Issue 7: Beltane 2026

The Awen Gazette
Beltane Edition
My Dear Folk of Awen....
Hello & Welcome
to the Beltane edition of
‘The Magical Awen Gazette’...

Hello my Darklings, Wilhelmina Catnip here, Editor in Chief of the one and only Awen Gazette. The glorious season of May and Beltane is upon us, ‘Summer is a coming in, loudly sing cuckoo’!..Its bunting central here in my little piece of the magical realm. Garlands and brooms akimbo all over the place..ha,ha... I LOVE IT.....

So how are you all as we reach this fabulous month of fire, renewal, rebirth and transformation? I have been out gathering ready to create my fresh ‘Bushrod’ making and decorating it, in preparation of the fire purification rituals. I love this process, gathering the Plantagenet Broom, clearing and leaving its long thick stalk and the flowery bus on the end. It’s wonderfully cleansing, fabulous for casting and offers the most excellent protection... So I do hope you are not mistaking you Besoms, which as we all know is only meant for sweeping up the leaves in the garden or the dust off the kitchen floor, for the actual Wytches Brooms my dears? After all that would be absolutely shocking in this day and age!

So don’t forget to gather your knots of May, decorate your maypoles with hanging ribbons of evergreens and build your Bel’s Fires tall and proud. The energies of 1-2 of May, as Pluto turns retrograde in Aquarius, will initiate deep reflections and societal changes. With the full moon on the 12th, it heralds strong and focused energies which will engender choices between the gentle but strong stability of Taurus and the evolutionary and more dynamic approaching influence of Aries. So be warned!.. If you are to the forest glades to....Celebrate!..Have fun, be careful and make sure your blanket is thick, fluffy and comfortable....& don’t forget a circle of protection and where necessary.. Invisibility.. We don’t want to blind the wild life do we...Just Saying!

May we welcome in the Lord & Lady of the sacred Groves, of the fertility of all things, the creativity of ideas and of growth. May the fires of Bel burn hot and bright in your lives and the renewal, re-growth and rebirth bring the Blessings to One & All...Always think big.. Be brave..& Let’s Go.....

Magically Yours

Wilhelmina Catnip
Precious Pixie Corner

Do you have a problem that you need help with? Magical, Esoteric or personal.. Our very own Vagina Buttercup is here to answer all.....So don’t be shy, you can email, Whatsapp or private message on Facebook Messenger..So over to the wonderful Witch herself...

Due to the uncertain times we live in, the Ministry of Magic has asked that we relay the following. “Vagina Buttercup, is famously known and identifies as a Witch & Druid of this and many other realms. She is a long time resident of a little known & much hidden place called Magpie Bottom and has spent lifetimes working with troubled Witches, Wizards, Druids and all manner of magical folk. The disclaimer here at the Gazette requires that we are open & transparent in ensuring that the reader is aware that they at all times are responsible for their own problems and dilemmas that should/might/will occur as a consequence of existing! Personal responsibility is the name of the game and at all times remains with the Witch, wizard, Druid or other magical folk of concern. Vagina Buttercup is here to support & provide the most excellent guidance and advice. T & C’s apply please remember to always ask permission from your responsible magical adult as we do not condone the use of rose tinted specs when reading or submitting anything for our attention!

Thank you for your understanding.”

“Hello and welcome back to this edition of ‘Precious Pixie Corner. As previously shared with you all, I am Vagina Buttercup and I am thrilled and delighted to have been invited to be the Gazettes Magical Agony Aunt...Such an honour... Lets get straight to it... As I always say a Problem shared is a problem halved...Or occasionally exacerbated....No Need to thank me... You are Welcome!

This month’s question has been submitted by the seriously compromised and if I might say incredibly inventive ‘Cursed with Cat-Titude’. I kid you not... Incidences suchs as this problem are rare, but not unheard of with those less diligent in their craft!... So once again I invite you all to’ Grab your kirtles, hoist your Chemise and gird your loins this might or most definitely will get messy ....

“Dear Vagina Buttercup,

Ive made a terrible mistake and I am at a loss as to how I can rectify the matter. During the last Full Moon, I felt it was the right time to cast a ‘Attract Abundance’ Spell, after all we are not far from Beltane and I wanted to be prepare for the coming energies.

