Spirit Work for Beltane

Beltane, also referred to as May Day, falls on the first of May. This sabbat is characterized by fertility rituals, phallic symbols such as the Maypole, dancing, flowers, and fires.  Like Samhain, the veil between worlds is very thin, making this the perfect time to contact spirits, more specifically the fae folk. There are tons of ways to connect with spirits during this sabbat, similar to those most people perform at Samhain, but here are three ways to work with spirits on or around Beltane if you're not sure where to start or looking to try something new.

1. Light a bonfire and practice pyromancy. 

Beltane is a fire festival after all! Pyromancy is the ancient art of divination using the flames of a fire, whether it be a candle flame or bonfire. Once the fire is lit, fix a question firmly in your mind and stare into the flames, allowing your focus to shift slightly. As you watch the flames flicker, jot down any images you see. Do this for about 10 to 15 minutes or until you believe your question has been answered adequately. A single symbol or set of similar symbols are what you should focus on, as they are the message the spirits are trying to convey to you. The symbols can be interpreted according to whatever set of traditional meanings you follow. For example, some view windmills and water fountains as signs of good changes to come, while flowers are believed to represent disappointment. Don't forget to listen to your intuition. Just because a book says one thing, it doesn't mean you are wrong. If your gut is telling you a different story, listen to it. You can find a simple fire scrying ritual here.

2. Speak with your spiritual guides.

Because the veil is thin, you can easily travel to the Otherworld and communicate with your spiritual guides during this time. I like to meet up with my animal guides during Beltane to perform magic within the Otherworld. Again, because the veil is thin, the magic quickly seeps through to our realm where it will manifest, without you having to practice the work within our realm. This is a great way to perform magic cheaply and effectively because you can will the items you need into existence or ask your guides to track them down for you. They likely already have everything you need before you know it yourself. Focus on fertility magic and prosperity during this sabbat. Think along the lines of a bountiful harvest. You can also focus on love magic, whether you are looking for a relationship or strengthening one. If you aren't up to trying magic in the Otherworld, just spend some time talking with them. There are likely other spirits who will wish to meet up with you at this time, so be open to speaking with them.

3. Invite the fae into your garden.

There are a variety of ways to do this. One is to plant their favorite flowers, as outlined in my post Inviting Fairies into Your Garden. Set out offerings of milk, honey, small cakes, shiny coins, special trinkets, or other items you think the fae would like. Remember to avoid iron as the fae hate iron. If you wish, perform a small ritual inviting them to your garden. Make sure you build in a failsafe in case you wish to remove the fae if they become rowdy or otherwise unwanted. Sometimes the fae can become a nuisance, so you want to make sure you have a way to get rid of them. During your ritual, end it by saying "Until there comes a time that I ask you to leave." You have to be very specific when working with the fae. If you are not specific enough, they will find a loophole to trick you. From my experiences, however, I have found they are pretty cooperative when you ask them to leave, as long as you are nice about it. Keep them happy and they will keep your home safe in return, albeit they may make a little mischief themselves.

And there you have it, three easy ways to perform spirit work on Beltane! Do you have a special way you like to honor spirits or work with spirits during Beltane? Please share in the comments below!