THE SPIRIT OF BELTANE
The Lord of the Land joins to the Maiden of Spring; all of the world joins in the dance of love and quickening. Desire weds with delight, and all of nature finds renewal. In the Beltane Fires all dark things perish, for the darkness cannot hide from the cleansing Light. This is the time of the setting of the fruit, which shall grow and ripen until the Autumn. Now begins the time of increasing and burgeoning growth, which will see its fulfillment as the Lady turns her silver wheel. Of all the festivals of the year, Beltane is the most joy-filled. With the last touch of hard winter gone, and all of the promise of spring ahead, with the first labor of sowing completed, lambs in the fold, calves in the field, and young foals frisking at the heels of their mothers, there is time to take a joyful breath and celebrate before the labors of summer begin. Now is the time for music and dance, for flirtations and dalliances in the warm spring night, and-who knows?-perhaps for the breathless touch of Love.
(excerpt from Mercedes Lackey-from "A Celtic Book of Days")