May blossom Beltaine

Some Druids and Pagans celebrate Beltaine when the first blossoms appear on their local trees rather than the set date of May first.  Using the thorn flowering as the measure, then, Beltaine has arrived in these parts.

Up on the Tor

As I drove through Glastonbury on my way to the base of the Tor this morning, I could see groups of people heading off to make the same climb I was about to. Traditionally I've parked at the base of the eastern side of the tor and scrambled up the steep side rather than take the longer, if less severe, path up the spine, today was to be no different. The hillside was damp and viscus, as well as being bloody steep, I passed the one remaining side of the tree that had split in half over 25 years ago, with the other falling year before last and began my scramble up the daunting slope.  I was out of breath as a reached the summit and heard the familiar voice of Rollo, Archdruid of the Glastonbury order of Druids who was to lead this mornings Beltaine ceremony. Rollo led the first Druid ceremonies I attended, and although not always thorough, and his rituals can be loose with bits often omitted, they are always done with honestly and with love.  Today the ritual was particularly loose, but with good reason, last year Donna (Rollos long time partner and an Archdruidess) died and this morning he was to spread some of her ashes. Rollo was clearly anxious. I first met Donna in the early 90's and regularly saw her at ceremonies, she was a lovely friendly person and I was saddened to hear of her passing. You'd be sure to see her atop Glastonbury Tor at Beltaine, so this mornings ceremony was particularly poignant.  

Dreow Archdruid of Avalon arrived to lend a hand, and after some initial banter between Rollo and Dreow, Dreow called for peace in the quarters, Rollo read some words, the acting Archdruidess of the order recited a poem Donna liked and her ashes were spread. It was a nice ceremony, moving, Rollo was clearly moved. Three cheers were given for Beltaine, and we waited for the guest of honour, the Sun. I know there'd been some antagonism between elements of Glastonbury Druidry in the past over titles and roles. I wasn't party to the details, other than what I'd heard bandied about, the gossip and what was written in the media, social and printed. But Dreows' support this morning was a nice gesture. Yeah, there was something there, but both men were true Druids, navigating and negotiating the situation with honour, using language and words with great skill. It was masterful druidry.  

Whilst the ceremony went on other groups and individual carried out their own observances, a group of women softy sang, three druids stood in meditation, a woman chanted, drummers drummed and guitarists strummed, dogs barked, incense wafted through the crowd and the Tor was alive with the sights, sounds and smells of interesting folk, many dressed flamboyantly for the occasion. A top morning, in good company and then the sun rose to the cheers of the assembled. 

With the ceremony over and the sun risen it was time for the Morris. The Cam Valley Morris have been performing on Glastonbury Tor at Beltaine since before I can remember, and I've been attending for 26 years! There was another Morris with them this morning whose name, regrettably,  I didn't catch. Both Morris put on a Stirling traditional performance only lightly clothed in what was the chilling cold, dancing the handed steps in patterns danced for centuries, waving their hankies and cracking their sticks. They danced for some time, in several formations, all to a fiddle and accordion. Beautiful, man. It's great to see traditional crafts practiced and brought to the public as they'd have been done more widely in the past, before we neglected and forgot our traditions. You'll have folk tell you ''it's Europes' fault or immigrants'', bollocks, we'd let our traditions fade and die long before Europe, and we've always had immigration. No, we blame others born out of our own guilt, it would be better if stopped and we learnt the old ways, what is lost could be found.  

And with Morris came the man of the moment, the green man.  What a great morning, a lovely ceremony, a beautiful sunrise and great entertainment. You couldn't wish for more. I wandered back down the hillside, past the egg stone and its accompanying brightly festooned Hawthorn trees, a big smile on my face. I enjoyed a Beltaine blessing, for sure.

