Thoughts on the Cross-Quarter Days: Beltane

Today is Beltane, and It finally feels like spring is here in Indiana.

Over the last decade, we've seen the weather pattern shift, pushing our region's gardening season roughly Beltane through to Samhain. Forecasters say there's a chance of a little rain this morning, partly sunny skies and warm temperatures for the rest of the day—perfect for garden planting. And if weather, allows we'll have a little bonfire this evening.

The growing tide since Ostara has been filled with a lot of activity on our little urban homestead. We've cleaned and weeded the garden beds, sorted out the seeds we want to use, started seedlings, switched out the storm windows for screens to let the fresh air in after a long cold season, and shaved our outdoor cat, Rusty, to relieve her of the many knots and mats that formed in her coat over the winter.

All of it makes us ready for planting today—huzzah! The past two years, we've been so busy building GWV that our garden has suffered, so this year, we're tailoring our planting to fit our available gardening time. We're dedicating our main in-ground beds to wildflowers for a beautiful pollinator garden and using our raised bed—which are easier to keep weed-free—to plant tomatoes, poblanos, green beans, beets, carrots, and a ton of greens—which are planted in a fenced-in raised bed thanks to our local woodchuck, Chuck Finley, who thinks we plant it all for him.

As with most sabbats, our rituals tend to be practical things done with intention and openness to what they mean to us on a spiritual level.

How are you spending Beltane? We'd love to hear from you. You can email us at contactus@greenwitchvintage.com or send us a message on Instagram (@green_witch_vintage) or Facebook (@greenwitchvintage).

Have a wonderful Beltane!