The spell required both Mint and Dandelions because of their obvious association for attracting wealth, abundance and prosperity. But when I went to my Herb shelve I realised that I was out of Mint, so I thought I would substitute with basil. The trouble is, as it turns out, I should have made sure that it was basil in the jar, because it wasn’t it was Cat-nip!

So it will not surprise you I am sure, that ever since that night I’ve not seen an increase of my wealth, in fact I’ve not seen a single extra penny, but my house is currently being picketed by a chowder of over 27-30 stray cats. & let me be clear here, they are not just sitting there they’ve now started formal rotation. Three of them are permanently staring through my back window with unblinking intensity and I’m pretty sure the big ginger tom has being trying to pick the lock on my back door. To make things worse, my familiar is a crow called Trevor and he is absolutely fuming at me, refusing to come down of my wardrobe in the bedroom, whilst screeching at the top of his lungs, “intruders”.

So PLEASE can you help me to get rid of my abundance of Felines without offending the Bastet devotees in the neighbourhood? PS.. Also how do I get a crow to accept a formal apology?

Living in Hope

Cursed with Cat-Titude

Ohhhhh my, what a too do!..... I should tell you that I did laugh, very loudly when I read your letter, after all, bless you, stupidity, inexperience and lack of proper spell prep, have all come in to play here, but at the same time....well easy mistake to make and none of us are immune to that one my Dear let me tell you.

I can remember when a dear, dear friend of mine, not to mention the most experienced of witches, the Mighty Frig Froske, banished my nephew by mistaking Hemlock for parsley when prepping the Sunday lunch on time, I accept we had a few glasses of the old home brew mead...But there it was we turned around and there he was gone.. Oh how we laughed.. It’s a rites of passage don’t you know..

Of course one of the first things that should be address is your requesting of ‘abundance’ from the Universe. How specific were you? Did you just say i wish to call in abundance? If you didn’t specify the actual abundance that you wanted in your wording the Universe picked something for you. I mean to say.. it’s all in the wording Deary. The Universe was teaching you a lesson to that effect I think and having a laugh in the process..

However, fear not there are things that can be don’t to rectify this situation. Firstly you need to do what we will call, ‘a Reverse-Nip cleanse’. You need to neutralise the smell of Catnip. Mop and wipe down everything with a seriously strong infusion made with Lemon Balm and vinegar.. Cats really hate it and should more than signal to them that the party is over.

Now we get to the Bastet clause... You really do not want to incur the divine wrath of a slighted Goddess, especial a Cat Mother.. NOOooooo... So make sure you leave a VERY tasty, high quality, no expense spared, tuna offering at the boundary of your property. As you place the offering down, Clearly say the following “ I thank the Great Cat for her visit, but my halls are full and my milk is sour”... This is a polite no misunderstanding for times up and of your rejection, but for deities.

We are now at the tricksy bit... Your beloved familiar Trevor..Crows are notoriously known for their sulking and stubbornness. But they do love a bit of the old silver bling. So in this instance I advise that you make a small shiny offering, a thimble or something similar. Place it on his favourite perch and bow slightly to show your apology and deference.. Not to deep a bow or he will assume you are no his familiar and not the other way around. However, do not make eye contact as you do this as he needs to feel that he has won this particular argument.

Finally.... For the Love of the Gods... LABEL YOUR HERBS!!! I have no more to say on that matter you should know better and if you didn't you do now!

And there you have it, thank you all for joining me as together we have traversed poor Cursed with Cat-itude's problem shared moment. As always please do feel free to email me at spiritofawen@btinternet.com with all or any of your questions, queries, and magical problems. I will look forward to hearing from you. Make sure you mark your email FAO V.Buttercup, Precious Pixie corner...

Until next Month

Seasonal Blessings

V.Buttercup.
Threat of The Month!
(Invocation or Evocation....You Decide)

As you will see Normal service has resumed, This Month’s Threat of the Month has come via the dulcet and potty mouth tones of one half of Awens very own terribly Magical & Cosmic ‘The Dangerous Sisters’, but can you tell which one! We would like to take this opportunity to send our most sincere thanks to the one & only ‘Ms VB & Ms CRWF’. (If we thank one, we must thank both... Apparently!)

“Ahhh Tis the Time of Bels Fires...

SO.. Stop being so grumpy, get outside, stick flowers in your hair, light a fire & try to behave yourselves....Wink, Wink..Nod, Nod....OR.. We will personally ask the Fair Folk to rearrange your furniture & hide your keys until Sumer Solstice!.. Not a threat by the way.....A Promise!

