It’s all about the journey. The journey towards Beltane Fire Festival, in which we show explore the transformative power of loving yourself and others in our group rehearsals, and the journey on the night, when we will fuse the experiences of the Whites as a single-minded unit and as individuals, whose spark helps reignite the Green Man’s life.

We are extensions of the May Queen’s will, helping Her draw energies from the rest of the community and bringing them together as the seasons turn. We utilise our close connection with each other and unified power to support the May Queen on her journey, but increasingly this journey also becomes a path of self-discovery, culminating in our final meeting with the Reds at Bower, in which we can express our new-found individuality through dance and drumming. Our path develops from a unified court of guardians to the blossoming of personal expression and exploration through our experiences around the Hill.

It is a journey of discovering where truth and experience lie for us, and of creating a balance between them that is fulfilling for everyone. We explore ritual in its many forms and its importance not only to the performances at Beltane but also the human experience. We bend but do not break, and we face our journey together.

Featured image by Scott Miller for Beltane Fire Society. All Rights Reserved.