Beltane In A Week: Let's talk about sex, baby!

Parental Advisory: Due to the possible explicit nature of this post, it is not recommended for children under the age of 18. 

I can give you one good reason why Beltane is Matt's favorite holiday, and it's definitely not the food, the rituals, the customs, the history... shoot, it's not even about spring! Not entirely, at least. Beltane is a time of fertility and lusty magick, and Matt gets right in the swing of things when Beltane comes around because he knows that the gettin's good, haha.

But it's not just about the sex. While it's a big aspect of it, fertility itself has been celebrated for thousands of years in several different ways, and magic can easily be intertwined to create magickal sex, both in celebration of the fertility of the world around you... and your very own!

Fertility Customs of Old

Like I said above, there have been several different ways of celebrating fertility from ancient times through today; it is believed that performing certain acts would encourage the land to be fertile, which would therefore lead to abundant crops through the summer and into the fall harvest. Any of these can be incorporated into your rituals and ceremonies.

• In for a bit of voyeurism? Ancient Roman masters of the land would take their wives out to the fields and have sex directly on the ground. Imagine having a few acres -- this project could take a while, perhaps even all day! It was practically guaranteed, though, that the crops would be fertile and productive for the slaves who would plant after all this lovemaking.
• As for Roman women, they paid tribute to Flora,  the goddess of the flowers (who we discussed in brief a couple days ago), to ensure fertility of both the land and their own wombs. If a woman was having trouble conceiving, she might offer flowers at Bona Dea's temple on the Aventine Hill; known as "The Good Goddess," Bona Dea was a goddess of both virginity and fertility.
• A tradition that is still continued today is the adding of menstrual blood to the soil to add potency. Studies have shown that menstrual blood contains a ton of nutrients, so it only makes sense to blend it in with the dirt before planting. It is not unusual to see people urinating on their plants, either, as urine contains complementary nitrogen that can help carbon rich compost. (If you plan to do this, dilute the urine a bit, as the uric acid may burn out the roots of more delicate plants.)
• Dancing, singing, and drumming or other music are popular fertility rituals performed in many areas of the world. Farmers in the Congo region of Africa would do these and make offerings to the spirits of the land before they clear for planting, and only after the spirits indicate that they are pleased with the gifts and performances are they allowed to plant; and the Algonquin peoples of the Midatlantic region performed ritual dances to ensure a bountiful crop every autumn, making loads of noise to awaken the sleeping earth.
• Kuortes, sword dances performed in Crete by a group of men, involves gathering together and moving in unison with sticks or swords that are jabbed into the earth. Although it appears warrior-like, it is more reminiscent of the Brazilian capoeira, where marital arts and dance mix to create, as scholars say, a rite that promotes fertility. Think about it: Banging a stick or sword on the freshly plowed earth has quite a bit of fertility symbolism!
• "Is he bigger than me?!" You might think it a funny question, but when the highlight of your parade is a giant penis carved from a cypress tree, measuring about fourteen feet long and perched upon a float, you'd ask that, too! It's a tradition in Nagoya, Japan to have such a gloat at their annual Honen-sai festival, which ensures that crops are plentiful.

Sex Symbols and Modern Wiccan Ritual

While many modern Wiccans do not copulate in the fields as those in ancient Roman times did, there are still several symbols, aspects, and magickal workings during your typical ritual, and Beltane is of no exception. In the words of writers Janet and Stewart Farrar, Beltane is foremost a time of "unashamed human sexuality and fertility". One of the most poignant rituals is the Great Rite, wherein the sexual acts of a couple is used to raise energy and to celebrate the fertility of the human race and the universe as a whole.

Since the Great Rite deserves its own post, I will leave that for later. In the meantime, let's discuss the Beltane altar, the symbols that are contained therein, and how they represent fertility during this Sabbat.

Typical Altar Supplies and Fertility

If you follow one of many Wiccan traditions, your Beltane altar will have the same trappings as usual. Funny enough, many of these items are rife with fertility symbols! You will notice that the contrasting energies of each actually serve to balance one another. For reference, Lord Janus explained that, in his tradition, generally “[any ritual object] that has a recess in it is considered feminine and anything that is protruding is masculine.”

• Wand: As cliche as it may be, the wand is a central tool for any altar, used for directing energy during a ritual. Its phallic nature represents male energy, power, and virility.
• Cauldron: A symbol of the Goddess, this altar accoutrement is all about femininity. Imagine the cauldron serving as a womb in which life begins. It has the ability to tie into all elements: Placing it upon the Earth, heating it with Fire, filling it with Water, and sending the steam up as Air.
• Athame: Much like the wand, the athame (a ritual knife) is seen as phallic. During the Great Rite, it interacts with the Chalice, explained below, by being dipped into the ritual wine it contains.
• Chalice: Arguably the most feminine part of the altar, the chalice (or cup or goblet) represents the element of Water and holds the wine during a ritual. It is decidedly female considering its hollow, round shape and its function in ritual.
• Salt: Generally, salt is seen as male, especially when incorporated with water.
• Water: Also generally, most any object that represents the element of Water is deemed feminine; obviously, water is Water and is therefore seen as female.
• Pentacle: While typically seen as feminine as it is a very balanced object, the pentacle is one of those "maybe one, maybe the other" symbols. It represents all four elements plus deity, and is used as a consecration tool and protection charm. Because of its different uses and associations, the jury is out as to whether it's strictly one or the other.