HOWEVER.... DO NOT.. give away any coal, wood or fire during this month..Or you’ll be cursed with a smoker than usual chimney..Just saying....Don’t say you’ve not been Warned...!”

So look after your eggs, be very picky as to which branches you use & remember the Blackthorn is flowering & therefore the Morrigan is still about!

De-Management is watching...

Tittle Tattle Nook
Well welcome to Tittle Tattle Nook... A little place of potential naughtiness...A little gossip corner as a bit of light relief and medicine for the soul.

“We promise to never divulge our sources, nor will we ever say what is fact, truth and what is absolutely made up..Ha,ha... Obviously most will be made up... Or will it???.... Oh come on...really..what did you think we were going to do here?...But just maybe there is a grain of truth & sometimes a lot of truth in everything and anything written... The Choice dear reader is up to you to decide what you want to believe and what you do not... We feel like we need to have one of these disclaimers that somebody reads out ridiculously fast at the end of an advert.. You know the Terms and Conditions etc, etc.. Readers own discretion etc, no magical workers were harmed in the creation of this article etc., you get the picture..So read on dear reader at your own discretion and enjoy!” ,

Welcome once again to this little Nook of loveliness... pull up a comfy chair, or snuggle on the sofa and lets share a few care free moments together as we traverse the nonsensical terrain of Tittle-Tattle.

Hello Folk of Awen.. We are so excited that we are now in the month of Beltane, it’s such a favourite time of ours here at the Nook. The flower garlands are ready to hang and the headdress making workshop is always fully booked .I love that its logged as staff training... lol..

As you will surmise the story desk has started to hot up with the seasonal tittle-tattle.. Some just too racy to put in to print, so all you lovers escaping into the thickets and forest glades, just remember there are dog walkers & cyclists everywhere these days! However, what I can share with you all is that recent news from the Grove is telling of one very well known High Priestess is currently raging that the Fae have stolen the May queens Crown... Shoccking if true...Well my friends, the outrage continued when the crown could not be found and she was forced to replace it with a daisy chain. Can you imagine..But was it the Fae? The Nook has been reliably informed by their spokes person that it absolutely was not the anyone from the Fae.. However, they are searching for the infamous Puck’s where about, but they feel confident it was not him as he prefers Midsummer to cause mischief.

In other News hot off the press, a certain coven, who shall remain nameless, was left in complete meltdown when conducting a rather high profile Hand-fasting ceremony. It would seem that the Priest chosen to embody the mantle of the Horn God, tripped over his own horns, causing the ‘Great Rite’ to turn into a muddy farce rather than the sacred union that everyone was expecting. An internal inquiry is underway and a full report is expected by Samhain...Serious I know, but we here at the Nook did see the funny side of this even if those present seem unable to at this time.

This next story, was one that was quite shocking, but none the less is worthy of reporting because it shows that none of us are infallible!.. As many of you will know, it is custom at this time of the turning of the wheel, to build a significant May pole, a sacred phallus that imbues the virility and fertility of the sacred masculine. The trick is to know how to decorate the pole, the amount of ribbons/evergreens to hang and the actual pattern of the ancient dance to be danced. So imagine if you will, the appearance of the one and only Green Man, insisting that he would dance the May pole with the Sun Maiden who had been chose to be crowned the May Queen at the end of the Dance.

Well dear reader, somebody close to the whole affair, relayed with the incident was marred by as much shock as it was by hilarity. In fact it was a complete disaster, so much so that the Green man and the poor maiden became completely tangled up in the ribbons. Neither it would seem knew the labyrinth dance required to successfully knot the ribbon around the pole. And neither of them knew how to untangle the mess that they had created. After a significant length of time, whereby it became clear that they could not free themselves, it was left to a local Hedge Witch to fetch her personal cutting shears to free them both. What a too do and not a very good omen for the coming fertility and ripening crop/harvest in that area!

So there you have it for this edition, but please do get in touch with your tit bits, your tittle tattle.. I will never divulge a source.. honest...You are completely safe with me...

Email spiritofawen@btinternet.com and please ensure to address your email to Awen Gazette Tittle-Tattle Nook. We will look forward to hearing from you all...