Beltaine Sunrise

I look forward to seeing Beltaine morning in up on Glastonbury Tor, when the conditions are right the views out over the low mist filled Somerset levels are fantastic, and this morning was one of those mornings. So clear were the skies eastwards that they'd begun to lighten noticeably by 0430 and you could see out across he flat levels landscape for a considerable distance.  Above, the sky grew increasingly blue, as at the horizon a soft yellow orange hue took hold, and as it did the clouds, which hung fragmented to the west, were captured and coloured by the approaching sun, a mix of salmon pink and purple grey hues. There appeared a period when the sky stopped changing, as if fixed in anticipation of an action, and then a feint glow, followed by a shining golden thread...the sun was rising. I'm always struck by the speed at which the sun appears to rise. ''Red sky in the morning, shepherds warning'', that's what they say. We'll have to wait and see. The colour soon drained from the clouds as the sun rose proper and the day began in earnest. I know though, that as Bill Withers said, ''it's going to be a lovely day, lovely day, lovely day, love-ly day. Beltaine blessings y'all, may your seeds find fertile ground.

Glastonbury Beltaine celerbrations

It's my 25th year of celebrating Beltaine at Glstonbury: and so, early this morning I journeyed up to Somerset in order to climb Glastonbury Tor before dawn and welcome in the Summer. There were about a 100 or so of us hardy folk up on the Tor; braving the icy wind which frequently accompanies this occasion we stood and waited. Usually, Rollo the Arch-Druid is on hand to lead the Beltaine ceremony, though unfortunately he was absent this morning; Rollo's presence was missed, as his ceremonial style is warm and always raises a smile. Still, a horn was blown, a cheer was raised as the Sun rose above the horizon and summer was welcomed in. It would have been nice to have participated in a ceremony, I always like feeling that connection with others walking a similar path; though I think just being here, making the effort, is ritual in itself and I'm sure everybody made their own connection to the moment and in that way we were all joined in ceremony. Although Rollo was missing, as usual the Cam Valley Morris were on hand to dance in the Beltaine Sun; they've been in attendance for over 30 years, only missing the year of the foot and mouth outbreak. It heartening to see our old country folk traditions enduring, though I wonder if young blood is still drawn to participate.

Later in the day, down in Glastonburys town square, a crowd of 200 to 300 people have gathered for a take on the traditional ceremony to welcome in the May Queen and Oak King; accompanied by Green men, the Holly King and other characters, the story of the changing seasons was played out with laughter, cheering and all round festivity. Afterwards the assembled crowd, led by the May Queen and Oak King, with Green men carrying the traditional May pole, make their way up the high street and along to the White Spring at the base of Glastonbury Tor. Drums banged and penny whistles blew as our merry band proceeded. As I walked amongst the crowd I found myself looking at my fellow revelers: there were the genuine pagans types, the Witches and Druids; there were the cos-play hay nonny nay types dressed in their colourful finery; the foreign visitors happy to participate in the spectacle; the locals for whom this is the norm; the hedonists who'd be at any party and a whole load of other characters, there for their own reasons, and some just caught up in the moment and swept along by the crowd; a real mixed bunch of folk, all different, though all enjoying and taking part together. It can be done, people can all get on. What's more, I saw no Police, no road closure signs or anything; cars and buses merely stopped and let the crowds pass by, and I wondered, why can't this happen everywhere? Why does there have to be so much red tape, so many hurdles to jump over from the establishment when similar things are tried elsewhere? On reaching the springs the crowd rested before carrying on to a nearby field to erect the maypole, dance and celebrate the remains of the day away; it was here I took my leave. 

A mix day of traditional old country folk celebrations, with modern twists, we need to see more of this type of thing going on; it unites people, builds a sense of community, keeps traditions alive and developing as well as reconnecting us with the seasons and nature; all things sadly lacking from modernity and causes of our current social dysfunction and spiritual malaise.

Beltaine Blessing

Watched by about a 100 people, the Sun rose on a cold and windy Glastonbury Tor, no change there then; looking like the distant glow Mordor, the Sun illuminated the sky long before he rose. Beltaine blessings y'all, may spring see your plans and dreams blossom.