh, sometimes spelled Lug. In Irish tradition, he is Lugh, while in Wales he is known as Lleu Llaw Gyffes, the “Bright One of the Skillful Hand.” Across continental Europe, he was called Lugos, meaning “raven,” and held an important role in Gaul as well.

Today, Lugh is often seen as a solar god and a bringer of harvest, but in ancient times, he was much more: he was a god of skill, crafts, kingship, and heroic strength. He was a brilliant warrior and wise leader, ruling over the Tuatha Dé Danann, the divine people of the goddess Danu. Danu, a great mother goddess linked to earth, water, fertility, and victory, was the ancestral force behind this divine race. With Lugh's power, her people triumphed over the Fir Bolg and the Fomoiri, former divine rulers depicted in Irish myths as wild and monstrous beings. Lugh was also revered for his mastery in many arts, and over time, he came to be associated with the Roman god Mercury, both being patrons of intelligence, travel, skill, and strategy.

During Lammas, we celebrate his energy of mastery, fulfillment, and transformation. The sun is still warm, but its strength begins to fade. Lugh, as the radiant god, now pours the last of his energy into the land, bringing forth the first harvest. He has not disappeared yet, but his cycle is shifting. The goddess, too, has changed; she is now the Grain. Her role is to dry the fields, to release the seeds that will fall into the earth and sleep through winter, waiting to rise again at Imbolc. Some sources say that four weeks are especially sacred to Lugh, the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August, roughly the time when the sun passes through the sign of Leo, and reaches its symbolic height at 15 degrees.

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Lughnasadh Myths

One of the older names for this sabbat is Lughnasa, often translated as “the marriage of Lugh.” And there’s a deep sense of sacred romance woven into this time. Some traditions say that during the full moon of August, Lugh, the bright sun god, and the Earth Mother renew their vows, blessing the land through their union.it represents a celebration of love, abundance, and the harmony between earth and sky.

Long before Lugh became the central figure, this time of year may have belonged to the Corn Mother and her dying son or lover. In older myths, she offers him to the land as a sacrifice so life may continue. Her grief transforms her into the Mater Dolorosa, the Sorrowful Mother, while the grain falls and returns to the soil, waiting to rise again.

But the most well-known story linked to Lughnasadh isn’t about a wedding, it’s about remembrance. Many versions of the myth speak of the funeral games that Lugh held in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu. Tailtiu had once been queen of the Fir Bolg, and after they were overthrown, she married into the Tuatha Dé Danann. According to legend, she died from exhaustion after clearing the lands of Ireland for farming. To honor her sacrifice, Lugh established the Fair of Tailtean, a great gathering filled with feasts, contests, and community rituals. This wasn’t considered just a legend. The fair was real, held each year on August 1st in what is now County Meath, near the place believed to be Tailtiu’s grave. It was one of the most important festivals in ancient Ireland.

The word Lughnasa itself can be interpreted as “the games or assembly of Lugh.” Across the Celtic world, from Ireland to Gaul and Britain, early August was marked by great gatherings in his name. These festivals included tribal meetings, athletic games, horseracing, and ceremonies to ensure a good harvest and to open the hunting and fishing seasons. At Telltown, the Tailtiu Games included events like spear-throwing (gaelbolga), stone-throwing, high jumping, triple jumping (geal-ruith), and even a ritual wheel toss (roth-deas). These competitions likely came from much older harvest rites, later merged with Lugh’s myth as his worship spread. The final recorded Tailtiu Games took place on August 1st, 1169, during the reign of Ruraigh Ó Conchobar, the last High King of Ireland. Though the games have ended, their spirit lingers in every festival fire, every loaf of harvest bread, and every quiet moment of thanks offered to the land.

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Lammas and Corn Dollies

There was once a deep belief that the spirit of the corn must be kept safe from one harvest to the next, to ensure the fields would thrive again. The very last sheaf cut held the heart of the corn’s life force, hidden away in that final bundle. Harvesters approached it with care and respect, often calling it “The Neck” or “The Mare”, and with a steady hand and a solemn cry, “I have the neck”, they freed it from the stalks.

That last sheaf was carefully woven into a corn dolly, a little figure meant to hold the spirit safe through the winter months. This small creation was honored and protected, waiting until spring. At Imbolc, bits of corn would be taken from the dolly and planted back into the earth, breathing new life into the soil.

This tradition is ancient, stretching back thousands of years, even the Egyptians made corn dollies as symbols of life and renewal. For the Celts, these woven figures were sometimes called “holy brides of the corn”, a living symbol of the earth’s blessing.

