CELTIC CROSS-QUARTER HOLIDAY Ceremonies
the celtic festival of BEALTAINE (BELTANE)
Join SSP Board Member Dr. Karen Ward and John Cantwell of Ireland for our next Cross-Quarter Celtic Holiday Ceremony, Bealtaine (Beltane) on May 1st, 2024 at 3:00 PM Mountain Time.
Our Ancestors would have looked to the skies in their observation for a season’s dawning. They also would have looked to the earth, observing the signs of growth and colour. Halfway between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice is the cross quarter time of Bealtaine (pronounced Bee-awl-tan-eh or Beltane as Bell-tayn), the celestial announcement of the Summer season. The communal celebration of Bealtaine is usually May 1st or the first Saturday in May, the very word coming from the Irish Béal-tine meaning ‘Mouth of Fire’. For some was also informed by Bal-Tine, after a Celtic Sun God Bal who dies and resurrects. The sun is the mouth of fire literally – a time of growing illumination of our planet and asks us to embrace the phenomenon, personally and collectively, with celebration, reflection and ultimately synchronous alignment.
Unsurprisingly, Bealtaine is one of the great fire festivals that ask us to be intimate with the energy of the sun, the power of light, heat, but also of transformation and transmutation. We are delighted to offer you a unique opportunity to join us live online from your home for ceremony to lift you into harmony with the rising heat with some of the many wonderful rituals associated with Sovereignty Goddess Ériu and her site of Uisneach at the centre of Ireland – the great Bealtaine sacred site and the arrival of Summertime.
HOW TO PREPARE
Create sacred ceremonial space in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed by other people or loud noises. Make a small altar, light a candle and have your drum, and rattle available, as well as paper and pen. Darken your room if possible and allow yourself to be fully present.
ZOOM INFO FOR THE CEREMONY:
To come soon, before ceremony
CEREMONY RECORDINGS
An video playback recording will be available for those who were not able to join live or for those who would like to listen again.
Join Our Next Ceremony
BEALTAINE (BELTANE)
Led by JOHN CANTWELL AND DR. KAREN WARD OF IRELAND
Wednesday, May 1st
3 PM Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
These ceremonies are a benefit of your membership with the Society for Shamanic Practice. Call information will be provided via email one day before the ceremony takes place.
We hope you can join us!
Celtic Cross-Quarter Holidays
The Celtic Calendar is divided first into four major sections, the Quarter Days of Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice, then into the Cross-Quarter Days below signaling the beginning of a new season and occurring half-way between the equinoxes and solstices. Together, the Quarter Days and Cross-Quarter Days makes an eight-part year that reflects the natural progression of the seasons. Celebrations and festivals are held for each of the cross-quarter days.
SSP has always celebrated the solstices and equinoxes as part of our medicine wheel ceremonies and now you can join SSP for this new member-benefit of Cross-Quarter Celtic Holidays too!
IMBOLG (IMBOLC)
February 1st
Bealtaine (Beltane)
May 1st
Lughnasadh (Lunasa)
August 1st
Samhain
October 31st
These ceremonies are a benefit to members of the Society for Shamanic Practice. If you know of someone who would like to participate in this ceremony but is not a member, please invite them to join our community.