Photo by Clarence Hudson White (April 8, 1871 – July 7, 1925) an American photographer and a founding member of the Photo-Secession movement. He is recognized as a master of the art form for his sentimental portraits and for his excellence as a teacher of photography. Photo titled “the May Pole” circa 1899. #victorianchaps #maypole #retro #beltane #goodolddays #victorian #usa #oldphoto #pastlives #nostalgia #vintage #mayday #1890s #history #portrait https://www.instagram.com/p/CdBfKJtDfiA/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Rejoice within the solace of night and moonlight upon your face. Let not even the smallest of offerings be taken for granted. Know that the first light of a new day is a promise of possibilities and new beginnings.
Bealtaine, May Day, was once considered the first day of summer.
On the eve of May we feasted, scorched bones and bread, prayed for protection, danced, and sang.
The next day, still full and light headed, we went to a friend’s home to cover ourselves in flowers, dance with ribbons, and make some butter.
The early flowers that I’m used to bloom late in Maine. Still, everything is waking up.
Beannachtaí na Bealtaine oraibh.
Demetri for 2, 4, 9 who did 3?
…
[Image descriptions:
(1) Demetri smiling at the camera wearing a flower crown in front of the maypole. (2) Me, smiling at the camera wearing flower crowns in front of the maypole. (3) Maggie, myself, Demetri, and Noel are putting ribbons up on the maypole in the lawn. (4) A group of people standing in a circle holding colorful ribbons that connect to the pole off camera. We ate wearing flower crowns. (5) Photo from below of new, colorful ribbons woven along the maypole with a flower crown at the top of it. Behind it is blue sky and treetops. (6) A simple porch and screen door with a porch light and mailbox. Yellow flowers and grass hang in a bundle from the porch light, and yellow flowers are strewn in front of the doorstep. (7) Medium sized statue of Diana wearing a flower crown and a red ribbon. There is a drum, an archery bow, lightswitch, thermostat, picture frame, and a horn on the wall behind her. (8) An indoor selfie with my flower crown. (9) Video of Maggie and me dancing on pieces of plywood in a lawn. Our foot rhythms are accompanying a song in Irish that we are singing together. I am wearing a flower crown. Behind us is a maypole, a bonfire, and a green house on the other side of a fence. End descriptions.]
Shop Announcements! Big things are coming to the shop this month, starting with a small round of restocks at the end of this week and some antiques that will be up for grabs from the studio clean out. Keep an eye on my stories for previews and to know when things become available. Next, with Witches’ Night (April 30th) and Beltane (May 1st) just around the corner, the next shop update is scheduled for Sunday, APRIL 24th at 8pm ET. This update will be based on the upcoming holidays and feature new artwork and one-of-a-kind altar cloths pertaining to both days of celebration! The Maypole drawing shown here is a detail of something special I drew for the upcoming Beltane wedding of my dear friend @ladybeastdeb and her partner, Adam. Deb has been gracious enough to give me her blessing in turning this artwork into a screen print, so it will be available during the update on the 24th. Check out my stories for extra sneak peeks and stay tuned for more previews of what’s to come! #poisonappleprintshop #beltane #mayday #maypole #handfasting #sketchbook #supporthandmade https://www.instagram.com/p/CcTCt31LzFp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
s the stark harshness of winter gives way to the gentle unfurling of spring our minds and activities turn toward spending time out of doors. Spring and Fall are two seasons I love in equal measure due to all of the changes big and small that can be both seen and felt. It is a time when the explosion of green buds, grasses and plant life in every direction hails the quickening of the earths energy towards growth, attraction and communion.
The energy of Beltane is abundant in activity, with birds singing, bees drunkenly overwhelmed in pollen and bunnies mad with the chase, while shyer plants and animals take their time. The sun and warm moisture have returned along with a bit of food~browse and nectar aplenty for the animals, whilst we are busy harvesting fall sown carrots, kale and salad greens. During this season we’ve been busy planting seed flats full of herbs, vegetables and flowers. There is nothing more rewarding than heading out to the greenhouse to take in the smell of damp soil and checking out all the little emerging seedlings-there is something new to appreciate every single day.
The returning light at Candlemas started slowly bringing our awareness from within, whereas the verdant lushness of Beltane slowly awakens our bodies and seduces our senses with the softness of new leaves and the intense sweetness of spring blossoms. There is nothing like the fresh life-giving breath of spring to fill our lungs with the fragrant air and bathe our bodies in the brilliant greens surrounding us to heal and engage our heart chakras on a whole new level. It is truly a season of growth and renewal as the burgeoning energy tangibly builds to a climactic burst of life.