Each region developed its own style and patterns, from shapes like chandeliers and horns to horseshoes and stars. The ribbons that tied them held their own meanings too, yellow for the sun’s warmth, red for sacrifice, blue for love, green for wisdom, and white for strength. For modern Pagans, creating a corn dolly is a sacred act of honoring the harvest.

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Life and Death of Lughnasadh

Even though August still holds the warmth of summer, Lughnasadh quietly marks the turning of the wheel, since Midsummer, the days have slowly begun to shorten. This sabbat reminds us that we are moving toward the end of the season, step by step. Lughnasadh is the first of three harvest festivals, it opens the path toward Mabon, the great gathering of abundance, and finally to Samhain, when the last of the harvest is taken in. For now, the world is still full of green leaves, tall grain, and the life of young animals, but underneath all this, there’s the first whisper of change. This is also the time when we begin to think about death, not in fear, but as part of the cycle. In one of the old myths, Lugh must travel to the Underworld to defeat Bres, the god of death, his victory brings life back to the land, just like how the grain must fall in order to feed us. The harvest is a gift, but it is also a letting go, what was once alive must now be cut, gathered, and transformed. That’s the quiet truth at the heart of Lughnasadh, life and death walk together through the golden fields. Some say that Lugh becomes the lord of the waning year, and that his steps through the tall, whispering grain are a quiet dance of death. If that's true, then it's not something to fear, it’s a reminder that all things move in circles, and that endings are always part of something beautiful.

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The August Herbs

In parts of Northern Europe, the night before Lughnasadh was seen as the perfect time to create a special charm known as the August Herbs, if gathered in the right way, this bundle of summer plants was said to bring blessings that lasted through the year, protection against storms and dark magic, support during transitions, help in love, and even comfort in birth or in letting go at the end of life.

To gather the herbs with their full power, tradition said to pick them just before sunrise, in silence, some even believed the ritual should be done bare, in full openness to the earth, though over time, many simply went barefoot and uncovered their head, letting the morning air and dew touch their skin.

What mattered most was intention, moving gently through the fields or garden, listening to the quiet, and allowing the plants to speak, the bundle would later be hung in the home, placed on the altar, or kept close as a charm, holding the light and energy of that sacred morning, long after summer has faded.

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Magic Correspondences

Planets: Sun, Mercury

Season: Midpoint between Summer and Autumn

Element: Earth, Fire

Time Of The Day: Evening

Tarot Cards: Strength, The Sun, Seven of Pentacles, Ten of Pentacles, Four of Wands, Justice, Wheel of Fortune

Colors: Gold, Yellow, Green, Brown, Red, Royal Purple, Heather Purple, Bronze

Herbs: Blackberry, Bilberry, Allspice, Basil, Fennel, Rosemary, Garlic, Bay, Wheat

Fruits: Pears, plums, peaches, grapes, apples, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries

Vegetables: Corn, Root Vegetables, Squash, Potatoes, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Onion, Beans

Crystals: Tiger’s eye, Amber, Rutilated quartz, Citrine, Clear quartz, Golden topaz, Carnelian, Onyx, Aventurine, Cat’s eye

Runes: Jera, Sowilo, Wunjo

Trees: Apple, Hazel, Oak, Holly

Goddesses: Cailleach Bheur, Ana, Arianrhod, Artemis, Ceres, Corn Maiden, Cybele, Danu, Demeter, Diana, Inanna, Isis, Morrigan, Ops, Pomona, Persephone, Proserpina, Rhiannon, Tailtiu, Cerridwen, Brigid

Gods: Adonis, Gofannon, Hades, Hephaestus, Lugh, Mithras, Ninurta, Odin, Osiris, Set, Helios, Thor, Vulcan, Loki, Dionysus, Vertumnus, Apollo, Xiuhtecuhtli

Dragons: Fafnir

Flowers: Honeysuckle, Marigold, Sunflower, Gladiola, Poppy, Rose, Aster, Cornflower, Vervain, Lavender, Heather

Animals: Swan, Lion, Boar, Cat, Raven, Goat, Dog, Owl, Bear, Fox, Salmon, Horse, Cow, Eagle, Rooster, Ram, Snake, Stag, Hare, Bull, Wolf, Robin, Crane, Sow, Sheep, Otter

Magical Powers: Harvest, Gratitude, Abundance, Protection, Personal Transformation, Honoring Ancestors, Making Offerings, Reflection, Introspection, Discernment, Prosperity, Communication with the Dead, Renewal, Sacrifice, Death

Symbols: Corn dolly, Rowan cross, Cornucopia, Pentacle, Staff, Stang, Sickle, Flail, Wheel, Sun, Bread.