Have a wonderful Beltane and a hearty welcome to the Light of the Earth

Until next time

Blessings from The Nook...
Women’s New Moon online Meet Up
Save the Dates... 8pm on Wednesday 20th May 2026

Welcome to this month’s New Moon update. A big Thank You to those of you who made the online moot this last month it was lovely to see your faces.

This will be a much shorter segment than usual, you will see that I’ve changed the day, which usually falls on a Friday, for the on line meet up for this month. After talking with a few of you, Fridays aren’t always the easiest of days for a variety of reasons. So for the next few months I will switch the days around to see if that helps. So for this coming month we will the opportunity to meet up on Wednesday 20th May at 8pm.

I also would like to ask your all for your thought on topics/subjects you would like to include or focus on each month. For our next meet up I am happy to talk about the traditions of Beltane as I understand them and were practiced in my family. This will cover the whole month of Beltane which is a magical months, so do bring your own stories and traditions and I look forward to hearing them and sharing mine.

Once again the & as by natural magic, the Full moon falls on the 1st of May, known as the flower moon in some quarters. Interestingly there will be two full moons this May meaning the second is known as the Blue moon. We have hat is being referred to as a ‘Super New Moon this month which will fall on the Saturday 16th.. Obviously Beltane heralds the beginning summer the return of the Green Man and the sacred union between the Goddess and the God, the sacred Masculine & feminine. This is definitely a month of renewal, birth and rebirth, of purification and growth. So may the fires of Bel bless you all and may all your metaphorical (or actual) pestilence, flees and parasites be driven from you as you are driven between the ritual fires of Beltane.

So just to repeat what I always say, in case people missed it, please do feel free to let me know if you have a specific topic you would like to bring up for discussion, or perhaps you might want to giving a short talk/ sharing your magic, know-how and experience etc. I think this would be a wonderful opportunity for us to learn more about each other and celebrate the extraordinary women that make up our number. So if you have any suggestions please do let me know.

Again I think it is important to reiterate that it is my hope that the New Moon group will grow in numbers and confidence whereby we can create a sacred space where we will be able to talk craft, ritual, seasonal and of course all thing moon. I hope it will become a place of sharing, laughter and being.

Please don’t worry if you missed us last month, we hope to see you on the 20th May. Feel free to be sitting in your PJs, curlers in, wig on in my case..ha,ha, you think I jest!...Anyway bring your lovely selves, wear whatever you want and drink what every you like, we will be just happy to see your smiling faces.

The sessions will be last approximately 45mins -1hr and all who are interested will need to WhatsApp me so that you can be added to the group. I really hope you will be able to join me for what I hope will become something quite special. If you would like to volunteer to give a short talk please do let me know.

So don’t forget to press the link if you are interested and I look forward to adding you to the group and seeing you all on the 20th at 8pm.. I promise I won’t forget, I’ve set an alarm... ha,ha !

Michelle xx

Beltane
A Time of Purification, Fertility, Birth & Re-Birth
'Summer is a coming in... Loudly Sing Cuckoo...'
Samhain Ancestors

The Month of May heralds the beginning of summer. The Fire festival of Beltane is a celebration of promise and planning. It is a festival of love and passion honouring the fertility and virility of the God to his Goddess. It is the full awakening of the Earth, of purification, with the promise of birth and re-birth. Beltane is the celebration of life, of the consummation of plans, seeds planted, of fertility and of renewal.

*Here we go gathering knots of May...Bring in the greening & decorate your doorways, altars and make your flower crowns

*For those wishing to conceive or find a partner jump the embers of the Beltane fire.

*Decorate your May poles towards the end of the month..Young Men will dance their fertility dance, young woman catch the falling ribbons of ever greens of your young man to ensure your womb quickens.

*Don’t forget to bless your gardens, the seeds & seedlings and leave a libation/ offering to the spirits of place.

*Remember to light two fires of Beltane and walk betwixt & between for protection and purification. Write down your intentions, for creativity, growth, renewal, for the fertility. Include your hopes, dreams & plans and the removal of whatever is holding you back, the pestilence of your life & Offer it all to the fires.

Divination Alley
Rune, Tarot & Ogham for the month
This is a general reading of universal energy for the coming month.
Tarot, Rune and Ogham cards
Tarot: Dressing The Sacred Wells: 3 of Cups

Sooo.. Lets get to it..How wonderful to have pulled the 3 of Cup for this month of Beltane. The card is called the ‘Dressing Of The Sacred Wells’ and as such signifies social gatherings but more importantly, it is about everything that makes us happy. From Social gatherings with friends, family, community and tribe to ritual gatherings, but whatever floats your boat this month, it is about getting out there and start to enjoying life and recognising what makes you happy.

