thewitchofwonder - Blog - Pagan World2024-03-29T12:11:14Zhttps://pagan.world/blog/feed/tag/thewitchofwonderHappy Beltane!https://pagan.world/blog/happy-beltane2022-05-01T17:10:00.000Z2022-05-01T17:10:00.000ZThe Witch of Wonderhttps://pagan.world/members/WitchofWonder<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10057896297?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Beltane is the Gaelic May Day festival. Most commonly it is held on 1 May, or about halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The word '<em>Beltane</em>' roughly translates as 'bright fire' and, as such, one of the most important rituals, which survives today in modern festivals. Beltane is a Celtic word, meaning “<strong>the fires of Bel</strong>.” Bel, likely referred to the Celtic sun god, Belenus. The Celts used to light two bonfires because they believed it would purify themselves, as well as increase their fertility. ... This is one of the more common fertility rituals that might take place on this day.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Some Beltane Goddesses to mention by name here include Aphrodite, Arianrhod, Artemis, Astarte, <strong>Venus</strong>, Diana, Ariel, Var, Skadi, Shiela-na-gig, Cybele, Xochiquetzal, Freya, and Rhiannon. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Beltane Gods</em> include Apollo, Bacchus Bel/Belanos, Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, Faunus, Cupid/Eros, Odin, Orion, Frey, Robin Goodfellow, Puck, and The Great Horned God </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Please feel free to share some of the ways you celebrate (if you do).</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10400314688,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Ilustration by EllirhShaan</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}10400315886,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-left" src="{{#staticFileLink}}10400315886,original{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="10400315886?profile=original" /></a></span></p></div>Happy Ostara!https://pagan.world/blog/happy-ostara2022-03-20T23:20:00.000Z2022-03-20T23:20:00.000ZThe Witch of Wonderhttps://pagan.world/members/WitchofWonder<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/10058088299?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><p><span style="font-size:14pt;">Ostara is <strong>one of the eight Sabbats</strong>. Ostara celebrates the spring equinox. The word Ostara comes from the Anglo-Saxon goddess name, Eostre. Eostre represented spring and new beginnings.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size:14pt;">If your thinking you saw this post before, you would be right. I thought I set it to post on the actual day of Ostara, March 20. And I left it in my drafts uncomplete. For some reason on March 1st this posted the uncomplete draft, I have now fixed it, my apologies.</span></p></div>