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Activities to do:

🌽 Make a Lammas loaf or other special bread. Before putting the loaf in the oven, dip a brush in milk and write on the crust what you desire most. You can also bake pastries, pies, or braided bread with solar or witchy symbols, and enjoy them while still warm.

🌾 Eat seasonal food made with ingredients like grains, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Corn with butter is a perfect choice for this time :D

🌽 Cook something traditional and share a meal with loved ones using what you’ve grown in your garden.

🌾 Decorate your altar with seasonal fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

🌽 Practice sun magick.

🌾 Make a sun catcher to bring solar energy into your life.

🌽 Make sunflower crowns

🌾 Collect or buy some sunflowers. Dry the petals to use in spells for prosperity, luck and happiness.

🌽 Visit a farmer’s market and support local harvests.

🌾 Spend time in nature. Wake up early and take a peaceful walk, maybe you’ll hear roosters if you live in a rural area.

🌽 Tend your garden by trimming dry grass, collecting it for hay, and preparing the soil.

🌾 Harvest your first fruits or vegetables, and preserve anything you want to keep for winter.

🌽 Make a Lammas wreath using herbs, flowers, or grains.

🌾 Collect August herbs, seeds, and wild plants or berries. Let the herbs dry to use later in the year.

🌽 Face paint with bright colors, Celtic symbols, or Lughnasadh designs, or like a Celtic warrior :D

🌾 DIY a theatre mask for fun or ritual use.

🌽 Have a bonfire in the evening, and maybe dance around it.

🌾 Have a feast with your loved ones.

🌽 Make offerings to gods and ancestors

🌾 Play Lughnasadh games to honor strength and the harvest, like slap hands, horseshoes, archery, or arm wrestling. For a cozy option, play card games or board games.

🌽 Take time to connect with the dead.

🌾 Celebrate your successes so far this year, and reflect on what you’ve learned and achieved.

🌽 Do a gratitude journaling session to focus on the good things in your life.

🌾 Meditate and ground in the sun

🌽 Connect with the crystals associated with Lammas

🌾 Wear the colors of the sabbat.

🌽 Make a Lughnasadh magick jar with seasonal symbols.

🌾 Perform abundance and success spells.

🌽 Honor solar deities, especially the god Lugh.

🌾 Leave water outside for animals, and don’t forget to stay hydrated yourself.

🌽 Gather seasonal grains such as wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, or onion to honor the harvest’s abundance.

🌾 Create a corn mother or a corn dolly using corn husks, reeds, or wheat from the first harvest.

🌽 Light a golden, orange, or yellow candle to welcome the light of the sabbat.

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Food and Drinks:

Fresh bread, soda bread, bannock, oat meal, potatoes, root vegetables, corn on the cob, sweetcorn, popcorn, wheat, rye, oats, fresh berries, apples in all forms, such as apple cider, apple cake, apple compote, apple pie, apple charlotte, mashed apples, baked apples, preserves, applesauce, fresh apples, grapes, vine leaves, fruity berry wines, fresh fruit, home-grown vegetables, soups, salads, salmon, oysters, basil, borage, fennel, summer pudding, nut pies, fruit pies, berry jams, preserves, potluck dishes, outdoor feast, peaches and apricots jams, fruit tarts, honey, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, pears, roasted meat, venison, fried meats, corn fritters, butter, pizza, barley cakes, wheat, squash, corn bread muffins, blackberries, blackberry cake, chia seeds, what beer, fruit and veggie salads, sour dough

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What is Litha?

Litha is a solar festival celebrated between June 20th and 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere, and around December 20th to 22nd in the Southern Hemisphere. It marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year and the moment when the sun reaches its peak power. Traditionally, Litha honors the height of light, the fullness of life, and the abundance offered by the Earth in bloom. It is the midpoint of the Wheel of the Year, when nature is at its most alive: fields are green, flowers are open, fruit begins to ripen, and warmth fills every corner. Litha celebrates vitality, strength, joy, and the energy of the sun at its zenith. Fires are lit in its honor, herbs are gathered, and the power of manifestation is strong. Yet, within this brightness lies a quiet turning point, from this day forward, the light will begin to wane. Litha carries both celebration and awareness: the joy of what has flourished, and that all things are cyclical, Now it’s a great time to reflect on personal radiance, express gratitude and to honor the sun and all solar deities.