Being by oneself can have its benefits and is necessary, but this card reminds us it also can become isolating without us even noticing and that can impact negatively if it carried on for too long. So Beltane/May is a fabulous opportunity to think about working collaboratively with others, bring people together to socialise or perhaps by working on a project that with benefit all connected to it. Business plans are energetically well positioned this month, so don’t be afraid to move forward with ideas and plans but do not shy away from ask for support and help if required, many hands make light work, which you will know is an absolutely truth if you have ever been part of dressing a well!

After what has felt like a prolonged period of uncertainly and perhaps even hardship, financially things are going to start improve and creative expansion, however that resonates in your life, is indicated. This is a period to nurture yourself, to pamper and indulge, recognising your worth, your beauty and your abilities. Beltane is the time to dress yourself and your internal and external sacred well of inspiration, creativity and fertility. This is the time to share your time and ideas with others celebrating not only the time of year but who you are whilst igniting the fire of the next steps forward.

Rune: Uruz: The Wild Ox, The Aurochs, The Bull

I do love it when synchronicity happens and once again the divinatory process has not let me down. The rune Uruz – The Bull, has been pulled for the positive runic energy we should be acknowledging and working with this month. No coincidence that we are, for the most part of May, under the astrological sign of Taurus. So very pleased with this because thing hopefully will start to feel a lot more stable with not so much chaotic energy flying around.

With Uruz, we can rely on ourselves to move things forward. This is about unbridled potential and as Beltane is about the fertility of ideas, projects and of course renewal and new births, now is the time to grasp the Bull by the horns (every pun intended) suck up and utilise the strength, vitality, primal power with self determination to enable movement forward, or at the very least, make the changes required to start the move forward. This can, without doubt, be about endurance sometimes, about gritting the teeth and just getting on with thing. However, when read a long side the 3 of Cups, we cannot help but add a joyous and fulfilling element to this. Also it must be remembered, you have all that you need with Uruz to do what is necessary, I mean to say have you seen how big these beast are, so remember that is you, your energy your aura this month. None the less, do not forget that courage and perseverance does not have to be endured in silence or on one’s own. Don’t forget this is Beltane, enjoy the season and try make some of it, if not all, a joy and not a chore. With Uruz this is about overcoming obstacles in a positive and determined way, regardless of whether that is financially, health, personal etc.. Embrace your inner Auroch, you are phenomenal and a power house this month if you want to be, so don’t waste it and the opportunities that it brings...

Ogham: Duri - The Oak & Muin - Blackberry (Vine)

I am so not surprised that we pulled Duri the Oak this month, especially as we are readying for the Oak King to take back his mantle. But the surprise was the additional Ogham of Muin that also fell from the bag at the same time. So we cannot ignore this or read the Oghams in isolation of each other.

The Runic name Duri, literally translates to ‘The Door’ and of course also to the word Druid which means o know,, seer, teacher etc. This is about the door to knowledge, to transformation to known or hidden wisdoms. This rune, this door way, is encouraging you to step through and change your life and enter or create another world for yourself. The Oak is well known for representing the Strength and longevity of things, providing stability and shelter for all you sit beneath its branches.

Muin the Blackberry or vine, which represents the virility and tenacity, not to mention protection. Often thought of as a bit of a bully for swallowing up space and land if allowed, it is without doubt responsible of holding much together in its brambles not forgetting the rich gifts of fruit that are not only nutritional but hold many health benefits. Together Duri and Muin are a formidable pairing, holding things together with assuredly and strength, unyielding offering shade, protection and healing yet still offering doorways of opportunity through which to step. This is a time to harness this magic and apply it to your lives this month and when read in conjunction with the 3 of Cups and Uruz it is promising to be a month of significance and of change. Personally I think for the better, of course that does not mean there will not be challenges and a requirement to be proactive, to learn, adapt and over come, but with the energies on offer this Sacred Month there is nothing that cannot be learnt, achieved, overcome or dealt with.. Love, Laugh and live with confidence this Beltane my Lovelies and for the Love of the Gods..ENJOY....