Spring, Beltane, and the Magick of Renewal: A Special Column from The Modern Merlin
Hello friends, and welcome to May! Happy May Day, and Merry Beltane/Bealtaine! After a short hiatus, I’m back, and will slowly be picking up the pace in my writing so as to not burn myself out. How often I’ll be posting this month is TBD, if I’m being honest, but I’m excited to be back! That aside, I’m excited to be sharing with you a unique perspective I’ve come to regarding Beltane. Beltane is, and always was, a fertility festival; there’s an energy of renewal in the air, and love, too. Culminating with the Solstice at Midsommer, this season is truly about life renewed, as the bees and various critters return to their ever-important work, keeping our ecosystem humming with life. The birds, too, are back, and the hatchlings are now growing, and soon enough, will take flight, if they haven’t already. Beltane is a portal to powerful otherworldly magick: the veil between our worlds thins, and the Fae, or Aos Sí, mingle with us once more for the Summer season, keeping our plants, trees and greenery teeming with life.
But, in the modern world we all live in, we rarely have a chance to stop and literally smell the roses, and this leads to burnout of the spirit and the body, the mind and the heart. To be blunt, capitalism isn’t compatible with humanity; political thesis aside, I know many will resonate with these words, and this perspective. It’s a lesson I seem to learn, forget and re-learn cyclically right around Beltane every year. This time, I’m writing it out, for two reasons: 1. So that I can share this perspective, and these techniques with others, in hopes they also benefit, and 2. To keep myself accountable to these truths, and hopefully break a cycle that no longer serves. To be blunt, it’s been quite distressing, and since I caught onto the exact nature of this playing out in my own life, I’ve been hellbent on not repeating it again.
Building up to the main part of this entry, I want to explain exactly what I’m talking about, why it’s an issue for me, and how it even relates to Beltane at all. I am, and always have been, very sensitive to subtle energies; not only present within a space or item, but also within others. Some may refer to this gift (or curse, depending on your interpretation) as being an “empath”. Those energies accumulate within me, and slowly drain me, even despite regular purification and protection/shielding works done to combat this. The thing is, it’s where you don’t look, where your eyes aren’t drawn to, that collects this hidden stagnant, negative or downright shitty energy. So where don’t we look, you ask? What about the hidden dust behind your books on your bookshelves? What about the dust underneath altar cloths, or that may be hiding in the crevices of statues or trinkets? Those decorative items hung on the walls? Yeah, chances are, they’ve also collected this extra “dust”, whether literal or figurative (we’ll touch more on that later). Those energies can be collected in your home, in your clothes, your sheets, and even in your car. Cleanliness is quite literally next to godliness for us witches; after all, a clean space means a clear mind.
I now hear you saying:
Okay, but Merlin, how does this relate to Beltane?! Beltane is all about renewal, fertility and life, love and the otherside!
My response? Yes, you’re right. But what is renewal without casting out the old? A snake must shed its old skin to grow into the new. The trees must shed their leaves each Autumn so they may regrow anew each spring, as we’re seeing now. The badgers, gophers and so many other critters must burrow underneath the ground to re-emerge in the Spring as well. Those burows, that old skin, those old leaves, sometimes cling on well past the dying season of Fall, and the dormant Winters. Figuratively speaking, I’m referring to those things that we clung onto, even out of necessity, throughout those seasons that are now weighing us down. Things like sluggishness, inactivity, lack of motivation, are fall, and winter energies. In my opinion, to live in tune with the seasons, we need to purge those things, so we may be more active in this growing, fertile season. Not only is the cleansing and purification necessary, but so is the re-inscendance into the earth, getting outside and connecting with nature. What you’ll find is, that purifying your spaces, your altars, items, and yourself, directly correlates to re-attuning to nature’s energies, now that it’s finally nice out again. Without further ado, let’s get into the meat and potatoes. This piece is likely to be my longest yet, but I hope that it imparts encouragement to each of you. I know these lessons have encouraged me through some dark times I’ve faced recently.
The Hidden, and Therefore, Occult, Nature of Dust
Dust is a common thing in human life. It accumulates whether we want it to or not, even despite regular cleaning. Doubly so if you have pets, like I do. While it’s an eyesore, it’s also a collector of negative energy. While dust itself, in my opinion, is neutral, it naturally collects stagnant, nasty energy. Think about it: it’s dead skin, hair, and other contaminants. It’s no wonder it collects negativity!
