Bealtaine
- Deirdre Finn
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
As the Celtic Wheel of the Year turns once more, we arrive at Bealtaine — the cross-quarter festival that marks the threshold into summer. Resting between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice, Bealtaine is a time of blossoming, sensuality, and sacred fire. It carries the potent energy of fertility and creation — both in the natural world and within ourselves.
Traditionally, Bealtaine was celebrated with bonfires, flowers, dance, and ritual union. It is a festival of life-force energy, when the earth bursts into colour, animals mate, and the sun’s warmth blesses the land. In ancient times, cattle were driven between two fires for protection, and lovers leapt flames as a symbol of passion and blessing. It is a celebration of light, love, and life returning in full force.
Ancient Traditions of Bealtaine
In times long past, Bealtaine was honoured through sacred fire rituals. At sunset on May Eve, hearth fires across the land were extinguished, while a single flame — the High King’s fire at Uisneach, near Tara — was kindled anew. From this central fire, others were lit across the land, symbolising purification, renewal, and the shared life of the community.
People would walk between twin fires or leap over them — a powerful act of courage and blessing. Even livestock were sometimes guided through the smoke or embers to protect them from sickness or harmful energies. The flames, smoke, and ash were revered as sacred, believed to hold deep healing power.
Archaeological remains of feasts at Uisneach speak to the communal joy of these gatherings, blending the mystical with celebration. In the Northwest of Ireland, the Beltany Stone Circle bears witness to this legacy — where, on Bealtaine morning, the rising sun aligns with the circle’s only carved stone. The name “Beltany” itself is thought to derive from this ancient solar festival, rooted in the rekindling of light and spirit.
Bealtaine was also a time of powerful folk magic and divination. With the veil between worlds said to be at its thinnest, offerings were made to the spirits, gods, and faery folk — asking for guidance, blessings, or glimpses of the future.
Homes were decorated with a May Bush or May Tree — often hawthorn — adorned with ribbons, shells, or flowers and placed outside the home for protection and good luck. Sycamore boughs were hung over doorways as charms of vitality. The dew of May morning was considered especially magical — thought to bring beauty and healing, while holy wells were visited with floral offerings and prayers for renewal.
Bealtaine represents the sacred union of the Goddess & God - Earth and Sky, whose coming together brings fertility & abundance to the land.
And so, Bealtaine was also known as a time for “handfasting” — a traditional form of betrothal where couples would clasp hands and make vows to one another. This union was for a year and a day, after which the pair could either commit fully to marriage or lovingly go their separate ways. If a child was conceived, the father was still responsible for the upkeep of his offspring, irrespective of whether the couple remained together or separated.
The Inner Flame
Beyond the outer traditions, Bealtaine also speaks to our inner fires — the spark of passion, creativity, and soul longing that lives within each of us. Just as nature is in full bloom, we are called to awaken our own potential. This is a time to honour what wants to rise through us — to create, to love, to lead, to live fully.
Central to this awakening is the union of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine — archetypal energies that live within us all, regardless of gender. The feminine brings intuition, nurture, and flow; the masculine offers clarity, direction, and strength. When these forces unite within, we become whole — rooted in balance, creativity, and personal power.
Bealtaine Shamanic Ceremony: The Dance of the Divine Feminine & Masculine
To honour this sacred turning of the wheel, I invite you to join me for a soulful Bealtaine gathering — a ceremony to ignite your inner fire and awaken the dance of union within.
You’ll be gently guided through a shamanic journey to connect with your inner feminine and masculine energies, bringing them into balance and harmony. From this sacred space, we’ll move into journaling with soul-centred prompts to support integration and clarity around how you can step forward more fully in your life.
We will then gather in a sharing circle, creating a safe and nourishing space to honour what has been awakened. Through journeying, writing, and sisterhood, this Bealtaine gathering supports your alignment with the creative fire of the season — inviting embodiment, vitality, and soulful transformation.
Event Details
Bealtaine Celebration: Dance of the Divine Feminine & Masculine
Saturday, 3rd May | 2–5 PM
Miltown Malbay Community Centre
Booking Essential:
For enquiries or bookings:
Deirdre Devatara Finn
086 848 3745
Let us gather by the fire, within and without — to honour what is blooming, to unite what is sacred, and to dance in the light of Bealtaine.
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