A Reading for Beltainne
A bit late you say? Well, as I have mentioned elsewhere, in my own hearth practice, Beltainne happens either after the last frost of the season, or when I am done with the majority of planting. I may also time it with the blossoming of my lilac bush, but I am still testing that theory. Either way, it is about being in tune with and in touch with the spirits of my land and the rhythms of the seasons where I happen to live.
However, for a religion to be public rather than hearth, some agreement is needed, and most people have already celebrated it communally. While I'm waiting for the funds for the last bit of planting, I decided to do a reading for Beltainne. This can be for the community at large, or for whomever it speaks to, and quite likely it is both. That is the way these things work sometimes.
I am using the combined Druid Plant and Animal Oracle by Stephanie and Philip Carr-Gomm deck. While my primary reading for others is via the runes, I like to learn a variety of techniques. It is good to keep your intuitive mind sharp. I also hope to post a variety of these kinds of readings as well.
Please note: I have not linked to the images, as I'm uncertain of the legalities of doing that. One of ADF's virtues is integrity, and unless I know for sure it's allowed, I'll not do it. You can Internet-image search them if you like. Also, while the links above go straight to Amazon.com, I urge you to support your locally owned and operated Pagan and New Age bookstores, should you want to pick up a deck for yourself.
Disclaimers out of the way, we begin. I am using the "Four Elements" spread from the book that accompanies the Druid Animal Oracle. While the four elements are not necessarily "Druidy," four directions are potentially in Gaelic folklore (a subject for another post maybe), and have become so common in Neopaganism that they are almost a standard. Even if you don't "do" the directions, you at least know of them, or their importance.
First, the significator. At Samhain 2013, I chose eight cards to represent each eighth of the year, and the card for Beltainne is Primrose.* Primrose stands for "love, creativity, and rebirth," which is quite auspicious for the beginnings of spring after what was for many of us a very difficult winter, both weather-wise and personally. They are one of the first flowers to appear in the spring (hence the name, "prima rosa"), and is associated with new beginnings or new starts in existing partnernships. While the overall sense is in romantic relationships, I feel strongly this can mean in any kind of relationship with an emotional connection, including friendships and family relations. A new start is coming in this season.
The card in the east symbolizes "intellectual and mental life," as the realm of air. In the East we have Fern. Fern stands for the life-force, sensuality, and fertility. The card itself shows a bolt of lightning above the ground in between two hill from which cascade a waterfall surrounded by the plant. The card suggests that now is the time to strike (like the lightning), with a caution to be smart about it. The fern's sensuality in the East suggests to me that passions of all kinds should be tempered with reason. Maybe it is time for a long-overdue talk or clearing of the air. Ferns are sometimes suggested as good indoor plants because of their air-cleaning qualities.
In the south, the realm of fire, the representation is one's sensual and instinctual life. Our card here is the Hare. Hare is a creature of rebirth, intuition, and balance, and its appearance here indicates that one should pay careful attention to one's sensory inputs, both regular and psychic. The Hare is also a creature of balance and flexibility, a shape shifter, so one may need to be extra aware of any changes that have occurred, and what that means for all parties involved. These may be subtle, so intuition be your guide.
The west is the realm of water, one's emotional life and feelings. The card here is Adder, representing transformation, healing, and life energy. The new start of Primrose is one with the potential to heal old wounds and transform relationships into something positive, especially as one gets rid of those things which are no longer useful.
Finally, the north is the element of earth, and represents your intuitive spiritual life. In this position we fine the plant oracle Mandrake, representing wealth, fertility, and anaesthesia. There is a call in this card for the alleviation of suffering, given the rest of the omen. The fertility of Mandrake connects with the remaining cards to indicate that the time is ripe for issue at hand to be confronted and dealt with, in a way that brings all to a more positive place.
Taken together...The reading indicates the period from Beltainne to Midsummer is one where the focus is on starting, refreshing, and mending relationships. We should temper our passion with our reason, and focus on achieving balance rather than gain, leaving behind that which is no longer needed so that we may emerge healed and whole, to new understandings.