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History of Litha

The name Litha comes from Anglo-Saxon sources and was recorded by Bede as the name of the months around midsummer. However, the solstice has been celebrated across many cultures for thousands of years. In Celtic lands, midsummer was a sacred time when druids lit bonfires on hilltops to honour the sun and support the fertility of the land. Sacred herbs were gathered at dawn, believed to be especially powerful when infused with the longest light of the year. In ancient Rome, this period was dedicated to Juno, goddess of marriage and women, and to Vesta, the goddess of the hearth fire. Her temple was opened to women, and offerings of grain were made to ensure household blessings. In ancient Greece, midsummer was connected to Hera, Aphrodite, and it was also believed that Prometheus stole the fire from the chariot of the sun and gifted it to humanity at this time. In ancient China, the summer solstice was linked to yin, feminine, earthly energy, in balance with the winter solstice, which represented yang. ⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁

Litha and the Faerie Folk

Midsummer is also a time when the faerie realm is believed to be especially active. Just like Beltane, Litha is considered a liminal time, when the veil between worlds grows thin and the unseen becomes just a little more visible. In Celtic folklore, the fae wander freely during the solstice, drawn to beauty, music, laughter, and offerings left in nature. People once left milk, honey, or bread under sacred trees, near springs, or in gardens to honour them and ask for protection or blessings. Wildflowers and oak groves are especially associated with faerie energy at this time, and some believe that in the shimmer of heat on the solstice horizon, you can sense the opening of other realms: Avalon, Tir na nÓg, the Land of Youth. It’s believed that faeries hold their grand celebrations within mystical faerie rings. These circles, often found in grassy meadows or forest clearings, are thought to mark the dancing spots of faeries. To honor these elemental spirits, offerings of honey, butter, or creamy milk are left in the hopes of gaining faerie favor. (source)

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Midsummer Herb Ritual

Litha is also traditionally a time for harvesting herbs used in potions, elixirs, and spells, a moment long held sacred in magical practice. Since ancient times, it has been believed that when the sun is at its peak and the earth is overflowing with life, the bond between plants and those who work with them grows especially strong. Witches, healers, druids, and others in tune with the land’s rhythms would venture out to gather herbs with deep care, following the natural flow of the day. Some plants were picked at dawn, others at noon, some at sunset, and a few in the gentle quiet of late afternoon. They used small blades, sometimes curved or shaped like serpents, and approached the task slowly, with reverence. Before cutting, they would sit with the plant in stillness, offering a soft prayer or moment of presence. Only a small amount was taken, never more than needed, always leaving enough so the plant could continue to grow and thrive. Gratitude was at the heart of the act, gratitude for the plant, for the living earth, and for the unseen spirits watching over the wild. The herbs gathered during Litha were believed to be especially potent. Little was required. Just sunlight, clear intention, and a respectful hand. Many flowers are linked to this time of year, but the most well-known is St. John’s Wort, valued for its protective and healing properties. Roses, in every color, are also deeply connected to Litha, representing love, passion, and the fullness of life under the midsummer sun.

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The Rise of the Holly King

The myth of the Oak King and the Holly King is often told to explain the shifting balance of light and dark throughout the year. The Oak King rules from the winter solstice to the summer solstice, he is the spirit of the waxing year, of expanding daylight, growth, and vitality. He represents the rising power of the sun and the energy that brings life back to the land. But at Litha, when the light reaches its peak, his brother, the Holly King, returns. The Holly King rules from the summer solstice to Yule, guiding the year into the waning half. He is the spirit of stillness, reflection, and retreat. Their meeting is not a violent battle, but a symbolic shift, one steps back so the other may rise. This story reminds us that light and dark are both sacred, and that every high point contains the seed of return. Just like the sun, we too rise, peak, rest, and begin again.

Litha and Goddess Áine

Áine is a Celtic goddess very closely associated with Litha. is the Celtic Goddess of Midsummer and Queen of the Faeries, deeply tied to both the light of the sun and the mystery of the fae. As a solar deity, she is honored during Midsummer celebrations, being associated with summer, love, protection, fertility, wealth, and sovereignty. On the eve of the 23rd, just after the solstice, people used to gather on Cnoc Áine, where she was said to dwell. They would light bunches of straw and hay tied to poles. These poles were then carried in procession to the top of the hill. Later, people would run with the flames through their fields and between the cattle to bring good luck for the rest of the year. Áine is also connected to horses, animals considered sacred and symbolic of midsummer in Irish tradition. It was said that she could take the form of a red mare named Lair Derg and ride through the fields during the solstice, blessing the land with fertility and magic. Offerings to Áine might include flowers, honey mead, and horseshoes.

