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 The Druí of Celtic Druid Temple will celebrate the Full Moon this Sunday the 13th of April at 8pm, at the Hill of Tara in County Meath, at Temple Crom in Co. Roscommon and Vienna (7pm) in Austria. Our Beltane ceremony is at true midday / high noon on Sunday 27th of April. REad about these ceremonies and our activities in our latest newsletter here.
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 This year we celebrate Beltane on the 27 April 2025. Beltane means for us 'the two fires of Bile' (pronounced as Billah) and refers to a ritual of purification. The month of May is called Bealtaine as Gaeilge and it marks the first day of summer. This was a specifically Irish holiday and many of the other Celtic cultures also celebrate a festival known by a range of names. As Samhain marks the end of summer of the old year and the start of winter of the New Year - Beltane marks the end of winter and start of summer. In the past (still observed in Ireland in the 19th century) on the first day of Beltane - cattle were driven between two fires for protection from disease and then they were let into pasture. History associates Beltane with the arrival and departure of Partholon, then the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann and then the Gaels – Bilé arrives in Ireland at this time. As it is the start of summer - everyone reckoned it to be a great time to start an adventure. Beltine is also called Bealtinne, Beltine, Beltain, Beal-tine, Beltan, Bel-tien, Beltein, Bealtuinn and Bealtaine, Mayday, Walburga, Galan Mai, Shenn da Boaldyn and it is celebrated or honoured across the world. It is by the Dark Moon setting with the Sun that the bright star Alderbaran (Bilé for Us) briefly shines before it too then sets below the horizon that we determine Beltine in Ireland! Other calendars- Druuis Auetos Why April 27th black moon time? Normally (according to Coligny's calendar table) this year the Belotennia celebration takes place on May 13, 14 and 15, during the full moon... Surendra Mathur Hindus in India will celebrate this festival on 29 April 25. Hindus call this Akshaya Tritiya This year our gathering for Beltine is only open to our Druí Daltaí, our Druí Fasach, our Ard Druí and by special invitation only. Only people we actually know in person can attend. This allows us to focus on the Sun ceremony itself and not on basic teachings, introductions etc. At our Full Moon ceremonies we openly welcome new people to our circle where we give the basic teachings, guidance, introductions and informal chat as well.  Beltane has the Summer Magic explode! It is when the Bulls are let out to the fields - if you have ever seen this you'll know it is pretty amazing - they leap and jump in happiness but to us it is madness and dangerous too! In ancient Ireland herds of cattle were driven between two huge linear fires at Beltane to burn off any dis-ease from winter corralling and to protect and purify them before returning to open pasture. When we see the cattle being released these days at Beltane from their winter enclosing we see them bucking and kicking and running around enjoying freedom. Nature calls us all at this time – go out, get some sunshine and listen to Nature. The White flowers on the thorn trees are suddenly ablaze with insects and their intense activity sounds. The grass suddenly grows at an advanced rate, flowers and herbs begin to appear above ground again, the days are much longer and the heat of the Sun can scorch everything very quickly too! School children stare longingly out of classroom windows....  Photo taken over the ditch to our neighbours field showing a White Mare. A soft peaceful animal without and fears at all. Quiet too, except when Toby, the stallion is let out...lol With a breeding season from late spring to autumn and gestation of 11 moonths many Mare give birth in mid summer but it is around Beltane that the mares are let of of their stables to graze on wild herbs and grasses in the open fields. Then after a few week - suddenly - there is a long leg foal always staying by mammies side.
Gaelic society called their ‘sacred’ trees Bilé and these Bilé trees were the Irish 'royal inauguration' sites for clan leaders, kings and high kings. The Bilé tree played an important part in Irish kingship rites and were sometimes attacked / destroyed by rival dynasties. Their role of a Bilé tree in kingship ceremonies was multifunctional as it was important in many ways, leaders got recognition under the Bilé, the tribe would gather at the Bilé in times of group need, it would also be a good location for a marriage, baby naming, coming of age ceremonies too. It is believed that the “slat na righe” (rod of kingship) was cut from the branches of the tribes Bilé tree during every inauguration ceremony. Bilé trees give the tribe physical and spiritual nourishment, a focus away from the hearth fire which is often indoors and the renewal of life with the appearance of buds and then leaves declared the 'outdoor season' or summer had really established itself. The tree is a living expression of the three realms in that its roots connect with underground water, its trunk is solid as the earth and its branches and leaves reach up to the sky. Just like the movement of water and the life force through the three realms - all trees pull the life giving water soluble nutrient mix to build its physical expression and breathes out through the leaves up to the sun. Photosynthesis is literally the mixing of heat with nutrient rich water - this gives growth and oxygen and a homeopathic concentration of the land it grows on. Evaporation has more than just water in it - it is the spirit of the land... A mature tree can move 60 to 100 gallons per day from its roots to its leaves and out to the air - creating a zone where we can live healthy lives. This is why we gratefully give thanks to trees at many of our ceremonies. |
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