Blessings!
_______________
*I would write the Gaelic words, however I can't find how to do diacritical markings in this just yet.
However, for a religion to be public rather than hearth, some agreement is needed, and most people have already celebrated it communally. While I'm waiting for the funds for the last bit of planting, I decided to do a reading for Beltainne. This can be for the community at large, or for whomever it speaks to, and quite likely it is both. That is the way these things work sometimes.
I am using the combined Druid Plant and Animal Oracle by Stephanie and Philip Carr-Gomm deck. While my primary reading for others is via the runes, I like to learn a variety of techniques. It is good to keep your intuitive mind sharp. I also hope to post a variety of these kinds of readings as well.
Please note: I have not linked to the images, as I'm uncertain of the legalities of doing that. One of ADF's virtues is integrity, and unless I know for sure it's allowed, I'll not do it. You can Internet-image search them if you like. Also, while the links above go straight to Amazon.com, I urge you to support your locally owned and operated Pagan and New Age bookstores, should you want to pick up a deck for yourself.
Disclaimers out of the way, we begin. I am using the "Four Elements" spread from the book that accompanies the Druid Animal Oracle. While the four elements are not necessarily "Druidy," four directions are potentially in Gaelic folklore (a subject for another post maybe), and have become so common in Neopaganism that they are almost a standard. Even if you don't "do" the directions, you at least know of them, or their importance.
First, the significator. At Samhain 2013, I chose eight cards to represent each eighth of the year, and the card for Beltainne is Primrose.* Primrose stands for "love, creativity, and rebirth," which is quite auspicious for the beginnings of spring after what was for many of us a very difficult winter, both weather-wise and personally. They are one of the first flowers to appear in the spring (hence the name, "prima rosa"), and is associated with new beginnings or new starts in existing partnernships. While the overall sense is in romantic relationships, I feel strongly this can mean in any kind of relationship with an emotional connection, including friendships and family relations. A new start is coming in this season.
The card in the east symbolizes "intellectual and mental life," as the realm of air. In the East we have Fern. Fern stands for the life-force, sensuality, and fertility. The card itself shows a bolt of lightning above the ground in between two hill from which cascade a waterfall surrounded by the plant. The card suggests that now is the time to strike (like the lightning), with a caution to be smart about it. The fern's sensuality in the East suggests to me that passions of all kinds should be tempered with reason. Maybe it is time for a long-overdue talk or clearing of the air. Ferns are sometimes suggested as good indoor plants because of their air-cleaning qualities.
In the south, the realm of fire, the representation is one's sensual and instinctual life. Our card here is the Hare. Hare is a creature of rebirth, intuition, and balance, and its appearance here indicates that one should pay careful attention to one's sensory inputs, both regular and psychic. The Hare is also a creature of balance and flexibility, a shape shifter, so one may need to be extra aware of any changes that have occurred, and what that means for all parties involved. These may be subtle, so intuition be your guide.
The west is the realm of water, one's emotional life and feelings. The card here is Adder, representing transformation, healing, and life energy. The new start of Primrose is one with the potential to heal old wounds and transform relationships into something positive, especially as one gets rid of those things which are no longer useful.
Finally, the north is the element of earth, and represents your intuitive spiritual life. In this position we fine the plant oracle Mandrake, representing wealth, fertility, and anaesthesia. There is a call in this card for the alleviation of suffering, given the rest of the omen. The fertility of Mandrake connects with the remaining cards to indicate that the time is ripe for issue at hand to be confronted and dealt with, in a way that brings all to a more positive place.
Taken together...The reading indicates the period from Beltainne to Midsummer is one where the focus is on starting, refreshing, and mending relationships. We should temper our passion with our reason, and focus on achieving balance rather than gain, leaving behind that which is no longer needed so that we may emerge healed and whole, to new understandings.
Blessings!
_______________
*I would write the Gaelic words, however I can't find how to do diacritical markings in this just yet.
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