In the Northern Hemisphere, spring starts with the spring Equinox. And the spring Equinox occurs when the Sun arrives at the zodiac sign of Aries. 

This also marks the beginning of the astrological year because Aries is the first sign of the zodiac.  

Aries, Taurus, and Gemini are the three astrological seasons of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. 

In the Wiccan calendar, a celebration marks the middle of spring. It’s known as Beltane. Astrologically, it occurs in the middle of Taurus season. 

Through this text, I offer you insights about Taurus season in astrology and how to celebrate Beltane according to Wiccan traditions. 

Some of the sources I used include my own experience and Scott Cunningham’s books Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner and The Magical Household: Spells and Rituals for the Home, co-written with David Harrington.

I’ll cover the following topics:

1. 5 Facts About Taurus Season and the Middle of Spring
2. 5 Facts About Beltane
3. Rituals to Celebrate Beltane

Let’s go. 

5 Facts About Taurus Season and the Middle of Spring

• Taurus is the second zodiac sign. It’s related to patience, perseverance, stubbornness, comfort, and loyalty.  
• It’s a fixed sign, which means it’s located in the middle of a season and is associated with consistency, consolidation, and stability. 
• It’s an Earth sign. This element is connected with the material world, the five senses, the body, money, physicality, and all things concrete. Earth Day is celebrated during Taurus season. Coincidence? Of course not!  
• Since it’s the first Earth sign of the zodiac, its season invites you to enjoy the first sprouts of spring. Projects you initiated in Aries season may begin to bear fruit now. 
• Rumination, steadiness, abundance, sensuality, pleasure, and slowness are part of Taurus realm. 

Related: If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, the celebration that occurs in the middle of the fall is Samhain. You can read about it here: Samhain, Halloween, and Scorpio Season

5 Facts About Beltane

1. In the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, Beltane marks the middle of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. 
2. Beltane is a time to acknowledge the power of life, the presence of longer days, and the flourishing of nature.  
3. Astrologically, it occurs on May 4th or 5th when the Sun is at 15° degrees of Taurus.  
4. Culturally, Wiccans celebrate it on May 1st, coinciding with May Day, a European festival to honor the beginning of summer. It also bears some resemblance to the ancient Roman festival known as Floralia. 
5. It marks the union of the God (the Sun) and the Goddess (the Moon), a symbol of fertility and blooming. 

Rituals to Celebrate Beltane

Bring an offering to a tree: If possible, celebrate Beltane in the woods or close to a live tree. If not possible, add a small tree or bush to your celebration. Even a small tree inside a pot works. The offering you can bring to the tree can be a flower, a crystal, or a tiny cloth bag filled with herbs or dried flowers. Before placing the offering in one of its branches, greet the tree silently or aloud. Then, place your left hand, representing the intuitive side of your body, on its trunk. Take a few deep breaths. Feel your own energy settle into the Earth and up into the branches of the tree. Thank the tree for the oxygen it provides in your life, and place the gift in one of its branches. Afterwards, whisper your Beltane intention to it. The intention must be connected to something you want to bring into full bloom during the rest of the spring.   

Craft a talisman: According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a talisman is “an object held to act as a charm to avert evil and bring good fortune.” Instead, an amulet is defined as “a charm (such as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to aid the wearer or protect against evil (such as disease or witchcraft).” There’s some overlap between the definitions. Both a talisman and an amulet can protect the wearer from evil influences. However, talismans have more positive connotations because they can bring good fortune. A talisman protects you AND brings good fortune. An amulet just protects you. So, this Beltane, you can craft your own talismans to honor the union of the God and the Goddess. The talismans can be small cloth bags filled with spring flowers. You can embroider or paint a phrase of protection on the cloth. Another option is to write a desire you want nature to grant you. This ritual is similar to the crafting of solar ornaments during Yule.  

Start a fire: Bonfires are a common feature in Wiccan celebrations. However, the meaning of ritual fire varies depending on the time of year when it is lit. During Samhain, sacrifices were offered to the fire as a way of thanking the deity for the harvest. Lighting a fire was one of the most magical activities for celebrating Yule in the past. The sacred fire was believed to strengthen the Sun and aid in its moment of rebirth. Fire in astrology is related to passion, and Beltane, as a celebration, marks the return of passion in nature. In the past, special bonfires were kindled during the mid-spring celebration. The flames, smoke, and ashes from Beltane bonfires were deemed to have protective powers. People and their cattle would walk around bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames. In the present, you can light a (safe) bonfire and have a celebration with friends and family. If not possible, light a candle in your house, dance to your favorite music, and ask the divinity for protection. 

Gather round a maypole: Maypoles, phallic symbols of the God, used to be the central point of Beltane’s gatherings. People woke up at dawn to grab flowers, a symbol of the Goddess, and use them to decorate the maypoles. Long colorful ribbons were also placed in the maypole as decoration. Dancing around the maypole is one of Beltane’s most iconic traditions. Maypole dancing symbolizes fertility, unity, and the weaving of energies. Participants used to take a ribbon, weaving in and out around the pole in a rhythmic dance. If you have a coven or witchy friends interested in pagan holidays, you can use a sturdy wooden pole. As you dance all together, you can visualize the ribbons manifesting wishes, and blessings into your existences. If you’re a solo practitioner, you can create a mini maypole for your altar. You can employ a small stick, decorate it with ribbons and flowers, and place it in a vase or pot. As you wrap the ribbons around the pole, visualize the energy of growth, passion, and abundance weaving into your life. 

Weave a crown: Knitting and weaving are traditional arts of mid-spring. The union of two elements to form a third one is the spirit of Beltane. Therefore, creating a flower crown is a way to connect with the Wheel of the Year. In ancient times, women would weave crowns from fresh flowers and wear them during Beltane festivities. Do you want to join them? To do so, gather fresh flowers with flexible stems, such as daisies, baby’s breath, or even wildflowers. Create a sturdy base for the crown using floral wire or a thin vine. Then, begin weaving the stems together, securing them with twine or wire. As you weave your crown, focus on your intentions for the rest of the spring. Welcome light and passion into your life. Once the crown is ready, wear it during your Beltane celebrations or on a nature walk. When the Sabbat is done, make compost out of the natural parts of the crown, and recycle its structure. 

Which ritual are you going to engage with this Beltane? Let me know in the comments! 

---

I hope this text helped you learn about Beltane and implement some rituals to honor this Wiccan festival.  

Thank you for being here, and happy Beltane!