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Magic Correspondences

Planets: Sun

Season: Summer

Element: Earth, Fire

Time Of The Day: Noon (when the Sun is at its highest)

Tarot Cards: The Sun, The Empress, The Wheel Of Fortune, 9 Of Cups, The Emperor, The Strength

Colors: Yellow, Orange, Green, Blue, Gold, Red

Herbs: Fennel, Ivy, Yarrow, Verbena, Mugwort, Sage, Mint, Basil, Clove, Thyme

Fruits: Cherry, Raspberry, Peach, Strawberry, Berries, Pineapple, Orange, Apricot, Nectarines

Vegetables: Spinach, Lettuce, Tomatoes, Carrots

Crystals: Jade, Carnelian, Peridot, Citrine, Tiger’s Eye, Sunstone

Runes: Kenaz, Fehu, Ehwaz, Sowilo

Trees: Oak, Birch, Elder, Linden

Goddesses: Brigid, Hel, Amaterasu, Hestia, Juno, Hera, Aphrodite, Áine, Freyja, Bastet, Hathor, Sunna, Flora, Vesta

Gods: Apollo, Helios, Lugh, Baldur, Ra, Zeus, Horus, Dionysus, Aten, Loki, Jupiter, Thor, Cernunnos

Dragons: Fafnir

Flowers: Daisy, St. John’s Wort, Rose, Lavender, Sunflower, Poppy, Calendula, Honeysuckle, Foxglove, Chamomile, Marigold, Jasmine, Peony

Animals: Horse, Bee, Butterfly, Lion, Wren, Moth, Bull, Cow, Hawk, Lizard, Donkey, Hawks, Eagles, Swans

Magical Powers: Good Energy, Solar Magick, Confidence, Healing, Love, Power, Warmth, Success, Fire Magick, Fertility

Symbols: Birch, Sun, Horseshoe, Flower, Butterfly, Summer Birds, Sea Shells, Sun Wheel, Bonfire, St. John’s Wort, Faerie Rings, Roses, Oak, Spiral

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Activities to Do:

☀️ Read A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare

☀️ Take a bath with rose petals or rose essential oil

☀️ Swim on this day to honor both the water and fire elements

☀️ Drink St. John's Wort tea (⚠️Just a quick warning: consuming St. John's Wort while on certain medications, like antidepressants or some painkillers, can trigger serotonin syndrome, which is a serious and painful condition. So make sure to check first or skip it if you're unsure.)

☀️ Craft faerie houses in your garden

☀️ Meditate while lying in the grass, letting the sun touch your skin

☀️ Bake a honey cake for the sabbat

☀️ Go camping to connect with nature

☀️ Craft a homemade sundial

☀️ Leave offerings for the faerie folk

☀️ Create a Litha altar

☀️ Make a flower wreath or crown

☀️ Honor solar deities

☀️ Dance around a Birch tree

☀️ Wear bright colors (yellow, orange, green, blue) to reflect solar energy

☀️ Make lavender lemonade

☀️ Spend time in the sun (don’t forget sunscreen!)

☀️ Do a tarot reading outdoors

☀️ Read poetry in nature

☀️ Host a garden party or BBQ

☀️ Make a Litha magick jar

☀️ Watch the sunset or sunrise from a peaceful place

☀️ Water your garden with intention

☀️ Leave water bowls outside for animals

☀️ Dance around a bonfire at dusk

☀️ Eat fresh fruits in celebration of the season

☀️ Meditate outdoors and ground yourself in the sun’s energy

☀️ Bake sun-shaped cake or bread

☀️ Make a fruit and veggie salad

☀️ Cleanse your crystals in the sunlight

☀️ Leave seeds out for the birds

☀️ Plant trees or herbs in your garden

☀️ Make sun tea by infusing herbs in a jar under the sun

☀️ Hang a horseshoe on your door for luck and protection

☀️ Create a sun catcher

☀️ Spend time outside with your pets

☀️ Make sun water

☀️ Eat honey

☀️ Host a mini gather with loved ones

☀️ Learn about sea witchcraft

☀️ Do your makeup, nails, or outfit in festive Litha colors

☀️ Go collect seashells if you live near a beach

☀️ Draw the sun wheel symbol and place it on your altar

☀️ Bake sun shaped cookies

☀️ Collect flowers and place them on your altar

☀️ Read about solar deities and their myths

☀️ Make lemonade with herbs or edible flowers

☀️ Reconnect with your inner child: play, dance, read, do activities you loved as a kid