During the Rites of Spring, we celebrate fecundity while also giving offerings to our ancestors, land spirits, fey and kin. We decorate our altars to welcome the energy of the season and prepare for the coming celebration by creating our Beltane Bundles of sacred woods, baking bread, infusing May wine with Sweet Woodruff and preparing a feast of seasonal foods.
It is also traditional to collect the first dew of the Bel morning, considered sacred, it is believed to bring healing and physical beauty. I collect the dew in two different ways. The night before I like to lay out a clean tea towel in a bowl on the grass. When I collect the towel the next morning I will run my hands over the cool dew-soaked grass and pat my neck and face. The towel will be rung out into a small vial so that I can add it to the sacred waters for our rite. I also like to collect dew into a little egg cup off of the lady’s mantle leaves. I will use this on my skin or add to a spell working.
Two favorite feast recipes are the May Wine and Beehive Bread with rosehip honey butter. Traditionally May Wine was used to celebrate the sabbat and call in the old gods being symbolic of the union of the God and Goddess.
It is best to plan ahead as this recipe takes about 24 hours to steep so that the herb imparts the essence of the woodruff. My favorite wine to use for this recipe is a homemade apple wine we make in the fall. If you do not have that tasty brew available then my next favorites would be a light Riesling or a Gewurztraminer. You can use dried woodruff for a more vanilla-like flavor, however, I try to use the freshest and newest grown of all I can on my Bel altar. While sweet woodruff is safe to use in small quantities such as in wine or altar cakes, this is not something you are going to want to add to everything as it has been known to cause dizziness and vomiting in large quantities. It also contains small amounts of coumarin and was used to thin the blood.
May Wine 1 bottle of apple or white wine (representative of the maiden goddess and everlasting life) 20 or so springs of Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) leaves and blossoms (is said to bring about protection and enliven male sexuality) 1 Tb local honey (amazing immune booster and sacred to the Goddess, powerful spellbinding ingredient) 10 Strawberries (adds a maiden’s blush)
Add clean organic blossoms and leaves of Sweet Woodruff to a bottle of wine. Let steep 24 hours. Strain and decant in a bowl, add a few fresh Woodruff flowers and some sliced strawberries.
Bee Hive Bread 6 c flour 4 ½ tsp or 2 pkts yeast 1 ½ tsp salt 1 ¼ c warm water ½ c honey ½ c cold butter grated 2 large eggs
Mix warm water a bit of the honey and yeast, letting stand for 15 minutes or so. Add beaten eggs, remaining honey and salt to water mixture. Add flour and mix then cut in butter. Knead until elastic and let rest until doubled in bulk. Preheat oven. Push down and turn over a couple times in the bowl until a ball forms. Cover large ovenproof glass bowl with a sheet of foil. Make ropes and coil starting at the bottom and work your way to the top in the shape of a beehive. Brush with egg white for a glossy crust. Bake @ 375 for 30 minutes. While bread is baking mix 1 c softened butter, 1/3 c honey and a few drops of vanilla together. Butter is best when whipped with immersion or hand blender. When bread is done remove from oven and let cool before peeling away foil. Serve with honey butter.
This Beltane season gives us much to be thankful for. Regardless of what is taking place in the world at large-we have our faith, our beautiful practice, each other and another turn on the wheel. From our Homestead Coven at Rosethornmanor to our pagan brethren wherever you are lighting your Balefires-we wish for you an abundance of opportunity and prosperity in these trying times.
Happy Bel and Blessed Be!
Beltane Traditions-How we celebrate s the stark harshness of winter gives way to the gentle unfurling of spring our minds and activities turn toward spending time out of doors.
s the stark harshness of winter gives way to the gentle unfurling of spring our minds and activities turn toward spending time out of doors. Spring and Fall are two seasons I love in equal measure due to all of the changes big and small that can be both seen and felt. It is a time when the explosion of green buds, grasses and plant life in every direction hails the quickening of the earths energy towards growth, attraction and communion.
I collect the dew in two different ways. The night before I like to lay out a clean tea towel in a bowl on the grass. When I collect the towel the next morning I will run my hands over the cool dew-soaked grass and pat my neck and face. The towel will be rung out into a small vial so that I can add it to the sacred waters for our rite. I also like to collect dew into a little egg cup off of the lady’s mantle leaves. I will use this on my skin or add to a spell working.
1 bottle of apple or white wine (representative of the maiden goddess and everlasting life)