The Beltane Altar

Tools and altar decorations specific to Beltane also carry with them strong symbols of fertility and sexuality. Antlers, sticks, acorns, seeds, and a maypole are all excellent examples of items that can be placed on your altar to represent the masculine, and any circular item, such as a wreath or ring, can be used to represent the fertile womb of the feminine.

Small fires in your cauldron can also be set up to represent the fire festival and the leaping over the flames to promote fertility. If you don't have a cauldron, a flickering candle frame works beautifully. Also decorate your altar with spring flowers and herbs, all of which have had the opportunity to pollinate and sprout new seed.

Sexy Food and Drink

What kind of site would The Coexist Cafe be without some food! Better yet, how about foods known for their effects on sexuality; aphrodisiacs are very popular during Beltane, and these recipes are sure to please both your taste buds and... well, whatever may come next. :)

These recipes are provided by Sabbats: A Witch's Approach to Living the Old Ways unless otherwise indicated.

Beltane Cream Pie
Meade
Farls
CHOCOLATE ANYTHING

Are y'all really that surprised that this is TCC's most popular post?
It's about sex, for chrissake!

Beltane Cream Pie

Ha, do I even have to explain this one?

...

Now that I'm done giggling, here's a recipe that incorporates milk and sweets, both of which are important parts of feasting during this Sabbat.

Ingredients

* 1 cup whole milk
* 1 cup whole cream
* 1/2 cup butter (not margarine!)
* 3 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 1/4 tsp. vanilla
* ground nutmeg
* prepared pie crust, baked (I personally prefer graham cracker crusts)

Method

1. Melt the butter in a wide pan over medium heat.

2. In a separate bowl, slowly add the milk to the cornstarch, making sure it is fully dissolved and absorbed before adding more milk. When the cornstarch is fully blended, add this and all other ingredients (except the vanilla and nutmeg) to the cooking pan.

3. Stir this mixture constantly over medium heat until it becomes thick. Remove from the heat and add in vanilla.

4. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and sprinkle with nutmeg.

This pie may be eaten while still warm as long as it's cool enough to be set, or it may be chilled for later. And yes, you may continue making jokes about having eaten one's "cream pie"!

Meade

Akin to the Irish "midhe," meaning "center," this drink of fermented honey represents Spirit, and the drinking of this potion of the deities made one more in tune with this elusive element. Family recipes are jealously guarded, and meade connoisseurs cultivate this brew as one would with fine wine. It's not easy, as it takes a long fermentation period, but it's all worth it.

To have ready for Beltane, prepare this drink at least six months beforehand, preferably on Samhain.

Ingredients

* 1/2 gallon water
* 1 1/2 cups raw honey
* 1/4 cup lemon juice
* 1/8 tsp nutmeg
*1/8 tsp allspice
* 1 package brewer's yeast
* wooden cask or other receptacle

Method

1. Heat all ingredients together over medium heat in a large stockpot.

2. As the honey melts, an oily crust will form on the top. Some say to leave it on as it adds flavor tot he mead, while others will tell you to skim it off. It's personal preference, though I'd likely keep it on.

3. When well-blended, remove it from the heat, stirring occasionally as it cools.

4. Stir in one package of brewer's yeast and pour the meade into a wooden cask where it can ferment. You can drink it at this point if you wish, but it won't have any alcohol in it (and what's the fun in that?). It will taste like sweet honey-lemon tea.

As stated before, the meade will need to ferment for at least 6 months. During that time, the casks must be aired daily to allow any built-up gasses to escape. At least once a month, it should be poured into a fresh cask.

Farls

Oats are eaten for luck and fertility, so it would make sense that this recipe, popular in both Scotland and northern Ireland, would be a common and popular treat around Beltane.

Ingredients

* 3 cups real mashed potatoes (mash 'em yourself!)
* 2 cups dry oats
* 2 tbsp. margarine or butter
* 1/2 tsp cornstarch
* 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1/8 tsp salt
* pinch each pepper and rosemary
* vegetable oil for frying

Method

1. Soak the oats in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes until soft and slightly swollen.

2. Mix the oats with all other ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Knead until the mixture is a thick dough. If it seems to thin or too moist, add a teaspoon or two of flour.

3. When thoroughly mixed, form small sections into round patties. Fry the patties in hot vegetable oil in a small skillet until lightly browned. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE ANYTHING

While not necessarily a recipe, chocolate itself is a very well-known food for its qualities as a natural aphrodisiac. In fact, there is a scientific link between chocolate and arousal: In 2004, researchers at a hospital in Milan, Italy questioned nearly two hundred people about their chocolate consumption and feelings of sexual fulfillment. Women who consumed chocolate daily reported a higher degree of sexual satisfaction, and even women who normally had a lower libido reported an increase in their sex drive after consuming chocolate.

Chocolate contains both serotonin and phenylethylamine, both of which are mood-lifting hormones naturally found in the human brain. Our levels of both increase when we eat chocolate, which leads to a feeling of excitement and an increased level of energy. It makes us feel good and replicates the feeling of being in love, which can certainly help in the bedroom!

Some ideas for chocolate are as a dip (for strawberries and other fruits, cheese, or caramels), mixed in with your favorite baked good, or straight up. There's no limit to what you can do with chocolate, both as a food and as... well, get those creative juices flowing and see what other uses you can find!