☀️ Make a daisy chain

☀️ Set intentions at sunset for the rest of the year (until Yule)

☀️ Craft a sun wheel

☀️ Honor the sun through rituals

☀️ Harvest herbs from your garden

☀️ Start a herbarium

☀️ Research about draconic magick, dragons resonate with Litha’s fire energy

☀️ Have a picnic at noon to soak in the sun’s peak

☀️ Get yellow or orange candles and inscribe them with runes or sigils

☀️ Engage in gardening and connect to the Earth

☀️ Practice a solar plexus chakra meditation

☀️ Perform spells for confidence, personal power, and abundance

☀️ Visit a botanical garden

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Food and Drinks:

Grilled veggies, grilled chicken with rice, barbecued or flame-grilled food, honey cakes, honey, lavender cheesecake, lemonades, orange juice, summer salads, croissants with jam, bread and pastries, cakes with edible flowers, mead, sun tea, mint tea, spiced punch, rum, ale, wine, milk (for the faeries), strawberries, raspberries, peaches, oranges, lemons, pears, grapes, summer squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, butternut squash, carrot cupcakes, tomato soup, mushroom appetizers, spicy foods, curries, spiced cakes, cinnamon toast, pumpernickel bread, bread with grapes, white bread, potato salad, pasta salad, rice salad, strawberry tart, raspberry tart, leafy green vegetables, spinach, basil, thyme, sunflower seeds, pine nuts.

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mabon is the pagan celebration of the autumn equinox, or the beginning of autumn. it typically falls between september 21st and 23rd in the northern hemisphere.

it marks the transition into the darker time of the year, when days are shorter and nights are longer. it’s a time for gratitude and to start preparing for the winter by letting go of that which no longer serves us.

ways to celebrate 🍂

mabon is a great time for protection, prosperity, and cleansing. especially related to the home.

do a gratitude ritual

get rid of what no longer serves you, whether physically or more symbolically

hold a mabon dinner with foods of the season.

celebrate persephone and her descent into the underworld

visit a farm or vineyard

make an autumn vision board or playlist (my personal favorite)

redecorate your altar or space in general

forage for herbs, plants, etc.

meditate & reflect on yourself

tend to your garden or plants

spend time outside, observe the seasons changing

correspondences 🍂

COLORS: Orange, yellow, red, gold, violet, brown

FOODS: Wine, pies, pomegranates, apples, grains, pumpkins, squash, grapes, corn, wheat, acorns, cider, nuts, berries

FLOWERS: Aster, chrysanthemum, marigold, sunflower, lavender, dahlia, goldenrod

HERBS: Marigold, myrrh, sage, yarrow, thistle, rosehips, cinnamon, cedar, maple, rosemary, thyme, cloves, chamomile

ANIMALS: Wolves, owls, stags, goats, butterflies, dogs, ravens, squirrels, foxes, bears, hawks, swallows, swan

CRYSTALS: Amber, aventurine, citrine, clear quartz, amethyst, lapis lazuli, carnelian, smoky quartz, yellow topaz, moss agate, yellow jasper, lapis lazuli

DEITIES: Modron, Persephone, Inanna, Demeter, Mabon, Dionysus, Thoth, Ishtar, Ceres, Pomona

SYMBOLS & IMAGERY: Acorns, pine cones, cornucopia, autumn leaves, harvest tools

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What is Beltane?

Beltane is a fire festival celebrated on the night of April 30th into May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere, and around October 31st into November 1st in the Southern Hemisphere. It marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, honoring fertility, passion, and the sacred union between the divine feminine and masculine. Traditionally, it signals the beginning of the light half of the year, a time of growth, abundance, warmth, and blooming life. Beltane celebrates freedom, love, lust, creativity, and the return of life to the natural world, bringing with it new, flourishing beginnings. May 1st is a day of joy and play. After a harsh winter, it becomes a celebration of renewal, of aliveness, and of nature’s wild rebirth.

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The History of Beltane

The name Beltane comes from Old Irish Beltene, meaning "bright fire" or "The fires of Bel". Some people link it to the Celtic god Belenus, a solar and healing deity, while others have drawn comparisons to Baal, a fertility god, though that idea is debated and not widely accepted.

Historically, Beltane was celebrated in Celtic regions, most notably Ireland and Scotland, as a pastoral festival. Bonfires were lit on hilltops, and cattle were driven between two of them to protect them from disease and ensure fertility. People would jump over the flames, not just for luck, but as a way to connect with sacred fire and invoke fertility, health, and courage for the coming summer season.

