Beltane, the ancient Celtic holy-day celebrating fertility and the fruitfulness of nature, is a favorite of ours here at Foria. One of the four great seasonal festivals that take place midway between the Equinoxes and Solstices – the other three are Imbolc, Lughnasad, and Samhain (Halloween) – Beltane is known for bonfires, feasting, dancing, and (let’s not be coy) having lots of sex outdoors. And even though its roots are millennia old, Beltane is very much alive today – and more relevant than ever.
The beauty of Beltane is in honoring the relationships between humans and our deep interconnectedness with the natural world. Beltane celebrates creation and connection as an essential component of being alive on this amazing planet. We love Beltane because it encompasses the earth, fire, the blooming lushness of spring, sex, pleasure, and picking bits of plants out of your hair following a romp with your lover under the warm springtime sun.
This year, our Beltane romping has unfortunately been curtailed by global events. But there’s still so much we can do to celebrate our wise, wild nature, inside and out – with reverence, love, and pleasure. Here is some of our favorite inspiration from blogs past.
Start by getting a good look
“Because your wondrous body is the seat of your consciousness, and because this body includes sexual and reproductive parts, we would like to provide an experiential road map for exploring and naming the parts of your own sexual anatomy, which you can easily see with a mirror.
So, go ahead and grab a hand-mirror. Find a comfy, private place (bed, bath, or beyond). Once you’re settled in, take a deep breath, and drop your pants. If you’ve never really done this, you may be surprised by the experience."
Read more from our blog on Vulva Mapping
Explore your innermost power center
“To many of us, the interior of the pelvic bowl is a complete mystery. We don’t spend a lot of time with our attention there — unless there’s a sexual encounter unfolding or we’re experiencing discomfort or pain. But this root contains an extraordinary wealth of information, sensation, and full-bodied vitality — readily available to anyone who dares to access it. What we are about to describe is decidedly different from self-pleasuring. In masturbation, we stimulate ourselves according to our particular tastes, in pursuit of arousal and orgasm. But during intravaginal massage, we bring the same kind of touch to our interior anatomy that we would bring to any muscle that wants our attention and touch.”
Read more from our blog Mapping the Root
Change it up to break out of your self-love routine
“Masturbation for a lot of people is about what gets you to the goal fastest. Grabbing your go-to vibrator and having a quick 5-minute session is definitely fun, but if you are seeking a deeper understanding and relationship with your pleasure I suggest moving away from your usual masturbation routines.
That may mean changing positions – not laying on your back or your stomach, maybe you try kneeling or moving your hips around in circles. It is also great not to go straight for the genitals – so incorporating lots of touch all over your body with the intention of pleasurable sensation is a great way to start finding new ways you like to be touched.
You can also experiment with types of touch and pressure – scratching, rolling, tugging, pulling, tapping, pressing – etc. there are SO many different ways we can touch ourselves and others that can really increase and tune us into our sensations.”
Read more from our blog Lazy Girl’s Guide To Orgasms
Experiment with friendly plant allies
“Normally, when you experience sexual arousal, blood rushes to your clitoris and vagina, creating opening, elongating and lubrication. Similarly, when you apply phytocannabinoids to your vulva, they also increase blood flow there. This effect — vasodilation — is the reason people’s eyes can redden when they get high.”
Read more from our blog Cannabinoids And Your Vagina
Slow down and connect - “To relieve some of the pressure, consider delaying orgasm or even taking it out of the picture altogether. Karezza, a practice which has been called “the hygge of sex”, emphasizes intimacy, touch, and connection over the rush to climax. Slowing down, taking the time to savor sensations, looking into each other’s eyes, rediscovering erogenous zones you might have forgotten about, and removing the “goal” of orgasm are all methods Karezza practitioners – many of whom have very longtime partners – swear by for maintaining emotional and sensual attachment.”
Read more from our blog How To Make Love During A Crisis
Happy Beltane to you and yours.
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