Kitchen Witchery: Beltane Foods

Beltane feasts include many amazing foods that symbolize the season. The first fresh vegetables and fruits representing the season. Aphrodisiacs for the fertility aspect of the sabbat. Spicy foods to draw in the Fire element. May wine is a traditional May Day drink. Goats and cows are a common meat choice because of the animals’ association with Beltane.

Candied flower petals or flower-flavored sweets really bring out the spirit of the sabbat. And there is certainly magick to be had in choosing your feast foods around symbols of the season. But every food we eat has magick and energies of its own. Being aware of the inherent magick each ingredient has allows you to craft a meal full of intention and power.

Vegetables

Asparagus

Filled with masculine energy, the correspondences of asparagus include the element of Fire and the planets Jupiter and Mars. Sacred to Zeus, so if you know anything about Zeus, you won’t be shocked to learn asparagus’ energy is strong in lust and fertility. Its phallus shape even had it banned from girls’ schools for a time. Use asparagus to invigorate male potency and stamina in the bedroom. If you are performing any sex magick at Beltane, asparagus should be included in your sabbat feast.

Celery

Another vegetable with masculine energy, celery is also used for lust, fertility, and male potency. If you do not want to work with those energies this Beltane, celery is also great for concentration, psychic ability, and physical balance. Its correspondences include the Fire element and the planet Mercury.

Green Beans

Ruled by the planet Mercury, green beans (pole beans as well as bush beans) are versatile in spellwork and rituals. Most closely associated with prosperity, green beans are a great choice for Beltane and its energy of abundance. You can also use green beans for creativity, fresh starts, standing up for yourself, and hopefulness. Associated with the Fae, who are active in our plane at Beltane, they are great for feasts honoring faeries at Beltane.

Green Peas

Bring the goddess into your Beltane feast with some green peas or sugar snap peas. Associated with the planet Venus and the element Water, green peas bring the feminine to your plate. Their strongest energy is love. Peas have long been associated with witchcraft. In fact, during the Inquisition, they were believed to be a staple of Witches’ diets. Sacred to the mother goddess, include peas to draw love to you or strengthen your love. With many masculine foods focused on lust and sex associated with Beltane, green peas offer a nice balance, adding in the feminine and tying love to lust.

Fruits

Bananas

Is that a banana in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me? This phallic fruit is a common symbol for the god and is brimming with masculine energy. It is ruled by the planet Mars and associated with the Air element. Bananas are a great Beltane addition because of their energies that increase male sexual stamina and heighten spirituality. Bake into bread for a real Beltane treat! Bananas’ energies also include resilience, money, and luck.

Blueberries

Bursting with juicy goodness and feminine energy, blueberries are powerfully protective. Associated with the planet Venus and moon magick, blueberries also have the Water element as a correspondence. Strengthen your aura by eating blueberries. Blueberries can be eaten raw, added to smoothies, are great for baking, and can be dried to use for powders and teas. Blueberries offer all forms of protection. A powerhouse for healthy properties to protect you physically, they are also great for psychic protection. If you’ve got an energy vampire in your life, eating blueberries will help build up your protective aura against them.

Strawberries

Sensual and sweet, strawberries have a bounty of medicinal and magickal properties. Ruled by Venus and associated with the element of Water, strawberries’ strongest energy is that of love. They also have strong energies related to luck, fertility, and beauty. Chocolate covered strawberries draw on the sexual nature of Beltane and heighten any romantic endeavors you may have in mind for the sabbat. Strawberries are another very versatile fruit. You can incorporate them raw, through baking, in drinks, and more.

Spices

Cayenne Pepper

Bring a little heat to the feast by seasoning with cayenne pepper. Cayenne is a great way to speed up the work and results of the spell or ritual you are working in the kitchen, but it also has magickal properties and energies of its own. It promotes fidelity and enhances sexual desire, making it a great fit for a Beltane table. But it also offers protection against negative spells and can help you get over heartbreak and romantic separation.

Chili Powder

Need a little less heat but still want to spice things up? Reach for the chili powder instead of cayenne pepper. You’ll get the same energies and properties, just at a lower potency. Chili powder is also great for warding off unwanted visitors, so if you have someone showing romantic interest you don’t reciprocate, chili powder will aid you in keeping them away.

Dairy

Cheese

Cheese made from both goats and cows is commonly found on the Beltane table. Tied to both the Water and the Earth elements, cheese is ruled by the planet Saturn. Use cheese to add positive energy to your life or help bring things to fruition. These energies paired with love, sex, and romance workings bring pleasant results.

Milk

The first food source for mammals, milk is strongly tied to the feminine. Ruled by the moon and associated with the element of Water, all goddesses can be seen as a correspondence of milk, but especially Hera. Both cow’s milk and goat’s milk can be used related to moon magick, and workings focused on the goddess. It has strong nurturing energies, love energy, and is a wonderful offering for the Fae.

Add a little intention and some more power and energy to your Beltane feast by looking beyond the symbolism and to the inherent magick of your meal.