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Beltane and the Fairy Realm

Beltane is a liminal time, one of the two key points in the year (along with Samhain) when the veil between our world and the Otherworld grows thin. While Samhain leans into the realm of spirits and ancestors, Beltane belongs to the fae.

It is said that on the eve of Beltane, the Fair Folk wander freely, drawn to laughter, music, and offerings left with care. In many old traditions, people avoided disturbing fairy mounds or sacred groves during this time, choosing instead to leave gifts like milk, honey, or sweet bread beneath hawthorn trees. These offerings were meant to honor the fae, invite blessings, and protect against mischief.

Wearing a crown of bluebells on Beltane Eve is said to help one see the faeries, as bluebells are sacred to them. A ring of blooming bluebells is also believed to be a favorite gathering spot for garden faeries.

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Beltane and the Hawthorn Tree

Few trees are more sacred to Beltane than the hawthorn. Often called the “fairy tree” in Irish and Scottish folklore, it is said to guard the entrances to the Otherworld. Blooming right around May 1st, its soft white-pink blossoms carry the energy of protection, love, and the unseen.

In Celtic tradition, hawthorn trees were deeply respected as portals to the realm of the fae. During Beltane, it was common to tie ribbons or small offerings to the branches while making heartfelt wishes, not demands, but gentle hopes whispered like prayers. Damaging or cutting a hawthorn tree, especially during this sacred time, was believed to bring terrible luck or stir the wrath of the Fair Folk.

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The Sacred Fire

Fire is the central symbol of Beltane. The festival’s original name literally refers to Bel’s fires, honoring the sun and invoking purification and fertility.

Traditionally, two large bonfires were lit at Beltane, and people, along with their animals, would walk, dance, or even leap between them for blessings, healing, and protection. In some regions, ashes from the sacred fire were scattered over fields to encourage fertility. Couples, especially newlyweds, often passed hand-in-hand through the smoke as a symbol of unity and renewal.

The fire wasn’t just a ritual, it was a living spirit. Lighting it the old way, through friction rather than matches or lighters, was seen as a sacred act, calling upon the raw elemental force of nature itself.

Even today, many Beltane celebrations honor this ancient custom through bonfires, candle magic, and fire rituals. You don’t need a blaze on a hilltop, even a single flame, lit with intention, can carry the sacred spark of Beltane into your home and heart. :D

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The Maypole

The maypole is one of the most central symbols of modern Beltane celebrations. Though it has roots in English May Day traditions, it’s been beautifully woven into Beltane for its rich symbolism of life, fertility, and union.

The tall, phallic pole rising from the earth represents the God, masculine energy, vitality, and the spark of creation. The colorful ribbons and flowers spiraling around it, often held by dancers weaving in circles, represent the Goddess, the womb, fertility, and abundant life. Together, they form a sacred spiral: a dance of harmony between the masculine and feminine, of earth and sky, movement and stillness.

As dancers move around the maypole, their steps create a living mandala, a spell in motion, tied with laughter and bright ribbons.

The dance itself is a celebration of harmony between forces, of weaving ourselves back into the rhythm of the land.

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Beltane x Handfasting

Beltane is also a favored time for handfasting, a traditional pagan betrothal or wedding ritual where a couple’s hands are bound together with ribbons, cords, or braided threads to symbolize their union. In ancient times, a handfasting ceremony could last for a year and a day, after which the couple had the choice to stay together or part ways. Today, many modern pagans choose Beltane as a powerful and romantic time to make such commitments, drawn to the fertile energy of the season. Handfastings are often held outdoors, in nature, near fire, under blooming trees, or surrounded by loved ones in sacred space. The vows exchanged during these rituals can be traditional or deeply personal, as the magic of the ceremony lies in the heart connection and the intention to walk beside each other, bound by love and commitment.

