The Fires of Beltane

This is the time of year I wish I were more pagan. I say ‘more’ because my beliefs have more in common with paganism than probably any other religion but stop firmly just before reaching the altar of deity worship. This is also true for me with Christianity, but I’ve already talked about that enough for now.

But here I am, on this Beltane Eve, just a little envious of the rituals and bonfires and dancing that takes place this evening and into tomorrow morning. I admire the conviction (as you all know) and the devotion of those who dedicate themselves to these practices and the community that benefits spiritually from these practices. I also know now, after many attempts to incorporate this structure into my life that, while it’s all beautiful and moving, it’s not for me.

I’m solitary in nature. I’m content with spending time alone. I prefer to move in parallel with society, rather than immersed in it. My ideal Beltane bonfire would be in a firepit in my own backyard where I could feel connected while alone. I don’t have a backyard, and it’s a little too warm to light the fireplace, so candles will have to do.

I’ll set up an altar, and perform the Cabot ritual, to acknowledge my relationship to the tradition and will then spend time in divination, both scrying into a black mirror, and turning the cards. These practices align with my Daoist lineage beliefs, as well as with my own internal compass. This is how I walk between the worlds; this is my true nature. Maybe I’ll meet an ancestor or two there. I certainly hope so.

My thoughts are brief this week. I had no idea what I was going to write and to be honest, I hadn’t even thought about Beltane, or a ritual, or my ancestors until I sat down at the keyboard. So, thank you for the reminder and Beltane Blessings to you all. Except those of you down under. May the fires of Samhain illuminate the darkness.

Not to leave you shortchanged, here is an article I wrote for a community publication last year. It ended up getting scrapped, so I thought I’d share it here. It’s not too late, it’s never too late, if you want to connect with your own ancestors. I’m always here, if you’d like help or direction.

Conversations With Your Ancestors
Mary du Plessis – Beltane, 2023

Have you checked in with your dead people lately? If your connection to them has waned a bit since Samhain, you’re not alone. The veil also thins at Beltane so it’s a good time to reestablish ties. Developing a deep and meaningful relationship with our dead is a process that takes time and effort, but it’s worth the energy we put in.

We have ancestors of blood (connected through DNA or adoption) and ancestors of place (those connected to the land on which we live who may or may not be directly related).

It can be overwhelming to see how quickly your genealogy pool multiplies as you travel back just a few generations. Therefore, starting closer to the last person in the line, which is you, makes sense. I’ll show you a simple Tarot exercise to help you connect with a recent ancestor. This will most likely be someone only a few generations back like one of your great-grandparents, or their siblings. You may have an idea of with whom you’d like to connect. However, things don’t always turn out as we plan so it’s imperative to go into this exercise with an open mind. Once you’ve established a dynamic relationship with the first one, you can use this method to broaden your connections and before long, you’ll be hosting entirely dead family reunions (if that’s your thing).

This exercise is best worked on over several days; it’s wise not to rush the process. Relationships take time to develop. This doesn’t change just because you’re dead.

You’ll need a pen, a notebook or journal, and a Tarot deck. I prefer a traditional Rider Waite Smith deck because the symbolism lends itself well to my people and the time periods in which I typically work. However, whatever deck you are comfortable using is fine. If you are inclined to do any genealogical work, it’s helpful, but not necessary, to have names, places and birthdays to help you identify the ancestor who comes forward.

Choose a quiet place with room to lay a few cards and write in your journal. Set protective barriers around your space by casting a circle. In this case, I call the ancestors of the quarters (specifically for this work) and stop there, but if you wish to perform a full ritual, you will use the spell segment for which you would call your tarot cards.

Step One: Separate the 16 court cards from the rest of the deck and shuffle them well.

Step Two: Draw a card from the 16 court cards. Do not turn the card over.

Step Three: Mediate, breathe, or count yourself into a calm and grounded state. Place yourself ‘between the worlds’.

Step Four: Turn over the card. In your mind’s eye, envision the ancestor this card stands for. Study the details of the card. What colors are they wearing? What direction are they facing? Do they appear angry, sad, or contemplative? Note everything you notice without overanalyzing. All names, dates, and places that come to mind should be written down. It’s critical to allow your mind’s eye to do the work. Your logical brain will engage later.

Once you’ve finished collecting your information, count yourself back up and open your circle. You can begin sleuthing after grounding, or let things rest until you feel ready.

Sleuthing is comparing the astrological elements of the court card you drew with any birthdate details you know about your ancestors. For example, I drew the Queen of Cups. It showed to me that a mature woman with a water sign was taking the initiative. There were two possibilities in my tree. My paternal grandmother, Elizabeth, is a Scorpio, and my mother’s paternal grandmother (my great-grandmother), Anastasia, is a Cancer. In the Tarot, I view Queens as cardinal signs, and my instinct told me that Anastasia was stepping forward, but I waited a few days to make sure. If you don’t know names or birthdates, you’ll focus on the elemental energy of the card, combined with the notes you made while in Alpha. You can ask for a sign that connects them to the card. It’s entirely possible that you end up working with an ancestor whose name you never learn, but you’ll grow to know them, and who they are to you, instinctively, over time, nonetheless.

Keep the card nearby until your ancestor has shown themselves. Place it on your bedside table to encourage them to reveal themselves in dreams (keep your journal there as well). Once they turn up, set a regular day and time to connect with them. Make Sunday morning coffee dates, or Thursday evening wine on the patio, ensuring they feel welcome by providing a special place for them at your table. Draw and study one card to set the topic of conversation. Count yourself down into Alpha and listen. Don’t talk about yourself. This is their time.

As your relationship progresses, draw another card or two during your conversations. If you have a question or want more information about the topic, continue slowly. Understanding the message your ancestor is trying to relay can take a great deal of concentration on your part. You don’t want to become distracted by unimportant details caused by using too many cards.

Over time, Anastasia and I have formed a significant bond. There’s a mystery surrounding the disappearance of her husband, my great-grandfather Dennis, and I still hope she’ll give me a clue about that, but mostly she wants to talk about herself. While learning what happened to him was my intention when I initiated contact, the conversations about her life have given me so much more. I feel she’ll be ready to move on soon and I’ll miss her, but I’m excited to see who I might meet next.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxTpvA-pUG0

If you would like to know more about my ancestral connection work, my Daoist path, or my other offerings such as tarot readings, spiritual guidance and mindset coaching, you can find more detailed information by using the drop-down menu on my website: The Mystic’s Parlour (the-mystics-parlour.ghost.io)

You can also contact me via email at themysticsparlour@gmail.com or on any of my social media channels. And follow along with TABI Tarot on their social media channels as well. https://tabi.org.uk

Your continued support and encouragement are greatly appreciated.