It may seem as though I’m stating the obvious, but I don’t know that I am: dust is a conduit for at the very least, stagnant energy. At the worst, it can be a conduit for malevolent magicks worked against you, if that so happens to be the case. How many of us, myself included, have let our altars collect dust for a month, or months, without cleaning it up? How effective was your magick? Was the energy present in general in your life more negative, or were you just treading water, not moving forward? Did your spells manifest? How quickly? How effective was the help? What about your protection-both personal and of your home? Did it lack, letting more nasty shit through? I’m willing to hedge a bet most of you see where I’m going, and may even be rushing to get the all-purpose cleaner to get cleaning. Before you do that, slow down, take a breath, and center. Light a stick of incense maybe, or have an essential oil handy. The chaotic end of this energy is like a mania-infused ritual for witches, and should be avoided while cleansing your space, both physically and spiritually.
The spaces I recommend focusing on most are:
- Altars-everything, from ritual tools, to statues, to crystals and everything in between. The surface it’s on? Needs cleansed too. If you’re like me, and have an altar(s) on bookselves, take the books, decks, or whatever you store on them, out. Clean the entire bookshelf or surface, as well as the items you store on them.
- Trinkets/amulets/talismans that are left out for whatever purpose
- Wall décor
To get a good cleanse, physically and spiritually, I recommend a natural cleaner, or ones using natural ingredients, with essential oils for scent purposes. My personal favorite is the Method Brand Pink Grapefruit all-purpose cleaner. Cleaners scented with lemon, orange and other citruses work well also, as do ones with peppermint. Of course, natural ingredients and essential oils are favored. If that’s not attainable, mix 1 part florida water to 3 parts water, and use this to cleanse the surfaces you’re looking to cleanse. If you’re dusting a surface, this works especially well. I would avoid using cleaners or magickal mixes on crystals, statues and any precious items, and instead use the re-useable towel over them once you’ve gotten that product spread out, or use a fresh one. I advocate for re-usable towels such as microfiber towels, to save a tree or two, and so that we can also ritually cleanse these towels when we do our laundry (more on that later). You can also use these ideas for regular house cleansing, like walls, floors, windows, etc., as I also clean my home when I get to cleaning to sacred spaces and items.
Can’t You Smell That Smell? That Smell That Surrounds You…
I know I’ve quoted a Lynyrd Skynyrd song, but the next topic is cleaning our clothes, our laundry, and other items we typically put into a machine to make clean (not dishes, there’s a small section on that coming up). Our clothes can and often do carry the energies of the day on them. For those who are extra sensitive such as myself, even a daily shower is needed. Let’s focus on laundry, and what we can do to get those old energies out, shall we?
Energy cannot always be seen, and usually cannot be, magickally and spiritually. Had someone give a stink eye look at the grocery store? Someone flick you off on the highway driving to or from work? Did you have a generally shitty day, and can’t get your head out of it? It might be in your clothes. Laundry is a normal, everyday mundane chore that we can make magickal, and it will boost our energy as well, leading to better magickal and spiritual hygiene. Personally, I use free & clear laundry products, and will say an incantation as I put the clothes in the washer, and as I pour the products on them to wash. I typically use warm or hot water, as heat removes the nasties. I let my clothes wash, and when they’re done, I check for stains, or other clues that maybe the cleanse didn’t work.
For literal stains, using a stain remover will also energetically remove those “stains” on your clothes in an energetic sense. Mundane life is magickal if we look at it as such. Another idea, is to add essential oils to your detergent or wash, such as citrus fruits, and even patchouli works well to remove negativity. When you go to dry your clothes, see the dryer as imbuing your clothes with fresh, clean energy, and removing any last bits of negativity. You can also add essential oils like lavender, patchouli and others to dryer sheets or dryer balls to add to the magickal work being done.
Dirty Dishes Done Dirt Cheap
Yes, I know, another stupid song reference. I just can’t help myself today lol! Dishes are a drag, especially if you don’t have a dishwasher, much as I find myself in that predicament. While no one likes washing dishes by hand, it does give me the opportunity to put some magick into this otherwise boring and dull chore. How do I do it? It’s simple, really:
- Turn on some music-preferably positive; I personally will play groups like Smashmouth, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Everclear, Third Eye Blind and other, poppy alternative music. We want positive vibes going into this chore!
- Next, I organize the dishes by category, and then have them set in the order I plan to do them.
- Then, I clean out each sink, even if clean, for a pure energy for the dish water to go into.
- Then, I put on hot, but not scalding water, and add my dish detergent. You can add 1-2 drops of an essential oil if you like, although I find this unnecessary, and regular old Dawn Dish Soap works well for me.
- I then put the dishes in to the sink, let them soak, and begin washing.