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Magic Correspondences

Planets: Venus

Season: Midpoint between spring and summer

Element: Fire

Time of the Day: Noon

Tarot Cards: The Strength, The Lovers, The Sun, Three of Cups

Colors: Green, Red, Pink, Yellow, Purple, White, Sky Blue, All Pastel Colors

Herbs: Mint, Rosemary, Thyme, Ivy, Nettle, Sage, Basil, Juniper, Clover, Mugwort

Fruits: Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Bananas, Lemon, Cherries

Vegetables: Cucumbers, Carrots, Garlic, Lettuce, New Potatoes

Crystals: Emerald, Bloodstone, Rose Quartz, Carnelian, Red Jasper, Green Aventurine, Moonstone, Fire Agate

Runes: Kenaz, Wunjo, Ingwaz

Trees: Hawthorn, Elder, Willow, Birch

Goddesses: Artemis, Diana, Brigid, Aphrodite, Flora, Gaia, Hera, Astarte, Venus, Juno, Freyja, Epona, Bastet

Gods: Pan, Cernunnos, Belenus, Dionysus, The Green Man, Bacchus, Priapus, Faunus, Eros, Ra

Dragons: Sairys, Fafnir

Flowers: Lilac, Bluebells, Daisy, Lilies, Foxglove, Lily of the Valley, Marigold, Tulips, Violets, Primrose, Peony, Poppy, Honeysuckle

Animals: Frogs, Swans, Cows, Deer, Squirrels, Sheep, Ducks, Cats, Bees, Rabbits, Swallows, Leopards, Lynx, Hares

Magical Powers: Love, Sex, Fertility, Protection, Cleansing, Transformation

Symbols: Maypole, Ribbons, Phallus, Bonfire, Flowers, Faeries, Sex, Floral Crowns, Frogs, Celtic Knots

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Activities to do:

🌸 Make flower-shaped biscuits

🌸 Do candle magick

🌸 Find a local hawthorn tree and make a wish to the faeries

🌸 Wear flowers in your clothes, hair, or as bracelets

🌸 Leave offerings for faeries, as this is the season when they’re most present, you can leave them honey, milk, or biscuits

🌸 Go out for a walk in nature and feel the arrival of summer

🌸 Make a fire in the yard and dance around it (only in safe circumstances, of course); if you don’t have resources, you can light candles in your room (again, be careful)

🌸 Eat anything with oats, as it’s associated with Beltane, such as oatmeal, oatcakes, or other oat-based foods

🌸 Do a tarot or rune reading in the morning of Beltane

🌸 Take care of the trees in your yard or nearby by watering them

🌸 Honor all deities associated with fertility

🌸 Practice faerie magick

🌸 On the morning of Beltane, open your windows or door to warmly welcome the energy of the sabbat.

🌸 Make a Beltane magick jar

🌸 Water your flowers

🌸 Listen to music and dance :D

🌸 Celebrate life, fertility, love, and union

🌸 Take care of your garden, plant seeds, clean dried leaves, and prepare for summer

🌸 Make special Beltane treats

🌸 Casting your circles with oats around this time of year is also a good idea, as oats are a traditional Beltane grain for good luck

🌸 Have a picnic with your loved ones, or organize a gathering with food and grilling

🌸 Honor your ancestors

🌸 Place decorations in your garden

🌸 Plant a tree with any intention you want and take care of it

🌸 Draw runes and specific symbols on paper and burn them

🌸 Do self-love activities

🌸 Practice sex or love magick

🌸 Look for hawthorns in your area and honor them with water and offerings for faeries

🌸 Make a maypole

🌸 Collect flowers

🌸 On the morning of May 1st, wash your face with May Dew or natural spring water

🌸 Connect with the fire element

🌸 Read about the fair folk

🌸 Have a bonfire with your loved ones

🌸 Place ribbons or colored thread in trees with intentions for each, you can use color magick to attract what you need in your life right now (pink for love,

🌸 Meditate

🌸 Make flower crowns and wreaths

🌸 Perform spells for fertility, purification, and love

🌸 As this is a day of love, if you are of an appropriate age, comfortable, being sexually active is part of the celebration

🌸 Buy seeds and plant them in your garden, welcoming the growth of new life

🌸 Create a Beltane altar

🌸 If you don't have a maypole you can dance around your favorite tree <3

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Food and Drinks:

Oats in all forms (oatmeal, oat cookies, oat bread, oatcakes, bannock), strawberries, blueberries, honey, whipped cream with oats, strawberry biscuits, oat and honey bread, blackberry pie, lavender cake, cheese (including Swiss), seasonal potato dishes, fresh fruit salads, tomato and cucumber salads, dairy or plant-based milks, vanilla-flavoured foods, ice cream, grilled food, BBQ, spicy dishes to honor the fire element, May Day wine, white wine, regular wine (with a strawberry placed at the bottom of the glass if you wish), tarts with cheese, mayonnaise.

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A stunning piece by Rodosski!!

I am posting this on their behalf. This is their comment on this Alexander drawing:

Photoshop corrupted this file, so it's impossible for me to finish it. And I'm getting shadowbanned for any movement, if that clarifies some things. Inconveniences, but whatever