TarotBlogHop: Beltane: The Bonfire

 

 

 

 

 

 

The topic for this round of the TarotBlogHop is “Beltane: The fire tends to all”. For more information about the TarotBlogHop, see Donnaleigh’s great explanation at http://www.donnaleigh.com/tarotbloghop.htm.

The Bonfire

When I think of Beltane, I think of a roaring bonfire. Not that I’ve ever been present for a Beltane ritual that included a bonfire (Hey, I’m a suburban witch, and my coven is located in NYC. If we ever were to have a bonfire, we’d need a permit for it). I should have the immediate connection of the maypole, since I HAVE attended rituals where it was used. But nope, when I think of Beltane, fire it is. Fire is what I think of.

According to the site Earthwitchery.com, “The bonfire, or need-fire, is one of the oldest Beltane traditions . . . Ashes from the balefire can be scattered in the fields as a fertility charm. Women wishing to conceive can tie a bag of the ashes around their necks. Traditionally, cattle and other animals were driven between two fires for protection, healing, and purification. Modern pagans can ritually purify tools or other things in the balefire. Jump the dying embers of the fire for summer blessings.”

Now, I’m not one to let my witchiness and my tarot co-mingle . . . I’m of the opinion that tarot transcends religion, and I never want my clients to think that I can’t/won’t read for them simply because we don’t share the same religion. However, I want to address the concept of fire as an element of purification and healing. Normally, people think of fire as “ow, hot, hurt, don’t touch”. Obviously, I’m not telling people to stick their hand in a roaring open flame. But something I heard during the master class with Shawn Nacol (“The Roots of Tarot: Elemental Readings”) at Readers Studio this past weekend really stuck with me… this concept of fire as a purifier. Not a new concept, but certainly something that I really hadn’t thought about in depth before this weekend. And this concept also made me realize that, yes, the concept of purification can hurt (like the flames of a fire) . . . but just because it is painful, does that mean that we stop ourselves from that purification?

As we tend to other people’s inner fires, we too are kindled. But this fire is different than the Imbolc ember of one small light. By the time we get to Beltane, that ember is a raging bonfire giving off such light that you can see it from surrounding hillsides. When we are aflame, we are beacons, showing the passion of our dreams is alive and well in us. It is so bright that in the face of such heat, following your bliss is no longer a choice but a calling.

So, I created a spread I like to call the Bonfire Spread. However, this one you’ll have to figure out how to use for yourself. Suggestion: I think of the bottom 4 cards as “kindling”. I would love to see what you come up with!

 

Tend to the kindling, and watch your inner fire roar!

Blessings,
~*~Hilary~*~
www.tarotbyhilary.com

 

Fire Photograph: Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

—Keep hoppin’… read all the wonderful posts by my fellow tarot bloggers, and stay tuned for the next round!—