- When scrubbing, I use counterclockwise motions and swirls/circles to clean, removing not only dirt and nasties from food, but also nasty energy
- Let the dishes air dry, and ask the air elementals to bless them with happiness, mirth and abundance. You can also burn an incense near them so the smoke carries your energy of intent to them. I personally like using a peaceful home incense (Hem and many other brands make these-just don’t let the dishes be near the incense too long, or they’ll taste like incense. Move it to another safe location, imbuing the space with those energies)
That’s it. I encourage you to explore additional ways to make this least-favorite chore of mine fun, and magickal, too! Make sure to drop me a line and let me know, I’m always looking for new ideas here!
Cleansing of Self, Cleansing of Home
Cleansing yourself and your space spiritually, as well as physically, is the best way to maintain spiritual and magickal hygiene. The usual smoke cleanse with herbs or bundles such as sage, cedar and the like are common, so I won’t cover too much of that. What I want to focus on is something I see as just as important: how, and in what order, the physical and ritual cleansings are done. While I don’t think it’s a make-or-break as to what order or how these are done, I do think it deserves consideration. For purposes of discussion, I will give you my personal opinion, and how I typically, and in what order, I do these things. This is going to be a rather short section, as I leave these parts up to the reader. My way isn’t the only way!
- Smoke cleanse the house/apartment/dwelling, from front to back, moving counterclockwise to remove negativity. In other words, it’s like you’re tracing the perimeter with the smoke of your choice, cleansing from top to bottom on each wall, piece of furniture, etc. After you’ve cleansed the perimeter, fill in the space in each room with the smoke, from back to front
- Next, sprinkle salt (dead sea salt or sea salt are excellent for this) along that perimeter on the floor, and leave it there, sprinkling extra in the open spaces as well. Don’t overdo it!
- Now, mix 1 part florida water cologne to 3 parts water, in a spray bottle (you can find them cheap at a dollar store), and spray the household just like you did with the smoke portion of the cleansing.
- Now, use a broom or vaccum (if you have carpet, a vacuum) and clean up all that salt. Take it easy on your vacuum, as overdoing it can burn out the motor. If you prefer, finer salt, such as table salt, may be better on your machine, although I make no promises and leave a disclaimer that I am not responsible for broken vacuums (please note my joking attitude)
One last thing to note: I prefer having my windows open, and doors, if possible, to let the negativity out as I smoke cleanse.
Congratulations, you’ve just cleansed your space! Now what about yourself?
There are many schools of thought on the person performing the cleansing: some think that you are cleansed by the smoke as you do your smoke cleansing, and others believe you must still cleanse yourself with the smoke, either before or after. I leave it up to you how to proceed there; trust your intuition!
The next step in cleansing the self is a ritual shower or bath. I personally enchant my hygiene products when I open a new container, to cleanse me, and also put a little glamour magick in there, too. I start from head to toe: I wash my face first, then my hair, then my body. After this, I rinse off, and rinse off the shower walls. From there, if I’m doing a more ritualistic bath or shower, I will have a mixture of Rue cologne and Florida water closeby, and add water to it for the added cleansing effect. The choices are endless here, and I implore you to explore using your intuition and creativity to find the way that works best for you.
Cleansing Cards, Stones and Mirrors
Our divination tools, like Tarot, Oracle, Runes, Ogham, and even Crystal Balls and Scrying Mirrors are likely to accrue negative or stagnant energies over time, too. For the mirrors and crystal balls, cleaning them as you would your altar items is sufficient, and I won’t add more to it. But, for Cards, Stones and Pendulums, this can be more difficult. Let’s work through this, shall we?
Selenite is one of my oldest crystal allies-it only needs to be out, exposed to the moonlight, during a full moon to be recharged. I have yet to see Selenite hold or store negative energy. Selenite’s basic energy is one of purification. Selenite bowls, towers, sticks, and tumbles line my altars and sacred spaces, to keep them clean. I put herbs, stones and even cards in the bowls or on the sticks for cleansing. It’s a short and simple way to cleanse items. Keeping your selenite clear can also be done with incense, like Myrrh or even Kyphi, if you can find such a blend (I’m lucky to live near a shop that carries both in stick form). Dragon’s Blood Resin or Incense is another good choice. Waft the smoke around the piece of selenite, to clear it energetically. Then, place your cards, stones, or whatever else in or on the selenite. I have a bowl I use for my crystals and stones so they can be cleared each day, and each morning the bowl gets cleansed with smoke.
Another easy way to cleanse tools like Tarot and Oracles, Runes and other divination items is simply by using a smoking herb such as sage, or incense, whether herbal/resin, or in stick or cone form, to cleanse them. Having clean divination tools only improves their ability to help us. To animists like myself, they are very alive, and deserve that kind of respect.
Spring Cleaning and Welcoming in Renewal
Back to Beltane, our holiday at hand today, renewal is a prominent theme. While I agree, and I do work magicks to welcome that renewal into my life, I don’t think enough attention is paid to the potent energies present today, that can aid with your Spring Cleaning. Beltane isn’t technically a solar holiday, but it involves heavy solar themes. Some suggest that Belanus, the Celtic Sun and Storm God, is associated with this holiday (even though historically there are no known deity associations). Belanus controls the Sun that nourishes life, and also destroys with its heat. He controls the storms that nurture the soil so plants may grow and life may prosper, but he also controls the wind and thunder and lightning that destroys trees, homes and even starts fires sometimes. Belanus is a perfect deity to work with this Beltane in your Spring Cleaning, both magickally and mundanely. Cernunnos is another excellent choice, especially for male witches and magickians/pagans. Both have energies that lend themselves to this holiday, and both are apt to help you in your magickal pursuits.
Now that we’ve gotten our homes clean from top to bottom, and ourselves, too, let’s welcome in some renewal and life! Here’s a simple spell to do just that:
You Will Need:
- One Orange Candle, preferably a 7-day candle in this color
- Two yellow chime candles
- One piece each of: sunstone, citrine, and emerald
- A pinch of each: safflower, rue, lavender, dandelion (especially potent if fresh-make sure to ask permission and give thanks!)
- Incense. Ideas/suggestions could be: frankincense, woodsy or earthy scents like Musk, patchouli, or even floral scents. Burnt wood scents are great for the fire effect of the holiday, as well
- A bowl or dish to set the herbs in, and a cauldron or firesafe surface to burn a piece of paper
- A piece of paper, a pen or magickal ink & quill if that’s more your vibe.
Write up to three (3) things you wish to renew, or welcome new life to. These can be relationships, personal endeavors, personal goals, or whatever you want to lend this potent energy to. Fold the paper thrice clockwise, towards you. Set it in the cauldron or burner. Light the orange candle, and add the pinches of herbs to the bowl or dish. You can find substitutes for any of these online, or just go with what your intuition tells you. Put the three crystals in front of all this all, with Sunstone on the Right, Citrine on the Left and Emerald in the middle of them both. You can, of course, substitute these as desired or needed to fit your specific intentions. Light the incense, and the yellow candles. Find a way to call upon the spirits and deities of Beltane as you see them, whether they be Fae, Belanus, Cernunnos or anyone else! Ask them for help, and it helps to leave an offering of milk & honey for the Fair Folk, and a good white Wine is appropriate in my opinion for the other helpers you’ve called on. Food offerings can be left also, if you wish.
Now, say aloud your three intentions/desires that you wish to renew or start anew, three times each, in order. Light the paper in the cauldron or burner, and pour the herbs in the dish over top of them. You can add twigs or small pieces of wood if you can and want to, to make your own little Beltane fire to celebrate. Let everything burn out on its own. The following day, sprinkle a road opening oil or oil of your choice on the orange candle if you’re using a 7-day. Adding to this, you can blow a handful of powdered cinnamon through your front door to welcome in prosperity and abundance.
I hope this article has inspired, uplifted and helped you, as these lessons have for me. Let’s keep up our magickal and spiritual hygiene, and integrate those practices into our more mundane cleaning practices. It just becomes easier that way, and we never lose sight of the magick that’s present in every moment of life.
Wishing my readers a brightfully Blessed Beltane! May the fires grow strong in our hearts and light the way forward for each of us.
~The Modern Merlin
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Author Bio:
The Modern Merlin is a Polytheist, Pagan, Animist, Witch, Sorcerer, Necromancer and Occultist. He embarked on his spiritual and magickal journey over 15 years ago! As such, he has extensive knowledge of The Occult, Ceremonial Magick, Witchcraft, Sorcery, and both modern and ancient world religions and folklore. He is a practicing Sorcerer, blending ceremonial high magick and witchcraft, as well as plant medicine, poisonous plants and entheogens, shamanic techniques, and mysticism. He believes that magick can be as simple or as complex as one needs it to be, and rejects dogma, instead trusting his intuition, and encourages other magickal and spiritual folks to do the same! He venerates and casts magick with a wide array of spirits and deities, and works with both the Left and Right Hand Paths, having experience in both. He is an Astrologer and Tarot reader with 15 years’ experience in both, and actively studies and practices many other forms of divination including Runes, Ogham, Palmistry and Scrying. An animal lover, he sees divinity in nature-the trees, plants, animals and sky. Also an avid reader, you’re hard pressed to not find him nose deep in a book, most likely on an occult, mystical, religious or magickal subject. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and the author of multiple columns, including The Modern Merlin’s Corner, Entheogens for the New Gen, Stellium, and Scary, Strange and Mythical Encounters. He gives readings and other spiritual services through his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see! You can reach him on Facebook, or e-mail him at [email protected]
